View source for The Worthy Lamb Prepares to Open the Seven Seals

•	"1 <span style="color:darkred">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." </span>
A book <span style="color:darkred">"sealed with Seven Seals"</span> is seen in this continuing Heavenly vision-- which began in chapter 4-- in the <span style="color:darkred">"Right Hand of Him that sat on the Throne" (Rev 5:1). The Right Hand is indicative of the power and authority of the LORD Jesus Christ, to Whom <span style="color:darkred">'''"all''' power is given unto"</span> (Matthew 28:18). <span style="color:darkred">"Let Thy hand be upon the Man of Thy Right Hand</span> [Jesus], <span style="color:darkred">upon the Son of Man whom Thou madest strong for Thyself"</span> (Psalm 80:17). It will become apparent in verse 7 that the Father is actually here indicated; but still, Jesus said, <span style="color:darkred">"All things that the Father hath are Mine"</span> (John 16:15).

The fact that the Book is<span style="color:darkred"> "written within and on the backside"</span> (Revelation 5:1) points to the fullness or completeness of Its contents. <span style="color:darkred"> "But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet '''full"'''</span> (Genesis 15:16). The sealing <span style="color:darkred">"with Seven Seals"</span> (Revelation 5:1) speaks of the importance of the Book's contents. <span style="color:darkred"> "O Earth, Earth, Earth, hear the Word of the LORD" </span> (Jeremiah 22:29).
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•	"2 <span style="color:darkred">And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" </span>
Worthiness is a question that even the Angels of Heaven ask; but, the reply is anticipated. Unquestionably, our LORD '''alone''' is worthy "to open the Book" (Rev 5:2). <span style="color:darkred"> "Thou art worthy, O LORD, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created"</span> (Rev 4:11). Because the Saints submit their wills to Him that His Spirit may work in us <span style="color:darkred">"to will and to do of His good pleasure"</span> (Philippians 2:13), we are then <span style="color:darkred">'''"accounted worthy''' to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man"</span> (Luke 21:36)-- which is a Promise for the Pre-Tribulational Rapture.
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•	"3 <span style="color:darkred">And no man in Heaven, nor in Earth, neither under the Earth, was able to open the Book, neither to look thereon." </span>
This matter of opening the Book and <span style="color:darkred">"loosing the seals thereof" </span> (Rev 5:2) requires more than the strength and intelligence of the <span style="color:darkred">"strong angel"</span> (Rev 5:2). In short, <span style="color:darkred">"no man"</span> (Rev 5:3) was found to open the Book. <span style="color:darkred">"And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him; and His righteousness, it sustained Him" </span> (Isaiah 59:16). Man is accounted as many<span style="color:darkred"> "grasshoppers" </span>in the sight of Him that <span style="color:darkred">"sitteth upon the circle of the Earth" </span> (Isa 40:22). <span style="color:darkred">"Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?" </span> (Rev 2:22).
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•	"4 <span style="color:darkred">And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the Book, neither to look thereon." </span>
Not surprisingly, the Apostle John-- more than an excellent example for the Body of Christ-- wept because no one <span style="color:darkred">"was found worthy to open and to read the Book"</span> (Rev 5:4). "8 <span style="color:darkred">And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my LORD, what shall be the end of these things? </span> 9 <span style="color:darkred">And He said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the Words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end"</span> (Daniel 12:8-9).
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•	"5 <span style="color:darkred">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." </span>
One of the 24 Elders (Rev 4:10) tells John the Beloved to stop crying because Someone has been found to <span style="color:darkred">"open the Book" (Rev 5:5). This Someone had <span style="color:darkred">"prevailed" </span> (Rev 5:5) or overcome, to be able to open the Book. <span style="color:darkred">"And having spoiled principalities and powers, He made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it"</span> (Colossians 2:15). The <span style="color:darkred">"Lion of the tribe of Juda"</span> (Revelation 5:5) refers to Christ in reference to Jacob's prophecy concerning his son, Judah. "9 <span style="color:darkred">Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? </span> 10 <span style="color:darkred">The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him</span> [Jesus Christ] <span style="color:darkred">shall the gathering of the people be"</span> (Genesis 49:9-10).

