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Verse by Verse Bible Study Podcast with Randy Duncan
Bible study podcast that takes you through a book of the Bible verse by verse. This is not your typical life-lesson Bible study! If you are interested in a deeper-dive Bible study, this is an excellent option!
Verse by Verse Bible Study Podcast with Randy Duncan
Revelation 5 | The Scroll & the Lamb
Revelation chapter 5, highlighting the significance of the scroll sealed with seven seals that only the Lamb, representing Jesus Christ, can open. We explore themes of worthiness, redemption, and the profound response of worship from all of creation, culminating in a call for listeners to reflect on their personal worship and recognize the transformative power of Christ’s sacrifice.
• Examination of the scroll: its importance and symbolism of redemption
• The challenge of worthiness: who can open the scroll?
• John’s emotional response: weeping for the lack of a worthy figure
• The revelation of Jesus as the Lion and the Lamb: a divine paradox
• Worship in heaven: the significance of communal praise
• A universal call to recognize and respond to Christ's worthiness
Well, thank you for joining me as we continue our study of the book of Revelation. I'm Randy Duncan and in this episode we're going to be tackling Revelation, chapter 5. Now, in the last chapter, we discussed John's descriptions of God's glory, the four living creatures and the 24 elders casting their crowns, emphasizing their worship of God's glory, the four living creatures and the 24 elders casting their crowns, emphasizing their worship of God's holiness and sovereignty, and we ended by reflecting on the importance of recognizing God's greatness and then translating that understanding into a heartfelt and genuine worship. But as we now begin chapter 5, our focus is going to shift to Jesus Christ, and to understand exactly why, let's just dive in, beginning with the first five verses, which read Then I saw in the right hand of him, who was seated on the throne, a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals, and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals. And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. And I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it, and one of the elders said to me Weep no more into it. And one of the elders said to me Weep no more. Behold the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David has conquered so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals. So, after the climatic scene that we discussed in the last chapter, john now sees a scroll in the right hand of the one who's seated on the throne, and it had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. Now, first, the scroll being held in the right hand is no surprise, as the right hand denotes strength and power in several places in scripture, but it says that it had writing on both sides.
Speaker 1:Now, most ancient people wrote only on one side of a scroll. The front of the scrolls had fibers that lay horizontally, which made writing on the scrolls easier, and they would generally use the back only if they ran out of room on the front, and so this is an indication that this scroll has a lot to say, and, as we'll begin to see in the next chapter, when we start with the four horsemen of the apocalypse, it also emphasizes the great quantity of suffering and judgment that this scroll records. But when ancients finished writing on the scroll, they would roll it up and tie it with a thread to keep it closed, or, in the case of legal documents, they would use several threads, and this was done to prevent tampering with the document. Now, these legal documents ended by listing the witnesses, which would normally be around six. Then the documents would be sealed shut, with hot wax being poured over the threads that tied the scroll closed. The witnesses would then press their personal seals into the hot wax, usually with a signet ring, and it would make an impression that matched their unique and distinctive seal, and it attested that they were the witnesses. Now, this was similar to the way kings impressed their seal with their rings on messages in order to authenticate that the message was from the king, but by doing this, nobody could open the scroll without breaking the hard and wax seals that held the threads in place, and if they did, they couldn't replace the seals without the signet ring of the witnesses, and so nobody could tamper with these legal documents until it was time to publicly open them, because the seals reserved the contents of the document for its rightful recipient, and so what we see here is that the seven seals indicate that this scroll is secure, that nobody could gain access to what was written inside of it. Notice also that this scroll is secured by seven seals, seven being the number of perfection, indicating that it is perfectly and completely sealed and secured. Its contents are completely hidden. One interesting note here is that the prophet Daniel was given a scroll by God regarding the end days, but he was told to seal up what was written. His words were to be sealed up and hidden until the end days had arrived and, as we'll continue to see throughout Revelation, it's clear that the end days have now arrived and the time for unsealing the scroll has arrived. What was concealed will now be revealed. Now a couple of other notes regarding the scroll.
