Revelation 5, Commentary
In chapter 5 we are introduced to the "Book" which in one sense IS the "Book of Revelation." It is this "Book", or more accurately, scroll, which throws the unwary reader into fits of confusion and dismay. Some finally give up and say, "Not for me." But it is for us, and a blessing is placed, recall, on all readers in 1:3: "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it..."
(5:1) The scroll has writing on the inside and out, as did the one which Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:9, 10) received. But unlike Ezekiel's scroll, this one is sealed, and cannot be opened by just anyone. In fact, a challenge is issued to heaven and earth (5:2). Does anyone dare step forward and unlock the mysteries of God? Can anyone see what will take place in the far-flung future? Is there a glimmer of understanding in all of creation about the ultimate purposes of Heaven? A resounding silence follows (5:3), a silence so long and so threatening as to bring tears of dismay and confusion to the waiting apostle (5:4). He has seen the Scroll, and heard the invitation go unheeded. Has John been caught up in Heaven's priorities so much that he realizes the import of that Book? More to the point for us, do we weep when the seals are not opened to us? Do we struggle and cry and pray and beg God to give us grace to understand the things which shall surely come to pass? The seals have been opened! The Revelation is before us! Blessed is he who cares enough to dig into its depths!
(5:5) Regarding the elders. This is the very term, presbuteros, that John applies to himself in his 2nd and 3rd epistles. Is John one of them later? The actions and words of these persons seem to point to human qualities. In 5:5, an elder is John's personal comforter. In 7:13, "one of the elders" is his educator, quizzing him on a portion of the vision he experiences. Nearly every other time we see these "elders", they are worshiping prostrate before the Throne of God. (4:10, 5:8, 5:11, 5:14, 7:11, 11:16, 19:4)
(5:6) The Lamb, also here called the Lion, is announced as the One worthy to open the seals, and He steps forward, 5:7. Let me say for the first time here that all of the rest of Revelation is included in the seven seals. The trumpets, the bowls, all the background information, is a part of "the scroll." In fact, by the time the 7th seal is opened (8:1), the Scroll of Revelation is finished. All else in the chapters that follow is background, commentary and detail.
As to the One who will open the seals, the Lamb: He has seven horns. (5:6) In the coming animals of Revelation, as well as the past revelations of Daniel, the presence and number of horns on an animal has great significance, and can usually be traced to a nation or nations. For example, the 10 horns on Daniel's "4th beast" and John's "beast from the sea" are clearly an end-time amalgamation of nations arising from the long- sleeping Roman Empire. But the Lamb has horns also. Seven. The Dragon we will meet later has a similar array. Those seven horns are said to be the Empires of all time. One day ALL the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ! Seven, as in seven days, and seven Spirits and seven angels, is a number indicating the perfection of an event or a series. Jesus rules all.
The Lamb also has seven eyes. We are told that the eyes and the seven spirits are the same. Now, we have seen the "seven spirits" enough times as to be forming a clear conclusion about their nature. Taking all four passages together (the only ones in this or any other Book that clearly mention "seven spirits"), we find the following:
1. The seven spirits are before God's Throne, that is, have instant and constant access to God. (1:4)
2. They are dispensers of grace that seem to have authority from Father and Son. (1:4)
3. Jesus "has" these spirits in a similar way that he "has" the "stars" or messengers of the churches. They both are in His hand. (3:1) In Hebrews 12:9, God is called the Father of spirits. God has created and given to His Son all power over things in Heaven and earth.
4. They are equated to lamps of fire burning before the Throne. (4:5) See Hebrews 1:7, where God says that He makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.
5. They are equated to the seven eyes in the Lamb (5:6) This strange expression is from Zechariah 3:9 ff, where the High Priest Joshua, in filthy clothing, is made clean, even as our Joshua is made into our righteousness. Before him is laid a stone with seven eyes carved on it.
Zecariah 4:10 says "These seven...are the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth." (See also II Chronicles 16:9 in this connection.)