The <span style="color:darkred">"Root of David"</span> (Revelation 5:5) indicates that the LORD Jesus was not just the <span style="color:darkred">"son of David" (Matthew 22:42), but was also before David. "42 </span>Saying, What think ye of Christ? whose Son is He? They say unto Him, The Son of David. </span > 43 <span style="color:darkred">He saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call Him LORD, saying, </span> 44 <span style="color:darkred">The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, till I make Thine enemies Thy footstool? </span> 45 </span>If David then call Him LORD, how is He His Son? </span>" (Matthew 22:42-45). This enigma of understanding how the LORD Jesus can be both the <span style="color:darkred">"Root and the Offspring of David" </span> (Revelation 22:16) is a secret, which is plain only to those who walk in faith. <span style="color:darkred">"A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth"</span> (Proverbs 14:6). And, how does one enter this walk of faith? By submitting to the truth that is '''known by all men'''. "19 <span style="color:darkred">Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. </span> 20 <span style="color:darkred">For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse"</span> (Romans 1:19-20).
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•	"6 <span style="color:darkred">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." </span>
Surrounding the Throne were:
(1) the angelic seraphim, which are the<span style="color:darkred"> "four beasts"</span> (Rev 4:6), and

(2) the representatives of the Old and New Testament Saints, which are the <span style="color:darkred">"four and twenty elders"</span> (Rev 4:10).
And, <span style="color:darkred">"in the midst of the Throne"</span>, is a Lamb <span style="color:darkred">"as It had been slain"</span> (Rev 5:6). This, of course, is the LORD Jesus Christ. <span style="color:darkred">"Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world"</span> (John 1:29). This Lamb has <span style="color:darkred">"seven horns"</span> (Revelation 5:6), which represent the perfection of power. Daniel understood the horns to represent kingly power, i.e., <span style="color:darkred">"And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings"</span> (Daniel 7:24). The <span style="color:darkred">"seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God"</span > (Revelation 5:6) represent the <span style="color:darkred">"eyes of the LORD</span> [which] <span style="color:darkred"> run to and fro throughout the whole Earth"</span> (2Chronicles 16:9). "7 <span style="color:darkred">Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence? </span> 8 If I ascend up into Heaven, Thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; </span> 10 <span style="color:darkred">Even there shall Thy hand lead me, and Thy Right Hand shall hold me"</span> (Psalm 139:7-10).

Again, the contrast of the LORD Jesus being both the <span style="color:darkred">"Lion of the tribe of Juda"</span> (Revelation 5:5) and a Lamb (Rev 5:6) at the same time, demonstrate the all-sufficiency that the LORD Jesus is to His people. <span style="color:darkred">"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God"</span> (2Corinthians 3:5). God's people ought to take great joy in this revelation, because it demonstrates that the LORD is revealing His secrets to His people. <span style="color:darkred">"His secret is with the righteous"</span> (Proverbs 3:32). And, secrets such as the Pre-Tribulational Rapture are meant to be revealed to the Righteous. <span style="color:darkred">"Surely the LORD GOD will do nothing, but He revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets"</span> (Amos 3:7).
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•	"7 <span style="color:darkred">"And He came and took the Book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the Throne." </span>"
This verse indicates that <span style="color:darkred">""Him that sat upon the Throne"</span>" (Rev 5:7) is the Father. However, both the Father and the Son are identified as the Ancient of Days (Daniel 7:9 and Revelation 1:14). The unity of the Father and the Son is no trouble to the understanding of the Righteous. <span style="color:darkred">""I and My Father are One"</span>" (John 10:30). Though the Saints will always be His creation, we are intended to have a union with our Creator, in a fashion similar to the union of the Father with the Son. <span style="color:darkred">""That they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me" </span>" (Rev 17:21).
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•	"8 <span style="color:darkred">"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." </span>"
Both the angelic seraphim, i.e., the <span style="color:darkred">""four beasts"</span>" (Rev 5:8), and the 24 Elders worship the Lamb. Twice in the Revelation, the Apostle John was told to only<span style="color:darkred">" "worship God"</span>" (Rev 19:10;22:9). The classic picture of angels with harps is seen here, but with the Saints as well, in harp accompaniment. <span style="color:darkred">""Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto Him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings"</span>" (Psalm 33:2).

