A Commentary in Simple English on Revelation

CHAPTER 5

The Lamb and the Scroll [5.1]

Now (verse 1) John sees on God's open right hand a book. The right hand is, of course, the place of honour and power. The book is not a book made up from pages fixed together in a cover, like the books that we know now. It was probably a 'scroll'. This means long narrow pieces of animal skin - good leather - or perhaps paper. These were joined together and then rolled up round a piece of wood, which was fixed at one end. A good scroll would also have another piece of wood fixed at the other end. It was not easy to find the place that you wanted in a long scroll. This is why scrolls are very little used today.

We do not really know what it was that was written on this book. [5.2] One book, which Revelation speaks about in other places, is the 'roll' or list of citizens in God's new city. (See 3:5.) But one thing is clear. This book is full. Both sides of it are full. There is no room to change anything. There is no room to add anything. This is God's book. We can look at Luke 4:17. Perhaps this book is full of what Jesus will do.

The outer end of this scroll is 'sealed'. Someone has put clay or hot wax on the edge in seven different places. Wax or clay quickly becomes hard. These seven seals fix the end of the scroll so that no one can open it to read it.

Now you can find out for yourself what this means. Take a strip of paper and some wax; or sticky paper or tape will do instead of wax. Roll your paper up. Put seven seals of wax or sticky paper on the outer edge. Now break your seven seals one at a time. You can only turn back a corner of the scroll. Even when you have broken six seals, you can still only turn back a corner. It is only when you break the last of the seven seals that you can undo the scroll. Only then can you read what it says.

Now Chapter 6 tells us what happens when the first six seals are broken. A lot happens it seems. But this is only like a little corner of the scroll. Then we shall see in Chapter 7 that instead of seals broken, we have now seals which are put on to God's people. Only in 8:1 does Jesus break the last of the Seven Seals. Then the scroll or book can at last be opened and it can be read. (See Daniel 12:4.) But first (6:14) the sky rolls up like a scroll.

In verse 2, a strong angel invites anyone who can to come forward and to open the book. They must not just be strong. They must be 'worthy'. They must have the right and the honour to open the book.

Verse 3 tells us that no angel in heaven, no man on earth, no one alive or dead, could open and read the book. John cried and cried (verse 4). John had seen God's glory. Now he wanted to know God's purpose; he wanted to know what God would do. Perhaps John cried because no one was worthy to open the book. But then he must have known that no one except Jesus was worthy.

So in verse 5 one of the twenty-four elders speaks to John. Jesus is 'the Lion who comes from the Tribe of Judah'. (See Genesis 49:9,10.) He is the 'Root of David'. (See Isaiah 11:1 and 10.) In other words, the root of a tree is in the ground. David was like a new growth or shoot which once long ago grew up from this root. David has been cut down. He died. Jesus is like another 'shoot' or branch, which has grown up from this same root. And Jesus is able to open the book.

What the elder says sounds very Jewish. But when we move on from what John hears to what he sees, it is quite different (verse 6). It is much better. He looks for a lion and sees a Lamb. And Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the whole world. The Lamb looks as if it has been killed as an offering to God. [5.3] It looks as if its throat has been cut! Yet the Lamb stands. He is alive. And He is in the very centre of God's throne, the seat from which God rules as king.

The 'seven horns' mean that Jesus has complete power (Matthew 28:18). The 'seven eyes' mean that Jesus has complete knowledge. And it is Jesus who sends out from heaven the Holy Spirit into all the world. Do not try to put all this together in your mind as one picture. Just think what each part of it means. God's power is at work among men. And God knows what He is doing.

Verse 7 says that the Lamb 'came and has taken the book from the right' of God. From verse 8 to verse 14, we read about the worship in heaven. Jesus receives the same honours, which were given to God His Father in Chapter 5. Jesus is not 'a god'. He is not something a little less than God is. He is Himself God.

So now we have three songs of praise and worship to Jesus. The first one of them is in verses 9 and 10.

1. Verse 8 tells us that this first one is the song of the four living beings and of the twenty-four elders.

a) They worship Jesus because He died for us. His death was a 'sacrifice', an offering of worship to God. We were like slaves in the market place. We were 'for sale' as slaves. Jesus came and paid the price so that we are no longer slaves. We will be free. Jesus 'purchased' us for God. And He bought or 'ransomed' men for God. He paid the price, when He died for us. We now belong to God by right. Sin made us slaves. So the death of Jesus is the end of our sin. Rather, it is the beginning of the end. We are no longer slaves to sin. And although we still do sin from time to time sin cannot destroy us. Sin may not rule over us (Romans 6:14.)

b) Then they worship God because God's people are not only Jews. They are people of all kinds. They come from every part of the world. They come from every time. Every 'tribe' has some part of its customs, which will find a place in glory. [5.4] Every language that is spoken in the world may be used for the worship of God. There are thousands of languages. Each language has its own beauty. Each one will be heard in glory. Each one has its own special way to set out God's truth. And we must take the Good News about Jesus to every 'people and nation'.

c) God calls men and women of every kind and they become Christians. Together they make up the church. God has also made us 'members of a kingdom in the service of our God'. [5.5]

d) Then the hymn says: - 'They will reign'. That is, they will have power like kings on or over the earth (or the land). (See 11:15,17; 20:4 and 22:5.) [5.6]

2. A great number of angels sing the second song (verse 11). John has not told us before about this great circle of angels who are all round God's throne. This song of praise is rather like the one in 4:11. The words are in verse 12.

a). These angels worship Jesus. He is the Lamb who has died as an offering to God.

b) They say that it is right that He should receive these seven things: -

i) power - to rule

ii) wealth, that is riches. But it does not mean money!

iii) wisdom - to guide His people through life

iv) strength - to support His people

v) honour - just as we should give a father honour

vi) glory as the God from whom all saving help comes

vii) praise (or blessing) as the sinners 'best Friend', who loves us.

The angels say that it is right that Jesus should receive these seven things. But of course He has them already. The first four are different from the other three. The first four are things that Jesus has to use to help us. The last three are simply given to Him. This is another case where the number seven is made up from four and three.

3. Then in verse 13, we have a song of praise in which everything that God has made joins together. Now God the Father, who sits on His seat as King of all, receives praise in the same song with Jesus, the Lamb. Then in verse 14 the four living beings and the twenty-four elders join in again. They agree fully with all this worship.