6. They are sent into all the earth. (5:6) This connects, in my thinking, to Hebrews 1:14, "Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister...?"
I definitely lean here to the seven spirits being angels.
(5:7) "He" - Jesus - takes the scroll from "Him"- the Father- and then "He", like the One on His Throne (4:9) begins to receive praise! Who but God Himself can be thus worshiped? (see 5:8-10, 12-14). After the Lamb takes the Scroll the focus of the chapter is on the Revelator, not the Revelation! May it be so with us as we read. Let us join in the praise songs that follow, often and with a whole heart. Jesus is worthy to tell our future for He made our future happen! He was slain. He redeemed us. He elevated us. The word worthy in 4:11, 5:9, 5:12 is the English word whence comes "worthship" or worship. The heart of true praise is not how we feel or what praise will do for us, but rather His eternal worth coupled to our eternal acknowledgement of it.
The rest of chapter 5 (8-14) is a scene of incredible overwhelming praise to the Lamb. 5:8. Of harps and harpists. Notice first that all the main worshipers have a harp and know how to play it! It was Jubal (Genesis 4:21) who created this wonderful instrument. He is called the "father of those who play the harp." We see harpists and harps all throughout the days of the patriarchs (Job 30:31, Genesis 31:27) and the Kings, especially the sweet Psalmist of Israel himself, King David. Several of his Psalms and those of the sons of Korah and also of Asaph mention the harp. David even set aside certain special people in his kingdom to play it and prophesy (I Chronicles 25:1-3)! The harp was known to the school of unnamed prophets of I Samuel 10:5, as well as seers Isaiah and Daniel. One prophecy of Isaiah suggests (24:8) that the harp will be with us to the end of time, as it indeed has been through the centuries in one form or another. Its broader family includes harpsichord and piano. In Revelation we are introduced to the heavenly edition of harps, "harps of God" (15:2). One wonders what those who refrain from instrumental music in the church will do when confronted with such a thing in the New Jerusalem.
Of prayers of the saints.God said "of" not "to". But one need not try to cover up that the prayers coming from earth saints are somehow in the presence of saints gone before us. Those same prayers are seen in the presence of angels in chapter 8. The angel, not the elder, finally sends that prayer "up" on the altar before the Throne (8:3-4). Now, nowhere is a believer ever told to pray to a deceased Christian. We pray to the Father, through the Son. But here is a behind-the-scenes look at the Heavenly postal system. It is only a glimpse, mind you, and no theology ought to be formed around it, but know that angels and saints above are at the very least aware of our struggles and needs. The Kingdom to which we belong is a family and God's heart is shared liberally with all His own both here and there. Truly in coming to Jesus we have come to "Mount Zion... the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven..." (Hebrews 12:22-23)
(5:9) As for the new song here and in 14:2-3, it is the song of redemption, glorifying Jesus for His actions. It is a praise of the NEW covenant, the NEW birth. All things are new in Christ Jesus, Who takes away the old forever.
In 5:10 is proclaimed the coming authority and priesthood of all the redeemed. The reign on earth that is to come is by those who will serve as intermediaries in the new world order. There is a sense in which we do this now, interceding on behalf of a lost world, begging God to send forth laborers into the harvest. God has always had a true priesthood in the world and always will. The Old Covenant priesthood of Aaron was true in form but was only a preview and a picture of the true priesthood of Melchizedec (Genesis 14:18 ff), our King of Righteousness. And we cannot forget that in our day the false Babylonian/Roman priesthood is being mixed in with the true.
5:11 speaks of the enormity of what John was privileged to see. He starts with a "ballpark" figure of one hundred million heavenly beings, but soon abandons that number for a broad "thousands of thousands". In verse 13 we then see Heaven's choirs joined to Earth's in a preview of the anthem that shall fill the universe when "every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess" the Lordship of Jesus (Philippians 2:10). Speculation: Is this universal praise time limited to creatures that have knees and tongues and can speak praises? Will sea creatures be enabled to worship or are these "creatures" merely humans at sea? Oh I want to be there and see this myself! What glory for Jesus!
