The Seven Sealed Scroll

Revelation 5:1-14

1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?"

3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.

5 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."

6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

9 And they sang a new song, saying:

"You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,

12 saying with a loud voice:

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"

13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

"Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"

14 Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

Do we know how to worship God? The Bible is not silent on this question. But I wonder how much true worship is being done today in the thousands of churches that claim to be Christian?

How are we to worship God?

John 4:19-24

19 The woman said to Him, "Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.

20 Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where one ought to worship."

21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe Me, the hour is coming when you will neither on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, worship the Father.

22 You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation is of the Jews.

23 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him.

24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."

In a few short words the Lord Jesus Christ did away with the idea that you must be in a certain place, even in the temple in Jerusalem, to truly worship God.

Would you agree that whatever is called worship in heaven should be a model for true worship?

Three men were given a look into heaven before they died. There was Isaiah

[Isaiah 6:1-5], the Apostle Paul [2 Corinthians 12:1-6], and the Apostle John in this vision of prophecy in the Revelation. Ezekiel was given a vision of the chariot throne but he did not look into heaven itself.

Here in Revelation Chapter 4 & 5 we have a look into heaven where there is worship in Spirit and Truth forever and ever!

Chapter 4 of the Book of Revelation is John’s vision of the Throne of God in Heaven. Chapter 5 continues with the Seven Sealed Scroll.

Several weeks ago someone expressed their concern to me that the Book of Revelation was just too hard for him to understand. If I am able, let me assure my brother and anyone else that this Book was meant for the Church to understand.

Listen very carefully and try to keep an open mind and pray that you will have “ears to hear.”

Revelation 1:3

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

If we are to read and hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things written in it then we must understand the words.

The problem for some in our day is that they have been taught that the prophecies of this mysterious Book were all fulfilled in AD 70 in the destruction of Jerusalem and the final ruin of the nation of Israel.

This view of prophecy is called the Preterist interpretation. Preterist means “in the past”. So if everything in this Book is history and has already occurred then it cannot have much relevance to the Church today.

At the other extreme there is the view of prophecy that says that everything in Revelation after Chapter 3 is to be fulfilled in some distant “millennium” that has now been delayed for nearly 2000 years. This view of prophecy is called Dispensationalism.

And so, if everything after chapter 3 is yet future and is not meant for the Church anyway what comfort are you to gain by trying to understand a Book that has little or no relevance to the Church?

There is absolutely no personal ill-will on my part towards any individual who has accepted one of these views – Preterist or Dispensational – but it is my conviction that one of Satan’s greatest weapons is to convince you that a portion of God’s Word is not for your instruction and encouragement as a Christian.

But what does Paul write to Timothy?

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Now I am not saying that the Book of Revelation is easy to interpret and understand. But in order to understand it correctly you must realize that most of it is written in symbols. Symbols are like parables. Take something that you can understand and compare that thing to a mystery. The Lord taught in parables in order that His people would understand His teaching and His enemies would not understand.

Matthew 13:10-17

10 And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"

11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.

12 For whoever has, to him more will be given, and he will have abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken away from him.

13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

14 And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:

'Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,

And seeing you will see and not perceive;

15 For the hearts of this people have grown dull.

Their ears are hard of hearing,

And their eyes they have closed,

Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,

Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,

So that I should heal them.'

16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear;

17 for assuredly, I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

The Book of Revelation was written in symbolic language for the same reason.

Believers who are suffering for Christ will be comforted by the Book and the enemies of Christ will be confounded. Now I am not saying that if you are confused by the Book of Revelation you are an enemy of Christ. But I am saying that we all should have a desire to understand this Book. My purpose is to explain the Book of Revelation in a way that you may understand it and in a way that is honest with the Word of God.

One of the keys to a correct understanding of Revelation is that much of the basis for its interpretation is to be found in the OT. If we can find OT prophecies and types and make honest connections with the symbols in Revelation it will help us greatly as we go forward. Scripture interprets Scripture – that is called Biblical Theology.

When John sees the Throne of God he sees a vision of symbols.

God is Spirit and cannot be fully described in literal language. Do not imagine God the Father, who is Spirit, as sitting on an actual throne. But do try to think of the image being presented of something so magnificent and wonderful that we can barely grasp its beauty.