Speaker 1:There are differing opinions on what this scroll actually is. Some people believe that it's the book of life, or that it at least contains the names written in the book of life. When we get to Revelation, chapter 20, we're going to read that then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire, and if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire, and so some people believe that this scroll contains the names of the people who will be saved, but most interpreters would argue that, even if this book contains those names, it's too restrictive to say that that's all the scroll contains, because, as we'll see, this scroll contains both salvation and judgment. It symbolizes God's sovereignty and divine plan, and so they would argue that this scroll was held in God's right hand and indicates that history unfolds according to his command and his will. And just so you're aware, there are also those who believe that this scroll was typical of various types of legal contracts in ancient days, including things like marriage contracts and wills, lease agreements and deeds. In short, they argue that this scroll is actually a title deed to the earth. Roman law required that a will be sealed seven times, as we see in the wills of the Roman emperors, augustus and Vespasian, and so they believe that these judgments that are coming are part of God's reclaiming the earth for himself after control of it was forfeited to Satan after the fall of Adam and Eve.
Speaker 1:Now, I know I elaborated a bit on the scroll itself, but I feel like it's an important detail. But John continued, remember, by saying and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals. And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. So John sees a mighty angel step up and ask a question, or issue a challenge, if you will who is worthy to open the scroll? Now, for reasons we won't get into here, some people believe that this angel is the Archangel Michael, but regardless, his question echoes across all of human history Is anyone worthy? And not only does the question echo across human history, it may be the most important question in human history Is anyone worthy? And what does John say next? And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll. And I began to weep loudly. Because no one was found worthy to open the scroll.
Speaker 1:John understood the situation or, better yet, he understood the hopelessness of the situation no one was found worthy to open the scroll. Not only that, but no creature anywhere was able to open it. Because, he says, and no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll. In other words, no matter what sphere we're talking about, nobody was found worthy anywhere no angelic beings in heaven, no human being on earth, not any creature in the sea, nobody in the realm of the dead and no one under the earth, which is most likely a reference to demonic powers.
Speaker 1:John understands the implication. He realizes that this means there's no solution to the human condition, there's no remedy to our separation from God. Look anywhere you want, in any sphere you want, anywhere in the universe. The answer will not come from any created being and it won't come from anything that you've done. And what does John do when he realizes this? He weeps. He says I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll. John understood that God's purposes and his kingdom will not come to pass if the scroll isn't open. Nobody's found worthy to open the scroll and carry out God's plan for human history. And so he's in despair.
Speaker 1:Because when he says that I began to weep loudly, the Greek word used for weep here is the word kleio, which is a term used for the most dramatic form of mourning. It means to sob or to wail out loud like you would mourn for someone dead. It's the same word used in Matthew 26, 75, where Peter's just denied Jesus for the third time. And it says and Peter remembered the words of Jesus which said unto him Before the cock crow, you will deny me three times. And he went out. And Clio, he wept bitterly. But as John is weeping, his tears are interrupted by one of the elders who says to him in verse 5, weep no more.
Speaker 1:Behold the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals. Now this might be one of the most important verses in the chapter and even the book of Revelation. In fact, this may be one of the most significant verses in all of scripture. The lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered, he has overcome, triumphed, and this is, course, an allusion to Jesus Christ, who is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David. The Root of David is the Messiah, who would come from the house of David. The hope of Israel and for the rest of the world has been achieved through the one promise to David long ago, and without the Messiah conquering, we would be without hope for a restored relationship with God.
Speaker 1:But when John turns to look at what the elders just explained, that the lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered. What does he see? Verses 6-8 tell us and between the throne and the four living creatures, and among the elders, I saw a lamb standing as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God. So John turns to see what? The lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. So John turns to see what the elder is pointing out Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered. And I'm sure John turns expecting to see a lion, the symbol of strength and majesty. But that's not what he sees. He sees a lamb, as though it had been slain. I mean, could there be a more opposite image of what John was expecting to see, the contrast of the mightiest of predators with the absolutely weak and helpless lamb? I mean it had to be shocking what John is experiencing.
Speaker 1:But here we have one of the central paradoxes in Christianity that Jesus conquered not by force but through sacrificial love. He didn't conquer by squashing his enemies, but by giving up his own life in suffering love. In other words, jesus didn't come the first time as a lion, but as a lamb. And this makes sense of what we read in the Gospel of John. Now, most people are familiar with John 3.16, maybe the most memorized verse in all of Scripture. But how many people have the next verse memorized, john 3.17.
