John, in a vision, has entered heaven where he sees the throne of God and 24 elders gathered around the throne. The One on the throne has a scroll that no one can open.
Revelation 5: 6-10, One Who can open the scroll
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.
9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
Only the Lamb who was slain can open the scroll. This Lamb of God, dead once and now alive, has all mankind in his debt. I see in verse 7 the theme of Revelation. All of history flows out the sacrifice of the Lamb.
The response of the four creatures and the twenty-four elders is praise, praise for the Lamb's sacrifice and for the Lamb drawing people from every tribe/language/people/nation into the priesthood of God.
The elders hold harps and bowls of incense representing the prayers of the people of God. The harp might represent the best musical instrument for praise.
The response of the four creatures and the twenty-four elders is praise, praise for the Lamb's sacrifice and for the Lamb drawing people from every tribe/language/people/nation into the priesthood of God.
The elders hold harps and bowls of incense representing the prayers of the people of God. The harp might represent the best musical instrument for praise.
The scroll is sealed up like a will would have been. Why is this significant? (See Hebrews 9:15 ff.)
Revelation 5: 11-14, The angels and every creature join in
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.
12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
The praise of the four creatures and the 24 elders is followed by the praise of millions of angels (messengers) and then that of "every creature" in heaven and earth, under the earth and on the sea.... The angels' praise give seven attributes to the Lamb; the other creatures repeat four of them.
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
The praise of the four creatures and the 24 elders is followed by the praise of millions of angels (messengers) and then that of "every creature" in heaven and earth, under the earth and on the sea.... The angels' praise give seven attributes to the Lamb; the other creatures repeat four of them.
Revelation 5: 11-14, The angels and every creature join in
The four living creatures and the elders are not listed with the angels. So who are they? "Amen" means "so be it" or "it is right".
This scroll is important. We will spend the next two chapters learning what happens as the seven locks ("seals") are removed.
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