I remember one Christmas when one of my presents was a small box, tied with a bow. I opened it up and inside was just a little piece of metal. Not very cool you say. Well, for a 16 year old it meant a great deal. That little piece of metal was in the shape of a car key. No, my parents hadn’t given me a car - but they had given me a key of my own to drive one of theirs. Suddenly I had authority I never had before. At any time I could step out of the house, unlock the car, and drive away.
That is a very very small picture of what we see today in our study through Revelation chapter 5. My car in the driveway couldn’t go anywhere on its own until someone with the key stepped in and started it up. On a much larger and more important scale - the destiny of our world has been headed in one direction since the fall. And unless someone steps up with the key - or the title deed - nothing will change.
But not anyone can just claim the right to own creation. In fact, only one Person can ever claim that - and this transaction, and the unfolding of the rest of the book - is seen in this vision while John is in heaven - continued from chapter 4.
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
Back then most books were not like we think of - something called a codex, with binding and pages. A scroll could be up to 30 feet long and was written on velum or papyrus. They were rolled up and sealed with wax or clay. Even to this day the Jews carry around scrolls of the Torah.
What is this scroll? It contains the rest of the book of the Revelation - and thus the future of mankind and planet earth - and in a real way - it is the title deed for the planet - a deed we signed over to Lucifer in the Garden of Eden.
The seals kept the document secret and with their breaking terrible things happen as God judges the earth for sin. It is sort of like going through escrow as the deed is transferred back to the one who bought it - but we’ll get to that in a moment.
The scroll could be reference to Daniel 12. Daniel wants to know what will happen at the end - but the angel tells him:
Daniel 12:8-9 He said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end." ESV
Now that time has come. But not just anyone can take possession of this scroll.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
To open the scroll you would have to possess the signet ring that sealed it. They would melt little blobs of wax, drip it on the edge of the scroll then push the signet ring into the wax.
John weeps because without the opening of this scroll - evil will continue to dominate planet earth. Whoever can legitimately open this scroll will have authority over all creation - its importance cannot be understated. Yet notice that no one - not in heaven (angelic beings), nor on earth (anyone alive) or under the earth (anyone who has ever lived) has that authority. This rules out every other religious leader or "prophet."
I think part of the purpose of John experiencing such sorrow is that humans without a savior are merely pawns in Satan’s hands. We should all weep when there is no champion for us!
5 And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."
Obviously what’s coming is the Lord Jesus Christ. You wonder by C.S. Lewis used Aslan, the character of a lion, to portray Christ in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe? Part of what we see here connects us with some important Old Testament Scriptures that tie into the Messiah.
Jesus as a lion comes from:
Genesis 49:9-10 9 Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
ESV
Not only is He described as a lion, but also the Root of David.
Isaiah 11:1-2 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, ESV
In chapter 22 He will declare Himself as the root and descendant of David. Jesus came from the line of King David, but because He is God, is also David’s ancestor. There is more in this incredible section of Isaiah about Jesus and I’d encourage you to read the whole chapter.
Why is this person able to take the scroll and open the seals? Because He conquered - He earned the right by paying the price - His blood - and then when He rose from the dead He proved that He alone had conquered over sin, death, and Satan. Now remember - we are looking for a lion, a conqueror, and a progenitor of kings - but look at the person who is pictured here:
6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
John turns and expecting a roaring lion instead sees a helpless Lamb. Why these two contrasting pictures? The Lion represents Jesus in His glory and power as King of Kings - the Lamb represents Him as self sacrificing Savior. A slain lamb, perhaps for the Passover sacrifice, would not be standing. Jesus has been slain, but He is not dead. However - He will bear the marks of His death for all of eternity. In John 20 Jesus told Thomas to touch the marks in His hands and place his hand into His side. Jesus was marked with death for you for all of eternity.
This picture comes from:
Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. ESV
Notice where He is standing - in the very center of everything. Jesus is the central focus of all creation and will be for all of eternity.
The horns represent his power, the eyes represent his wisdom - 7 represents complete. The 7 Spirits of God represents the Holy Spirit, which Jesus sent to fill believers on the earth when He returned to heaven after the resurrection (John 14:26).
7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
The Lamb takes the scroll in preparation for opening it and releasing the final chapters of earth’s history. But notice what happens - the representatives of the angelic and human orders bow down and worship - and each has a harp and bowls of incense. The harps prepare for the incredible worship song they are about to sing and notice the bowls - they contain prayers - not just any prayers, but the prayers of the saints.
Do you ever what happens to your prayers? Do they, like radio signals, just go out into the ether and disappear? No. God saves them up - here the prayers would be for God’s justice to triumph. Have you ever wondered at how God could let such evil continue in the world - innocent people being hurt and destroyed? All those wishes to God (that’s what prayers are) are stored up for this moment.
Because of this - worship breaks out in heaven:
9 And they sang a new song, saying,
"Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" 14 And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped. ESV
Here we have three worship songs - sung by an ever increasing number - starting with the elders and 4 living creatures - which is a wonderful picture of the gospel. Jesus ransomed us - giving His innocent blood as a sacrifice to cleanse our infected lives - then making us reign with Him and be a channel for God’s blessing.
Second we see an uncountable number (that’s what the Greek word for myriad means) of angels acclaim Christ’s worthiness - followed by all of creation.
Remember - this is a vision - and the Lord is showing John that at the culmination of these events not only the angelic and saved humans - but every created thing will bow to Jesus.
Philippians 2:9-11 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow , in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. ESV
Conclusions
How will you relate to Jesus?
You might think that you can just ignore this "God" thing - then go and do what you like. You can’t. Jesus is Lord of Lords - you either choose to live with Him as your Savior, or you choose to be eternally separated from Him in hell. But He is still Lord and you will still bow to Him. Why not do it now when you can rule and reign with Him - instead of later when He will say "depart from me … for I knew you not." (Matthew 7:23)
Don’t underestimate your prayers
1 Peter 3:12 2 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. ESV
Every time you open up communication to God in prayer He listens - and He answers. We need to pray - big prayers, small prayers, urgent prayers, long-term prayers.
James 4:2 "You don’t have because you don’t ask."
Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ESV
Don’t underestimate the prevalence of worship
This chapter contains some powerful worship. Worship will fill heaven. That’s one reason why our central theme here at Living Waters is Word, Worship, and Fellowship. As we gather here and lift up worship to the Lord - singing musical prayers to God - it is choir practice for heaven.
Worship - a lot: big worship here at church - quiet worship in your times with the Lord - loud worship when you are alone in your car.
Next time - the seals are broken - and some of the worst things ever to take place happen to the earth.
For more Bible studies, visit our website at: www.CalvaryChapelNewberg.org.
