The Book, The Lion, and The Lamb
By
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
OPENING: - Over the past few weeks, I have been teaching out of the Book of Revelation. I started with the Connection Between Genesis and Revelation, then I taught about Philadelphia the Raptured Church, followed by A Look into Heaven. Today I want to deal with The Book, the Lion and The Lamb. Chapter 5 is an awesome chapter because it ties the plan of God all together, we the church have been raptured as indicated by God saying to John Come up hither Revelation 4:1 we see the failure of mankind and realize the only hope we ever had, now we shall see what is to take place or the things to come.
PRAYER: -
SCRIPTURE: - Revelation 5
Verse #1: - “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals”. We can’t go pass the 1st verse just yet because it is packed with vital information that pertains to the rest of the chapter. It opens with And I saw this is John describing what he sees and what we shall see once we are Raptured in the right hand of him that sat on the throne - This is God sitting on the throne in Heaven, remember in chapter 4 John saw God in all His glory on the throne, here He is holding in His Right Hand (Right Hand indicates Power & Authority) a Book (scroll). This book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. Now this is very significant because normally a scroll had writing on only one side. A scroll with writing on both sides pictures a complete message. The whole book (scroll) has writing on both sides. Therefore, God’s complete message is ready to be revealed.
Let me explain this book (scroll) because it is different than what we think of today. The ancient books or scrolls of Israel were sheepskin rolls that would be rolled to a certain point and then a seal would be placed on it, then it was rolled a littler further and another seal was placed on that portion and that would continue until it was complete with normally 6 seals and then 1 final seal over the entire scroll. When the 1st seal would be broken it would reveal a certain portion of the book and so on until the final seal would be broken and then the entire book would be unrolled and revealed.
In Ezekiel 2:9-10 we read that in Ezekiel’s vision he is given a scroll that has writing on both sides (within and without). Verse 10 ends with these words “written in it were lamentations, and mourning, and woe”. This is an indication of what is within this book here in Revelation 5. And it is sealed with seven seals. Seven is obviously very prominent in the book of Revelation, it is God’s number and speaks of perfect completion. The seven seals also would have been recognized by John's readers within the Roman world because it was the custom of the Romans to seal their wills seven times to prevent unauthorized entry.
Another interesting fact is Hebrew title deeds required a minimum of three witnesses and three separate seals, with more important transactions requiring more witnesses and seals so the seven seals show the importance of this book.
WATCH THIS: - Hebrew title deeds as well as title deeds today are very important. Anyone who has bought a house, or a piece of property is familiar with a title deed. Properly executed, a deed establishes legal ownership. In fact, the modern term “Title Company” commonly refers to a business that makes it their specialty to research, secure and officially record ownership titles. What is true in the modern world was equally true in the ancient world. Property laws in ancient law codes, like the Code of Hammurabi, describe accounts of sales, receipts, and deeds even to the point of authenticating the document through a notary. Even an ancient buyer had to be sure of the seller’s title!
In scripture, we encounter such a title deed in Jeremiah 32:6-16, when God instructed him to purchase a piece of property from his cousin Hanamel. The sealed title had to be preserved from any changes, to remain sacrosanct - regarded as too important or valuable to be interfered with. So, understanding that the book (scroll) with the seven seals is title deed to earth sealed with the perfect and complete number seven of seals that once broken will reveal the conditions for the rightful owner to take possession.
Another fascinating aspect of this book (scroll) with the seven seals is this scroll is what Daniel was told to seal up until the time of the end Daniel 12:4 & 9. Revelation is the unveiling of Jesus Christ in Daniel’s time it wasn’t time for Jesus to be revealed or what events will take place during the tribulation, so the book was closed and sealed until the end. Here in the end, John’s sees the book (scroll) that was sealed it was never revealed while Jesus was on earth, it was never revealed in any other scripture so up to this point we don’t know what Daniel’s vision and prophecy ends with, but here in Revelation it will soon be revealed.
Verses 2 – 4 says, “And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon”.
The angel asked the most important question heard in heaven, on earth, and even under the earth - Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? Now let’s look at this, God has the book in His right hand and the angel ask who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof, now someone might ask why didn’t God just open the book himself, or why couldn’t any other angel open the book and break the seals, or what about one of the four beast or elders open the book. This is good. The reason goes back to the Garden of Eden and the fall of man when God gave mankind dominion over the earth. God gave man dominion of the earth but when Adam (mankind) sinned dominion was lost by mankind and handed over to Satan. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says, “In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them”. Satan has dominion of the earth that is why in Matthew 4:8-9 when he tempted Jesus, he was able to offer all the kingdoms of the earth if Jesus would bow down and worship him because he had dominion of the earth, Jesus never disputed that Satan had dominion of the earth He said in verse 10 “Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve”. So, since God gave man dominion of the earth in the first place, it had to be man that had to open the book and loose the seals so He Himself couldn’t because God is a spirit.
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. It appears the search for someone to open the book was going to be in vain because no man was found anywhere that was able to open the book neither able to look upon it because of the fall. As a matter of fact, no created being can open the book, not an angel, not man, not the elders, not even the four beasts, because they are all created beings. This means that there was no one that was able to redeem fallen mankind. No one in heaven or on earth was able to open the book because creation is incapable of deciding or effecting its own destiny. Someone above the order of created beings must determine the course of history, must redeem and reclaim the title of earth to be able to fulfill the plan of God.
