Revelation 5

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th1b.taylor

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Revelation of John 5:1:
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.

We read in the beginning of Chapt. 4 that John saw a throne and here we are in chapt. 5 to discover that there is a scroll in the right hand of Him that sits there. The right hand or to be at the right hand side of God is the symbol of Absolute Power!

Revelation of John 5:2:
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

There is an issue to be decided here. It is delineated by an Angel. It is very important to understand that, aside from God, Angels are the most powerful beings in all of creation. As we study the Bible on a regular basis I, at least, can be no less than dumbfounded at their power. They will, in the future, turn the oceans to blood and they will kill most of humanity before the Tribulation is over. But this Angel here, able to destroy the world, cannot open the seals on this scroll.

Revelation of John 5:3:
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

As I have spent my study time over the past 21 years reading and rereading the scriptures it has left me a gasp! We, the saved humans will rule over the Angels of Heaven (1Cor. 6:3 Know ye not that we shall judge angels?) and yet neither man, nor Angel could open the Seven Seals.

Revelation of John 5:4:
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

John, though he is privileged to visit Heaven, in the spirit, is distressed and upset!

Revelation of John 5:5:
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.

This, from the human stand point, is, likely, best understood by men who have been in a hopeless situation in a Combat Zone. I´ve known men that were trapped, surrounded, some for days, and had just admitted, to themselves that they would not escape this time and they have always been so thrilled and pleased that they could not stop buying shots and beers, for anybody. I also have known that feeling and until the Elder spoke to John, everything was lost and there was no hope.

One might, correctly, conclude that when the Son of God, the Lion of Juda, Jesus, came forward, there were tears of joy and relief in the eyes of john.

Revelation of John 5:6:
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.

As he looks this over he notices some things about Jesus he had never seen before, the horns of power and the eyes of pure wisdom, and here He is in the midst of the four beasts that, continuously guard the Throne of God.

Revelation of John 5:7:
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

Jesus, being worthy, because it is He that completed the work on Earth that neither man nor angel could, steps for in all of His majesty and takes the scroll from the hand of God, His Father.

Revelation of John 5:8:
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.

Have you felt like your prayers just hit the ceiling and bounce back onto the floor? Always remember this verse of scripture. Now, I know that this book is written in symbolic language but any time that God mentions anything it is important. If the LORD emphasizes anything by mentioning it twice it is being emphasized and prayer is discussed more than 114 times in the scriptures and here we see that the four beasts and the twenty-four elders that are seated around the Throne of God have them for a sweet odor in viles to keep them.

Revelation of John 5:9:
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;

They are singing a new song here praising Jesus for His work on the cross and I have, of late, seen many different takes on the matter of Salvation and, just, who is eligible for it. It has been my position, ever since I was called to teach that every soul born on this earth is eligible and this verse sure does seem to make that clear, doesn´t it?

Revelation of John 5:10:
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

There are millions of Christians, I believe, that have never seen ths verse in the scriptures. Folks just get upset with the idea that we will reign under but with Jesus on the world, but we will!

Revelation of John 5:11:
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;

In Matthew 26:53 we are taught that Jesus could have called twelve legions of angels to do His will and yet folks have the strange idea that Heaven is not all that large. When we do the math here we see that there are better than one hundred million angels in Heaven. Heaven is not going to be, Heaven is the most awesome place we can consider.

Revelation of John 5:12:
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.

Many times today I am informed that this or that particular person naming the name of the Christ as their Savior owe God nothing! The scripture, here, is very clear, the Saved Person owes everything to God! None of us were or ever will be Worthy of the glory we receive or will receive because of Jesus.

Revelation of John 5:13:
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.

In the last three verses of Matthew we find the duty we are commissioned to perform, not to earn our Salvation but rather because we should feel that we owe it to our Redeemer. And we need to understand that the Kingdom of God is right now and begin to serve like the Bond Servants, Slaves, we are.

Revelation of John 5:14:
And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

And so should every single one of us, not on Sunday, no, every second of every minute of every day we live.
 

Insight

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Revelation of John 5:1:
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.

We read in the beginning of Chapt. 4 that John saw a throne and here we are in chapt. 5 to discover that there is a scroll in the right hand of Him that sits there. The right hand or to be at the right hand side of God is the symbol of Absolute Power!



The right hand is the hand of privilege and strength. The One on the throne (see Rev. 4:2) is God manifest in the flesh, or the Lord Jesus Christ (NOT God Himself). The book is said to be in his right hand, because he it is who directs the course of the events predicted therein (1 Pet 3:22).

