“To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. “ – Revelation 1:5b-6.
In chapter four, we were introduced to the throne room. As we closed the chapter, the four “living ones” were singing praises to the eternality of almighty God the Father, an appropriate refrain from the “living ones” in heaven. (Keep in mind these “living ones” are about to inflict judgment on the earth as the first four seals are removed in chapter 6.) The refrain of the four “living Ones” invokes a song of praise from the 24 elders. These redeemed representatives of Christ’s Body sing their praise to God as creator of all things and worthy to receive glory, honor and power.
In chapter five we are still in the throne room. John has just listened to the four living ones singing of Him “who was and is and is to come” followed by the 24 Elders singing about all living things existing by God’s own will and creation. Then John notices in the right hand of the One seated on the throne, a scroll written on front and back with seven seals keeping it closed.
The scroll has the appearance of a Roman will which typically was sealed with seven seals. It is considered to be the ownership title for the created universe including the earth. Its importance is stressed since it is in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. Even more important than ownership and authority, the scroll is the key unlocking the Kingdom of God.
McGee makes the compelling argument the scroll is the new covenant with Israel mentioned in Romans 11:26-27, Jeremiah 31:31ff, and repeated in Hebrews 10:16-17. The kingdom of priests is clearly in heaven which is the church, Christ’s Body. The restoration of Israel should not be spiritually interpreted at the expense of history yet to be fulfilled, according to McGee.
John sees a “strong (mighty) angel” asking the question throughout all creation, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” There is silence, …. no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth is found who is worthy!
John’s love is expressed in tears as no one whom God has created is qualified to respond to the call. John bursts into a loud cry and one of the 24 Elders reassures John,
“Weep no more; behold, Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” - Revelation 5:5b.
John sees among the elders, between the throne and the four living beings, the Lamb of God as slain. In other words, he saw what the Greek defines as a Passover lamb, probably with its throat cut. But the description moves quickly from the small pet lamb to the Lion of Judah (Genesis 49:9), the Root of David. “Behold, Lion of Judah”, an elder introduces the one who takes the scroll.
A Lion is the image of Israel’s expectation. It was the ruling King of God’s Kingdom they expected as their messiah. But what they received was the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world. Now John is about to witness the Lion King who comes to judge and to rule His Kingdom.
This Lion-Lamb graphic is contained in our opening verse in the first chapter.
“To him who loves us and freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. “ – Revelation 1:5b-6.
This letter of Revelation is written to us, the ones freed from sin by His blood and made a Kingdom of priests with direct access to God the Father through Jesus the Lamb. We are the ones who give praise because from Him we receive life, His life. His role is to have dominion over the creation which He created. Glory is from us to Him and dominion is from Him to us. Glory and dominion forever and ever, amen! This is a reminder our Lord is sovereign, reigning and faithfully discharging His righteous judgment as well as grace to those who are His redeemed.
Although the elder introduces the Lion of the tribe of Judah the scene reverts back to the slain Lamb taking the scroll out of the hand of God. The Lamb is seen as standing showing His sacrificial wound but with seven horns of power and seven eyes of understanding and filled with the seven Spirits of God who went into all the earth.
Immediately, upon transfer of the scroll to the Lamb, the Living Beings and the 24 elders fall before the Lamb in spontaneous joy and worship. The same adoration is given to Jesus the Lamb as was given to the Father on the throne in chapter 4. Then John notices each of the elders are holding in one hand a harp and in the other incense bowls the priests used for intersession at the tabernacle alters. These gold bowls contain the prayers of the saints.
Then John looked around him and heard a new song sung by the four living beings and the elders:
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth..”
Simultaneously innumerable angels chant in 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!”
Then all the creatures in creation lifted the crescendo saying in unison:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
The four living beings close the worship with “Amen!”.
“And the elders fell down and worshiped.”
John is on the Island of Patmos exiled during later reign of Domition probably around 95AD or 96AD. The condition of the churches had eroded under the persecution of Domition, including the seven churches in chapters 2 and 3.
The writing of Revelation provided a reminder to the churches God was still in control carrying out His own plan and purpose. Remember the early Jewish church was familiar with the Old Testament scripture. Many of the symbols in Revelations were already contained in what prophets had already written in Old Testament scripture. The church of today has a much harder time with Revelation then the early church of John’s day.