Devotions with Dre Episode 31: Book of Revelation Part 12: The Lion is a Lamb; He’s Worthy

This is Rev chapters 4-5 Part 3: the lion is a lamb and he's worthy (Rev 5:1-10), angels and all heaven worship the lamb (rev 5:11-14).

(I originally said this section of Revelation was going to take "about 4" podcast episodes - well this is the third one and iIm going to try to make it the final look at Rev 4-5 if i can).

Which means that today we're examining all of chapter 5 :) Go ahead at read chapters 4-5. Here’s the breakdown:

5:1a "Then I saw a scroll (or book) in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne."

Is this the first time a human sees a scroll in Heaven during a vision? Nope - let's look at Ez 2:9-10:  “Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll, 10 which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.”

In both cases the scrolls are scrolls of judgement.

Is there anywhere else in scripture where a scroll like this is witnessed? Yes, Daniel chapter 12:4-9: “But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end…Then I, Daniel, looked, and there before me stood two others, one on this bank of the river and one on the opposite bank. One of them said,… “How long will it be before these astonishing things are fulfilled?” [a] man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard … “It will be for a time, times and half a time.…all these things will be completed.” I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?” He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are rolled up and sealed until the time of the end.”

So the scroll is a known thing, and we can glean that this divine counsel meeting that is the heavenly scene of Rev 4-5 is a meeting about Judgement.

5:1b "There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals."

The Book of Revelation Made clear website says: "In its simplicity, the seven seals reveal that the scroll is perfectly and completely sealed. As we are going to notice, no human can open the scroll. The scroll is fully sealed until the proper time and the proper person to open the scroll. We will also notice as we continue our study of Revelation in future lessons that as each seal is broken, an event happens on the earth."

Why is it significant that there's writing on both sides? a lot of people think this is a visual indication that the whole complete story is there - that this scroll is the full plan.

5:2 "And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice 'who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?' "

Who is the strong angel? From what I can tell, we really don't know. John doesn't tell us, and all the scholarship I could find seemed like guesses that named high-ranking well-known holy angels. A few theologians suggest that it's possibly Gabriel because he had told Daniel some end-times info before.

Why does someone worthy have to open the scroll? Worthy = axios = morally and legally entitled; it's the same word found in the gospels where John the Baptist (diff John) says "I'm not even worthy to touch Jesus' shoes."

BibleRef.com says: "The angel's question called for heart searching. All who heard the angel's question would have to do honest self-analysis. This would include all beings, not just humans. For example, the four living creatures described in chapter 4 (Revelation 4:6–8) had never sinned, but they were not legally entitled to open the scroll and break its seals... one of the elders told John that Jesus could open the scroll, as the only one with the legal and moral right to do so. When Jesus accepted the scroll, universal praise in heaven and on earth rose to Jesus. He alone was found worthy to open the scroll because, as God's Lamb, He had shed His blood for all mankind."

5:3,4 "But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly bc no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it."

again, why is no one able to open it? they have to be sinless and they have to have legal authority. Jesus is about to receive investiture - formal inauguration into the status He already operates in - as the worthy sacrificed resurrected perfect Lamb that conquered all effects of sin and death.

5:5 "But one of the 24 elders said to me, 'stop weeping! look, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.' "

These are common names for the previously prophesied, thoroughly discussed Jewish Messiah. There's an expectant knowing during this heavenly gathering that the Lord is going to be authorized and able to handle what must come next.

5:6a "Then I saw.... A LAMB. that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the 24 elders"

(see Heiser printout)

5:6b "[the Lamb] had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold spirit of God that is sent into every part of the earth."

7 horns : perfected power

7 eyes : total spiritual insight of all that transpired on earth - an ability that only belongs to the 3rd person of the trinity God the Spirit.

in other words, the Holy Spirit is on and in and a part of the Lamb.

5:7 "He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne."

An epic moment. like we mentioned, according to Aune's commentary, this is an investiture ceremony - the Lamb is officially established in the office/role that He already held informally.

It's important to note that the book of Revelation is written as a prophetic covenant lawsuit similar to OT prophesies where the Lord points out a breach in covenant that ancient Israel or a people group have committed. Rev follows the same pattern - the church is judged first, by Jesus in the letters in chap's 1-3, where he points out where the people of God aren’t holding up their end of the deal (the covenant), then He's about to judge the world, which He's uniquely qualified to do. then ultimately God punishes the little-g gods, and heals the world (the nations). There are lots of places in the OT where this pattern happens but Deut 32 is one example.

5:8 "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."

Enduring Word commentary: "The connection between prayer and incense is shown in Psalm 141:2: Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Incense has a pleasing aroma, it ascends to heaven, and it needs fire before it is of any use."

Daniel 6:2 "Draw near unto God and to the angel that intercedes for you, for he is a mediator between God and man.”

Rev 5:9 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.”

5:10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
 and they will reign[b] on the earth.”

The authority given to the Lamb is also given by the Lamb to His redeemed people, which come from every nationality and race. Did you know that’s the plan for you? if you belong to Jesus, your future is to rule and reign with Him in eternity in a world where all will be set right.

5:11 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.

5:12 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!”

may i live this. may this be the song of my life right here.

5:13 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!”

"Every creature even in Hades" - Q: do fallen / rebellious angels end up bowing and worshiping? do people in hell?

Philippians 2 tells us that at the name of Jesus (the name that Jesus possesses that He was given, which is YHWH), every knee will bow and tongue confess that He is Lord.

So reading this, my question was, what about angels and humans who ultimately reject God and Jesus? are they worshiping here too? I couldn't find much about it in Bible commentaries, but I asked a theology friend, I'll tell you his response in a sec.

And I did find this in Barclay's study Bible which I thought was cool:

"The creatures which are beneath the earth add their praise. That can only mean the dead who are in Hades, and here is something totally new. In the Old Testament the idea is that the dead are separated altogether from God and man and live a shadowy existence. "In death there is no remembrance of thee; in Sheol who can give thee praise?" ( Psalms 6:5). "Shall the dust praise thee? Shall it declare thy truth? What profit is there in my death if I go down to the pit?" ( Psalms 30:9). "Dost thou work wonders for the dead? Do the shades rise up to praise thee? Is thy steadfast love declared in the grave, or thy faithfulness in Abaddon? Are thy wonders known in the darkness, or thy saving help in the land of forgetfulness?" ( Psalms 88:10-12). "For Sheol cannot thank thee, death cannot praise thee; those that go down to the pit cannot hope for thy faithfulness" ( Isaiah 38:18).

Here is a vision which sweeps all this away. Not even the land of the dead is beyond the reign of the Risen Christ. Even from beyond death the chorus of praise rises to him."

So, that's beautiful. But I still didn't know if fallen angels and non-Christians who hate God while alive are ultimately going to worship. We do know that all are going to admit/confess that He's Lord - which i guess you could call even that worship? Is this a semantics conversation at this pt?

My friend pastor Marcus Robinson says “No, it’s referring to the redeemed. Those who have responded to the gospel in faith will bow willingly; those who reject Him as God will be judged by the Lord they didn’t accept. They’ll bow, but with great fear and trembling.”

And then here's how the chapter ends:

5:14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

So in the spirit of worship, let's pray to Him together now…