TEACHING NOTES Part 11: The Scroll & The Lamb Introduction Last week we began John’s second vision, which starts in chapter four and continues through chapter sixteen. John is taken “in the Spirit” to the throne of God in heaven. What he sees is a courtroom scene with elders/judges who are worshiping God around His throne. In chapter five, we find out more information about why this court is meeting. Revelation 5:1–2 ESV 1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” A scroll written within and on the back = In Ezek. 2:9-10, the prophet sees a scroll that has writing on the front and back. Ezekiel’s scroll is filled with “lamentation, mourning, and woe” which means it is a scroll of judgment. In Zech. 5:1-4, the prophet sees a huge flying scroll and is told that is the scroll of the curse. With that backdrop, we should expect this scroll to be about judgment. Sealed with seven seals = Since the number seven represents completion in the Bible, we’re meant to see this as a kind of judgment that will bring something to completion. Seals were used on scrolls to protect legal documents. A broken seal would indicate that someone may have tampered with the text. Sealed prophesy is common in the Old Testament (Isa. 29:11; Dan. 12:4; Rev. 22:10). In Revelation, each seal represents a stage or overview of coming judgments. Who is worthy? = A sealed legal document can only be opened by a trustworthy person with the appropriate authority. This question will be answered in verse 9 with a new song sang by the cherubim and the elders. What kind of scene is this? = We should be visualizing a court scene. God is the ultimate Judge and He is joined by 24 elders/judges. The scroll is like the divorce papers, which includes the sentence of judgments against the offending party. We will find out that the offending party is Israel and specifically Jerusalem. Just as God divorced Israel in Jer. 3:1-8 for their idolatry, He is about to do it again because they killed Jesus and many of His followers. Remember, John told us in Rev. 1:7 that this book is about Jesus coming to judge those who pierced Him. ​ Revelation 5:3–4 ESV 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Three-Tiered Cosmos = Notice the three levels: (1) heaven, (2) earth, (3) under the earth. In the Jewish mind, heaven is God’s space where only He and other spiritual beings He created live. Earth is where living humans live. Under the earth is the place where the spirits of dead humans live, along with rebellious spiritual beings. No one is worthy to open the scroll = This indicates that the scroll is reserved for someone more worthy than everyone else John is seeing in heaven. John is weeping because in that moment he thought the scroll could not be opened. Revelation 5:5 ESV 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” The Lion of the tribe of Judah = This comes from Gen. 49:9 “Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?” Jesus came from the lineage of the tribe of Judah. The Root of David = This comes from Isa. 11:1, 10. Paul quotes this in Rom. 15:12 “And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”” Jesse was king David’s father. Jesus came from the lineage of David (Matt. 1:1). Has conquered = The Greek word here is nikao or nike, which is the word for victory. The cross and resurrection sealed the victory of Jesus over sin, death, and the powers of evil. Since Jesus defeated evil and death, He now has the keys of Death and Hades (Rev. 1:18). ​ Revelation 5:6–7 ESV 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. A Lamb that had been slain = This is how John the Baptist described Jesus in John 1:29 “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” This is the imagery of the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16). On the Day of Atonement, two lambs/goats were used. One was sent out of the camp with the sins of the people. The other was sacrificed and burned on the altar. This symbolized that the people are ascending to God, just as the smoke from the burning animal rose to God. Seven horns = In apocalyptic writings, horns symbolize power. This is why horns often represent powerful kingdoms or nations. The fact that there are seven horns represents the Lamb’s complete power and authority over all nations. Seven eyes = Eyes often symbolize wisdom. John interprets this symbol by telling us that these seven eyes represent the seven spirits of God (see Isa. 11:2). The Lamb has complete wisdom. ​ Revelation 5:8 ESV 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They fell down before the Lamb = In chapter four the elders and the four living creatures were falling down in worship to God. Now they fall down in worship to the Lamb. Each holding a harp = Later, John is going to hear a multitude playing harps (Rev. 14:2). Harps were a common instrument in Israelite worship (Psalm 33:2). Golden bowls of incense = Here again, John interprets the symbol for us. The bowls of incense are the prayers of the saints. Later we find out that these are also the prayers of those who have been killed for their faith (Rev. 8:3-4). They are praying for vindication against their enemies (Rev. 6:9-11). God will respond to their prayers with bowls of wrath. ​ Revelation 5:9–10 ESV 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” They sang a new song = This song begins like the one in Rev. 4:11, which was addressed to God, but now will be addressed to the Lamb. You ransomed people for God = The Greek word for “ransomed” here is agorazo, which means to purchase, redeem, or set free from bondage. The cross and resurrection freed us from sin and bought us back or redeemed us from the power of death and the enemy. You made them a kingdom of priests = John has already mentioned this in Rev. 1:5-6 “5 and from Jesus Christ the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of kings on earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” They shall reign on the earth = Those who have been freed from sin are God’s kingdom on the earth. This will come up again in Rev. 20:4-6, although that passage is about Christ’s reign in heaven with those who were martyred. ​ Revelation 5:11–12 ESV 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” Voice of many angels = It should be noted that when the Bible speaks of good angels, myriads and thousands are their number. When the Bible speaks of fallen angels, there is never myriads and thousands. This implies that there are far more good angels than rebellious ones. Worthy is the Lamb = Worthy of what? To receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing. These are all kingdom terms. The Lamb is being given an ultimate kingdom that far exceeds all others. John is seeing the fulfilment of what Daniel saw centuries earlier in Dan. 7:13-14 “13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. 14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.” ​ Revelation 5:13–14 ESV 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. I heard every creature = John is hearing the entire world worship God and the Lamb. John was hearing exactly what has been going on since. Jesus is being worshiped all over the world and has been for nearly 2,000 years. What does this mean? Jesus is portrayed as the Lamb who alone is worthy to open the scroll of judgment, because He alone gave His life to redeem us. Jesus will open the scroll to bring judgment on those who pierced Him and persecuted His followers.