Who's Really in Charge - Revelation 5:1-14 - July 6, 2008

Sunday School Lesson – Who’s Really in Charge? – July 6, 2008

We begin a new series of study in the Book of Revelation. The first thing I want to draw your attention to is that it is the Book of “Revelation” and not “Revelations.” This is the Revelation from GOD through the Apostle John while he was exiled on the Island of Patmos. Our scripture will come from the Book of Revelation the month of July.

Our scripture is Revelation 5:1-14.

July 6 – Why JESUS is in control and believers are HIS representatives.
July 13 – The Antichrist.
July 20 – Discovering what CHRIST will do when HE returns to earth and what that means to believers.
July 27 – What is heaven?

When the Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation, Christians were being persecuted. John knew if he used typical terminology of that day regarding Christianity, his writings would not be delivered to his fellow brothers in CHRIST, therefore, he used code. Other scholars believe that John was describing the best he could the things he was seeing.

Scholars debate whether or not John was describing the past, present or the future. There is good agreement that Chapters 1-3 deal with the first century and Chapters 21-22 deal with future events. The questions arise with the Chapters in between.
Our approach will be to consider the first century settings, consider the events of today and how they translate to the future.

Let’s read Revelation 5:1-7:

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

1 Then I saw in the right hand of the One seated on the throne a scroll with writing on the inside and on the back,[1] Ezk 2:9–10 sealed with seven seals. 2 I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it. 4 And I cried and cried because no one was found worthy to open[2] Other mss add and read the scroll or even to look in it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah,[3] Gn 49:9 the Root of David,[4] Isaiah 11:1,10; Rv 22:16 has been victorious[5] Jn 16:33 so that He may open the scroll and[6] Other mss add loose its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing between[7] Or standing in the middle of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God[8] Rv 1:4 sent into all the earth. 7 He came and took [the scroll]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. [9] Other mss include the scroll out of the right hand of the One seated on the throne.

The Apostle John actually saw this event. He saw GOD seated with a scroll in HIS right hand. The right hand is the hand of power and authority. The scroll was written on both-sides, front and back. The scroll was sealed with seven (7) seals. An ordinary scroll was sealed with one (1) seal however, if the scroll was an official document, such as a will, it was sealed with seven (7) seals. Seven (7) is the number for completion or perfection which identified this scroll as an authentic and powerful document.

Ordinarily, scrolls were written on only one side. However, if a scroll was an important legal document it was written on both sides. This scroll is written on both sides of the same scroll.

Here is what I think. This is my opinion and you can form your own based upon facts and the guidance of the HOLY SPIRIT:

This scroll contains the complete plan of GOD from the beginning of time to the end of time. The scroll is complete and written such that nothing can be added to it or subtracted from it.

There is much speculation from Bible scholars about what this scroll contains such
as:
- Assuring all believers of their inheritance.
- Lamb’s Book of Life which contains the names of all the redeemed.
- GOD’S redemptive plan as foretold in the Old Testament and fulfilled in CHRIST.
- CHRIST’S title deed to the world.
- The counsels of GOD as revealed in the opening of the first seal in Chapter 6:1, the second through the sixth seals are opened in chapter 6. The seventh seal is not opened until chapter 8:1 followed by the seven trumpets and other series of sevens.

John saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice. This is awesome. If you have ever heard the voice of an angel you know it is unmistakable. It is clear, 360 degree surround sound and powerful.

The angel’s message is clearly understood by all – humans, angels, Satan, evil spirits, creatures, everyone anywhere in the universe. Some speculate who is this angel? It could be either Michael or Gabriel. We do not know and it could be an angel GOD has not revealed to us through HIS Word.

The angel wants to know who is worthy to open or break the seals. It appears that no one is worthy. This message goes to all in heaven and the universe.

The apparent absence of someone to open the seals breaks John’s heart. He begins to weep. Then an elder comforts John with the words “Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah,[3] Gn 49:9 the Root of David,[4] Isaiah 11:1,10; Rv 22:16 has been victorious[5] Jn 16:33 so that He may open the scroll and[6] Other mss add loose its seven seals.”

