Jesus Unlocks And Reveals God's Plan (Revelation 5:1-14) Series

Today, we have the privilege of reading the second half of John's heavenly vision in Revelation. Last week, we made it through the first half, in chapter 4. This week, we'll see the second half. It's important that we see it, and hear it, all at once. So I'm just going to start, very simply, by reading Revelation 4:

(1) After these things, I looked,

and LOOK! A door open in heaven, [Ezekiel 1:1]

and the earlier voice that I heard like a trumpet speaking with me, saying,

[=Jesus; Rev. 1:1 "a revelation FROM Jesus," 10-11]

"Come up here,

and I will show you what must happen after these things!"

(2) Immediately I was in the Spirit, [Revelation 1:10; Ezekiel 8:3-4; 11:5]

and LOOK! A throne was set in heaven!, [Psalm 11:4; 103:19; 1 Kings 22:19]

and upon the throne One Seated, [Isaiah 6:1-3]

(3) and The One seated [was] similar in appearance to stone-- to "jasper" and "carnelian"--

and a rainbow [was] around the throne, similar in appearance to emerald, [Ezekiel 1:28]

(4) and around the throne [were] 24 thrones, [Daniel 7:9-10

and upon the thrones [were] 24 elders seated,

dressed in white clothing,

and upon their heads gold wreaths,

(5) and from the throne coming out, lightnings and sounds and thunders, [Rev. 8:5; 11:19; 16:18; Psalm 18:14; 77:18; Exodus 19:16; Ezekiel 1:4-14, 28]

and seven torches of fire burning before the throne, [Ezekiel 1:12-13]

which are the seven spirits of God, [Psalm 104:4; Rev. 1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6; 8:2 (!) 2 Baruch 21:6; 4 Ezra 8:21; Tobit 12:15; 1 Enoch 20:1-7; 90:21]

(6) and before the throne [something] like a sea of glass like crystal, [Rev. 15:2-4]

and in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, four living beings full of eyes in front and in back, [contrast Ezekiel 1:4-28; Rev. 4:9-10; 5:8-10; 5:14; 19:4; 7:11; 14:3; 6:1-8; 19:7]

(7) and the first living being [was] similar to a lion,

and the second living being [was] similar to an ox,

and the third living being [was] having a face like a human,

and the fourth living being [was] similar to an eagle flying,

(8) and the four living beings-- each one of them [was] each having six wings,

around and inside full of eyes, (Rev. 4:6; 1 Enoch 71:7; 1 Enoch 39:12-13; 61:12; *Craig Koester)

and rest they don't have day and night, saying,

"Holy, holy, holy [is] the Lord-- the God, The Almighty, The One who was, and The One who is, and The One who is coming," [Isaiah 6:3; Rev. 1:4]

(9) and whenever the living beings give glory and honor and thanks to The One seated upon the throne-- to The One living forever-- (10) the 24 elders fall down before The One seated upon the throne, [contrast Rev. 13:4, 9, 12, 15; 14:9; 16:2; *Koester]

and they worship/bow down to The One living forever,

and they put down their wreaths before the throne, saying, [contrast Rev. 12:7-9]

(11) "Worthy, you [are], our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power, [Psalm 21:13; 59:16; 6:3; contrast Revelation 13:4; *Koester]

because you created all things, (Ps. 33:6-9; 95:1-7)

and because of your will/desire they existed,

and they were created,"

Our throne room scene continues this week in chapter 5. It begins with an "and" (see RSV, KJV) which tells us that what we are reading is a straightforward continuation of what we read last week. Let's just pick it up, and read Revelation 5:1-2:

(1) and I saw in the right hand of The One seated upon the throne, a scroll (Rev. 6:14),

having been written on inside and on the back, [Ezekiel 2:9-10]

having been sealed up with seven seals,

(2) and I saw a strong angel proclaiming in a loud/great voice:

"Who is] worthy to open the scroll,

and to break its seals?,"

What we "see" in these verses is a book, or scroll, that's been locked up tight. What we "hear," is a question: "Who is worthy to open it?"

And what we find ourselves asking, is "What's the book?" Right?

God is holding a book. What does this book represent?

There is some debate about this, but I think probably the idea with this book, is that this book represents God's plan for all of creation. Think about this plan as starting at Jesus' death, and running up to and including the new heavens and earth, and our ultimate home in the new earth. This plan covers the last 2,000 years, more or less, and goes until Jesus returns, and makes everything right.

Let's turn to Daniel 12. This is a key passage, but it's also tricky, figuring out how to relate it to Revelation (NRSV updated):

12 “At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. 2 Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth[a] shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky,[b] and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, keep the words secret and the book sealed until the time of the end. Many shall be running back and forth,[c] and evil[d] shall increase.”