Let’s be reminded of the image as it begins in chapter 4:

Revelation 4:1-8

1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."

2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like an emerald.

4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.

8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

"Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God Almighty,

Who was and is and is to come!"

Ezekiel, an OT prophet, saw visions of God that appeared to be like wheels within wheels and eyes all around and the chariot throne that he saw moved as lightning across the sky.

Now God does not literally look like wheels because a Spirit cannot actually be anything that can be perceived with the human eye or mind. Ezekiel said it appeared to be like, etc. Ezekiel saw the presence of God and the attributes of God.

The OT message to Ezekiel was that God had not forsaken His people and that He [God] is omnipotent and omniscient and that as powerful as Nebuchadnezzar was he was only an instrument of God’s providence.

The NT message to John, who represents the Church, is a similar word of assurance. Persecuted though the Church may be, Christ is on His throne and all creation is subject to Him. You may have to die in your body for the testimony of Jesus Christ but if you trust Jesus you have eternal life in the Spirit and “he who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.”

In the vision of the Throne of God there is a central point that has not been given the proper emphasis. The more I meditated on this chapter the more impressed I became of the import of this point.

We see in the vision the four living creatures who represent intelligent creation and the 24 elders who represent the OT twelve and the NT twelve, worshipping God day and night as they proclaim the LORD as the Creator.

Revelation 4:8-11

8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

"Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God Almighty,

Who was and is and is to come!"

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,

10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

11 "You are worthy, O Lord,

To receive glory and honor and power;

For You created all things,

And by Your will they exist and were created."

The point that cannot be emphasized too much is the emphasis that the Bible puts on God as the Creator.

The very first verse of the Bible:

Genesis 1:1

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

When I looked up all of the references to “Creator”, “creation”, and “created” it was obvious to me that it is God as Creator that is to be the focus of our worship.

Is that not what the four living creatures and the 24 elders are saying?

11 "You are worthy, O Lord,

To receive glory and honor and power;

For You created all things,

And by Your will they exist and were created."

When King Solomon sums up his search for meaning “under the sun” his conclusion and counsel to the youth is:

Ecclesiastes 12:1

Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth,

When the Apostle Paul describes the downward spiral of man in sin in Romans Chapter One, he writes:

Romans 1:24-25

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,

25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator , who is blessed forever. Amen.

A strong evidence of a reprobate mind is a denial of God as Creator!

When Paul writes the ultimate passage on Christology in Colossians he says:

Colossians 1:16-18

16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

It is as the Creator that Christ is to be worshipped.

There is no worship of God in Spirit and in Truth if God is not acknowledged as Creator of everything that is not God! Accepting any form of evolution that says that the universe and all living things just happened by chance is the perhaps the worst form of blasphemy. And I will go further and say that to deny that God created the universe in six literal 24-hour days is a compromise with the religion of evolution and a serious retreat from the truth.

Evolution, by definition, has no purpose and no design. By logical extension evolution says there are no moral absolutes and thus no accountability to a holy God. In evolution there is no God!

What would the evolutionists say if they were where John is in this vision where he sees the four living creatures and the 24 elders worshipping God as Creator?

They would have to say, “We have another god called evolution that blindly through time and chance produced everything out of preexisting matter and so we cannot worship God who created everything out of nothing by speaking!”

Brother Bunger, who shepherds our young people, has devoted a significant amount of his efforts to give our young people a foundation in God as Creator.

These young people are made to take biology courses in High School and college that force them to answer examination questions with evolutionary presuppositions. They may have to give such an answer to pass the course but they will have the truth of God in their heads and hearts.

Do you want to understand the vision of the Throne of God?

It is not too difficult. It is a vision of a throne and the One who occupies the throne is worshipped day and night as the Creator and Sustainer of Creation.

The Living Creatures represent intelligent creation in all of its forms. The entire creation worships God as Creator. The 24 elders before the throne represent the Church in the OT and in the NT: the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles which is symbolic of the redeemed Church in heaven.

The intelligent creation and the redeemed Church in heaven worships God and in symbolic language Christ is speaking to the Church militant yet on earth in her tribulation as represented by the Apostle John.

This is an important aside. The Creation is not static. That is what the deists believed; that God created everything and then He abandoned it or left it to wind down. No, the Creation is a living thing that God sustains by His omnipotence and by His omniscience and that is exactly what John saw and wrote about in this Book.