(5:12) See here the progression of the music festival unfolding. In 4:8 it seems wonderful enough, the four living creatures. They sing a song of God's holiness. In 4:11 the twenty-four elders respond to their song with a song of their own, of God's worthiness. In 5:8-9, the two groups are combined to sing a "new song" to Jesus, for what He did. Now, a third group, the billions of angels, add their agreement to Jesus' worthiness.
Then in 5:13 comes the grand climax when every imaginable member of creation, whether in Heaven or Earth, joins in to bless the Lamb and the One on the Throne. All of God being worshiped by all He has created all at once! Finally He receives His due. Only now is all well! Only now can we proceed with the opening of seals, the unveiling of the tragedy that shall surely play itself out on this planet. God is on His Throne and will be eventually worshiped by all! Know the outcome of all first, and this little blip in time called Tribulation will be bearable. Soon we will be home to enjoy Eternity and His abiding Presence. Thank God that in this book He reveals Himself before and above all that He does.
And for those who still need evidence of the absolute Deity of Jesus, note that the One who has told us He will share His glory with no one (Isaiah 42:8), is receiving blessing, honor, and GLORY at the same time as is the Lamb, verse 13. Father and Son are One.
(5:14) The scene ends with a great "Amen!", and as the "lights lower" we leave the twenty-four elders totally and absolutely caught up in praising the Eternal One. Hold that position, brothers and sisters. Difficult times are coming soon.
In chapter 5 we are introduced to the "Book" which in one sense IS the "Book of Revelation." It is this "Book", or more accurately, scroll, which throws the unwary reader into fits of confusion and dismay. Some finally give up and say, "Not for me." But it is for us, and a blessing is placed, recall, on all readers in 1:3: "Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it..."
(5:1) The scroll has writing on the inside and out, as did the one which Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:9, 10) received. But unlike Ezekiel's scroll, this one is sealed, and cannot be opened by just anyone. In fact, a challenge is issued to heaven and earth (5:2). Does anyone dare step forward and unlock the mysteries of God? Can anyone see what will take place in the far-flung future? Is there a glimmer of understanding in all of creation about the ultimate purposes of Heaven? A resounding silence follows (5:3), a silence so long and so threatening as to bring tears of dismay and confusion to the waiting apostle (5:4). He has seen the Scroll, and heard the invitation go unheeded. Has John been caught up in Heaven's priorities so much that he realizes the import of that Book? More to the point for us, do we weep when the seals are not opened to us? Do we struggle and cry and pray and beg God to give us grace to understand the things which shall surely come to pass? The seals have been opened! The Revelation is before us! Blessed is he who cares enough to dig into its depths!
(5:5) Regarding the elders. This is the very term, presbuteros, that John applies to himself in his 2nd and 3rd epistles. Is John one of them later? The actions and words of these persons seem to point to human qualities. In 5:5, an elder is John's personal comforter. In 7:13, "one of the elders" is his educator, quizzing him on a portion of the vision he experiences. Nearly every other time we see these "elders", they are worshiping prostrate before the Throne of God. (4:10, 5:8, 5:11, 5:14, 7:11, 11:16, 19:4)
(5:6) The Lamb, also here called the Lion, is announced as the One worthy to open the seals, and He steps forward, 5:7. Let me say for the first time here that all of the rest of Revelation is included in the seven seals. The trumpets, the bowls, all the background information, is a part of "the scroll." In fact, by the time the 7th seal is opened (8:1), the Scroll of Revelation is finished. All else in the chapters that follow is background, commentary and detail.
