Revelation 5
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The Scroll and the Time of the End (1-4)
Chapter 5 introduces us to the One seated on the throne with a scroll in his right hand. The scroll has writing on the front and back and is sealed with seven seals. The writing on both sides indicates the fullness and completeness of the message. We see this fullness of writing in Ezekiel 2:9-10, where the scroll Ezekiel received also had writing on both sides. A proclamation is made by a mighty angel, “who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?� No one is able to open the scroll for no one is worthy. Now that should be amazing to us for there are all of these heavenly hosts and angels in heaven, and yet none of them are worthy to take the scroll and break the seals. Not even the strong angel who makes this proclamation is able to open the scroll. Since no one is able to open the scroll, John begins to weep.
This scroll that is in the right hand of the One seated on the throne is the same scroll that was sealed in Daniel 12. To fully understand this point, I strongly recommend the reader study the prophecy of Daniel. However, I will summarize some of those points here. After all the visions and prophecies Daniel had seen, Daniel was instructed to “seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end� (Daniel 12:4, NIV). The time of the end, latter times, or last days are all synonymous terms in the scriptures used to refer to the time of the Messiah. The writer of Hebrews began his discourse, “God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…� (Hebrews 1:1-2). The writer of Hebrews said he was living in the last days and the last days refer to the time of Christ. Similarly, Peter quotes the prophecy of Joel in Acts 2:17-21. Joel’s prophecy begins, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God…� (Acts 2:17). We know this is not a reference to the time of the end because Peter said this prophecy was being fulfilled in their midst (Acts 2:16,22). The last days, or time of the end, were prophetically used to speak of the time when the Messiah would come.
The Worthy Lamb (5-7)
After being told by the angel to seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end, Daniel continues to ask about the outcome of his visions (Daniel 12:8). The angel again responds, “Go you way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end� (Daniel 12:9). The word “revelation� means “unveiling� or “revealing.� Therefore, the book of Revelation is the unveiling of the mystery of the visions contained in the scroll of Daniel. The One who sits on the throne holds this scroll in his right hand awaiting the one who would be worthy to open the scroll and break its seals.
There is only one person who is worthy to open the scroll and reveal its secrets: the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of Jesse. One would expect to turn and see the lion of the tribe of Judah coming to open the scroll. However, John sees one like a slaughtered lamb, standing between the throne and the living creatures and the 24 elders. What a powerful image that is put before us! We are given a visual representation of what Paul was talking about in Philippians 2:6-11. He emptied himself and humbled himself. He is the lion of Judah but became the slaughtered lamb for our sins.
John sees that the lamb has seven horns and seven eyes. Seven is a number symbol used to represent completeness. Horns are used throughout the scriptures as a symbol of power and authority. Therefore we see Christ with complete power and authority. The seven eyes symbolize Christ having perfect knowledge along with his perfect power. I do not know of any teacher who believes Christ is a literal lamb with seven horns and seven eyes. The book is obviously be written in symbolic language. How they chastise those who take this book as symbols, yet they must do so themselves! At least we have a consistent standard of biblical interpretation for this book: all things are symbols (Revelation 1:1) unless the text demands otherwise. Do not be fooled by those who argue for a literal interpretation of Revelation. No one takes the book literally, as seen in this passage. They take some things literally and some things symbolically, depending upon if it serves their purpose. But this is no way to interpret the scriptures.
The Worship of the Lamb (8-14)
We see the living creatures and elders again and they have the prayers of the saints. They seem to carry our prayers before the throne of God. Again, a great picture of hope and comfort for those reading this book that our prayers of God’s people are not simply going into thin air but arrive before the throne of God.
They also sing a song to the Lamb about his worthiness to open the scroll. The Lamb is worthy because he was slaughtered and he purchased his people. He paid the price to buy his people back. Not only did he buy them back, but he made them a kingdom. This kingdom was already in existence, for John said he was a fellow partaker in this kingdom (Rev. 1:9). This kingdom was not in the future but had already been established.
Because of this great sacrifice, the people he purchased reign upon the earth. This is not into the future during some millennial reign. We reign with Christ now. Romans 8:37, “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.� Ephesians 2:4-7 clearly says that we are reigning now: “…even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus….� Jesus has bestowed this great glory upon us through his death and resurrection. This imagery really shows the power of what Christ has done. No one was worthy to open the scroll. No one was able to do what he did. His blood purchased us.