“Creation is a living thing by which the Living God expresses Himself.” CDA

Chapter 5 and the vision of the Seven Sealed Scroll:

4:1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

Always in the Bible, the “right hand” symbolizes power and authority. There is in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written on both sides which indicates its completeness. There is no space to write anything else on the scroll.

What is written on the scroll? John was told to write about those things which must shortly take place and those things are what the scroll contains. We know that is true when we see the seven seals opened. The scroll in the right hand of the One who sat on the throne contains the future of the Church and the course of the future of the entire creation until the consummation of all things.

The scroll is sealed with seven seals.

A seal in John’s day was usually beeswax softened and dripped on a document to keep its contents hidden from the eyes of anyone for whom it was not intended. The scroll is “sealed with seven seals.”

Seven is the number of completeness and the contents of the scroll are hidden from the view of anyone who is not worthy and able to open the seals.

2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?"

3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

The glory and the worth of Jesus Christ is nowhere in Scripture more emphasized than here in Revelation chapter 5.

Who is worthy? [2]

No man is found who is worthy. [4]

You are worthy. [9]

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. [12]

It is a strong angel who calls out the challenge to all of creation:

"Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?"

The angel is strong so as to be heard throughout all of creation.

Here is your challenge O angelic hosts, are you worthy?

Here is your challenge O man, are you worthy?

Here is your challenge O Satan and your demons, are you worthy?

3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

No one in all of creation is worthy or able to open the scroll, and John says, even to look at it!

Here is John taken up in a vision and he is shown the scroll that contains all that he is to write about to the church and no one is worthy or able to open the seven seals.

4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.

John weeps because no one can be found to take the scroll and open it, thus to reveal the counsel of God on behalf of the Church. Everything that John is to know is in that scroll and he cannot learn of its contents. So he wept much.

Hold on there John, there is One found who is worthy!

And He is on the right hand of God.

Romans 8:34

Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen,

who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

The One who is worthy is the Uncreated Son and He is introduced as:

“…the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David….”

5 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."

We need only to go to our OT to find out that the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” comes from Jacob’s dying words to his son Judah:

Genesis 49:1-2

And Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days:

2 "Gather together and hear, you sons of Jacob,

And listen to Israel your father.

And then:

Genesis 49:8-10

8 "Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise;

Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;

Your father's children shall bow down before you.

9 Judah is a lion's whelp;

From the prey, my son, you have gone up.

He bows down, he lies down as a lion;

And as a lion, who shall rouse him?

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah,

Nor a lawgiver from between his feet,

Until Shiloh comes;

And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.

This is fundamental Messianic prophecy. It was first realized in David who is a type of Christ the King who was to reign forever and ever. David was not that eternal King but David was a type of Christ who is now at the right hand of God and He reigns even now and forever!

The dying Jacob saw heaven’s eternal King bestriding all of creation as He rules His kingdom of believers.

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah,

Nor a lawgiver from between his feet,

Until Shiloh comes;

And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.

Shiloh [from which the name Solomon is derived] means PEACE.

Christ is the Prince of Peace. The gathering of the people unto Him is descriptive of the nature of His Kingdom as He gathers His elect from all nations to the heavenly Jerusalem.

The phrase “the Root of David” is a Messianic prophecy in Isaiah 11:1:

Isaiah 11:1-2

1 There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse,

And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

2 The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon Him,

The Spirit of wisdom and understanding,

The Spirit of counsel and might,

The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.

Later in this same prophecy:

Isaiah 11:10

10 "And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse,

Who shall stand as a banner to the people;

For the Gentiles shall seek Him,

And His resting place shall be glorious."

Paul quotes this prophecy in Romans:

Romans 15:7-13

T7 herefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God.

8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,

9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:

" For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles,

And sing to Your name."

10 And again he says:

"Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!"

11 And again:

"Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles!

Laud Him, all you peoples!"

12 And again, Isaiah says:

"There shall be a root of Jesse;

And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles,

In Him the Gentiles shall hope."

13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

It is a tragic misunderstanding of the Scriptures that puts forth the proposition that there was ever a separation between Gentiles and Jews as far as God’s eternal and sovereign choice in the election of grace.