As to the One who will open the seals, the Lamb: He has seven horns. (5:6) In the coming animals of Revelation, as well as the past revelations of Daniel, the presence and number of horns on an animal has great significance, and can usually be traced to a nation or nations. For example, the 10 horns on Daniel's "4th beast" and John's "beast from the sea" are clearly an end-time amalgamation of nations arising from the long- sleeping Roman Empire. But the Lamb has horns also. Seven. The Dragon we will meet later has a similar array. Those seven horns are said to be the Empires of all time. One day ALL the kingdoms of this world shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ! Seven, as in seven days, and seven Spirits and seven angels, is a number indicating the perfection of an event or a series. Jesus rules all.
The Lamb also has seven eyes. We are told that the eyes and the seven spirits are the same. Now, we have seen the "seven spirits" enough times as to be forming a clear conclusion about their nature. Taking all four passages together (the only ones in this or any other Book that clearly mention "seven spirits"), we find the following:
1. The seven spirits are before God's Throne, that is, have instant and constant access to God. (1:4)
2. They are dispensers of grace that seem to have authority from Father and Son. (1:4)
3. Jesus "has" these spirits in a similar way that he "has" the "stars" or messengers of the churches. They both are in His hand. (3:1) In Hebrews 12:9, God is called the Father of spirits. God has created and given to His Son all power over things in Heaven and earth.
4. They are equated to lamps of fire burning before the Throne. (4:5) See Hebrews 1:7, where God says that He makes His angels spirits and His ministers a flame of fire.
5. They are equated to the seven eyes in the Lamb (5:6) This strange expression is from Zechariah 3:9 ff, where the High Priest Joshua, in filthy clothing, is made clean, even as our Joshua is made into our righteousness. Before him is laid a stone with seven eyes carved on it.
Zecariah 4:10 says "These seven...are the eyes of the Lord, which scan to and fro throughout the whole earth." (See also II Chronicles 16:9 in this connection.)
6. They are sent into all the earth. (5:6) This connects, in my thinking, to Hebrews 1:14, "Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister...?"
I definitely lean here to the seven spirits being angels.
(5:7) "He" - Jesus - takes the scroll from "Him"- the Father- and then "He", like the One on His Throne (4:9) begins to receive praise! Who but God Himself can be thus worshiped? (see 5:8-10, 12-14). After the Lamb takes the Scroll the focus of the chapter is on the Revelator, not the Revelation! May it be so with us as we read. Let us join in the praise songs that follow, often and with a whole heart. Jesus is worthy to tell our future for He made our future happen! He was slain. He redeemed us. He elevated us. The word worthy in 4:11, 5:9, 5:12 is the English word whence comes "worthship" or worship. The heart of true praise is not how we feel or what praise will do for us, but rather His eternal worth coupled to our eternal acknowledgement of it.
The rest of chapter 5 (8-14) is a scene of incredible overwhelming praise to the Lamb. 5:8. Of harps and harpists. Notice first that all the main worshipers have a harp and know how to play it! It was Jubal (Genesis 4:21) who created this wonderful instrument. He is called the "father of those who play the harp." We see harpists and harps all throughout the days of the patriarchs (Job 30:31, Genesis 31:27) and the Kings, especially the sweet Psalmist of Israel himself, King David. Several of his Psalms and those of the sons of Korah and also of Asaph mention the harp. David even set aside certain special people in his kingdom to play it and prophesy (I Chronicles 25:1-3)! The harp was known to the school of unnamed prophets of I Samuel 10:5, as well as seers Isaiah and Daniel. One prophecy of Isaiah suggests (24:8) that the harp will be with us to the end of time, as it indeed has been through the centuries in one form or another. Its broader family includes harpsichord and piano. In Revelation we are introduced to the heavenly edition of harps, "harps of God" (15:2). One wonders what those who refrain from instrumental music in the church will do when confronted with such a thing in the New Jerusalem.
