Revelation Chapter 5
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An explanation and a revealing of the apocalyptic |
V 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.
This chapter is a continuation of the 'vision' of chapter four! The
Father on the throne.
The importance of the book. It is pictured in the right hand of GOD, denoting
power and authority. It is actually a scroll with seven seals.
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
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.
Judah was the leading tribe of Israel and the lion was its symbol. The
lion denotes CHRIST in His heavenly state. His power to deal with His enemies,
His power to destroy and to end the reign of Satan and all who support him.
The root of David, Jesse his father. JESUS in His earthly ministry used this to
effectively silence the Pharisees who were always trying to embarrass Him with
tricky questions. "What think ye of CHRIST? Whose son is He? They said to Him,
the son of David. He says to them, How then doth David, in spirit [or vision]
call him Lord? Saying the Lord said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand till I
make thine enemies thy footstool. If David called him Lord, how can he be his
son? [Matthew 22:41-46].
The lion of Judah, so terrible to the rejectors of His grace, will be the Lamb
of GOD to the obedient and faithful. Reference is made to Israel's greatest king
and military hero. While Saul slew his 1000's, King David is said to have killed
10 000's.
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.
When John the Baptist introduced JESUS to the world, he declared, 'Behold
the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world' [John 1:29]. Seven horns
are figurative term to describe the power of omnipotence. While on earth, JESUS
was not omnipotent, he had laid it aside. [Deut. 33:7].
Seven eyes. These present the fact that CHRIST is now all observant,
all-watchful, ever vigilant of His church on earth. [Zech. 4:10; 2.Chron.
16:19].
Sustenance of the Church
Christ's intercession sustains the church in her mission to
illuminate the world with the good news of salvation. John the Revelator saw "in
the midst of the lampstand one like a Son of Man" (Rev 1:13). Since the "seven
lampstands are the seven churches" (Rev 1:20), which symbolically represent the
church at large, the standing of Christ in the midst of His church points to His
sustenance of those who have accepted Him and who keep their light shining
before the world.
As the earthly priests daily trimmed and filled the lamps to keep
them burning, so Christ in the heavenly counterpart of the holy place
symbolically ministers daily at the candelabra by sustaining and strengthening
the church. This ministry is accomplished through the work of the Holy Spirit
who is also identified in Revelation 4:5 with the seven lamps: "Before the
throne burn seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God." It is
noteworthy that these "seven spirits" are explicitly identified with the "seven
eyes" of the Lamb-Priest: "I saw a lamb standing . . . with seven eyes, which
are the seven spirit of God sent out into all the earth" (Rev 5:6). Through the
Holy Spirit, Christ fully sees ("seven eyes") and supplies the needs of His
people.