In Chapter 5, John is about to be revealed the 7 seals, which are knowledge that we are to understand, before entering the Tribulation, that will keep us from being deceived by the flood of lies issued by Antichrist. All of God’s faithful servants are to be sealed by the Holy Spirit with this understanding, this will be complete just before Antichrist arrives. Those who are not sealed with this knowledge by that point, will not be protected from receiving the mark of the beast. Each time a seal is broken, new understanding is revealed to those on earth to whom the Holy Spirit will reveal this knowledge. But first, we will need to find out who has the power to open the seals of the book from which this knowledge will come. Whom do you think has the power to open these seals and give this knowledge to the servants of God?
(Rev 5:1) And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
John was observing the One Who was sitting on the throne, which is God, Whom he was seeing in the last chapter. This is just a continuation of what we read in chapter 4. God had this book in His right hand, which signifies power and action. God is a God of action–He doesn’t just sit back and watch. He has a hand in all the events of the world to ensure His plan comes to pass just as He has told us. At the right hand of the Godhead is Christ, the Son, which performs the actions of God (the right hand represents power and action), because He is God.
(Rev 5:2) And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
This angel is searching Heaven at its entirety to find anyone that is able to open these seals of understanding. He who has the power to open these seals has the power to give this understanding to God’s servants on earth, His elect.
(Rev 5:3) And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
(Rev 5:4) And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
In all his searching, the angel could not find even one man in heaven, or anywhere that was able to give this understanding to the servants of God. This troubled John greatly.
(Rev 5:5) And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
(Rev 5:6) And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
John was reassured by one of the 24 elders that there was in fact One who was perfect enough to be able to open these seven seals, and it was Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was sacrificed once and for all times for our sins. He lived a perfect life while here in on earth in the flesh, yet He allowed Himself to be punished for all our sins if we accept Him as our Lord and Savior.
The seven eyes represent His 7000 watchmen, or elect, who are on the earth currently in this final generation. They are the same as the seven eyes on the stone, in Zechariah 3, which also represents Christ and His 7000 predestinated servants, about which we learned in Romans 11.
The seven spirits of God, as we learned in the last chapter’s discussion, are power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing.
(Rev 5:7) And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
(Rev 5:8) And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
The Lamb, Christ, the Son, took the book out of the right hand of the Father because He had the power and authority to open these seals. The four beasts, the zoa called cherubim, and the 24 elders had harps, presumably for praise of God, and golden vials (golden construction representing God’s pure truth), which held the prayers of the saints, God’s elect. The saints are those who have never strayed from God, not during satan’s rebellion, not throughout their life on earth, and not even during the Tribulation when Antichrist will spew out his flood of lies. These prayer, God never forgets, and His answers to these prayers are in our best interest, whether they are yes answers or no answers.
(Rev 5:9) And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
(Rev 5:10) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
The zoa and 24 elders then began praising Jesus Christ for what He has done for all of us on earth.
(Rev 5:11) And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
(Rev 5:12) 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.
These angels are those who had lived and died on earth in Christ. They have been redeemed and given salvation. These are the saints who will be returning with Jesus, in His second coming, as His army, and they are also praising Christ along with the zoa and the 24 elders.
(Rev 5:13) 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, 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.
Christ will be on this throne forever and ever, as there is no who is more worthy and satan will have completely failed in his rebellion to take over heaven. Once we enter the Eternal Kingdom of Heaven, in the third earth age, there will be no evil left and we will never have to worry about another rebellion.
(Rev 5:14) And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
And everyone said “Amen.”
There is never anything to worry about because God is always on the throne, from the beginning, and now, and forever. Once you truly understand that, then no one can cause you fear or worry. Do you understand that?
God bless.
