Adult Class
March-June 2006
Revelation 4-5
Lesson 4
We now move into the splendid visions that have baffled and thrilled and puzzled so many. It is helpful to remember that we must not press these details for particular spiritual meanings-some of these may be included for vividness alone. Nearly every commenter on Revelation finds it intriguing to speculate on the "meaning" behind certain details, yet they cannot agree. We must maintain some humility about this.
This section is introduced by John's words, "After this I looked," indicating that another vision begins here. This vision is composed of two parts. The first part is a picture of God on the throne in chapter four. The second part is a picture of the Lamb and a scroll in chapter five.
God on the Throne-Revelation 4:1-11.
John is given a new perspective at this point. He is called up to heaven in the spirit, where events are sharply different from his former, earthly viewpoint. From the earth, Roman dominion looks entire. The Roman legions rule the earth and the Emperor commands obedience everywhere. His throne is over all kinds of people all over the world. But John is given a new vision of things that "must take place." These things are the outworking of God's will. It is not that they "may" take place, or that they are interesting glimpses of the future. These things must take place because they are the will of God, and His throne is actually above all thrones.
The scene John relates recreates the furnishing of the Temple and, before that, the Tabernacle. In this case, though, the throne of God occupies the place that was held by the Ark of the Covenant. The details should be noted in connection with Hebrews 8:5; 9:1-5. Those passages point out to us the significance of the placement of the furniture in the Temple.
As John relates the vision, he identifies a court with God on the throne in the center, surrounded by four living creatures. These living creatures remind us of the seraphs of Isaiah 6 and especially the creatures of Ezekiel 1-who also possessed four faces looking like a man, an eagle, an ox and a lion. Surrounding this scene is a ring of 24 elders, who seem to represent the 12 patriarchs of Israel and the 12 apostles, showing the continuity of both the Old Testament and the New Testament. This should not be pressed too much since the identity of the "elders" is never established beyond any doubt.
All these creatures glorify God with a statement that declares God to be the highest holiness of all. Each time these creatures announce this quality of God, the elders fall down and worship, laying their crowns before the throne. This "crown" is the crown of victory, not a ruler's crown. In the ancient world the unmistakable symbolism of laying the crown before God is a message that only by the power of God was the victory made possible. In their worship, they declare the worthiness of God.
This is the purest declaration of worship that there can be. The word "worship" is a contraction of an earlier English word "worthship." Just as the quality of leading is denoted as "leadership," the quality of worth would be declared as "worthship." God alone deserves our declarations of ultimate worth-our worship.
The Lamb and the Scroll-Revelation 5:1-14
In the continuation of the vision, John sees a vitally important article: a scroll that is written on both sides and sealed with seven seals. Again, the imagery is important as it indicates something to command our attention. Scrolls would only be written on both sides if their message was so long and detailed that it demanded the space. Otherwise, it would be written only on the inside, with the outer face serving as protection from prying eyes. Here, the scroll is written even on the outside, but it is sealed with seven seals-indicating a firm decision that only the proper recipient should open it.
The question is given, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" The one daring to take up the scroll must be morally worthy-equal to God. There is none, and John is crushed in sorrow. It seems that the will of God will never be known, but John is encouraged that what seems to be the case is not real. There is One who is worthy to open the scroll.
He is identified as "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David." He is the ruler and the origin of the throne. Yet He is described not as a Lion, but as a Lamb-in fact, a lamb that looked as if it had been slain. Still, He possesses seven horns (usually symbols of power) and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God-an indication that He possesses the perfect Holy Spirit. He is found in the center of the throne, showing that He has the authority of God. He takes the scroll, and John uses wording that describes it as a forceful, purposeful taking up of the scroll.
When He takes up the scroll, the elders fall down and worship Him just as they did God, showing that He is God. They each hold a harp and a golden bowl of incense, which is identified as the prayers of the saints (check Hebrews 9:4 again). They immediately break into a "new" (absolutely unique) song that identifies the work of the Lamb as the One who:
They are joined then by an innumerable band of angels who break into a similar song extolling the worth of the Lamb who was slain. He is worthy of seven rewards: power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise.
Immediately, they, too, are joined by the entire creation echoing the praises of the Lamb in similar language. And so the Lamb is recognized as worthy. The elders sing, the angels sing, the whole creation sings of the worthiness of the Lamb.
In this scene, John's depression is blown away by the eternal truth. It is not the Roman Emperor who has power and a throne and authority and worth. A different perspective shows that God and His Son Christ Jesus are the true glorious rulers of the universe, and the allegiance of the Christians is absolutely correctly placed.