01.05. CHAPTER 5.
CHAPTER 5.
Revelation 5:1. “And I saw in [or on] the right hand of Him that sat [sitteth] on the throne a book [or roll of a book, βιβλίον] written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.” For similarity of expression we will refer to Ezekiel 2:9-10 : “And when I looked, behold, a hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; and he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.” The eternal God, the Majesty of heaven, is He that sitteth upon the throne, and especially God the Father.
“A roll of a book.” The ancient books were made of skins or parchments, sewn together and rolled up; in reading, unrolled with one hand and rolled up with the other. To understand the sealing with seven seals, we will suppose seven skins of parchment, written on both sides, and joined together, one skin rolled up and sealed, and then another, until all seven were sealed.
There are purposes in the mind of God and in the hand of the Almighty, but there are obstacles to their accomplishment; there are seven seals. Though that mind is the mind of infinite Wisdom, and that hand is the hand of Omnipotence, there is a sevenfold hindrance to their accomplishment (and seven is the number of perfection).
“For justice hath withstood The purposes of love.”
Though the roll of the book was written on both sides—everything matured, all planned and perfected, nothing left to contingency, all provided for in the mind of Him who is omniscient—still there are hindrances: hindrances on the part of man—unbelief and sin opposing a barrier to the influx of goodness, love, and grace; infinite justice, holiness, and truth to be met and satisfied. And when one obstacle is overcome, then another, and yet another, until the perfect number is accomplished.
Revelation 5:2-3. “And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?’ And no man [no one] in the heaven, nor in [on the] earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.”
“Who? who? who?” goes forth from the voice of the mighty angel. “Who? Who? who?” comes back in echo from the universe around. No one—not simply man, but no one in heaven or earth—is found worthy or able to open the book, or to loose the seals.
Revelation 5:4. “And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.”
What a disappointment to the heart of John! No one is found worthy either to open-, to read, or even to look on the book; not even the archangel Michael is worthy, whose name signifies “Who like God?” or Gabriel is able, whose name means “The Power of God;” for if it is a question of worthiness, none is worthy; and if it is a question of power, none is able.
Revelation 5:5. “And one of the elders saith unto me, ‘Weep not: behold, the Lion [which is] of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.’” In this dilemma—John weeping, the universe silent, no response to the cry—one of the elders, that is, one of the spirits of just men made perfect, around the throne, one in the secret council of God, bids him dry his tears.
“Behold!” Another of thpse wondrous “Beholds” which gem the pages of the sacred word. “Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah”— of Judah, the royal tribe, whose emblem was the lion—the Shiloh that was to come. “The Root of David”—David’s Lord, as well as David’s Son.
“Prevailed,” not simply “hath prevailed.” The statement of a fact accomplished at a definite period. When did He prevail? What gave Him the title to take the book and open it? The answer is given in Revelation 5:9 : “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and didst redeem us to God by Thy blood.”
It was at the cross of Calvary that the Lion of the tribe of Judah prevailed. Redemption through His blood as the Lamb of God gave Him title to open the book. This removes every barrier to the accomplishment of the Divine purposes of grace and love towards Israel, and towards the earth, and man.
Revelation 5:6. “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts [living ones], and in the midst of the elders, stood a [young] Lamb [aovm] as it had been slain.”
“Lo!” “Behold!” Another wonder before unnoticed. “A Lamb as it had been slain.” Notice how the symbols change, for this is a book of symbols. The angel says, “Behold, the Lion;” John looked, and beheld a Lamb. They are both symbols of the same person—the Lion in His majestic, mighty power; the Lamb in His gentleness of atoning sacrifice. Mighty, but mighty to save; majesty, meekness, and salvation combined.
“Jesus in the midst.” How the Spirit of God always put Him in the centre place! In the bosom of the Father, as the centre of Divine affection, His eternal dwelling-place; on the cross, a malefactor on either hand, and “Jesus in the midst;” in the Church, where two or three are gathered together unto His name, there He is in the midst of them; here, in the midst of the throne, in the centre of majesty, glory, dominion, and praise, and in the midst of the living ones and elders, the centre of the redeemed in heavenly glory.
“A young Lamb,” in all the vigour of immortal youth.
“As having been slain.” The memorials of Calvary will never be effaced; those pierced hands and feet and riven side will witness throughout eternity to redemption’s completed work—everlasting monuments of redeeming grace and love. In incarnation and redemption God put His stamp upon humanity, but in resurrection, in the Person of the risen Christ, who is the image of God, the results of incarnation and redemption leave their impress upon Deity for all eternity. Every work of Almighty power throughout eternity will bear the impress of those pierced hands, every footstep of onward progress will leave the imprint of those nail-pierced feet, and that opened side will afford to an admiring and adoring universe an insight into the heart of Divine and infinite love such as was never seen before, and to be seen in such perfection nowhere else.
“Stood” [having stood and standing, perfect participle]. These figures of sitting and standing are emblematical. As to redemption’s completed work, He has for ever sat down; but when occasion calls for it He stands, as when dying Stephen saw Him.
