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The Tribulation Pt 2: The Lamb takes The Scroll
“I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped." (Revelation 5, NASB)We left off in Pt 1 at the point where a scroll has been presented by God. Unfortunately, no one could be found to open it, until the Lamb cones forward to do so. But as we see, until the Lamb came forward, John weeps because no one was worthy to open it.
Why is John crying?
We know John loved the Lord, and we know that he wanted to see the Lord's will done. He wanted to see what was written in this, which was obviously penned by the Lord's hand. But when no one was found worthy to open it, which closed off that possibility and it struck John tremendously. All John could do was weep, until one of the creatures told him:
“Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:5, NASB)
The verse is pretty clear that it is Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who is the Lamb: for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth. (Revelation 5:9, NASB). The description of him as a lamb who was slain, having seven horns and seven eyes tells us a great deal: A horn is symbolic of power and authority; eyes mean that one can 'see' i.e. is not blind. And the number seven is God's number, and that these things are seven times upon the lamb. Further, we are told in scripture that these "are the seven spirits of God, sent out into all the world."
Who are “the seven spirits of God”? Scripture here doesn’t specifically say who they are, so it’s going to be hard to be certain on that.
But as far as Jesus being the Lamb of God, we see this reflected in the Gospel:
"The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!!" (John 1:29, NASB, parenthetical mine, emphasis mine)
And Peter also recognized him as such:
“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” (1 Peter 1:17-21, NASB, emphasis mine)
We see now that Jesus is the Lamb; what we don't immediately see is the nature and purpose of the scroll.
Looking at the description of the scroll in chapter 5, we see that it is it is held in God's right hand as he sits on the throne. Even further, it is written on both the front and the back, and that it is sealed with seven seals. This is not some small scroll, having enough room for seven full seals on it; seals back during John's day were most likely clay or wax, that a signet was pressed into while still wet or hot, then allowed to harden. And the fact that it was sealed seven times; seven has long been known to be the number of God. This indicates that God himself has sealed up this scroll with his own 'signet", and as such, only God can unseal it. The Lamb, who is Jesus, who IS God Almighty (part of the trinity), is able unseal it. Because Jesus has died for us on the cross at Calvary, He has won the RIGHT to unseal it in the Father's eyes, as we are told in scripture. God the Father could not allow the scroll to be unsealed until His plan of salvation for man had been initiated, and the time for it to be unsealed had come.
The fact that it was held by God as he sat on the throne shows us that the scroll is a royal document. Holding it in his right hand is also an important clue: the right hand has historically been the hand of power and favor concerning kings. Those who are said "to sit at his right hand", as speaking concerning God, enjoy favor from the Lord and whatever authority he sees fit to give them.
Being written on both sides shows us that the scroll is "full", that is, there is no more to be written; all has been said in it that will be said concerning the matter. In history, documents had to be carefully written, because whatever was NOT in the document had no effect and were not considered part of the contract, deed, title or decree.
Speaking of the contents of the scroll: we do not read later on in scripture that Jesus THEN read the scroll after all seven seal were opened; it simply goes on to describe the next series of judgments. Because of this, we can infer that as each seal is broken the judgment is read off. It's possible that each judgment is on a separate leaf that is sealed individually, and read after the seal is broken. This would mean then that the contents of the scroll are the Seal Judgments, Trumpet Judgments, Bowl Judgments, and everything else that is described in Revelation from that point on. In the entire book of Revelation, it never says that the scroll was closed after its’ opening, so I think we can safely go with that.
At the point that the Lamb takes the scroll, the elders and the creatures fall down in worship before him, and sing a new song to him. They are described as: “When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” (Revelation 5:8, NASB)
Joining them in praise and song are the angels of heaven:
“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." (Revelation 5:11-12, NASB)
In fact, ALL of creation joins them in singing to the Lord Jesus! That the elders, the creatures and the angels in heaven give worship and praise to the Lamb serves to reinforce that it is indeed Jesus, and that it is God that they are praising. This is the point where Jesus the meek Lamb who willingly went to the slaughter, is now preparing to claim His rightful place as ruler of the Earth. And when we think about this, it is fitting that it is Jesus who is opening the scroll for yet another reason; as the Son of Man and the Son of God, the intermediary between God and Man, Jesus is the only one who may reveal to us what is yet to come in the plan that the Lord has for the earth and all for creation.
And as we watch, Jesus takes hold of the first seal...
...and breaks it.
We'll continue in Part 3.
I bid you all peace.
YBIC,
-Sojo414
