The Book of The Revelation – Chapter 5 – The Scrolls – Episode 7

 

The Book of The Revelation – The Scrolls – Chapter 5

EPISODE SEVEN

(These Episodes are meant to not only ask and answer the questions, “When, Why, How and What?”, but also the question, “SO WHAT?”)

The significance of the announcement made in this chapter cannot be overstated. It begins with an image of Jesus sitting on His Throne with the scroll with seven seals in His right hand, and a strong angel asks ‘who is worthy to open the scroll?’ and no one in heaven, on or beneath the earth is found to be worthy. Then it is proclaimed that Jesus alone is deemed worthy to break the seals of the scroll. Then all those in attendance bow before Jesus and break into praise and worship Him, and His Works. This is the opening scene to the final act of God’s Journey of Perfection! This is also our model for praise, worship, adoration and thanks to the One Who is Worthy!

The Book of The Revelation – Chapter 5 – The Scroll with Seven Seals.

Revelation 5:1, I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, closed and sealed with seven seals. Verse 2. And I saw a strong angel announcing with a loud voice, “Who is worthy [having the authority and virtue] to open the scroll and to, [footnote ‘a’], break its seals?” Verse 3. And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in Hades, the realm of the dead] was able to open the scroll or look into it. Verse 4. And I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look into it. Verse 5. Then one of the [twenty-four] elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look closely, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome and conquered! He can open the scroll and [break] its seven seals.”

Verse 6. And there [footnote ‘b’], between the throne (with the four living creatures) and among the elders I saw a Lamb (Christ) standing, [bearing scars and wounds] as though it had been slain, with seven horns (complete power) and with seven eyes (complete knowledge), which are, [footnote ‘c’], the seven Spirits of God who have been sent [on duty] into all the earth. Verse 7. And He came and, [footnote ‘d’], took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Verse 8. And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb (Christ), each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of fragrant incense, which are the prayers of the saints (God’s people). Verse 9. And they sang a new song [of glorious redemption], saying,

“Worthy and deserving are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Verse 10. “You have made them to be a kingdom [of royal subjects] and priests to our God; and they will reign on the earth.”

Angels Exalt the Lamb

Verse 11. Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and [the voice] of the living creatures and the elders; and they numbered myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands (innumerable), verse 12, saying in a loud voice,

“Worthy and deserving is the Lamb that was sacrificed to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” Verse 13. And I heard every created thing that is in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in Hades, the realm of the dead] or on the sea, and everything that is in them, saying [together],

“To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb (Christ), be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” Verse 14. And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped [Him who lives forever and ever].

(End of Chapter 6 and its text).

Next, in Revelation chapter 6, (episode 7), Jesus breaks the Seven Seals of the scroll, releasing the first of seven judgements of the Great Tribulation, also known as The Great and Terrible Day of The Lord, and the coming Wrath of the Lamb, onto the earth, and into the lives of all His creation.

Please note: The books of The Revelation, as previously discussed, are not always in chronological order. So, I will do my best to refer to appropriate and relevant scriptural cross-references, at appropriate times, in an attempt to aid in a clearer understanding and of the order of these events.

For example, as previous explained in Episode 2, the tribulation seals, one through five, were opened as early as the birth of Jesus.  These first 5 seals were referred to as the ‘Last Days’, ‘The Last Times’, ‘The End of All Things is at hand’, ‘The End of The Ages has come’, “Jesus has appeared, once for all, at the End of The Ages’, by the Apostles Paul, Peter, Timothy and John and referred to as such by Jesus, Himself.

 In Revelation chapters 6 and 7 and 8, we will hear, read about and see the breaking of the Seals. However, scriptures show that Seals one through five were opened as early as the birth of Jesus through A.D 95. The Sixth Seal is yet to be broken (in our natural world).

 I do not mean to make this any more confusing than it already seems, but, to the casual reader, it would appear that Seals Six and Seven are ‘lumped in’ with the first 5 Seals, and would be broken in a quick series – which is NOT the case. That is why it is important to know that in the book of Matthew chapter 24, references to these verses are spoken in the present and future tenses, BUT IN THESE VERSES IN REVELATION, Jesus (through John) is speaking in the ‘AORIST TENSE’. The Aorist tense combines the past, present and future into one time frame. It is a view from God’s perspective of time. Jesus is saying that these things ‘have already happened, they are now happening, and will continue to happen’, simultaneously, all while He is speaking, and until He brings them to their conclusion. It is a truly a view from above. ‘That which was, is, and is to come’.

Your Brother and Friend,

Mike Young

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