18/02/18 Revelation 5:1-14 “Christ has both authority and right to judge the earth”

 

Last week we looked at the absolute authority of God, Creator of all, therefore sovereign over all, in Ch.4. But absolute authority on its own is not enough; authority must have the right to act, or else authority merely becomes a means of control. God has absolute authority, but does He have the right to administer it as He desires (according to His will as prophesied in Revelation Ch.6 onward)? Authority speaks of sovereignty, but it must be administered with justice and righteousness. A dictator may rule by force, because he is able to, but he doesn’t necessarily have the right to do so!

 

The tribulation is a time of great judgment upon mankind, but is it just and righteous to do so? The mere fact that God can do whatever He wants is not enough to justify doing it unless He has the right to do it, and this is what this chapter establishes, through Christ, the Lamb of God.

 

Sin (rebellion against holy God) entered the universe via satan and his angels, and more specifically entered the earth via Adam and Eve (with a little help from satan to get things moving). Because God is holy, He desires that all in His presence also be holy as He is holy. God did not create evil, nor did He ordain it, decree it, or in any way cause it to happen. But, it is clear, God desired that all who dwell with Him for eternity should not only be holy as He is holy, but to desire to be holy as He has desired to be holy. Ultimately, when time has ceased and the new heaven and new earth are a reality, all who dwell in that new place will be there because they have chosen to be there. They have desired to be holy and have shunned evil. That requires a real alternative option of being able to choose evil, such as the forbidden tree in the garden of Eden. There will be no need for God to place a tree with forbidden fruit in heaven because all there will have already rejected such fruit as rebellion. Only those angels and people who have chosen to be holy will be present in the new heaven and earth. There will be no more pain, no more sorrow, and no more evil because there will be no more place for evil there for ever and ever.

 

This is what the tribulation is all about, God re-establishing His authority over His creation. In the beginning, when God created the earth, He saw that it was good. And indeed it was good. There was no sin, no rebellion, a perfect paradise for mankind to dwell in forever, if only he could be holy as God is holy. But by this stage, satan had rebelled against God and has remained in rebellion ever since. Satan had tried to gain some authority and had been put in his place. Now man had some authority given him: dominion over all that lived on the earth.

 

But man was given a choice: obey God, or to rebel by eating the forbidden fruit. It was also God’s law that without the shedding of blood there could be no remission for sins; thus it was necessary, once man had sinned, for innocent blood to be shed to buy the right to rule with absolute authority.

Hebrews 9:22-2322 And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission. 23 [It was] therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.

 

Once satan had caused the fall of man (by man’s own free will) into sin and rebellion against God, he wasn’t going to ease up on the pressure. This was war between satan and God. Satan thought he had man beaten and therefore God would have to deal with man severely; this would have delighted satan. Mankind then went into a downward spiral and by Noah’s time man’s wickedness was extreme (Genesis 6:5). Consequently, mankind was destroyed, with righteous Noah and his family the only ones left alive.

 

But satan hadn’t eased off yet. After the flood he took control over Ham, especially, it seems, Ham’s son, Canaan. Ham’s sons were Cush (Nimrod, Asshur, and Babel, Nineveh), Mizraim (Egypt, Philistines), Phut, and Canaan (Sidon, Canaan, Sodom, Gomorrah, and Jebusites, Amorites). The inhabitants of Canaan were considered so evil that God commanded the Hebrews to destroy every one of them when they entered their promised land (Deuteronomy 20:16-18).

 

God had chosen a people to call His own, a people to serve and worship Him. Abraham was called first, then his son, Isaac, then Isaac’s son, Jacob (Israel) who had 12 sons who were to become the 12 tribes of Israel. Israel was to be God’s special nation, a priesthood to the nations of the world (Exodus 19:6), yet until this day they have never become what God desired that they should be. Nimrod was one of satan’s first servants but Mizraim (otherwise known as Egypt) was to become satan’s weapon to destroy Israel. (Mitsrayim is translated as Egypt in the Old Testament and Aigyptos as Egypt in the New Testament.) Satan was using Egypt in order to take authority over Israel away from God. The contest between Moses and Pharaoh was actually God re-establishing His authority over the people that He had called to be His own. Satan fought hard but was never going to win. This was God’s people, and the earth was God’s creation; God had all authority and the right to take that authority over a people that He had established, starting with Abraham. And, in the desert after they left Egypt, God gave His people their covenant law, “The Law” (of Moses)!

 

Satan has tried to destroy God’s people many times since then: from false god worship to the annihilation of God’s people (such as in Esther), to the killing of the Saviour (by Herod) before His ministry was commenced, Israel has faced satan’s fury over God’s authority upon His people.

 

Not once, yet, has Israel managed to give to God the worship and service He has desired. Even when a Saviour (their Messiah) was sent to redeem them, they rejected Him and His authority over them (see the parable in Matthew 21:33-46) Satan was working overtime to try and wrest the victory from God. Then God chose the Church to continue His work while Israel was sidelined for their rebellion. But God (through Daniel) had prophesied that one day, before the end, Israel would have a final 7 year period (week of years), and at the end of their final week of years, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. (Daniel 9:24) God was stating His purpose for Israel (and effectively for the earth) with this passage in Daniel.

