Before we begin with chapter 5 today, I want to go back to the book of Acts. Steven, one of the seven being full of the Holy Spirit, tells those who will stone him to death something interesting. Acts 7 and verse 55 reads.
Acts 7:55] But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
[56] And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
This will cause those who crucified our Lord to stone him. But we see that Jesus is at the right hand of God. Now, Rev.5 and verse 1 reads.
Rev.5:1] And 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.
In the right hand, a book written within and sealed. This is Jesus Christ. He is the Living Word, that sharp two-edged sword, Truth.
Rev.5:2] And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
This strong angel must be an Archangel. He is asking a question he knows the answer to. Only Christ is worthy and he alone will unseal the seven seals. He will unseal them in the next chapter to those who will study and seek him, the Word.
Rev.5:3] And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
[4] And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
[5] And 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.
Giving us the reason that only Jesus is worthy. He that is King of kings and Lord of lords that prevailed against Death. Let’s go to Hebrews 2 and verse 14 reads.
Heb.2:14] Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
We now know that because Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and rose again on the third day gives God the Power in his right hand to destroy Death, that is Satan.
Rev.5:6] And 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.
Horns means Power. These seven eyes are the seven Spirits of God. The four beasts are the Zoon or the Zoy, and protect the mercy seat. The Elders are the twelve apostles and the twelve patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel. This is prophesied in Zechariah 3, and verse 8 reads.
Zec.3:8] Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH.
This BRANCH is Christ.
Zec.3:9] For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.
The seven eyes we just learned are the Seven Spirits of God.
Zec.3:10] In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, shall ye call every man his neighbour under the vine and under the fig tree.
Remember when someone asked Jesus “And who is my neighbor” and Jesus told the parable of the good Samaritan. Now this One Day has not come yet, but it will soon. Jesus also said to learn the parable of the fig tree. Watchmen watch. Back to Rev.5 and verse 7 reads.
Rev.5:7] And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Don’t let this confuse you, the Lamb took the book out of God’s right hand. This is done so that we know the Trinity. The Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are all one. But it is the Son that is the Lamb, for it was he that died on the cross for our sins.
Rev.5:8] And 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.
Only the Lamb is worthy to take the book. Notice the prayers of the saints (God’s elect) are kept in golden vials in heaven. Let’s go to Psalms 56 and verse 8 reads.
Psa.56:8] Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?
[9] When I cry unto thee, then shall mine enemies turn back: this I know; for God is for me.
Nothing new under the sun. Back to Rev.5 and verse 9 reads.
Rev.5:9] And 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 reason for the Lamb of God being the only one worthy was prophesied in Isa.53 and verse 7 reads.
Isa.53:7] He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
This chapter is giving the reason for him being the only one worthy and in the next chapter he will open the seals. Back to Rev.5 and verse 10 reads.
Rev.5:10] And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
The elect will be priests, what do priests do, they teach. Let’s go ahead to Rev.20 and verse 6 reads.
Rev.20:6] Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
This would be for the millennium, we the elect will teach those who didn’t make it for the first resurrection. It’s not a second chance, look around today, most don’t stand a chance for learning the truth with today’s churches. Back to Rev.5 and verse 11 reads.
Rev.5:11] And 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 times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
So many that have overcome that they cannot be counted.
Rev.5:12] Saying 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.
These are the seven Spirits of God. Power, Riches, Wisdom, Strength, Honor, Glory, and Blessings.
Rev.5:13] And 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.
Creature should have been translated creations or Souls. For ever and ever is Eternity.
Rev.5:14] And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
We see here in chapter 5 the seven Spirits of God and that only the Lamb is worthy to open the seven seals. He will do this in the next lesson, don’t miss Ch.6! Let’s go to his throne.
Father, we thank you for your word and ask that you bless all that love you in Jesus’s precious name, Amen.
KJV along with The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of The Bible