Of course there was a nation of Israel after the flesh but there was never a generation of Jews who were all believers and there never will be. God always deals with individuals and He deals with Jew and non-Jew without distinction in His sovereign election of a remnant of Jews and chosen Gentiles.

The OT prophets did not understand and most definitely the Jewish leaders at the time of our Lord’s humiliation and in Paul and Peter’s day did not understand that the Church was made up of Gentiles and Jews in one body of Christ.

The error of the Dispensational theory is that the “mystery” was that there would be the Church. O no: the “mystery” was the make up of the Church with Gentiles and Jews together in one body of Christ. Paul makes that very clear in Galatians, Ephesians, and Romans.

There are other OT prophecies that point to the same thing that John saw in the “the Root of David”

Jeremiah 23:5-6

5 "Behold, the days are coming," says the LORD,

"That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness;

A King shall reign and prosper,

And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

6 In His days Judah will be saved,

And Israel will dwell safely;

Now this is His name by which He will be called:

THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. [JEHOVAH TSIDKENU]

Zechariah 3:8

8'Hear, O Joshua, the high priest,

You and your companions who sit before you,

For they are a wondrous sign;

For behold, I am bringing forth My Servant the BRANCH.

Zechariah 6:12-13

12 Then speak to him, saying, 'Thus says the LORD of hosts, saying:

"Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH!

From His place He shall branch out,

And He shall build the temple of the LORD;

13 Yes, He shall build the temple of the LORD.

He shall bear the glory,

And shall sit and rule on His throne;

So He shall be a priest on His throne,

And the counsel of peace shall be between them both."'

The dynasty of David was to have an eternal destiny that could only be realized in the One who was at one and the same time David’s Son and David’s Lord.

Matthew 22:41-45

41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,

42 saying, "What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?"

They said to Him, "The Son of David."

43 He said to them, "How then does David in the Spirit call Him 'Lord,' saying:

44'The LORD said to my Lord,

"Sit at My right hand,

Till I make Your enemies Your footstool"'?

45 If David then calls Him 'Lord,' how is He his Son?" 46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.

The Jewish leaders never could, or would understand that Messiah was to be both God and Man in One person. The historic fact is that from the time of the Captivity under Nebuchadnezzar and for six centuries until the Incarnation at Bethlehem, no king of David’s line ever mounted the throne of Israel.

A tender root so dependent on his mother’s breast for life is the Creator of the universe and creations eternal King!

The words of the elder bring to John a realization that this fundamental OT prophecy of the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, is fulfilled in none other than the Lord Jesus Christ.

But when John looks to see the One who has prevailed to open the scroll and loose its seals he sees not a Lion but a Lamb!

7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

Stay with the symbolism: Seven is the number of perfection; Horns in Scripture represent kingdoms, powers, and dominions. Thus seven horns represent complete power and omnipotence. Seven eyes stand for His omniscience. John sees a Lamb having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God.

The Lamb who was slain is omnipotent [seven horns] and omniscient [seven eyes] and is completely filled with the seven Spirits of God [the Holy Spirit - Not seven Holy Spirits but a complete and perfect Spirit of God.]

A Lamb that was slain:

The first sacrifice offered by Abel [Genesis 4:4] was slain to shed its blood.

And then said Abraham, “My son God will provide for Himself a lamb.”

[Genesis 22:8]

All through the OT sacrificial system it is the shedding of the life-blood of the innocent victim that point to the singular and unique Lamb of God.

Leviticus 17:11

For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

The word picture of Isaiah of the suffering Christ:

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.

Then after Jesus is baptized, to “fulfill all righteousness”, John the Baptist points Him out to his disciples.

John 1:29-30

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

John is saying that the OT sacrificial system is over and gone forever because the True Lamb is here! Behold the Lamb!

It is in this dual capacity, lion and lamb, King and Victim, that Christ rests His qualification to be the bearer of omnipotent power on the behalf of His people.

Islam kills those who do not embrace its false claims and they teach their children from infancy to hate. The King of the Universe in humility and meekness, mercy and love, draws to Himself by sovereign grace those He came to save.

Zechariah 9:9

"Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!

Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem!

Behold, your King is coming to you;

He is just and having salvation,

Lowly and riding on a donkey,

A colt, the foal of a donkey.

