I. A Scroll Is Seen Vs. 1-4
A. Details About The Scroll V. 1
1. V. 1-Scroll- not a book, but a scroll. Usually written on only one side, but there was too much information to be communicated, so the scroll was written on front and back.
2. Contents of the scroll- the future of the world; God’s plans for judgment and redemption. This becomes evident as the scroll is unrolled; we see more events take place.
3. Seven seals- These seals seem to have been put in a place so that they can be unsealed one by one, revealing increasingly more parts of the scroll. Perhaps the seals were put on the outer edge of the scroll, as opposed to existing as a group in one place.
B. A Question Is Asked V. 2
1. V. 2-Strong angel- We are not told who this is, but he asks a question no one can answer.
2. Worthy- The ability to open the scroll was based only upon the worthiness of the one who would/could open the scroll. “Who is worthy to open the scroll that contains the future of humanity and Planet Earth that has already been determined”?
C. Silence & Sorrow Vs. 3, 4
1. V. 3-Guzik- There was no answer to the strong angel’s challenge because the creation is utterly incapable of deciding or effecting its own destiny. Someone above the order of created beings must determine the course of history – only God can unfold this plan.
a. There was no one worthy of unfolding and revealing the plans of God.
b. No one in heaven, on Earth, or under the Earth. No man or no angelic being.
2. V. 4-Wept much- literally, wailed, but why? John had been told that he would see things that would take place “after this”. Does he weep because he will not see them, or he because it seems as though the plans of God are being prevented from coming to pass?
3. Question- Do you weep because it seems that the plans of God are hindered? We easily pray “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done”, but is there any degree of sadness when that doesn’t seem to happen? We weep because our will isn’t done.
II. A Lion/Lamb Is Seen Vs. 5-7
A. A Worthy One Was Found Vs. 5-6
1. V. 5- The elder brings good news. Someone has prevailed and is worthy to open the scroll and loose the seals. Someone is worthy to be allowed to show mankind the future.
2. V. 5- Lion of the tribe of Judah- a designation of Jesus, who was a descendant of King David and from the tribe of Judah.
a. In Isaiah 11:1-10, we read of The Branch of Jesse, speaking of Jesus Christ. Jesse was King David’s father. Messiah would come from the line of Jesse/David.
b. The Root Of David- A term not found in the O.T.
i. This connects Jesus with King David, from whom the Messiah would be born.
ii. But notice, Jesus is called “The Root of David”, not a branch from David.
iii. This speaks of the eternal nature of Jesus, who existed before David eternally, though in His humanity was born centuries after David.
3. V. 6- John first sees Jesus as a Lion, but now as a Lamb, called that 29x’s in Revelation.
a. Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
b. John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
c. as though it had been slain- Many believe that Jesus will forever bear the scars.
d. seven horns; seven eyes- horns-strength; eyes-ability to see & know; 7-perfection
e. seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth- fullness of Holy Spirit.
f. By the omnipresent Spirit, Jesus sees and knows all things, and has perfect power.
i. He is worthy because of His atoning death for all mankind.
ii. He died for all mankind, now He shows all mankind the future.
B. The Lamb Takes The Scroll V. 7
1. God the Son receives authorization from God the Father to reveal the future of all things.
a. By the will of the Father, the Son was sent as a sacrifice for all humanity.
b. By the surrender of the Son, people are redeemed by faith, and the Earth is restored.
c. Turn to Romans 8:14-39. Revelation 5 shows us the furtherance of Romans 8.
2. Remember the name of the Book: Revelation. It is a revelation about Jesus, & thru Jesus.
III. The Result Is Worship Vs. 8-14
A. The Chamber Choir Vs. 8-10
1. V. 8- This book is about the future, and about what will take place. What will happen needs to happen, and the creatures and elders see the beginning of the unfolding of God’s works, and it causes them to fall down and worship God.
a. These cherubim have seen millennia of evil; they have longed for God to bring justice.
b. They have waited for the fullness of redemption of the faithful, and it begins.
c. They have waited for earth to be made new again, and the plan is unfolding.
d. They have prayed “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done”, and now it’s happening.
e. They have heard the prayers of the saints (incense); those prayers are being answered
2. V. 9-The elders (humans) sing of the redemption that Jesus accomplished.
3. V. 10- These elders sing of what God has made them to be for His Millennial Kingdom.
B. The Concert Choir Vs. 11, 12
1. V. 11-The choir now grows: 100 million plus angels join in.
a. In 2 Kings 19:35, one angel of God killed 185,000 enemy soldiers in one night
b. In Matthew 26, Jesus said He could call for 12 legions of angels (72k) to protect Him.
c. 72k angels could have defeated 13,320,000,000 people. Twice Earth’s population.
d. In Revelation 5, we see 100 million plus angels worshipping Jesus. Unnumerable…
2. These angels sing of the worthiness of Jesus, all that He is, has done, and accomplished.
C. The World Choir Vs. 13, 14
1. V. 13- The worship spills down onto Earth, every creature joins in.
a. “Creatures” is found 4 x’s in the N.T., twice clearly meaning animals, fish, etc.
b. Romans 8:19-22 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; 21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.
2. V. 14- The elders who began this worship now say “amen”.