Verse #4 says, “And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon”. I believe John wept because he understood that unless the book was opened that all would be lost, that all hope would be gone. I believe that he was shedding the tears of all humanity for centuries of sufferings, trials, heartaches, disappointments, sadness. Every tear shed in hopes for deliverance, every tear shed for the silent tribulations that we face in life in a sin sick world, for every loss, every pain, the tears of humanity crying out God please save us.
Verses 5 – 7 says, “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beast, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne”.
Verse 5 remember the number 5 represents Grace in scripture, here in verse 5 we see the Grace of God – the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Lamb of God, the Root of David Jesus Christ - Theanthropos, the God Man. “And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. One of the elders’ comforts John and tells him don’t weep because there is one that is worthy to open the book and break the seals.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ is presented in the fullness of who He is, remember 3 represents fullness, Father, Son, Holy Spirit the fullness of the Godhead, Past, Present, Future is the fullness of time, Outer Court, Inner Court, Holy of Holiness is the full Tabernacle, first the blade, then the ear, and after that then the full corn in the ear. Here in verse 5, we see the fullness of the Grace of God in Jesus Christ as the Lion, the Lamb, the Root of David.
As the Lamb of God, He is the sacrificial One that beareth and taketh away the sins of the world.
As the Lion He is the judgment punishing the enemies of God.
As the Root of David, He is the one and same person from whom Adam came, that is the source of all human life, God. The Root of David is the claim that He was both in the garden in the beginning and the very one who breathed life into the nostrils of Adam, it states the claim He is both God the creator and the source of life and as Theanthropos the God-Man from the tribe of Judah a descendant of David and Heir of the Throne.
Jesus overcame Satan, sin, and death itself. As man the Root of David, He lived as the perfect man without sin, He overcame the temptations of life, attacks of the enemy, and was blameless and sinless which qualified Him to be the sacrificial Lamb. Dying He paid the price for sin taking away the sins of the world, rising from death He became victorious over sin, death and the grave taking away the sting of death and the victory of the grave and now having all power in Heaven and Earth in His hands. He is the fullness of the Godhead bodily, the Logos (Word of God) wrapped in flesh, the Spirit of God is the power and action of God and that is God Himself.
Verse #6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beast, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. There is something here very important and that is the location of the Lamb in the midst of the throne and of the four beast, and in the midst of the elders this indicates that inside of the created beings, from the very essence of God. Remember no created being is capable to open the book, but the very essence of God, the Lamb, Theanthropos, the Lion, the Logos, the very Spirit of God, the fulness of the Godhead, God incarnate, Jesus stood a Lamb as it had been slain. Bearing the scars of the crucifixion, bearing the scars of being scourged, the scars of mankind’s sins having been slain is yet alive. And having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. The seven horns indicate the omnipotence (all powerful) of God, the seven eyes represent the omniscience (all knowing) of God, the seven Spirits of God represents the omnipresence (everywhere) of God.
Verse #7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. Because He is the only one worthy.
Verses 8 – 10 says, “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priest; and we shall reign on earth”.
This is all about worship, proper and correct worship. Each created being falls and begins to worship the Lamb. They all have harps I believe these deals more with praise and voice then everyone one having an actual harp to play, but we all have a voice and can offer up the fruit of our lips which is the sacrifice of praise and golden vials which are full of the intercessory prayers of the saints.
These prayers are the prayers prayed asking for vengeance, for Satan to be destroyed, for the earth to be cleansed. This is what is getting ready to happen. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priest; and we shall reign on earth the purpose of the new song is to proclaim the worthiness of the Lamb to remove the seals of judgment from the book. Only the Lamb is worthy, only the Lamb is qualified. Only the Lamb lived a sinless life. Only the Lamb could take away the sins of the world. Only the Lamb could be our substitute.
WATCH THIS:- for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priest; and we shall reign on earth Jesus was slain for you and me, He took our Hell so we might have Heaven and He made us kings and priest, kings to be able to rule with Him, priest to be able to represent mankind. This new song is the perfect song to honor Jesus because it is unlike most of the song we sing today. Many of the songs today are centered upon us and how we feel. They focus on our desires and what we want God to do for us and how we want Him to bless us indeed by showering down from heaven blessing upon us. So often there is so much pomp and circumstance around the songs we sing and the show we put on calling it worship. Egos and position are often in the forefront while we neglect worship and praise altogether. However, this new song honors the price He paid for redemption for you were slain, it honors the work of redemption for He has redeemed us, the vastness of redemption from every tribe, tongue, people and nation. All created beings bow down and worship the Lamb for He is worthy.
Verses 11 – 14 says, “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders (the church) fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever”.
This is the ultimate mass choir all created beings begin to worship God. This is one concert you do not want to miss.
CLOSING: - Think for a moment about the pain, agony, humiliation, suffering, scourging, beatings, being spit upon, His beard being pulled out, the crown of thorns being smashed into His skull, the made to carry His cross up Golgotha’s Hill, thank God for Simon that was able to bear the load for a little while. Then they laid His bloody ripped opened back against the wood cross and nailed His feet and hands cutting the main nerves in His hands and feet causing them to draw up. Then they lifted Him up on this cross all His weight bearing down on the nails, He didn’t have to go to hell He had hell running through His body with pain and agony. Hanging naked on the cross, humiliated, battered, beaten, bruised He refused to come down just to save you and me. Isaiah 53:5-7 says, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth”.
That is why He is - Worthy is the Lamb.
Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.