Genesis 49:9-10 capturers prophesy regarding the Lion:

9 Judah is a young lion— my son, you return from the kill— he crouches; he lies down like a lion and like a lioness—who wants to rouse him? 10 The scepter will not depart from Judah, or the staff from between his feet, until He whose right it is comes[5] Or until tribute comes to him, or until Shiloh comes, or until He comes to Shiloh [6] Ps 60:7; 108:8; Ezk 21:27 and the obedience of the peoples belongs to Him.

JESUS is identified as the root of David. The lion represents the Old Testament covenant and JESUS is the victor over the law and establishes grace.

John saw JESUS as the slaughted lamb, WHO is standing between GOD and heavenly beings and humans. CHRIST is the advocate for all believers. JESUS is worthy to open the scroll because HE gave HIS life to pay the debt for sin. HE was slaughtered as the sacrificial lamb.

JESUS had seven (7) horns which represented strength and power and seven (7) eyes which represented knowledge or insight into all things. The seven (7) eyes tell us that HE has the ability to see the truth in all things. We as humans have hidden motives and purposes but CHRIST sees through our pretense directly into our hearts to know the truth. Seven is the number for perfection. JESUS is all seeing, all knowing and all powerful. HE is complete in all things and worthy to take the scroll. HE gave HIS life to pay the penalty of sin and death man had incurred. The fact that HE was sinless gave HIM the right to give HIS life in exchange for our lives.

Let’s read Revelation 5:8-10:

The Lamb Is Worthy

8 When He took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; because You were slaughtered, and You redeemed[10] Or purchased [people]* The bracketed text has been added for clarity. [11] Other mss read us for God by Your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation.[12] Ex 19:5 10 You made them a kingdom[13] Other mss read them kings and priests to our God,[14] Ex 19:6; Rv 1:5–6 and they will reign on the earth.

JESUS took the scroll and immediately the four (4) creatures and the twenty-four (24) elders immediately fell down before our LORD in an attitude of worship.

It is interesting that the Greek language tells us that only the twenty-four (24) elders have harps and gold bowls. The harps and gold bowls were used for worship and praise. The gold bowls were used to burn incense which was a sweet fragrance to our LORD. Our prayers are a sweet fragrance to our LORD.

Then the twenty-four (24) elders sung a song of worship and praise. The Bible does not tell us that angels or other heavenly creatures sing. But humans sing.

Who are these twenty-four (24) elders? I believe they represent the twelve (12) tribes of Israel and the twelve (12) disciples. They represent the law and grace. CHRIST melded these two (2) groups together under one GOD head. Those in the Old Testament were looking forward to the cross for salvation and redemption and we are looking back on the cross for salvation and redemption. CHRIST redeems all believers from sin and death.

The term “redemption” is a term used to purchase a slave. Once the slave was purchased the slave became the property of the new owner. CHRIST shed HIS precious blood to redeem believers from sin and death. HE purchased us and we belong to HIM. A task master would force their property to serve him or her but CHRIST redeems us but gives us the freedom to serve HIM. HE wants us to serve HIM out of a willing, obedient heart which comes from a loving relationship. Now think on that. What a loving SAVIOR believers have. If you have not asked CHRIST to forgive you of your sins do so now. It is an awesome journey.

Let’s read Revelation 5:11-14:

11 Then I looked, and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures, and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. 12 They said with a loud voice: The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing! 13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say: Blessing and honor and glory and dominion to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! 14 The four living creatures said, “• Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
John saw an amazing sight and heard an amazing sound. He saw thousands of angels, living creatures and elders surrounding the throne. It is interesting that the highest number the Greek language could express was ten thousand. So John just said thousands, plus thousands of thousands.

All the beings uttered the same message of praise and worship as they acknowledged the worthiness of CHRIST. Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that JESUS is LORD.

Can you say that CHRIST is your LORD? CHRIST being your SAVIOR is one thing but for you to make HIM LORD of your life is another. To make HIM LORD is to yield control of your life to HIM. You will never experience the fullness of CHRIST in you until you yield your life to HIM.

I did that over thirty (30) years ago. My prayer was in essence, “LORD take me like I am, the good and the bad and YOU give me the strength to live the Christian life.” I was already a Christian but had never committed my life to CHRIST. HE took my lifed in that instant. It has not been an easy road but HE has never left me through some times that were not pleasing to HIM.