Speaker 1:Jesus didn't come the first time as a lion to conquer and judge and overthrow the shackles of Roman oppression through strength, like the Jews thought the Messiah would do. John 3, 17 tells us. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. And it's only through his death and suffering on the cross that you and I might be saved. Remember the words of John the Baptist when he sees Jesus approaching to be baptized.
Speaker 1:What did he say? Behold the mighty lion of the tribe of Judah. No, he said behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. And I want to remind you of something Think back to the Garden of Eden, right after Adam and Eve have sinned. They realize it, they're afraid and they're ashamed, and so they sew fig leaves together to cover their shame. Some people say that this was the first act of religion man trying to cover himself. But what did God do with their fig leaves? Their attempt to cover themselves? He dismisses it and instead God makes them coats of skin, teaching them that it would only be through the shedding of innocent blood that their sins would be covered.
Speaker 1:And every act of animal sacrifice since then was a temporary act, pointing to and anticipating, foreshadowing the one true sacrifice that would one day come. And that sacrifice was the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. And when he did come and you think about this the creator of the universe did not enter Jerusalem presenting himself as the Messiah on some majestic white stallion warhorse, wearing battle armor. No, he entered Jerusalem in humility, just as he entered his creation in humility, as a baby. He entered not on a warhorse but riding a donkey, a symbol of peace and humility. Symbol of peace and humility and this is what John sees a lamb, as though it had been slain, still bearing the wounds and scars, but standing and alive. You know, some people say that the only man-made things that'll be in heaven are the scars on Jesus, but John sees the lamb standing because he's no longer slain. Death didn't have the last word. This is the risen lamb who conquered death, and he's able to open the scroll because he stands as the risen and triumphant king.
Speaker 1:But remember, john also describes the lamb as having seven horns, with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And so we see once again the number seven in Revelation. Now we've already discussed the number seven being the number of completion and perfection, but it's now associated with the seven horns and seven eyes. But we don't have to speculate as to what the seven eyes represent, because the text tells us they're the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth, signifying that he sees and knows all things, although, as we mentioned back in chapter one, the seven spirits of God could also represent the Holy Spirit and thus the perfection and fullness of the Spirit. Now, horns were a symbol of strength, and so the seven horns represent the fact that the Lamb, jesus Christ, has complete and perfect strength. The Lamb has complete power, and we read in verse 7 that the Lamb went and took the scroll from the right hand of him, who was seated on the throne. In other words, jesus is about to disclose what the scroll contains, he's about to begin breaking the seals, and when he does, as we'll see in the next chapter, it ushers in the events that people think of when they think of Revelation a virtual hell on earth, the apocalypse.
Speaker 1:But John says that when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Now we discussed the potential identity of the four creatures and the 24 elders in the last episode, but when Jesus takes the scroll, they all fall down before him. They're holding harps, which are obviously for singing praises, and golden bowls of incense which represent the prayers of the saints or the believers. And this incense representing prayers harkens back to the Old Testament, where the priests kept the incense in the temple burning, rising up, and where in Psalm 141 we read let my prayer be counted as incense before you. But John continues in verses 9 and 10 saying and they sang a new song saying Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed people from God, from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priest to the Lamb, who the Lamb is. This should remove them, as the four living creatures and the 24 elders cry out For you were slain and by your blood you ransomed people for God, and by your blood you ransomed people for God. The lamb was slain but is now alive, and by his blood people are saved for God. He was slain but he's now alive and people have been saved by his blood. Does that remind you of anyone you've heard of before? The lamb is Jesus Christ, and the content of this verse makes it clear that he's redeemed some people from every people group in the world, and that comes as a bit of a shock to some people.
Speaker 1:Sometimes we in the West, and especially here in America, we forget that there are other Christians out there in the world, many of which, even now, in 2024, face persecution and even death for their beliefs. You know it's easy for us in America to believe that the West has always been the epicenter of Christianity, but nothing could be further from the truth. Remember Christianity did not originate in America. It originated in the Middle East and spread throughout the world, and it continues to spread even today. And spread throughout the world. And it continues to spread even today, as one example Africa has experienced a remarkable transformation, going from having less than 10 million Christians at the turn of the 20th century to now being home to 700 million Christians. In 25 years, africa is projected to have more Christians than Asia and Latin America combined. And if that current trend continues, four out of every ten Christians in the world will live in sub-Saharan Africa. Another modern day example Southeast Asia is the fastest growing Christian area in the world. Indonesia is the most populated Muslim country in the world and today it's now 25% Christian.