This is what John sees in the Seven Sealed Scroll. Herein is the answer to the problem of moral creation. As Lion and Lamb we see in Christ the answer to the fall of Satan. The absence of humility and submission to authority was Lucifer’s downfall. Satan attributes to God the same pride that caused him to fall.

Psalm 50:21

You thought that I was altogether like you;

A quote from Charles D. Alexander:

“The slander of Satan is that God’s rule is coercive and unjust, that it overrides the will of the creature and that God is therefore evil. But the Lord repels the lie and destroys Satan not by almighty power [which would only have proven Satan’s theology was correct] but by submitting Himself to Satan’s power so as to overcome by weakness, suffering the penalty of death [which Satan brought into the universe] and paying the debt of suffering earned by the disobedience of others.

Thus the Lord establishes the law of creation on His own unchangeable nature of holy love, and raises a new creation out of the grave of the old - a moral creation which can never be altered or fail because in it a unity is created of God and man, in the divine Spirit, through God having become Man.

Satan’s sin sprang from his revolt against his fate: his repulsion of his subordination to the creature man, who though created after the angels, was destined to rule over all as the regent of the Invisible God. What Satan did not know was that through his own act of rebellion he would bring about that very situation in which man’s destiny would be realised by God becoming Man and proving by suffering and death and humble obedience, His own worthiness to be Creator and King over all.” CDA

More from Charles D. Alexander on this passage:

HOW CHRIST “PREVAILS”

Special attention must be paid to the peculiar statement of the Elder (verse 5) that Christ has ‘prevailed’ to open the Book and to loose the seals. “The standing use of the Greek verb ‘to conquer’ in John’s writings occurs more frequently than in any other N.T. writings” (Hengstenberg). This is the word here translated, “prevailed”. It is the same word used in the next chapter “conquering and to conquer” used … of Christ in His all-conquering career of judgment against the foes of His kingdom. It is the same word used so frequently in the sense of ‘to overcome’ in chaps. 2 and 3 at the termination of each of the messages to the Seven Churches (“To him that overcometh”). We should note its use in John 16:33, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world”; 1 John 5:4, “Whosoever is born of God overcometh the world, and this is the victory that overcometh, even our faith”. Paul uses the same root word in Romans 8:37, “We are more than conquerors through him that loved us”.

Christ ‘prevails to open the Book’ in the sense in which He is presented as the Lion, the Root of David, and the Lamb of sacrifice. The lion of Judah indicates the all-conquering nature of this royal tribe; the mention of David brings into view the royal line which culminated in Christ ‘in whom the race of David lived anew’ (Hengstenberg). The designation of Christ as the Lamb occurs only in John among the four gospel writers. In Revelation it occurs 26 times. To ‘prevail to open the Book’ therefore means that Christ obtains the right to execute the divine judgments and carry the purposes of God through to final victory, in virtue of His absolute and filial obedience unto death as the sacrificial Victim who lays down His life that He might destroy the kingdom of sin and death and hell.

Thus has Christ prevailed by sorrow, submission, suffering, death and the grave to be the Revealer and Executor of the holy and sovereign purpose of the Godhead in the redemption of the Church and the subduing of all things to the Father, that God may be all in all (1 Cor. 15:28). It is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of holiness, truth, love, submission, and sacrificial obedience, that the Kingdom is won and the Victor is crowned.

The description of the Lamb is complete. He is God made known in the flesh. The Second Person of the divine Trinity receives from the Godhead the symbolic scroll of the divine counsel for the purpose of executing its contents in righteousness.

Compare the vision in Daniel 7:9-14:

9 "I watched till thrones were put in place, And the Ancient of Days was seated; His garment was white as snow, And the hair of His head was like pure wool. His throne was a fiery flame, Its wheels a burning fire;

10 A fiery stream issued And came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him; Ten thousand times ten thousand stood before Him. The court was seated, And the books were opened.

11 "I watched then because of the sound of the pompous words which the horn was speaking; I watched till the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning flame.

12 As for the rest of the beasts, they had their dominion taken away, yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.

13 "I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him.

14 Then 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 the one Which shall not be destroyed.

In principle the vision is the same. In the case of Daniel he could not make the distinction between the first and the second coming of Christ.

However in the case of John he was able to make this distinction. Daniel sees the approach of the Son of Man to the Ancient of Days; that is, the approach of the Christ along the path of humiliation and exaltation. He sees the kingdom given to the Son as the nations bow before Him.

