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 don’t know if it surprised you how much of the text is coloured green, representing fertile ground. This chapter is stacked with all sorts of interesting elements. Almost each word is pregnant with meaning. Below I have added the list of remaining questions from the previous Gem, so you have the list of questions before you. The questions related to the scroll written on the inside and outside and the detail related to the seven seals I have omitted because I consider I have covered those two elements.
- 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?
We could add one more question:
- What do you think is the purpose of the letter of Revelation? (My added question for you.)
Looking over this list I am intrigued with the questions you came up with. I think some of you must have been following the green text and framing questions related to the text I had highlighted. Collectively you seem to have tracked pretty well with the green text in order to come up with your questions. That being the case I will work my way systematically through the questions gathering them together cumulatively as I go.
1. Who or what was the Mighty Angel?
At peshat level the meaning of this term mighty or strong angel is likely related to the strength of the angel’s voice as being an angel with a loud voice; loud enough to be heard on earth, in heaven and under the earth. However, it could be related to the explanation of the sevenfold spirit from 5:6 – see the answer to Question 6. If this is the case then the answers are found another level down, at the hinted or the alluded level.
2. What is the significance of someone ‘worthy’ or those ‘unworthy’?
Verse 5:3 tells us “But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.” That must be referring to worthiness that is not simply judged on a human level. It cannot be worthy on the basis of status, knowledge or education, power, wealth, ability or personal characteristics. The worthiness is to be found across the whole universe. We know and expect that standard of measure to be sinlessness for want of a single word. We expect the answer to be The Lamb, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Remember this is John, the Gospel writer who is writing Revelation. This question must be linked to #3.
3. Why did John weep when he knew Jesus so well? Jesus is the obvious one to open the seals.
This was an interesting question from Michael in the context of Jesus being the obvious one to open the seals. Especially so when John was the disciple whom Jesus loved. He was the one reclining on Jesus at the Last Supper. His Gospel indicates that he knew exactly who Jesus was [John 20:31]. Therefore, why would John begin to weep bitterly [to weep and weep] when he surely saw Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, and thus the One to open the seals? Isn’t that a natural thought John would have had? I don’t think the emphasis in this segment is one of Who. I think the strength of this construction is on “No one”! After all the statement is repeated twice.
- But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Rev 5:3
- Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. Rev 5:4
What likely troubles John is that no one was found worthy. Therefore, the end result is that the scroll may not ever be opened and read. Remember the reading in the NIV – “or even look inside it”. (Gem 2232) If that were the case we would never know what the LORD Himself has to tell us. That fact I suspect set John to weeping bitterly or weeping and weeping.
At this point in proceedings I am going to skip Questions 4 and 5 and go straight to Question 6. Simply because # 4 and 5 point to a deeper truth I would like to handle a little later and combine with another key point. I will address it, but not yet.
6. What is the significance of 7 horns, 7 eyes and the sevenfold spirit?
Who or what is referred to as having 7 horns, 7 eyes and the sevenfold spirit? The Lamb of course! This is the Lamb connected to the ‘behold statement’ – Stop Weeping, Look the Lion. Of course John did not see a Lion. he saw a Lamb. Not just any lamb, but The Lamb of God. John is familiar with The Lamb of God. Witness what he wrote in his Gospel.
“Look! [Behold] The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:29
Don’t misunderstand what I am saying. I am not saying John the disciple uttered this statement. No, his cousin John the Baptist made the statement, but John the disciple recorded it in his Gospel.
I find it interesting that no reader has asked me a question related to the significance of:
- The Lion of the Tribe of Judah
- The heir to David’s throne
It seems you are all familiar enough with these Old Testament Messianic references to the Coming One. Once again, John is told by one of the 24 Elders, “Look the Lion of Judah. . .” I wonder which set of Elders that ‘one of the elders’ come from? The head of the tribes of Israel (OT) or the 12 Apostles (NT)? I think you know as well as I. There is more, much more, that needs unpacking but at this point I will leave you to unpack it. Suffice to say at this point, allow me to guide you in the matter of 7 horns and 7 eyes and a sevenfold Spirit.
A few of you have commented on Kev’s statement related to the weird apparition – a Lamb that had 7 horns and 7 eyes which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God. No, don’t get into thinking this is how the Lamb of God looks. Yes I agree with Kev, it would certainly be a weird looking Lamb. But that is not the point of apocalyptic visions. Think of this visual image as a metaphor of the Lamb of God. Symbolically the horn refers to power and authority. Seven fold power and authority is one having COMPLETE power and authority. The same principle applies to the eyes. The eyes metaphorically speaking signify perfect sight. THIS LAMB knows everything there is to know about every creature on earth, in heaven and under the earth. Perfect knowledge; you might say He is Omniscient. Now where have we heard that before? This Lamb possesses the all-knowingness of the Godhead.
7. What do the seven spirits mean?
What does the reference to representing the ‘sevenfold Spirit of God’ mean? In this case there are multiple possibilities.
- The perfection and completeness of the Spirit of God. i.e. the fullness of God in Spirit form.
- A reference to the sevenfold characteristics of the Spirit of God from Isaiah 11:2 (see the quote below this list)
- A reference to the Son of Man from apocryphal traditions e.g 1 Enoch 46:1-2
- Seven key angelic beings which are listed in the Book of Enoch – Gabriel, Michael, Raphael, Uriel, Raquel, Remiel and Saraquel. These angels could be termed archangels or even strong angels and so connected to question 1 above.
And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.
Isaiah 11:2
I have chosen my preference; I leave you to choose yours.
In the next gem I will reduce the questions remaining for us to look at by removing ## 1,2,3,6 and 7.
The angels held their breath when God created people, seeing them turn their back on such a God of love.
Ellis Deibler
There was no redemptive plan for the fallen angels. There did not have to be one for us either. Tremble with thankfulness.
John Piper
While we are following hearses and mourning; the angels are hanging streamers.
Max Lucado
If God and the angels are always watching us, the least we can do is be entertaining.
Darynda Jones
What a blessing you are!
And a challenge, too. Puts me in mind of William Barclay’s TV series long ago; such depth of background brought to bear on laying out possibilities.
Along with the frustration of having to do my own work to find answers!
In the days before Charismatic Renewal, the Catholics regularly associated Isaiah’s list of spirits with the sacrament of confirmation. And rightly so. They’re a picture of the outworking of the Spirit in a believer’s life.
Be blessed, with more power to your pen (digitally speaking!)
Thanks for the vote of confidence Des and welcome to the frustration some experience in Deeper Bible. I follow my Greek professor’s lead in pointing you to the answers or the leads to follow in the interests of training the DBers to go through the process for themselves. I am more interested in teaching participants how to dig deeper for themselves than giving them all the answers. No one can do that, I don’t care who they are. As we now know, “No one can break the seal and open the scroll except Jesus Christ, The Lamb of God.”