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Although Jesus passed into heaven to serve as our Great High Priest (Heb 4:14), He hasn’t forgotten His church. He delivered a personal message for each church throughout the ages. Let's discover what they are and their significance together.
1. What did John see in the right hand of the Lord?
“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.” (Rev. 5:1)
NOTE: This book was perfectly sealed. We will see that this symbolic book contained essential information regarding the destiny of ALL the saved in all ages.
2. Was anyone able to open the book?
“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.”( Rev. 5:2-3)
NOTE: No mortal or heavenly Being could do what was required to open the book, or even to look upon it. Some are puzzled when it says, "no man in heaven." Isn't the Father God in heaven? Why can't He open the book? John gives us insight to this question. He says, "For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22).
3. What did John do when he realized that no one was worthy to open the book?
“And I WEPT much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.” (Rev. 5:4)
NOTE: This book is the record of God's dealings with mankind. John wept because he knew that the salvation of all depended on someone being worthy to open the book, which was necessary for man to be redeemed. Surely without the Lord Jesus Christ, we would all have nothing else to do but weep over our lost condition.
4. Who did the elder tell John had prevailed and hence was worthy to open the book?
“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.”( Rev. 5:5)
NOTE: This is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. He has prevailed for us. He has conquered the devil at Calvary and gotten victory over the grave. He is mighty to save all who come to Him. (see John 6:37; 12:31-32).
It is interesting to note that the one who informed John that Christ had survived is one of the 24 Elders who was seen in heaven, around the throne of God, prior to Christ return from the cross. (See Revelation 4)
5. What did John see in the midst of the throne?
“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.”( Rev. 5:6)
NOTE: This is the Lamb of God (John 1:36) and our next of Kin, Jesus (Hebrews 2:14). He came as one of us because only a near kin could redeem us (Lev. 25:48, 49). His sacrifice for our sins is the center of the whole great controversy between Christ and Satan. He was the only One in the universe who could have redeemed fallen mankind. The life of a created being could not redeem others since no other being has eternal life to give. Only the one Who is the source of all life could redeem the fallen race.
“Seven” signifies perfection and “horns” may be understood as symbolizing strength and glory (see Lam. 2:3). The combination, “seven horns” therefore denote perfect power or all power. The “seven eyes" are a symbol of perfect wisdom and intelligence. Upon resurrection, Christ took up the power He relinquished to become man. This is very significant. When Christ returned from heaven after resurrecting from the grave, He said to the disciples “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (see Matt 28:18). He once again has all power and all wisdom which He makes available to man in fulfillment of His promise to send the Comforter after He leaves. (see John 16:7).
6. What did the Lamb do with the book?
“And he came and TOOK the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.” (Rev. 5:7)
NOTE: Literally, “he came and he has taken.” This is the focal point of chs. 4 and 5—that Christ, by taking the book from the hand of God, does what no other being in the universe can do. This action is possible because of His victory over evil.[1]
7. What did the elders and the four heavenly beasts do when the Lamb did this?
“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.” (Rev. 5:8)
NOTE: The heavenly beings break out in an antiphonal hymn of worship as all creation resounds throughout the universe (see on vs. 9–13). We too ought to fall down on our knees and praise the Lamb for having redeemed us with His own blood. Scriptures tells us that one day "every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord." (Phil. 2:10). And yes, every means every, even the knees of Satan and the wicked.
8. What was contained in the "golden vials full of odors?"
“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.” (Rev. 5:8)
NOTE: According to the Bible, saints are those who received Jesus Christ as Lord. (See Phil 1:1). Their prayers rise to heaven's sanctuary where they are heard and answered by God. Their prayers are incense to God, and He delights when His children talk to Him from their hearts.
9. Why is the Lamb worthy to take the book and open it?
“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,” (Rev. 5:9)
NOTE: We are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb if we have asked Jesus to be our Lord and Savior. If not, we are left to pay the penalty for sin with our own blood.
10. According to John, those who have been redeemed have been made what?
“And hast made us unto our God KINGS and PRIESTS: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5:10)
NOTE: As kings and priest we have both a tremendous destiny and responsibility. We are to minister to others as priest of God. If we are faithful as priests, then we will share Christ’s throne. (See Rev. 20:4)
11. How many angels did John see in heaven?
“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,” (Rev. 5:11)
NOTE: This is a number that cannot be calculated because we don't know how many "thousands of thousands" the prophet is talking about. But we do know that there are millions, perhaps billions of angels that are available to help us as the people of God. They are "ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation," (Hebrews 1:14).
12. What do all the beings in heaven do once Jesus has taken the scroll?
"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. 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. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty eders fell down and worshipped Him that liveth for ever and ever." (Rev. 5:12-14)
NOTE: Heaven breaks out with songs of triumph mingle with the music from angel harps, till heaven seems to overflow with joy and praise.
13. Are you excited to know that Jesus was worthy to take the book and open it?
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From that scene of heavenly joy, there comes back to us on earth the echo of Christ's own wonderful words, "I ascend unto My Father, and your Father; and to My God, and your God." John 20:17. The family of heaven and the family of earth are one. For us our Lord ascended, and for us He lives. "Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them." Heb. 7:25. {DA 835.2}
[1]Nichol, Francis D., The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, (Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald Publishing Association) 1978.
THE GREAT EXCHANGE BECAUSE OF THE CROSS
When Adam sinned, he plunged mankind into servitude to the Devil (Rom. 6:16) and surrendered the lordship of earth to him. This gave the Devil the authority to represent mankind in heavenly places. So the Scriptures reveal that “when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them” (Job 1:6). But all was not lost. When Jesus died on the Cross, He cast out Satan, who had taken Adam’s place among the twenty four elders as the represented of earth. See John 12:31, 33; Rev. 12:10. Upon His resurrection from the grave, Christ reclaimed the dominion that Adam had lost. “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18), is what He declaration after reclaiming dominion. This is depicted by Ellen White, “To My Father, and Your Father,” The Desire of Ages, pp. 829-834 and in Revelation 4 and 5.
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