Of prayers of the saints.God said "of" not "to". But one need not try to cover up that the prayers coming from earth saints are somehow in the presence of saints gone before us. Those same prayers are seen in the presence of angels in chapter 8. The angel, not the elder, finally sends that prayer "up" on the altar before the Throne (8:3-4). Now, nowhere is a believer ever told to pray to a deceased Christian. We pray to the Father, through the Son. But here is a behind-the-scenes look at the Heavenly postal system. It is only a glimpse, mind you, and no theology ought to be formed around it, but know that angels and saints above are at the very least aware of our struggles and needs. The Kingdom to which we belong is a family and God's heart is shared liberally with all His own both here and there. Truly in coming to Jesus we have come to "Mount Zion... the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven..." (Hebrews 12:22-23)
(5:9) As for the new song here and in 14:2-3, it is the song of redemption, glorifying Jesus for His actions. It is a praise of the NEW covenant, the NEW birth. All things are new in Christ Jesus, Who takes away the old forever.
In 5:10 is proclaimed the coming authority and priesthood of all the redeemed. The reign on earth that is to come is by those who will serve as intermediaries in the new world order. There is a sense in which we do this now, interceding on behalf of a lost world, begging God to send forth laborers into the harvest. God has always had a true priesthood in the world and always will. The Old Covenant priesthood of Aaron was true in form but was only a preview and a picture of the true priesthood of Melchizedec (Genesis 14:18 ff), our King of Righteousness. And we cannot forget that in our day the false Babylonian/Roman priesthood is being mixed in with the true.
5:11 speaks of the enormity of what John was privileged to see. He starts with a "ballpark" figure of one hundred million heavenly beings, but soon abandons that number for a broad "thousands of thousands". In verse 13 we then see Heaven's choirs joined to Earth's in a preview of the anthem that shall fill the universe when "every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess" the Lordship of Jesus (Philippians 2:10). Speculation: Is this universal praise time limited to creatures that have knees and tongues and can speak praises? Will sea creatures be enabled to worship or are these "creatures" merely humans at sea? Oh I want to be there and see this myself! What glory for Jesus!
(5:12) See here the progression of the music festival unfolding. In 4:8 it seems wonderful enough, the four living creatures. They sing a song of God's holiness. In 4:11 the twenty-four elders respond to their song with a song of their own, of God's worthiness. In 5:8-9, the two groups are combined to sing a "new song" to Jesus, for what He did. Now, a third group, the billions of angels, add their agreement to Jesus' worthiness.
Then in 5:13 comes the grand climax when every imaginable member of creation, whether in Heaven or Earth, joins in to bless the Lamb and the One on the Throne. All of God being worshiped by all He has created all at once! Finally He receives His due. Only now is all well! Only now can we proceed with the opening of seals, the unveiling of the tragedy that shall surely play itself out on this planet. God is on His Throne and will be eventually worshiped by all! Know the outcome of all first, and this little blip in time called Tribulation will be bearable. Soon we will be home to enjoy Eternity and His abiding Presence. Thank God that in this book He reveals Himself before and above all that He does.
And for those who still need evidence of the absolute Deity of Jesus, note that the One who has told us He will share His glory with no one (Isaiah 42:8), is receiving blessing, honor, and GLORY at the same time as is the Lamb, verse 13. Father and Son are One.
(5:14) The scene ends with a great "Amen!", and as the "lights lower" we leave the twenty-four elders totally and absolutely caught up in praising the Eternal One. Hold that position, brothers and sisters. Difficult times are coming soon.
Look for Bob Faulkner's creations on http://professorenglish.org There you will find a variety of Scripture studies, including a through-the-Bible course, in video, audio, and text. There are works about the Christ, the antichrist, the rapture, and more.
For those who love North Korea, I have created http://chosunhouse.com. As for me, I'm a man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving in tentmaker style with my wife and my local church in Chicagoland. Contact me at diakonos3@gmail.com
For those who love North Korea, I have created http://chosunhouse.com. As for me, I'm a man found of God over 50 years ago, called to the ministry, serving in tentmaker style with my wife and my local church in Chicagoland. Contact me at diakonos3@gmail.com
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