Speaker 1:Now I've been to Los Angeles a handful of times over the past few years. One of those trips was specifically to attend some training with an organization called Ratio Christi, which is Latin for the reason of Christ, but the training was conducted at a Korean megachurch in LA. But I bet you didn't know that there are over 100 Korean churches in Los Angeles alone. And I mention these things because, you see, jesus didn't come to redeem any particular group of people. He came to redeem all people.
Speaker 1:1 Timothy 2 tells us that this is good and it's pleasing in the sight of God, our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. And you might ask. But what is truth? It's a good question and it reminds me of the conversation Jesus had with Pilate before he was crucified. In John 18, 37, we read. Then Pilate said to him so you are a king? And Jesus answered you say that I'm a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice. And Pilate said to him what is truth? It's the same question that so many people struggle with today. And so what is truth? Jesus told us in John 14, 6, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Speaker 1:And so here we are reading John's description in Revelation of the Lamb, who was slain but was now alive and through his sacrifice has redeemed many people from all over the world for God people from every tribe and language, and people and nation. An interesting observation it's been noted that these four terms every tribe, language, people and nation occur seven times in Revelation. Four is the number of the world, seven the number of completeness. But we continue with verses 11 and 12, which read Then I looked and I heard around the throne, the living creatures and the elders, the voice of many angels numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice Worthy is. And so, as we see this scene nearing its end, john describes, along with the four living creatures and the 24 elders angels that surrounded the throne. John says that there were myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.
Speaker 1:So how many angels are we talking about here? Well, the largest number that had a specific term in the Greek language, particularly in ancient Greek, is the Greek word mureos, the myriad, which means 10,000. For numbers beyond this, ancient Greeks, like the mathematician Archimedes, developed systems to express very large numbers, but to verbally describe numbers larger than 10,000, they used the term myriad, myriads, which is what John has done here when he says that the angels numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. Now, if you want to multiply that out, 10,000 times 10,000, times 1,000 times 1,000, I can tell you it equals 100 trillion. Now, some would argue that the Greek implies a mathematical answer of 100 million plus 1 million. But either way, the bottom line is that this is probably just a way for John to communicate to us that the number of angels surrounding the throne was innumerable.
Speaker 1:And what are they all doing? All saying with a loud voice worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. I mean, can you imagine this scene? They begin by saying worthy is the lamb who was slain. Because they realize the full extent of exactly what that means. Jesus is worthy to open the scroll. Jesus alone is worthy, and they realize that without his sacrifice there would be no path to God for those separated from him by sin. That includes you and I. And it's no accident that their praise is sevenfold, the number of perfection and completeness. Listen again and count. Worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive what Power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing Seven perfection.
Speaker 1:But we finish this chapter with the final two verses, 13 and 14, which read and I heard every creature in heaven and on earth, and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them saying To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and might forever, and the throne with the four living creatures and the 24 elders. They're now also joined by all of creation. John says and I heard every creature in heaven and on earth, and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them. John is speaking universally here, just as he did earlier when all of creation was searched for one who was worthy to open the scroll, and so again he specifies those in heaven and on the earth, under the earth and in the sea, all of creation.
Speaker 1:It's interesting that Paul uses very similar language when he says in 2nd Philippians that God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, where In heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. Paul is also speaking universally here, but it tells us that the four living creatures said amen and the elders fell down in worship. Now there are various words to communicate worship, but the worship giving here in this scene never ends. And so we find ourselves here at this heavenly crescendo where every creature declares in unison to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever. Jesus Christ, the Lion and and the Lamb, is the only one worthy, worthy to open the scroll, worthy of our lives, our allegiance and our worship.
Speaker 1:And there you have it, all of creation singing in harmony. Worthy is the Lamb. And as we close this chapter, I want to leave you with this thought If all of creation can join in this chorus of adoration and praise, worship and gratitude, what about you? I pray that your life would be a testament to Jesus Christ, the Lamb that was slain to redeem you. Will you add your voice to that eternal praise and worship, expressing your love and gratitude? Cause all that I have is a hallelujah, hallelujah. I know it's not much, but I'm nothing else fit for a king, except for a heart singing Hallelujah, hallelujah, except for our hearts singing hallelujah, hallelujah.
