REVELATION
Chapter 5 and 6
“Worthy is the Lamb”

Chapter 5, of Revelation is one of the most beautiful passages in the entire Bible. If this book is proclaiming a victory in Jesus….this is where that victory begins. This is where Jesus steps up to the plate for all of us!! It is gorgeous both in the prose in which it is written, as well as in the meaning. It picks up from Ch. 4, still in the throne room. Now, in this present chapter, we see Jesus as the beautiful sacrificial LAMB! He comes into the throne room and takes the scroll from God’s hand, and places it on himself. What a beautiful mental painting of EXACTLY what Jesus did for us!!!
 

THE SCROLL

This scroll is EXTREMELY important in the study of Revelation. It is obviously highly protected. What do you think it could hold?
It is all of the happenings and future of God’s people! It contains both their struggles, as well as the victories! It is described as “with writing on both sides”. What do you think this signifies? It indicates fullness and completeness: NO ONE ELSE CAN ADD TO IT AND NOTHING CAN CHANGE IT! (EZ 2:10)

New Symbols

Seals = something to be revealed (ex: when a seal is broken something which was hidden is now open)

1. Trumpets= warning (when a trumpet blows, it is time to “listen up”)
2. Bowls= God’s Judgment, pouring out of His wrath

The Text

• Verse 2- The MIGHTY ANGEL makes a proclamation and question. Why does it signify it is a “STRONG” angel? It gives extra emphasis to the message about to be spewed forth. Also, if the message is to go forth into heaven and earth for ALL to hear, it must be strong and mighty! The Angel must be powerful enough to address his challenge to all creation! Note that the interpretation of “who is worthy…” had 2 meanings…. One was literally “who is of significant enough weight and strength”, and the other is “who is of worthy moral character”? (the answer will be given on verse 9)
• Verse 3- Why do you think no one steps forward to answer the question? There was NO ONE in all of creation worthy to step forward and take it! No one was morally worthy or had the power to reveal and carry out the contents! Not even his saints or angels! We are all separated from God and this power, despite any righteousness we may have through Him (Gen. 2-3)
• Verse 4- The original translation shows that John literally cried out loud! Why is he crying so forcefully? He understands the scroll holds significant things that need to come to pass and if no one steps up, they will never happen! The scrolls contain promises of God to sustain them, and judgments upon the evil persecutors of God’s people (Rome, etc), and assurances of victory through Jesus! (Ch 21:1-22:5). THE PROMISE THAT LIES WITHIN IS THIS: GOD’S GLORIOUS, REDEMPTIVE AND VICTORIOUS PURPOSE WILL BE REALIZED…….ONLY IF IT CAN BE OPENED!
• Verse 5- I love this verse! One of God’s redeemed says to John basically: “Shut up dude. Stop crying. Did you forget that there is one that triumphed over sin and death and is sinless and perfect and who is WORTHY to take the scroll!?!?!?!?!” When John realizes this, the crying will cease! He can take the scroll, open the seals and carry history onward. HE can fulfill what is written in the scroll!
• Verse 6- I love this verse too! John looks to see a Lion and instead sees a battered and bloody little lamb!! Revelation does not always conform to the patterns of human logic or limitations!  Here, we have power and mighty manifested in the likeness of a lion, but seen in the form of a lamb! What do you think the 7 horns represent? The horn is actually an ancient Jewish symbol. It represents power and/or strength. Here we have a picture of a lamb with perfect and complete strength! THE LAMB WILL FOREVERMORE BE THE SYMBOL OF POWER!!!! What do you think the 7 eyes represent? It is omniscience……full and perfect knowledge attainable only through the Holy Spirit!
• Verse 7- this is where I get excited! He takes the scroll from God!!! It is now on him! The entire redemptive work of Jesus is pictured here in one single moment and it is beautiful! He is unhesitant and determined. Jesus is now “on the throne” with his Father! From this moment on it is also the “throne of the lamb” (see Ch 22:1). This verse shows the ENTIRE eternal purpose of God!
• Verse 8- as soon as he has taken the scroll, and accepted the “office of King of the universe”, there is a burst of joy and triumph!!! The angels and redeemed fall down in divine worship!
• Verse 9- the books 3rd song: “Song of Redemption”. “Thou art worthy” is a direct answer to the question of “Who is worthy” in verse 2!
• Verse 10- The last of the song. Do you see how this verse could be interpreted by some? Some will say this states a future LITERAL reign of Jesus and his saints on earth (the millennial theory). I do not see this. What do you think about this? We are a kingdom of priests under his grace! Read Ch 1:5-6! This is the kingdom prophesied about in the OT (Dan. 2:44) We are reigning on earth, and so were they!!!!!! All Christians then and now reign with Jesus in his kingdom!
• Verse 11- Now we have more praise. An amazing picture of the entire heavenly family breaking into song! I get goose bumps and I CANNOT wait to see it!
• Verse 12, sings their “Song of Agreement”. What a picture of the enormity of Angels he paints!
• Verse 13- Now all of creation joins heaven in the praise. It keeps growing and growing!!!!

Chapter 6- “The Seals”

The scroll of Chapter five was sealed with 7 seals. The seals MUST be broken before God’s redemptive plan can be revealed! Jesus, the lamb, has now qualified as the only worthy being to take on this task! As a result, EVERYTHING has burst forth in praise. What energy we have going here! It is all building and building!

Seals reveal the unknown. Six of these seals will be opened in Ch. 6. Jesus breaks the seals, one at a time. The first 4 relate to horses. 5 reveals souls of martyrs. Six reveals judgment that is coming on the Roman Empire (finally! ). Tonight we will just cover the first seal or two.

The 1st Seal
Vs 1-2

One of the cherubim is “narrating” the vision here. He says “come”. To whom do you think he was talking? I believe he speaks to the “characters” or the horsemen. He is like a director, giving a signal to the actors when to take the stage. Here he is telling them when to ride into view. The setting is like that of a drama scene. The horses will ride out one at a time in obedience to the call from the cherubim. They are summoned simply by “come!”

The white horse rides out. What do you think this white horse symbolizes? White can show purity, or victory and conquest as we have previously discussed! I believe here it shows victory! A confusing part of this picture is the following question: Just who is riding the horse? What do you think? Some think it is Jesus victorious in conquering the enemy. This same picture is given in Ch 19”11-16. It makes sense. The pale horse and red horse to come will be pictures of persecution and judgment. So, first John is once again reminded that Jesus will win despite the pain to come! If the white horse and rider represent Jesus as the victorious warrior going forth to conquer the enemy, this would have been VERY relevant to the Christians to whom he was writing would it not!?!?!?!

The Second Seal
Vs 3-4

What do you figure the color red is representing? Red symbolizes bloodshed. It could be from war or persecution.
“Its rider was given power to take peace from the earth….”
I find this statement quite significant. Why do you think this is so? It shows me that NO ONE ELSE had creative power but God! Satan does not. We do not! The rider can do what he is sent to do ONLY because God has enabled him to do so. (many interpret the rider as the devil, which I agree. If Jesus rode the white, then Satan rides the red)!