College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Revelation 5:1-10
Strauss-' Comments
SECTION 13
Text Revelation 5:1-10
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back, close sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no one in the heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look thereon: 5 and one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book and the seven seals thereof. 6 And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came, and he taketh it out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sing a new song, saying,
Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, 10 and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon the earth.
Initial Questions Revelation 5:1-10
1.
In the World of the New Testament, what was the place of a seal on official documents - Revelation 5:1?
2.
What were the requirements which must be fulfilled before one would have been worthy to open the book and loose the seals thereof? The highest expression of manhood was unworthy I
3.
Do these messianic titles (e.g., the Lion - that is of the tribe of Judah, Root of David) relate the Kingdom come through Christ with the Old Testament prophecies of the Messianic Kingdom?
4.
What symbolism does the Lamb standing as though it had been slain call to mind - Revelation 5:6? (e.g., sacrifice, atonement, etc.)
5.
What view of the person of Christ is implied in His accepting the worship and praise of creatures - Revelation 5:9-10?
6.
What were the results of Christ's work mentioned in Revelation 5:9-10?
The Sealed Book and The Lamb
Chp. Revelation 5:1-14
John's vision continuesAnd I saw (eidon - aorist. - in a single act John saw) upon (epi) the right hand (hand - not in text) of the one sitting upon the Throne a scroll having been written within and on the reverse side, having been sealed (katesphragismenon - perf. pass. part. - the prefixed preposition kata means sealed down) with seven seals. The seals signified the authentication marks of the document. Charles says that a will in Roman law bore the seven seals of seven witnesses. He was an expert in the background sources of the Apocalypse. The imagery would have been meaningful to every literate person in the New Testament world.
The book that John saw is the title deed to earth. The book contained the judgments of the living God as represented in the seven seals of trumpets, and the seven vials of wrath. These judgments are essential in order to bring the earth under the control of the Lord of the universe. When the call to open the book is made public by a strong angel proclaiming in a loud voice; no one is found able, but the Root of David. The angel continued to proclaim (kerussouta - present parti. - continually proclaimed) and after extensive inquiry no one was found who is worthy to open the scroll and to loosen the seals of it?
----- no one was able (edunato - imperfect) in the heaven nor on the earth nor underneath the earth to open the scroll nor to look at it. The entire universe declines the challenge! No man nor angel was found who could respond to heaven's challenge. Why? What were the requirements?
And I kept on weeping much - (eklaion polu - perf. act. plus polu - this weeping was so audible that one of Elders kept speaking much to me.
And one out of the Elders says to me: Stop weeping (mç klaie - neg. plus present imperative). Look here (behold) The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David overcame (enikesen - 1st aor. act. ind. - the victory was won in a single act, not in a process - overcame by one act! the root verb is nike - victory). The 1901 translates hath overcome and thus does not show the singularity of the victory act, to open the scroll and the seven seals of it. The only one worthy was also the only one able to open the seals, the Son of God, the rightful sovereign of the universe. Who was able? The Messiah, a descendant of Judah and David (Genesis 49:9; Jeremiah 23:5; Matthew 1:17; Luke 3:31; Acts 2:30; Matthew 22:41-45) won the victory once and for all on the Cross. (See Isaiah 11 for the prophecy about the shoot of Jesse.)
Here we are taken to the very center of the Throne room. And I saw in the midst of the Throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the Elders a Lamb standing (hestekos - perfect participle) as having been slain (esphagmenon - perfect passive participle - this verb suggests violence and also sacrifice, both are involved in the cross and the atonement) having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God having been sent forth into all the earth. Here we notice the paradoxical imagery of a slaughtered Lamb, yet, standing. The great fifty-third chapter of Isaiah is without question in the background. The Book of Acts (Acts 8:32) identifies this Lamb as Jesus Christ. (See Edward Young, Studies in Isaiah, Eerdmans, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1954, chp. 4 Of Whom Speaketh the Prophet This? pp. 103-125).
And he came (elthen - 2 aor. indicative - the single act - came) and has taken (eilçphen - perfect tense) out of the right (hand - not in text, but implied) of the one sitting upon the throne. Christ came and has taken the scroll from the hand of the Father. His work on the Cross and the empty tomb has qualified Him to open the seals of doom which are about to be hurled upon the earth.
When he (Christ) took (elaben - 2 aor. active - single act - took) the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four Elders fell (epeson - 1st aor. ind. act. - fall instantaneously, those closest to the one sitting on the throne fell quickest) before (in front of) the Lamb, in an act of worshipful surrender those surrounding the Throne acknowledged the deity of The Lamb, each one having a harp and golden bowls (plural) being full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. The kithapa (harp) probably signifies a lute or guitar.
They keep on singing (adousin - present tense) a new song saying: Worthy art thou to receive the scroll and to open the seals of it, because thou wast slain (esphagçs - 2 aor. passive) and didst purchase (egorasas - 1 aor. ind. act., through the act of being slain Christ did purchase by a single act) to God by thy blood out of every tribe, and tongue, and people and nation. Here we see the clear and categorical assertion of the vicarious atonement of Jesus Christ. Alien sinners can be restored to God, but only by acknowledging the Lordship of Christ. Forgiveness of sin is available only in Him. This fact makes missions and evangelism imperative!
Note: See the appendix and The Lamb and His Blood in the Revelation immediately following this chapter. For an excellent study on the vocabulary of redemption see Leon Morris, The Apostolic Preaching of The Cross, Eerdman'S, 1956terms analyizedRedemption, Covenant, The Blood, Propitiation, Reconciliation, and Justification.
What was the result of Christ's work? See Revelation 1:6 for discussion of kingdom and priests and they will reign.