"A book written within and on the backside" The word biblion is a diminutive of biblios, bible, and denotes a scroll or a small book; In Luke 4:17,20 it is used of the scroll of Isaiah: in John 20:30 of the Gospel of John; but in Gal. 3:10 and Heb. 10:7 of the Old Testament as a whole. Here it relates to a section of The Apocalypse. It was written "within and on the outside" which is similar to the expression used to describe the "little book" handed to Ezekiel (See Ezek 2:10), and which also, like the one in the hands of the "one on the throne," pronounced "lamentations, mournings and woe" upon both Judah and the Gentiles: those in the covenant and those outside of it. The writing on the scroll before us, concerns events relating to the churches as well as the world generally, and therefore those both "within and without" the covenant (See 2 Cor. 7:5).
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"Sealed with seven seals" Seven is the number of completeness. The scroll is completely sealed from human knowledge (see Isa. 29:11; Dan. 12:4).
 

Insight

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"I saw a strong angel"

All angels of heaven are strong, so that the adjective serves to show that in spite of the strength of such they were not able to accomplish that which the Father did in collaboration with the Son in spite of the weakness of human nature (Heb. 2:14; Rom. 8:3). This angel, was unable to loose the seals and read the book. See 1 Pet. 1:12.

"Proclaiming with a loud voice"

So as to summon all who may desire to hear.

"Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof"

Daniel had been told that the book was sealed until the end (Dan 12:4,5,6,7,8); now, at the end of Jewish times (Heb 1:2; 9:26), it was about to be opened and read.

At the end of Gentile times (Luke 21:24; Rom 11:25), the things predicted will be fulfilled (Dan. 12:3).
 

Insight

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"And one of the elders saith unto me. Weep not"
Who are the elders in this vision?
 

th1b.taylor

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"And one of the elders saith unto me. Weep not"
Who are the elders in this vision?


There is a good deal of discussion on this matter and here again, though I refuse to be dogmatic, except the Holy Spirit reveal the answer to me, I do tend to discount the most popular reckoning. What appears to be the most popular is they are the twelve Patriarchs and the twelve Disciples. I can see how one could believe the Patriarchs because of the passage in Matt 27, I believe beginning with the 51 verse where the Old Testament Saints are moved out of Paradise, move through the streets of the Holy City and, logically, on to Heaven. But then I do see this passage as possibly and probably, Prerapture, placing the other twelve, the Disciples carcases still in the grave and only their spirits in Heaven. Then, there is the thought that so much of Heaven is pure spirit, so, who, on this Earth, can say?​
 

th1b.taylor

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Maybe its wroth noting the message of the elder? and why?
Throughout the scriptures we find that there is Wisdom with experience gained with age1 A worthwhile example is when I entered the Army i had to pay attention to just about everybody. The older Officers and the older NCOs but also my peers to see the results of their actions to find out what I was to and what I could and could not do. Another example is when I was growing up. My mom & dad were my masters and I had to listen to them for wisdom and so it is with all elders.
 

Insight

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Throughout the scriptures we find that there is Wisdom with experience gained with age1 A worthwhile example is when I entered the Army i had to pay attention to just about everybody. The older Officers and the older NCOs but also my peers to see the results of their actions to find out what I was to and what I could and could not do. Another example is when I was growing up. My mom & dad were my masters and I had to listen to them for wisdom and so it is with all elders.

Yes, but who do you think these elders are who are comforting John? Its not difficult when one understands the foreknowledge of God.

Insight
 

th1b.taylor

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Yes, but who do you think these elders are who are comforting John? Its not difficult when one understands the foreknowledge of God.

Insight
I did not know that you were God´s adviser! Sorry but you walked right into that one. There is no way possible to know what God alone knows until it is hindsight.
 

Insight

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I did not know that you were God´s adviser! Sorry but you walked right into that one. There is no way possible to know what God alone knows until it is hindsight.

taylor

"And one of the elders saith unto me. Weep not"

Let’s work through this by a process of elimination.

Who could the Elders be:

1. God Himself
2. Jesus Christ
3. Angels
4. Glorified Saints in the future age

Which do you think is plausible? Given the context of the message and who of course would be the benefactors?

Rather than playing any foolish games let me put forward my understanding.

The Elders offering comfort to John could well represent the redeemed saints (See Rev 5: 9,10???).

On what basis?

That "all things are for their sakes" (2 Cor 4:15), and God represents "things that be not as though they are' (Rom 4:17).

Paul in vision was able to be comfroted regarding the vision and it being sealed.

Just a thought!

One more thought to add:

In a strange way its like Abraham being told that he had been made a father, before his son was even born:

Isaiah "saw" the glory of the risen Christ (Isa 6:1; John 12:41).

Of course John himself was an Elder (2 John 1) so how fitting for another to provide him brotherly comfort and how he was feeling.