John beholds the Lamb as it were slain but to John the exaltation in final victory is yet future to him. So John sees the Lamb take the scroll as the One who is worthy to open its seven seals.

Each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

We must ever keep in mind that we are in dealing in visions and symbols.

The harp was an instrument of worship; the bowls of incense; the prayers of the saints.

There are over 30 OT references of the worship of God with the harp. E.g.

Psalm 33:1-3

1 Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous!

For praise from the upright is beautiful.

2 Praise the LORD with the harp ;

Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings.

3 Sing to Him a new song;

Play skillfully with a shout of joy.

Psalm 43:4

4 Then I will go to the altar of God,

To God my exceeding joy;

And on the harp I will praise You,

O God, my God.

And incense as a symbol of prayer. David in Psalm 141:2:

Let my prayer be set before You as incense,

The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

Bear with me for an illustration that I heard many years ago. It seems that a man went to heaven and was taken into a room full of file cabinets. He asked what was in the file cabinets and was told that they contained all of the prayers offered to God.

Well, he said, are any of my prayers in those cabinets? Surely, was the answer, and a few of his prayers were pulled out and read out loud. The man was overwhelmed with joy when he heard the prayers but said, that they were so beautiful and he was never able to pray like that. Oh, of course, but these are what goes into the files after the Holy Spirit cleans them up.

However close to reality that illustration may be I believe the thing to see here is that John is being given encouragement to write in a Book for the Church to know that their prayers are received in heaven at the very throne of God.

9 And they sang a new song, saying:

"You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."

All creation awakes at the sight! The Living Creatures personifying the living creation, with the elders, representatives of redeemed creation, fall down before God and worship the Lamb.

They sing a “new song” never before heard in creation: it is the song of redemption:

Never before heard because only now accomplished and understood!

The song is sung by the new creation of saints who are the priests and kings of creation who worship the Lamb.

CDA’s explanation of the last clause, “and we shall reign on the earth” (or over the earth). There is no ground for supposing this to mean an actual visible reign of resurrected saints on the cosmic earth. We quote with approval Alford’s note, “The whole aspect of this heavenly vision is not future, but present: the world and Church are now existing. The Church even now, in Christ her Head, reigns on the earth: all things are being put under her feet as under His: and even if this meaning be questioned, we have her kingly rank and office asserted in the present, even in the midst of persecution and contempt”.

Alford refers us to Ephesians 2:6 – “He hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus”. In other words, the Church is now reigning over her foes by reason of her position in Christ who, having overcome, is set down in His Father’s throne (Rev. 3:21).

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,

12 saying with a loud voice:

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"

The angels join in the song that although they cannot experience redemption they have a great interest in its meaning. They have no sins to be forgiven, but their security depends equally with ours on the worthiness of the Lamb –

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom,

And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"

1 Peter 1:10-12

10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,

11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven —

things which angels desire to look into.

1 Peter 3:22

… who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.

Now there can be no mystery about the interpretation of verses 13 and 14.

13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

"Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"

14 Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

This is not universalism that teaches that everyone will finally be saved, even those who die in unbelief. What it says is that all creation will acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father,

Philippians 2:5-11

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name,

10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,

11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So we are to understand that when all of God’s purpose is consummated, that all creation will acknowledge that God is the Creator and that God He is merciful and He is just.

The Lord’s parable of the wedding feast is prophetic of this scene in heaven.

Matthew 22:1-14

1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said:

2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son,

3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.

4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited,

"See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding."'

5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business.

6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.

7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.

8 Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.

9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.'

10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.

12 So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless.

13 Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

The man without a wedding garment [the righteousness of Christ] was speechless because he was forever convinced of the righteous judgment of God and he had nothing to say against it.

Do you have on a wedding garment provided by the Son of God?

Are you living in a consistent state of repentance?

Is your hope in what the Lamb has already done?

Now I will close with this question. If you have listened to this message, has it been so difficult to understand? Do you see the message of Revelation in the symbolic language?

God is worshipped as Creator.

The Lion and the Lamb of the OT is on the throne at the right hand of God and only He is worthy to open the seven sealed scroll.

If God permits we will watch next time with the Apostle John as the Lamb who is worthy opens the first six of the seven seals.

Amen