There is many in the church who have failed to properly understand the royal mission of the saints. There are some who believe that we are to advance the Kingdom of God through carnal means. For some here is undue emphasis on political action and waging cultural warfare. Other build huge church programs, relying on the latest marketing techniques to build the church. While there is a proper place for political and cultural engagement, these are ultimately NOT effective in advancing God’s royal mandate. Our weapons are spiritual, not carnal (2 Corinthians 10:4-6). Others see this mandate through self-centered eyes rather than the eyes of Christ. We are not called to be kings and priests so that we can accumulate wealth and fame.
We are appointed Kings and priests so that we can advance the Kingdom of God through praise, prayer, and proclamation. We are to seek Christ’s priorities and not our own. Revelation 5 reveals God’s priorities.
John soon discovers a very important document on the right ”in the right hand of him that sat on the throne (Rev 5:1).” This document has seven seals on it. These seals both authenticate the document and regulate access. Only authorized persons had the legal right to open the seals and access the document.
There was a problem. Nobody could be found who could legally open it. John wept bitterly. Why was this? This document is the heavenly decree containing God’s judgment against evil on earth. If no one can open this document, it’s decree cannot be enforced. The result would be that evil and injustice become permanent conditions on planet earth.
|
Revelation 5:1-4 |
|||||||
|
“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.2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.” |
The story does not end here. There is One Person in the entire universe who is authorized to open these seals. The description given in verses 5-7 is describing the Lord Jesus Christ. He is double qualified. He is first described as being “Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David(vs 5).” Christ is heir to the throne of David, which will inherit the entire earth. God has appointed Christ as the Supreme Judge of the world. Christ is also described as being “a Lamb as it had been slain(vs 6).” Christ made covenant between God and man. He shed His blood to take away sins. Christ offers to us salvation through the shedding of His blood on the cross. It is written in Philippians that because “became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:9-11)”
Christ, in His exalted position, is the only mediator between God and man. He is responsible for delivering from death and hell as many as possible. As the administrator of God’s grace and the age of grace, it is also His responsibility to determine when the full number of people has come into salvation and integrate the ministry of redemption into God’s larger plan.
We are now living in a grace period – a time when people can be reconciled to God. In order for justice to be executed, there must be a termination to this time period. Christ must determine when the age of grace ends and when judgment begins. Christ is therefore qualified to open seals of God’s judgment decree.
|
Revelation 5:5-7 |
|||||||
|
“5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.6And 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.7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. ” |
Christ is also described as having seven horns and seven eyes that roam the earth (Rev 5:6). In Second Chronicles 16:9, “the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him.” Christ seeks to make Himself strong on behalf of those who have faith towards Him. Rev 5:6 gives us an additional piece of information. These eyes are the seven Spirits of God. This is an ornate reference to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit makes God’s power to the end-time church to perform the ministry of judgment to achieve total victory.
Jesus Christ opens up the worship service in Heaven by taking the scroll from God the Father. When Christ takes the scroll, the four worship leaders (beasts) begin worship. Each of these are armed with harps and bowls of incense, which represent the prayers of the saints. They sing a song where they confess the power of the blood of Jesus (Revelation 12:7-11). The blood of Jesus protects us from destroying ourselves through the ministry of judgment. Without the protection of the blood of Jesus, we would find ourselves destroyed by these judgments that are about to fall.
As representatives of the universal church, they proclaim that Christ “hast made us unto our God kings and priests(Revelation 5:10).” They are expressing faith that God will give the true believers strength for the ministry of delivering God’s judgment to the earth.
|
Revelation 5:8-10 |
|||||||
|
“8And 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.9And 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;10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. |
After the four beasts and twenty-four elders render worship, an assembly of angels chimes in to worship. Angels are mentioned distinctly from the four beasts and 24 elders and play a secondary role in the worship service.
|
Revelation 5:11-12 |
|||||||
|
11And I beheld, and I heard the voice ofmany 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;12Saying 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. |
Verses 13-14 record John himself personally participating in the worship. This personal story puts an emphasis on participation by each of us in this worship. The result of this first scene of worship is that Christ opens the first seal, beginning the process of judgment.
|
Revelation 5:13-6:1a |
|||||||
|
13And 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.14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. 6 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals” |
The next installment will reveal the mystery of the seven seals; what they are, and what they mean. We are given a Great Invitation to engage in a great convocation of worship of God.