Revelation Study

Revelation Study - Chapter 5

Revelation 5:1 "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."
The word "book" is used several times in Revelation. This usage does not necessarily mean that the word always means the same thing. There are different books. This was a complete book on some subject, filled within and written on the cover. We do not know what is in it right now but we will when the seals are broken. And it had a seal that could only be broken by someone with authority to do so.

Vs 2 "And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?"

This could have been Michael or Gabriel or any one of many other angels. The angel is simply a voice. Worthiness would be in character and rank. Opening and loosing are done simultaneously

Vs 3-4 "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."

No one in the atmosphere, not on earth, nor in the subterranean world was found, not even the strong angel..

Vs 5 "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."

The strong man of Judah, the son of David, the Christ. "Behold the Lamb of God," said the Immerser, as he introduced Jesus to the world. He is worthy.

Vs 6 "And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, 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."

Notice that the lamb's place is in the midst of deity, the throne. This lamb would have all the facilities needed to perform the task before him. Horns indicate strength, omnipotence, while eyes denote omniscience.

Vs 7 "And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne."

Vs 8 "And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints."

Here's the way some would want it: The living creatures (beasts) symbolizing something, the twenty-four elders, symbolizing something else, all holding and playing literal harps, which symbolized nothing. They had to be literal harps. Remember folk, these are symbolic too, not literal. The way the sentence is punctuated it would seem that harps symbolize something not stated and the vials symbolized the prayers of saints. But what we have here (and) is a coordinate conjunction connecting harps and vials and what vials are connected to is the same thing harps are connected to: the prayers of saints.

Vs 9 "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to 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;"

They are exalting the lamb, not only for his worthiness to open the seals, but for what he had done for all mankind.

Vs 10 "And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth."

A better translation would be, "he has made us to be a kingdom of priests;" In some manner the us seems now to include not only the Old Testament saints depicted as the twelve tribes and the New Testament saints as symbolized by the 12 apostles, but now all those who have been set apart by the gospel to serve God. All of us are in this kingdom of priests. Look at these verses: (2 Timothy 2:12) "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:" (2 Timothy 3:12) "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." (Revelation 22:5) "And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever."

Peter calls Christians "a holy priesthood" and "a royal priesthood." (1 Peter 2:5) "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a
spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." (1 Peter 2:9) "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:" A royal priesthood would indicate a kingdom (royal) of priests.

Vs 11 "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 times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;"

An innumerable host of angels gathered with the living creatures and the elders.

Vs 12 "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. 13 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. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped him that liveth for ever and ever."

Every created being unites in praise to the Lamb.