 

Israel was to be a priesthood to the nations, but when that failed, the Church then became the priesthood to the nations. When the time of the Gentile Church has been fulfilled, then Israel will be taken back by God as His special people (Romans 11:23-27). For that final seven-week period of their timeline, according to Daniel, they will be brought back under God’s authority, in fact, brought to the level of worship and service that they have never achieved at any time in the past. God has stated His intentions for the end-times regarding Israel, and it will happen because God has stated that it will happen. It must happen – Revelation 4:1 (“things which must be hereafter”)

 

Not only has God the authority to do this; He also has the right. Satan claimed mankind through sin and rebellion, but God took the unprecedented step of putting Himself on the cross to pay the legal requirements (of the shedding of innocent blood) demanded of mankind by the Law for his sin. Not only has God absolute authority as a consequence of His creation of all; He has also died in place of mankind to buy back (redeem) all mankind from the assumed authority of satan. Not only does the Bible say clearly that the atonement (paying of the penalty demanded by the law) was for the whole world without exception, but God could not have the right to establish such absolute authority over His special creation, man, unless the redemption were also absolute, that is, for all mankind without exception. Satan is to be left without any right to any man; satan will be left without any rights at all. (Even just one person left unredeemed could still give satan some hope of a minimal dominion; but no person at all left satan without anyone he could use to obtain dominion.)

 

Heaven will be filled with those who have rejected satan’s law, instead having been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. At the end of the millennial reign of Christ the Messiah, those who have yet to accept or reject God’s ultimatum on holiness will be given their “test”, their choosing this day whom they will serve. Satan will be set loose for a season (Revelation 20:1-3; 7-10). He will gather to himself all those who reject God’s holiness, and one last battle will ensue. Satan will be defeated; the contest will be over; all wickedness will now be judged.

 

All those now in God’s presence (man and angels) will be holy by their own choice; that is, not ordained according to God’s authority. No-one in heaven will have chosen to be elsewhere. God will have won just as He has stated that He would. He has the authority to win, and this passage today in Ch.5 establishes His right to win.

 

While satan and his rebellion was not ordained by God, it is clear that man’s free will to choose whom he will serve (God or satan) has determined where he will end up for eternity. And, it is also clear that non-acceptance of the free gift of salvation is taken to mean rebellion against God. Ultimately, every person will receive the future which he has either directly or indirectly chosen! This is not only according to God’s absolute authority, but also His absolute right to exert all necessary force to achieve His will for all mankind. And what is His will for all mankind: that they all be saved by their own free will acceptance of God’s blood sacrifice, or else be condemned for eternity because of their free will rejection of His blood sacrifice.

 

Revelation is about God, according to His will, taking back His authority from satan on a larger scale than Egypt (it’s on a world scale, this time!), a time when all mankind on earth will be forced into deciding whom they will serve. There’s no more time for messing around; instead, God gives the earth just seven years to decide, and then judges them on their decisions – to the reaping of God’s wrath, or the blessing of His salvation. (Note the sheep and the goats of Matthew 25:31-46)

 

Revelation 5:1And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

 

This book is that which decides the right of God to enforce His absolute authority. But what is the book? Is it the Bible, or the Law, or of God’s counsels, etc? The context suggests that it has to do with the tribulation which appears to commence with the opening of the first seal. Generally a document with many seals would have to have all seals opened before any could be read, yet this book appears to be opened a section (= a seal) at a time (see Ch.6). This does suggest what Daniel was talking about in Daniel 9:24Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. That is, those due processes necessary to bring this particular era or dispensation to an end according to God’s will or counsel. Thus this book may be that which completes the counsel of God that will not be fulfilled until that which Daniel has prophesied.

 

This book (which seems to be written on both sides of the writing surfaces) is that which will bring to an end this time of decision-making for mankind, literally forcing all to take sides, either for or against God. This again suggests also the sheep and goats judgment of Matthew 25:31-46.

 

Revelation 5:2And I saw a strong (mighty) angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose (break) the seals thereof?

 

worthyaxios (weighing; having weight; having the weight of another thing of like value; worth as much) Being equal (in worth) to the task, so to speak.

 

Clearly this book is only to be opened (and therefore acted upon) by one who has both the authority and the right to carry out the action required in the book. It is obvious that the opening of these seals also involves carrying out the required actions. There will be no passive reading of this book! The one who breaks the seals must have that authority and right to do what the book demands. Thus the question is asked: Who is worthy? (or “Who has the right?”) Revelation 4:11 says that God is worthy to receive all glory, honour and power (according to His authority as Creator of all). The same word “worthy” is used again in Revelation 5:2 (Who is worthy?), 4 (no man was found worthy), 9 (Thou art worthy) & 12 (Worthy is the Lamb).