What happened to all those prayers uttered by the Saints throughout the ages? <span style="color:darkred">""The righteous cry, and the LORD heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles" </span>" (Psalm 34:17). Our God must consider the <span style="color:darkred">""prayers of Saints"</span>" to be precious to place them in <span style="color:darkred">""golden vials full of odours"</span>" (Revelation 5:8). <span style="color:darkred">""The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth"</span>" (Psalm 145:18). It is a lie of the devil that our God does not hear or answer our prayers. "12 <span style="color:darkred">"Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. </span>" 13 <span style="color:darkred">"And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart" </span>" (Jeremiah 29:12-13).
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•	"9 <span style="color:darkred">"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;" </span>"
A <span style="color:darkred">""new song"<span style="color:darkred">" (Rev 5:9) is appropriate to be sung, because the Revelation is full of our LORD making <span style="color:darkred">""all things new"</span>" (Rev 21:5):
(1) a <span style="color:darkred">""new name" </span>" (Rev 2:17) is promised to all overcomers, which signifies a new relationship with the One Who Gives the Name,

(2) a <span style="color:darkred">""New Jerusalem"</span>" (Rev 3:12), which is the new residence of the Saints in the Father's House of <span style="color:darkred">""many mansions"</span>" (John 14:2), is also promised to the overcomers, and

(3) a <span style="color:darkred">""New Heaven and a New Earth"</span>" (Revelation 21:1) indicate our LORD's ability to give an '''absolutely fresh beginning to everything'''. <span style="color:darkred">""There is none like unto the LORD our God"</span>" (Exodus 8:10).
Why are the Saints overcomers? The Saints overcome because God has made provision for our victory:
(1) Victory over the '''world--''' "4 <span style="color:darkred">"This is the victory that overcometh the world, even your faith. </span>" 5 <span style="color:darkred">"Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Christ"</span>" (1John 5:4-5),

(2) Victory over the '''flesh--''' <span style="color:darkred">""If ye walk in the Spirit, ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh"</span>" (Galatians 5:16), and

(3) Victory over '''Satan--''' <span style="color:darkred">""The shield of faith shall quench all the fiery darts of the wicked"</span>" (Ephesians 6:16). And, <span style="color:darkred">""God shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly"</span>" (Romans 16:20). 
The new song begins, <span style="color:darkred">""Thou art worthy to take the Book, and to open the seals thereof"</span>" (Revelation 5:9), because the LORD Jesus' worthiness is key to His ability to open the seals. <span style="color:darkred">""O sing unto the LORD a new song; for He hath done marvellous things: His right hand, and His holy arm, hath gotten Him the victory"</span>" (Psalm 98:1). The song continues, <span style="color:darkred">""Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation"</span>" (Revelation 5:9), demonstrating that His atonement is the basis for His worthiness. <span style="color:darkred">""Wherefore He saith, When He ascended up on high, He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men"</span>" (Ephesians 4:8).
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•	"10 <span style="color:darkred">"And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the Earth." </span>"
The hosts of Heaven have good reason to be singing the praises to the Lamb of God, for our LORD's victory is our victory. <span style="color:darkred">""But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our LORD Jesus Christ"</span>" (1Corinthians 15:57). Because the LORD Jesus suffered, died, and rose again, it is we that are <span style="color:darkred">""partakers of the benefit"</span>" (1Timothy 6:2). For example, we will partake of the administration of the Millennial Reign of our LORD Jesus Christ. <span style="color:darkred">""And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the Word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years"</span>" (Revelation 20:4).
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•	"11 <span style="color:darkred">"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;" </span>"
The scene around the Throne is animated with '''<span style="color:darkred">""the''' voice"</span>" (Rev 5:11)-- a '''united''' voice-- of:
(1) <span style="color:darkred">""many angels"</span>",

(2) the angelic seraphim (angels who abide in the presence of the LORD), i.e., the <span style="color:darkred">""beasts"</span>", and

(3) the representatives of the Old and New Testament Saints, i.e., the<span style="color:darkred">" "elders"</span>". Their number is more than 100,000,000-- <span style="color:darkred">""ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands"</span>" (Rev 5:11).
This hearkens back to Daniel's description of the scene around the Throne of the Ancient of Days. <span style="color:darkred">""A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him: '''thousand thousands''' ministered unto Him, and '''ten thousand times ten thousand''' stood before Him: the judgment was set, and the Books were opened"</span>" (Daniel 7:10). The scenes are so similar in both Daniel and the Revelation, that it is as if both writers were recording the same event from Old Testament and New Testament perspectives that were nearly 700 years apart.
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•	"12 <span style="color:darkred">"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." </span>"
The dwellers of the <span style="color:darkred">""sea of glass"</span>" (Rev 4:6), or sea of tranquility, around the Throne of God give forth a Mega Voice, i.e., <span style="color:darkred">""loud voice"</span>" (Rev 5:12), praise of the Lamb. "7 <span style="color:darkred">"Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength. </span>"8 <span style="color:darkred">"'''Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His Name''': bring an offering, and come into His courts"</span>" (Psalm 96:7-8). Gratitude and love-- for His Sacrifice of Himself-- have been the Saints' inspiration throughout their Earthly sojourn for their obedience to the Son of God. <span style="color:darkred">""For this is the love of God, that we keep His Commandments: and His Commandments are not grievous</span>" [or, burdensome]" (1John 5:3).

