1Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” 3But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. 4Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. 5But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth. 7He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. 8And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9And they sang a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10And you have caused them to become a Kingdom of priests for our God. And they will reign on the earth.” 11Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders. 12And they sang in a mighty chorus: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered—to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and blessing.” 13And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang: “Blessing and honour and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever.” 14And the four living beings said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.
Revelation 5:1-14
I have coloured the features of this chapter in green which I believe need to be highlighted or explained in order to understand this passage thoroughly. Why green? Because these elements represent fertile ground to add to our understanding of what is being said in this chapter. You will note that I have coloured some parts of the text purple. I did the same in the passage I laid out in propositional analysis format in Gem 2224. These purple words highlight the praise songs sung to the One on the Throne and to the Lamb. We need to pay careful attention to these purple segments. I believe they hold the clue to what this chapter and the one before it are all about.
The green segments contain some words which we need to understand the meaning of, in order to understand what is being said here. To do that we need to do some digging and ask some key questions to probe the meaning behind the words. The words of this chapter have been arranged in such a way as to capture our attention. I will highlight those features as we progress through the text. For instance, John was told to Look for the Lion of Judah and he saw a Lamb standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. Why is this text put like that? I think it contains some deeper meaning which we will investigate.
You have to admit like Kev thinks (Gem 2230, Comment 3): that’s an awfully strange Lamb being described with seven horns and seven eyes. And what’s the significance of the representation of the sevenfold Spirit of God? What is it exactly which represents the sevenfold Spirit of God? The seven horns or the seven eyes, or the seven horns and the seven eyes? And what is the sevenfold Spirit of God anyway? Is that talking about the Holy Spirit or something else? Characteristics of the Holy Spirit perhaps? Or does this refer to angels as some suggest? Ross has asked about input on angels in 2230, Comment 2. Oh my goodness this all takes us close to the edge of the precipice and threatens to drop us into the abyss. Stop! Take a breath and let’s work our way through this text piece by piece. Don’t forget that this text flows from what has gone before it in the preceding chapters and is built on some aspects I have commented on already.
These are the readers’ questions that have come to me:
- What is the significance of the scroll written on both sides?
- Why were seven seals placed on one scroll? What is the meaning of that and how were the seals attached?
- Were the seals attached to the outside of the scroll or did they divide the one scroll into sections?
- Who or what was the Mighty Angel?
- What is the significance of someone ‘worthy’ or those ‘unworthy’?
- Why did John weep when he knew Jesus so well? Jesus is the obvious one to open the seals.
- Is it significant that it was an elder who told John not to weep?
- Why is so much attention given to the location of ‘people’ around the throne?
- What is the significance of 7 horns, 7 eyes and the sevenfold spirit?
- What do the seven spirits mean?
- Why is the verb ‘has taken’ in verse 5:7 in the perfect tense?
- What’s with the harps and bowls? I just don’t get it.
- Why is it called a new song when we have been singing those songs for a while now?
- Why is it always put as every tribe, language, people and nation?
- Does the order matter?
- Why does the Lamb receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory and praise?
- Is there any significance to the order of these seven attributes?
- How can Jesus have more of any of these seven attributes when he already has all of them?
To these I add my own questions:
- How come this scroll is written on both sides when normally scrolls were written on one side?
- Why does the Greek text reverse the order of ‘opening’ and ‘breaking’ the seals from what is logical order, c.f. ‘breaking’ the seal and ‘opening’? (Rev 5:2)
- In what way was this scroll sealed with seven seals?
- How was it sealed? Were the seals independent of one another?
- What was the contents of the sealed scroll?
- To answer that question we have to look further on in the text of Revelation. Hint: Revelation 6:1,3,5,7,9,12 and 8:1 and 2.
It is not only the specific details we need to ask about or be aware of, but also the flow of the text in general and how it connects together. There are elements present in the text at macro and micro level which intrigue me. I believe they are deliberate and belie a depth of understanding which I am not sure we have totally comprehended. See what you can spot at both macro and micro level and don’t be afraid to ask your question(s). It is by asking that we gain a greater appreciation for God’s Word. I have told you before in the Bible Gems and also I have told participants in Deeper Bible to take notice of repetition in the text. Have you noticed that the words “open the scroll” have been repeated at least four times in the opening paragraph? Surely that’s an important feature Jesus wants us to grasp!
Don’t let the words in the text confuse you. Remember this is apocalyptic writing which primarily uses word pictures, visions and symbolism to communicate the message. Dare to immerse yourself in the visual scene that is being laid out before us. It may free you from over-analysing specific words used in the text. But then again, some of those words are important to overall picture. Ah but which ones? That is for you to work out.
I will leave you at this point and I will begin dissecting the text and building the overall purpose as I move through the chapter. I will begin with the questions you, my readers, and I myself have compiled above as my starting point. But it is not too late to add any further questions which you have kicking around in your mind which have not been added yet. Perhaps some of the questions above have sparked a question you want to add. Now is your chance to add your question. Those of you who know me, know I am not afraid of questions. You also know I am not afraid to confess I don’t know the answer to that question but I will give it some thought. Or I don’t see that question as being very helpful and it will only serve as a red herring.
I wait to see what you come up with in the next few days before I begin to tackle the questions listed above.
You have not because you’ve asked not; ask that your joy may be full.
John 16:24
Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” Matthew 22:29
Matthew 22:29
You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to Me! Yet you refuse to come to Me to receive this life.
John 5:39-40
More important than the answers I give you are the questions I stir you to ask for yourself.
Ian
We know that seven represents completeness, perfection, purity and wholeness. When Jesus opens the scroll all these things are complete, and can we know it will be the Tribulation? Matthew 24:29-30