 

Seals are put on a document to prevent the wrong persons from opening that document. The seals are not locks which are hard to open, but instead are usually easy to break physically, being made of wax or similar. It wasn’t force which enabled their opening, but the legal right to be permitted to open them. Generally, only the writer of the document, and the recipient of that document, could legally break those seals. It is clear that the document is from God (“him that sat on the throne” – Vs 1) but who is the recipient? That is, who is the one worthy to open such a document?

 

Revelation 5:3And no man (“not one”) in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

 

Not one single being (literally “not one”), not even any who have since died (which is what “under the earth” would suggest) was (or is) able (or has the right by permission of the Law) to open that book. Not one was even able (or had the right) to even look upon (or discern its contents; understand; discover) this book.

 

Revelation 5:4And I wept much, because no man (“not one”) was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

 

John, who has observed this so far, is understandably upset, even distraught, that what appears to be such a significant document just cannot be opened (and therefore acted upon) because there is apparently no-one who is worthy to open and to read the document, nor even to consider its contents nor understand what it meant. John wept because he understood that such a book needed to be opened, if only someone had the worth (was found worthy) to open it. To open the book required the breaking of those seven seals which we will cover in Ch.6. If no-one could open this book, then the counsel of God that Daniel prophesied could not be fulfilled.

 

Revelation 5:5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

 

“And one of the 24 elders (Revelation 4:10; 5:8) said to John, ‘Do not weep; for One is worthy because He has prevailed (conquered; been victorious; has won the case according to the law), thus proving His right (by law) to open the book by breaking the seven seals on it.’”

And who is this One who has the right by law to open the book? Christ Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Descendant of David.

 

Revelation 5:6And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

 

“And I (John) looked, and behold, in the midst of (amongst; middle) of the throne and in he midst of the four living creatures and the elders, stood a Lamb looking as if it had been slain (slaughtered; put to death by violence; mortally wounded).”

 

The lamb had 7 horns (which speak of power and dominion, strength and courage; God’s omnipotence) and 7 eyes (which speak of God’s omniscience and omnipresence) which are the 7 Spirits of God (also see Zechariah 4:2-3) sent forth into all the world.

Also Zechariah 4:10For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel [with] those seven; they [are] the eyes of the Lord, which run to and fro through the whole earth.

 

Revelation 5:7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

 

“And He (the Lamb – who is also God, who alone was worthy to open the book) came and took the book from God who sat upon the throne.”

Christ has taken the victory over satan and now takes this book with which to finish God’s counsel for this dispensation, as the right of Him who has created all things and has redeemed by His blood all that which was His – all mankind.

 

Revelation 5:8And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

 

When He took the book, the Lamb who is God (and thus worthy of all glory, honour and power) is worshipped by the four living creatures and the 24 elders, with harps and golden vials (broad shallow bowls or deep saucers) full of odours (an aromatic substance burnt; incense) which are the prayers of the saints (holy ones).  

 

Shallow bowls in which incense was burned were placed upon the altar (Exodus 30:1-10). Whether it is the four living creatures and 24 elders, or just the elders, who have the harps and vials is not clear, but is also not important to worry about this.

 

Revelation 5:9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

 

The new song (not heard before) praises the worthiness of the Lamb to break the seals and open the book, because He was slain, thus redeeming them (from every tribe, and language, and people, and ethnic group) by His blood. This is Christ’s right to open the seals: He has bought that right by buying back all mankind by His sacrifice on the cross.

 

Revelation 5:10And hast made us unto our God kings (leaders; princes; rulers) and priests: and we shall reign (verb form of “kings”) on the earth.

 

See Revelation 1:5b-6aUnto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, 6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father

 

God’s people, His saints, will be given a part in the kingdom of God.

Daniel 7:27And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom [is] an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

Revelation 20:4And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and [I saw] the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received [his] mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

 

Also note the royal priesthood of God’s people. Also note Exodus 19:6.

1 Peter 2:9But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

 

Revelation 5:11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand (or innumerable - myrias) times ten thousand (or innumerable), and thousands of thousands;

 

(See Hebrews 12:22 – an innumerable company of angels. “Myriads of myriads”)

A huge massed choir singing the new song.

 

Revelation 5:12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

 

The words of the new song. It is the Lamb who is worthy to open the seals, having been slain to redeem His own, and now worthy to receive all glory, honour and power, and riches, wisdom and strength.

 

Revelation 5:13And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, [be] unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

 

“every” is an absolute term. It cannot accept any less than all creatures! That is, all creation joins in with this mass choir of angels in worshipping God on the throne, and the Lamb who is worthy, for ever and ever. This praise session never stops! (“every creature” – It is interesting to note that this praise session could also include all hell!)

 

Revelation 5:14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four [and] twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

 

A fitting benediction to the praise and worship session just now completed.

Final note – “vanity” (as per Ephesians 4:17) means the emptiness of the illusion which sees pleasure in sin (Cambridge Bible commentary). In eternity, no-one will be deceived by lies any more, for all (both lost and saved) will see everything as it really is, that is, the truth. However, during the tribulation, God will send a strong delusion upon all who do not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12). Effectively they will be made to believe what they wanted to believe, to their own destruction.

 

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