We have here “God manifest in flesh,” the brightness of Divine glory shining in the person of Immanuel: the actings of God, the ways of God, the heart of God, revealed in redemption, and in the person of the Redeemer, as nowhere else. We may see much of the handiwork of God in creation, many of His wondrous ways in providence, much of His lovingkindness and bounty when He opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing; but in Calvary’s cross under an eclipse, and on the throne of God in unveiled glory, every perfection of Godhead shines forth.
Those hands of Immanuel were ever active in His lifetime, those feet ever going about doing good, that heart beating in untiring love. But when those hands and feet were transfixed to Calvary’s cross, the love of that heart was seen as never seen before. “Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end.” The Father’s eye in infinite love rested on those actings and walkings of obedient love on earth while He was living and serving here. Again and again comes forth the approving voice: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” But never was the Father’s heart so stirred in its boundless depths, as when the beloved Son, obedient unto death, expired on Calvary’s cross. To this Jesus Himself witnessed: “Therefore doth My Father love Me, because I lay down My life.”
God has provided that these memorials of redeeming love should be seen by every eye throughout eternity.
“Having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.”
Jesus is here seen as the ascended Man in full possession of the plenitude of the Spirit in the perfection of His power and wisdom. The Holy Ghost is not represented here as the Comforter, His commission as such having been accomplished when the Church is completed. He is no longer seen as taking out of the Gentiles a people for the name of God, and forming a bride for His Son; but as sent forth into all the earth, to prepare a multitude which no man can number out of every nation, and kindred, and people, and tongue, for the scenes of the great tribulation, who being faithful unto death, and having washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb, will stand before God and share in the first resurrection. For “when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of Jehovah shall lift up a standard against him” (Isaiah 59:19).
Revelation 5:7. “And He came, and took [hath taken] the book out of the right hand of Him that sat [sitteth] upon the throne.” The Lamb is seen in the vision as coming and taking the book. But His accomplished work in redemption has given Him the title to open it; and to take the fulfilment of the Divine purposes into His own hands.
Revelation 5:8. “And when He had taken the book, the four beasts [living ones] and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one [or each] of them harps, and golden vials [or bowls] full of odours, which are the prayers of [the] saints.” The redeemed of the past and present dispensations, as seen in vision, fall down as worshippers. The harps express their capacity for praise according to the claims of redeeming love; and the golden vials (or bowls) symbolise their priestly office. And these vials are full of odours, which are interpreted to be the prayers of the saints. What saints? Not those of the present dispensation, but the saints on earth during the last week of Daniel’s seventy weeks of years; for that is the period contemplated in the vision. These saints will be pre-eminently a praying people. The Book of Psalms, with its five divisions, is especially prepared and compiled for their use ;—in spirit adapted to saints in all ages, but as to circumstances, events, and characters, peculiarly designed and adapted to those exposed to the wiles and persecution of the Lawless One in the latter times. It is only when read in this light that the Psalms can be thoroughly understood. The memorial of their prayers on earth will be presented by this raised and heavenly priesthood above. To this the Psalmist alludes in Psalms 141:2 : “Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening oblation.”
Revelation 5:9. “And they sung [sing] a new song, saying, ‘Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed [didst redeem] us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people and nation.’”
Though the word “us” is omitted by some MSS., the weight of evidence is in its favour. The four living ones and the four and twenty elders are the representatives of those who by the blood of the Lamb have been redeemed unto God, not from Israel only, but from all nations of the earth; and they praise God for it, and extol the Lamb.
Revelation 5:10. “And hast made [didst make] us [or them] unto our God, kings and priests, and we [or they] shall reign on the earth.”
There is a difference in the reading of Greek MSS. in this verse. The Textus Receptus reads “didst make us,” and “we shall reign.” And this is true of all the redeemed. See Revelation 1:6, “Made us kings and priests unto God and His Father.” Some MSS. read, “And didst make them,” and “they shall reign.” And this is true also of the saints who will be called to pass through the scenes of the last prophetic week of years, and the times of Antichrist. They too shall be kings and priests and share in the millennial kingdom.
Revelation 5:11-12. “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts [living one’s] and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands [or myriads of myriads]; saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.’” The “innumerable company of angels” in “general assembly” (Hebrews 12:22-23) then unite with the redeemed in giving honour and glory to the Lamb.
They acquiesce in the Divine arrangement that the One who was once made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death should be exalted far above all “principality, and power, and might, and dominion,” and “be crowned with glory and honour.”
Revelation 5:13. “And every creature which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under [underneath] the earth, and such as are in [on] the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, ‘Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.’” The blessings of redemption are not confined to this present world: the whole creation shares them; not, indeed, in the way of deliverance out of the effects of sin and transgression, but in the way of preservation from them. All things are reconciled through that blood, “whether they be things on the earth, or things in the heavens” (Colossians 1:20). When the world’s history is completed, after the final outbreak of evil, at the close of the Millennium, all evil will be banished to the lake of eternal fire; there shall be no more suffering, no more death, neither sorrow nor sin, in the eternity to come; for God has purposed that in the dispensation of the fulness of times all things shall be headed up in Christ the second Adam, in Whom from henceforth the unfailing blessedness of the whole universe will be secured. Hence the entire universe joins this ascription of praise unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
Revelation 5:14. “And the four beasts [living ones] said, ‘Amen.’ And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever.” The redeemed take up the song and complete it, and worship closes the scene.