“THE KING WHO WINDS UP HISTORY: PART 2”
Revelation 5
A recent phenomenon has become a part of our world in the last generation
of book readers. The most popular type of story telling is done in stages. A
saga is created but the whole story is not related in one setting. Thus, a
SERIES of books is written. The author submits a story to a publishing
house. But the company spaces out the different volumes in order to be
published over several years. Publishers dangle the segments of the story
over readers’ heads keeping them impatiently waiting for the next segment.
When this happens some have to reread the previous volume to refresh their
memory so as to not lose awareness of what has already occurred in the
story.
Today, we move to Revelation, chapter 5. This is the second of three parts of
a vision given to the Apostle John. It builds on chapter 4 and prepares us for
chapter 6. The theme is the identification of a King who will someday wind
up human history on this earth. LAST WEEK WE LEARNED THAT THIS
KING IS THE LORD OF HISTORY BY VIRTUE OF CREATING
HISTORY: (Revelation 4)
Now, we discover that this King will wind up history “BY RIGHT OF
REDEMPTION”! So; let’s do a bit of a reminder of the story so far!
We are in an unbelievable place: history’s control room: the control room in
which God sits enthroned. Last week we saw the creator and author of
human history worshipped by “4 living creatures” and “24 elders around
the throne”. The (#1) living creatures are deliberately described bearing the
characteristics of the highest levels of earthly creation. One is a like a lion;
reflecting the power and authority of the king of beasts. One is like an ox;
exuding strength for labor. One is like man; showing the wisdom and
brilliance of man’s mind. One is like an eagle; exhibiting swiftness to action,
like rising to soar the wind. The (#2) 24 elders represent all the “highest
heavenly order of beings”. They represent the heavenly hosts who fall in
worship and lay their crowns of power before the feet of the One seated on
the throne. IT IS A SPECTACULAR SCENE LAID OUT BEFORE US!
Highlighting the scenario is God, the Father seated on the throne, holding a
scroll in His right hand. This scroll is the blueprint of the consummation of
human history. It is sealed with seven great seals, all of which must be
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broken for the scroll to be opened. When it is opened the events to take place
will occur. There are a couple of other things we notice in chapter 5 about
this scroll. “There is writing on both sides” (v.1). Usually writing was on
one side only—the inside part. Occasionally a scroll was written on both
sides but it was rare. Such double-sided writing was intended for private,
non-salable use in contrast to the ordinary scrolls which were sold. If an
ancient document was in codex form, the seals could be opened one at a time
and portions of the message could be uncovered and read. In the case of a
double-sided scroll ALL seals had to be opened. And so, when John uses
this imagery we see that before the scroll is opened only the One seated on
the Throne knows what it contains.
Scrolls, in those days, were sealed with wax blobs impressed with a signet
ring. This protected the document and guaranteed the integrity of the
writing. Original documents were sealed; copies were not. Sealed documents
were kept hidden whereas unsealed ones were open to the public.
It is time to identify the scroll being portrayed for us here. Prior to the
opening of the seventh seal we read, “For the great day of their wrath has
come, and who can stand”. (6:17) Frequent references to the events of the
seals, trumpets, and bowls appear throughout the remaining visions of
Revelation indicating that the content of the 7-sealed scroll ultimately
includes the unfolding of the mystery of all things; the goal and end of
history. In 10:7 we read that in the days of the sounding of the 7th trumpet
“the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his
servants, the prophets.” Again, here is a private scroll unknown to anyone
but the author who is seated on the throne.
THE SCROLL, THEN, IS NOT ONLY ABOUT JUDGMENT OR
ABOUT THE INHERITANCE OF THE KINGDOM. IT CONTAINS
THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE END OF ALL HISTORY—HOW
THINGS WILL ULTIMATELY END FOR ALL PEOPLE:
JUDGEMENT FOR THE WORLD AND THE FINAL REWARD OF
THE SAINTS! It sounds terribly exciting, doesn’t it?????
In the midst of this knowledge, and this scene in God’s Throne Room, a
mighty angel shouts out a challenge for anyone to come forth. He is looking
for one “who is worthy” to open the great scroll and its seals. All creation
in heaven and earth stands motionless and speechless. (v.2) No one is
worthy to open the scroll. If the scroll contains both the revelation and the
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carrying out of the final drama of history, then we can understand John’s
overwhelming despair. After a period of silence; John weeps. Then his fears
are quenched by one of the elders. The elder announces that “there is
someone who has triumphed.” Two figurative titles are used to describe
the one who is WORTHY to open the scroll. They are “the Lion of the
tribe of Judah” and “the Root of David”. (v.5) these 2 titles are
EXCLUSIVELY used to refer to the Old Testament Messiah!
Then, just as we think we have it figured out, a surprise gets thrown into the
mix. John looks to see the mighty Lion and instead sees the striking figure of
a “Lamb” “as if it has been slaughtered”. He sees a Lamb still bearing the
marks of sacrifice. He is the One who is worthy to open the scroll! The
mutilated body of the Lord, Himself, is seen by the Apostle.
This Lamb bears 7 horns and 7 eyes. The horns are word pictures of Divine
Omnipotence, Dominion, and Omniscience! During this time of history there
was much literature concerning “horned lambs”. And so John borrows
current literary style to grab people’s attention. From the fourth gospel to the
pages of this book of Revelation we now recognize the incredible
qualification or worthiness of the “Suffering Savior” who we know as Jesus
Christ. The “eyes” are identified with the “seven spirits of God who were
sent out into all the earth”. (v.6) All of this is not so much mysterious as it
is clearly a reference to the Jesus we know from the other books of the New
Testament. John will refer to the “Passover” throughout the rest of
revelation. Here he identifies the “worthy one” as the “Root of David” who
is the “Passover Lamb”. And the seven spirits are the Holy Spirit sent
throughout the world bearing witness to the Lamb. Everything is in sevens;
as you notice! Yet, consistent with Scripture, it is the Holy Spirit who now
ministers in the world.
