OPENING THE BOOK OF REVELATION –PART 21 Listen to Audio

                                  September 2, 2009-09-01

 

5:7- “took the scroll out of the right hand…sat on throne”- this

visual exchange fulfills John 5:22, 27, investing Christ with judgmental authority.

He is now the Mediator of World-judgment.

 

5:8- John describes the reaction of the 4 living creatures & 24 elders to this

exchange—“fell down before the Lamb”- this prostrating is indicative of

humility and abasement, before One so powerfully invested with judgment.

“harp” – an instrument of music—has caused many to view heaven as a place of sitting on a cloud, playing a harp.  The harp (music) is to accompany the great hymn of praise in vs.9.

  “golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints”-

this use of an object to express the value of prayer is part of the figurative language of Revelation.  While one may get the impression that “prayers” are collected in a bowl, it is likely that the use of a visual object to point to prayers is done here, to show divine judgment fulfills the prayerful yearning of God’s people as in 6:10.  In other words, prayer is NOT disregarded or ignored by God, but His response may be delayed until the timing is correct.  The collection of these prayers in 5:8 expresses that “delay-fulfillment” concept.

 

5:9-10- brings us to the hymn or doxology addressed to the Lamb, now

that He will act in judgment. Note the parallel in the first line of 4:11 and

5:9!  The Lamb is worthy to open the seals (initiate judgment) on the basis

of His work as the Redeemer of mankind (dwellers on earth).

  “by your blood”- emphasizes the nature of His suffering/death and connects

His work with the numerous types (animal and human) found in the OT.  The “blood” is proof and evidence of His genuine humanity and His real death.

See I John 5:6, 8.  We might also say that the Lamb has the right to now

shed blood on earth in view of His having shed His own blood for redemption.

   “out of every tribe [phulas] and tongue [glossos] and people [laou]

and nation [ethnous]”- evidences a global redemption that precedes a

global judgment!  We infer these believers to be from the church era, along

with OT believers.  All these believers are present to express their support or affirmation of the worthiness of the Lamb to now act in judgment.

   But there is more—“have made us kings and priests unto our God;

and we shall reign on the earth”.  There is an awareness that this judgment

will lead to the dominion of righteousness on earth–see Isaiah 2:1-5 and 10-22.   Such reigning is the outworking of the promised positions of 2:26 and 3:21.  This work of appointing kings/priests is not incidental, but essential.  They are not appointed because someone had to be, but rather as a fulfillment of long-awaited promises from the Lord- Matt.5:3, 5, 8:11, 10:41-42, 13:43, 19:28,

20:23, 24:46-47, 25:21,34.

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  Some modern translations change the words “us” and “we” in vs.10

to be “them” and “they”—making the 4 liv.creatures & 24 elders to sing

about someone else other than themselves.  Also changed is the word,

“king” to “kingdom”.   A similar change is in 1:6.

 

5:11-12- John is now aware of a crescendo of voices joining together

to proclaim the worthiness of the Lamb to be inaugurated in power.

“many angels…living creatures…elders…”= multiple thousands

or millions singing in unison.

   “Worthy is…..to receive …”  The attention shifts from the right

of the Lamb to open the scrolls to the inauguration of the Lamb to rule.

Seven words are used to express this exaltation—

>power –dunimin      >riches—plouton     >wisdom- sophian

>strength—ischun     >honor-timon         >glory- dokan

                                 >blessing-eulogian

  To whatever measure Christ is now exalted (Heb. 1:3-4, Eph.1:20-21,

I Peter 3:22), there is yet to be implemented greater acknowledgement of His majesty and elevation—Rom.14:10-11, Phil.2:9-10.

  It may be helpful to distinguish between the delegation of power to

Christ in view of His resurrection- Matt.28:18—with such power illustrated

through miracles in Acts- see Mk.16:17, Acts 3:16 – and the final function

of His power to implement resurrection- John 5:21,25, 11:25, Rom.1:4

and I Cor.15:21 and establish the kingdom—Rev.11:15, 19:11-15, Dan.7:13-14.