Lesson Three

(For audio recording of this lesson click here)

1. Throne Room Part 2 (Revelation 5)

a. Double-sided Scroll (5:1)

i. God on his throne had a double-sided scroll in his right hand, where his right and symbolizes his power and authority

ii. Scrolls were often six meters long and only written on one side. The fact that this scroll was written on both sides shows that there is too much going on for it to fit on the one side of the scroll

iii. Sealed scrolls are documents that are usually private and kept form the public. They were sealed with a signet ring to make it an official document. The purpose for sealed scrolls in the book of Revelation is to show that its contents are kept a secret until the time is fulfilled (Dan 8:26; 12:9).

iv. Significance of the scroll holds the prophecies in the book concerning the judgment that will inaugurate the eschaton (new world order of creation without evil). It speaks about the events behind each seal, trumpet and bowls in the coming chapters of Revelation.

v. Seven seals symbolize the perfect completeness of this divine work that God will do to eradicate evil.

b. Who was Worthy? (5:2)

i. Ezek 2:10 show God himself opening the scroll, but in Rev 5:2 God is only holding the scroll waiting for someone to take it from him and open it.

ii. The question is asked by the angelic mediator--Mighty Angel/Archangel (Rev 10:1-2; 18:21)

iii. John weeps (5:4): John could not see this at first; this is why he wept. He was focused on all the super created beings of nobility (lion), strength (ox), wisdom (face of a man) and swiftness (eagle), but none came forward who he though would come forward.

iv. But one of the Elders redirected John’s attention back on the throne. The Elder tells him to stop weeping in light of the power of God that is about to be demonstrated. The Lion of the tribe of Judah (Our divine warrior) has overcome.

v. But there John did not see a lion but he saw a slain lamb walking from the 24 Elders through to Four Living Beings through to the Throne. And he came to the one sitting on the Throne and took the scroll.

vi. The creature that looked least likely to was the most likely to take the scroll. The creature that was the weakest (bleeding and dying) was the strongest creature to take the scroll.

vii. God is searching his creation for a worthy being to open the scroll. And there is only one worthy being = the slain Lamb. In all of heaven with all its super created beings, no one was worth but the lamb.

c. Measure of Worth

i. The lamb was worthy not only because of morality, but also because of inherent sufficiency. Only God in the flesh had what it takes to defeat Satan the Leviathan (Job 41).

ii. No one had the ability in all of heaven and earth in creation to “open the scroll.” Satan was too powerful for any created being. No one 1) “under the earth” (grave of saints), 2) “on the earth” (alive saints), or “in the heaven” (angels)

iii. Only the sacrificial death of Christ was what made Jesus worthy as a true conquest of evil. The cross made Jesus worthy to open the scroll.

iv. God came into the world as a created being to defeat the most powerful created being by living a life without sin and creating a new way for creation to live.

d. The Cross:

i. The cross is the heart of spiritual power; it is the basis of our victory. Victory comes through apparent defeat (1 Cor 15:54)

ii. Satan putting Jesus on the cross was his greatest error

iii. Jesus defeats evil not with the sword but with the cross.

e. Lamb takes the Scroll (5:6-10)

i. The cross is the central point in history; Satan has already been defeated. The Battle of Armageddon is the culmination of a victory already won. This battle is more of Satan’s final act of defense than Jesus final victory. The victory of Christ is at the cross.

ii. Transformation of Christ in this chapter moves from “Lion” (Jesus in Israel’s history period) to the “Slain Lamb” (ascension period) to the “Conquering Ram with seven horns” (execution of judgment period). This is a glimpse of heaven after Jesus’ ascension. This what heaven looks like now before Jesus opens the scroll.

iii. Transposition of Christ with the Throne throughout book of Revelation: 1) in the midst of Elders/Four Living Beings going to the Throne (5:6-7); 2) at the centre of the Throne, executing judgment (7:17); and on the Throne at the completion of judgment (22:1).

iv. Jesus is seen as the Davidic Messiah, destroying the enemies of God (John 1:29, 35).

v. The slain lamb is central to the book of Revelation. It shows two sides of God activity: 1) Mercy to the saints of God as the sacrificial lamb and 2) Justice against enemies of God as military Ram.

vi. Seven eyes = omniscience (vigilance)

vii. Seven horns = omnipotence (strength)

f. Scroll taken from the right hand of God:

i. There is a transfer of authority from God to the Lamb

ii. The lamb is taking over

iii. Jesus had not yet taken over in his resurrection (Acts 1). But when he takes the scroll that is when he takes over. This is when he exercise’s his Father’s reign and opens the scroll

iv. An open scroll is when judgment of evil is unleashed and vindication of the saints is championed.

g. The Worship of the Lamb

i. The lamb is worshiped because 1) He is worthy (5:9, 10), and 2) He is like God (5:12)