Praise to the LORD Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is becoming or appropriate-- <span style="color:darkred">""Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing"</span >" (Rev 5:12)-- unlike giving praise to man. <span style="color:darkred">""Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely</span>" [or, becoming]" (Psalm 147:1). Praising God must take up much of the time of the Saints in Heaven, because the LORD Jesus alone is infinitely worthy of receiving praise. <span style="color:darkred">" "By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name"</span>" (Hebrews 13:15).
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•	"13 <span style="color:darkred">"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." </span>"
All of creation <span style="color:darkred">""in Heaven, and on the Earth, and under the Earth, and such as are in the sea"</span>" (Rev 5:13) realize the appropriateness of giving praise to the Worthy Lamb. At our LORD's Triumphal Entry at the beginning of the crucifixion week, the Pharisees objected to the unadulterated praise given by the disciples to Christ. Little did those Pharisees realize how appropriate that praise was. So appropriate was the praise, that the inanimate creation would cry out, if the disciples ceased their praise. "37 <span style="color:darkred">"And when He was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; </span>" 38 <span style="color:darkred">"Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the Name of the LORD: peace in Heaven, and glory in the highest. </span>" 39 <span style="color:darkred">"And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto Him, Master, rebuke Thy disciples. </span>" 40 <span style="color:darkred">"And He answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out" </span>" (Luke 19:37-40).
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•	"14 <span style="color:darkred">"And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever." </span>"
Some have labelled the word "Amen" the best known word in human speech; since both the Hebrew, Greek, Latin, and English all mean the same thing. Before a discourse, <span style="color:darkred">" "Amen"</span>" signifies a statement of certainty, i.e., surely, truly, of a truth. At the end of a discourse, the <span style="color:darkred">""Amen"<span style="color:darkred">" signifies hearty agreement from the hearers, i.e., so it is, so be it, may it be fulfilled. For this reason, the LORD Jesus identified Himself to the Laodicean Church as the <span style="color:darkred">""Amen, the Faithful and True Witness"</span>" (Rev 3:14). The <span style="color:darkred">""four beasts"</span>" (Rev 5:14) are voicing their agreement to the praise offering, <span style="color:darkred">""Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him [the Father] that sitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lamb</span>" [the Son] <span style="color:darkred">"for ever and ever"</span>" (Rev 5:13).

The 24 Elders <span style="color:darkred">""fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever"</span>" (Rev 5:14). Satan requested this same worship from the LORD Jesus Christ, when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness before beginning His Earthly ministry. "9 <span style="color:darkred">"And</span>" [Satan] <span style="color:darkred">"saith unto Him, All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall down and worship me. </span >" 10 <span style="color:darkred">"Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the LORD thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve"</span>" (Matthew 4:9-10).

Worship is appropriate for the Lamb, because it is only appropriate to <span style="color:darkred">""worship God"</span >" (Revelation 22:9). <span style="color:darkred">" "God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth"</span>" (John 4:24). Understanding the character of God enables us to ascribe to Him the <span style="color:darkred">""glory due unto His Name"</span>" (Psalm 29:2). And, imitating that character-- or, following in <span style="color:darkred">""His steps"</span>" (1Peter 2:21)-- demonstrates that we are truly worshipping <span style="color:darkred">""Him in Spirit and in Truth"</span>" (John 4:24).

If we will worship God endlessly in Heaven, then our lives should now demonstrate that we give more than lip service to the High and Lofty One That Inhabiteth Eternity (Isaiah 57:15), that our worship would now be acceptable. "1 <span style="color:darkred">"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. </span>" 2 <span style="color:darkred">"And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God"</span>" (Romans 12:1-2).
[[Category:Revelation]]