Jesus broke the stranglehold of the “powers and authorities over creation”
and will take center stage. In dramatic style the Lamb acts! He strides up to
the Throne and takes the scroll. The language conveys a dramatic action in
the verb “took”! (v. 7) The One who is sitting of the Throne; God, the
Father, authorizes the slain, messianic King to execute His plan for the
redemption of the world because in and through the Lamb, God has
accomplished the salvation of humanity! THIS IS WHY THE LAMB IS
WORTHY OF OUR PRAISE AND OUR TOTAL SERVITUDE! Christ’s
victorious death on the cross is the basis of His authority to redeem the
world by taking and opening the seven-sealed scroll!
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Out of all this 3 hymns of praise are sung: precisely at this time! The living
creatures and the 24 elders all fall down in worship before the Lamb. They
have instruments and voices and they offer “a new song”. They have
worshipped the one on the throne, now they offer worship to the Lamb!
Hey! I think we sing a song that speaks of “a new song, in my heart today;
a new song, praises for my King!”
The first 2 hymns are songs of praise to the Lamb and the 3rd one is praise to
both the One seated on the Throne and the Lamb.
Two other things need to be seen before we look at specific applications in
our lives today:
First, there are “bowls of incense” representing the “prayers of the
saints”. These prayers are not prayers of praise but petition. In 6:10 (the
next chapter) the Christian martyrs are seen calling to God for His judgment
on those who killed them. In 8:3-4, the prayers of the saints are immediately
connected with the trumpets of God’s judgment. These prayers plead for
God’s vindication of those killed for their faith. “Saints” here is the normal
term for the rank and file Christians: those set apart for God’s purposes.
Second, the Lamb’s right to open the scroll rests on the fact that He has
made those He ransomed into “a kingdom” and made them “priests”! The
message of this vision from John to the churches is that Christians will reign
on the earth with Christ because they have been given kingly authority
THROUGH HIS DEATH! Wow, we have visited the teaching of the church
being a kingdom, a royal priesthood! Here it is again!
JESUS IS KING OF HISTORY BECAUSE HE HAS BROUGHT
REDEMPTION TO THE WORLD!
At this point we are told that all will be surrounded by “thousands upon
thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand angels”. (vv. 11-12)
This totally coincides with Daniel 7:10. The angels shout out their praise to
the Lamb. They shout out seven qualities of Christ “power, wealth,
wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise!”
We might look at this chapter with minds of confusion. Most of what
transpires here seems to have so little touch with our lives. (Throne rooms,
falling before a Sovereign ruler, having a scarred Lamb proclaimed
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“worthy”, and everyone giving their whole being to “worshipping”!) Our
world has become so trite and mundane and routine that all this stuff
probably hits us in a way that appears anything but powerful and riveting.
Well, isn’t it time for us to get up and grow out of our ludicrous focus on life
as we know it? Most of us will go to a Spectacular Event at least once out of
curiosity to determine if it’s worth our time to be there. Tragically, we
determine what is worthwhile based on our expectations, and our
determination of what we like. Our minds are too stifled with this lowly
existence we call life on this planet Earth.
GOD HAS CHANGED ALL THAT! HE INVADED A SINFUL,
FALLEN WORLD WITH HIS PRESENCE AND HAS BROUGHT
THE SPECTACULAR; THE SUPERHUMAN; THE ULTIMATE TO
HUMAN HISTORY!
The whole focus of human history is the Story of God reaching into human
existence and offering liberation, hope, redemption from a slavery existence
under sin. History will wrap up someday. A scroll will be opened! Seals will
be broken by One who gave His life so we could experience the fullness of
life. The fullness of life is not found in money, in pleasure, in
achievements, in possessions, in activities, or in being an island unto
ourselves! If you disagree with that, you have completely misunderstood life
and what it is all about! And when a scroll is opened, you will be in for a
rude awakening.
There is a purpose in studying the Bible today. There is a reason for making
worship activities a growing part of life. There is a rational in spending time
with the Lord DAILY. There is a purpose in making God first in life! IT IS
THE WHOLE DESIGN GOD ESTABLISHED WHEN HE MADE US!!!!!
It is what life is all about. Jesus, the Lamb even talked about it when He
walked on this planet.
“A certain man held a feast in his fine estate in town.
He laid a festive table and wore a wedding gown.
He sent invitations to his neighbors far and wide.
But when the meal was ready, each of them replied:
I cannot come, I cannot come to the banquet,
Don’t trouble me now
I have married a wife, I have bought me a cow.
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I have fields and commitments that cost a pretty sum.
Pray, hold me excused, I cannot come!
The master rose in anger; called his servants by name,
Said, “Go into town, fetch the blind and the lame.
Fetch the peasant and the pauper, for this I have willed,
My banquet must be crowded and my table must be filled.”
Now God has written a lesson for the host of mankind.
If we’re slow in responding, He may leave us behind.
He’s preparing a table for that great and glorious day.
When the Lord and Master calls us, be certain not to say:
I cannot come, I cannot come to the banquet,
Don’t bother me now
I have married a wife, I have bought me a cow.
I have fields and commitments that cost a pretty sum.
Pray, hold me excused, I cannot come!”
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