Revelation 5:6-14

The Scroll in the Hand of the Lamb

A sermon by Pastor Joe Haynes

Preached on June 3, 2018 at Beacon Church

In Revelation 5, the scene was set for what we just read, by the inconsolable, loud weeping of John when he saw that in all the Universe there was no one able to redeem the world Adam had plunged into war with God—into sin and death. The scroll in God’s mighty right hand is a symbol of God’s decrees for the future, but there was no one worthy to carry out God’s plans. Then “an elder” of God’s Church told John to stop weeping and behold the Lion of Judah, who was worthy because He had conquered! Instead of a Lion, John saw a Lamb; instead of looking like He conquered, He looked like He was slain.

The fate of the world hung in the balance: will the future turn out for good, or will evil triumph? Will anyone set us free from the evil lurking in every human heart? Will anyone rescue us from our own rebellion against God? God’s ultimate solution to the problem of our evil is as surprising as it is satisfying; it is as heart-breaking as it is happy. This chapter of Revelation is a figurative summary of the whole story of Redemption in the Bible (in 14 verses!) Because the number 7 is prominent in these verses, the number of completion or perfection, I thought it seemed like a good idea to offer seven points of observation about this passage. Not that my seven points mean this is a perfect sermon, but because this sermon is about our perfect Lord Jesus. So rather than following a plot that progresses through these verses, may aim is to reveal the plot once we see all seven observation about the Lamb.

He has the attributes of God

“And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth,” (Rev. 5:6 ESV). The one Holy Spirit was symbolized this way also, as "seven spirits", back in 1:4 "the seven spirits before the throne"--itself a reference to the vision in chapter 4:5, that "before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God". So let me read the explanation for that before I briefly explain the meaning of the "horns" and "eyes":

"…this doesn’t mean there are seven Holy Spirits. It is a symbolic description for The fullness of His Presence. The …thing to observe is that the "seven spirits before God's throne" mirror in the same verse, "the seven churches in Asia". Since the seven churches are meant to represent all churches everywhere, the seven Spirits represent the One Holy Spirit in all believers."[i]

"Seven spirits" therefore describes the fullness of the one Holy Spirit Christ has poured out to fill His Church. Like the reason a week has seven days: because God created everything and then rested on the seventh day. The Sabbath (which in Hebrew means "seven"), is a celebration that God's work was finished, complete, sufficient. Therefore we trust in His completed work, not in our incomplete works. So "seven", or "shabbat" in Hebrew, means "complete".

To understand the rest of the symbolic language in verse 6, then, all we need to do is sample how the symbols of "horns" and "eyes" are used in the Old Testament. For example, in 1 Sam 2:10, in the style of Hebrew poetry, "horn" is paralleled with "strength": "[the LORD] will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed" (1 Sam. 2:10). So "seven horns" means "complete strength/power". The "seven eyes" is an allusion to where the same symbol is used (Zech 3:9) and in 4:10 it says, "these seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole Earth", and again 2 Chron 16:9 says, "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him" (2 Chr. 16:9). And again in Prov 15:3, "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good" (Prov. 15:3). God is all-seeing, and so He is all-knowing, but He doesn't just "see" and "know", He also acts with all power. Without these attributes God would not be God. Since the Lamb is Jesus, and described like this, we must conclude that God is Jesus.

He received the authority of God

Who can save what Adam killed, and redeem what Adam lost? Who could rule in Adam’s place and execute the plans of God for the Universe? “And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne,” (Rev. 5:7 ESV). Colossians 2:10 says Christ is, "the head of all rule and authority"--this transaction between the Father on His throne, and Christ the Lamb symbolically shows how Christ was made the head of all authority: the Father gave it to Him and He took it. This is what God wanted Jesus to do, as Jesus Himself said in John 5:22, "…[the Father] has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father" (Jn. 5:22-23). All of this is represented in the symbol of the scroll, first held by God, then received by Jesus. “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John…” (Rev. 1:1 ESV). God gave Jesus the right to reveal His plan for the future, and when He took the scroll, to make it happen.

He receives the worship due God

“And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints,” (Rev. 5:8 ESV). I want you to take note of that little word, "when". It tells us that there is a connection between events. The cause of those events is "when the Lamb had taken the scroll"; the events caused by what the Lamb did include the living creatures and the elders falling down in worship while raising their voices in praise of the Lamb. But also, countless angels also praise the Lamb, and also, every creature in the Universe sounds the praises of God on the throne and Christ the Lamb. All of that happens "when" Christ took the scroll. Cause and effect. The effect is in waves: first the Church praises the saving grace of Jesus, then the angels praise Christ, then Creation includes Christ in their praises of God. This fact is very significant.

Remember that this is a dream-vision--John is not watching real events. He’s watching the Truth behind all events. Christ is glorified along with God here. Meaning that Christ should be glorified along with God, as God, by all the Universe now. But He isn’t is He? The worship of Christ, in this vision, begins in the confession of the Church that Christ is the Saviour. The Church knows this about Christ because of the Gospel, that's how we heard the truth about Christ. But this vision shows that Jesus is praised and loved and worshipped by the Church, the angels, and all Creation because before that, Jesus was loved by the Father, and the Father was loved by Jesus. The relationship between the Father and Christ the Son is the ultimate cause of the Gospel, of salvation, of worship, and of the making known of the glory of God to all Creation. Jesus is Saviour and Lord. He is John 3:16 and John 3:35. God love the world by giving His only Son; God loved His Son so He gave Him the world.

To put this in classic Protestant terms, we preach Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone, on the authority of Scripture alone, and for the glory of God alone. But if there were no Church, if there were no Creation, if there was nobody to see God's glory, this would not make God any less glorious. He did not create the Universe, and do all this, because He felt unfulfilled! He certainly did not send Jesus because Adam went and ruined God's plans for Creation. To display the glory of Christ as the Saviour, and in that salvation to display the glory of God through the judgement that fell on Christ, and in that judgement to display the riches of the mercy of God for sinners, and in that mercy to display the love of the Son for His Father, and the love of God the Father for God the Son-- this was always God's plan, and there was never any other plan. This is why the Universe exists.

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things were created through him and for him.  17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.  19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,  20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.  (Col. 1:15-20 ESV)

What does this have to do with harps and golden bowls in verse 8? Everything. In this way John is shown that Yahweh, God of Israel, became the Sacrifice, that the Lamb is the Lord of Glory. “Golden Bowls”: How the living creatures, with wings instead of hands, can hold a golden bowl while playing a harp is a good question that reminds us John was looking at a vision of symbols. So the "golden bowls", mentioned in 1 Chron 28:17, as a symbol here, tell us that the worship of the Lamb, happening in this scene, is the fulfillment of the worship that only happened in the Holy of Holies in the inner Temple. You see, in the entrance and outer parts of the Temple, bronze bowls were used; golden bowls were made for use only in the Holiest place.[ii] Jesus said the Temple was His house (Lk 19:46). John was also shown here that the golden bowls contained symbolic incense, defined in verse 8 as the prayers of the saints. That one little detail drives us to conclude that all the prayers of all Christians are finally answered and fulfilled through the Lamb taking the scroll, receiving all authority from Him who sits on the throne.[iii]

“Harps”:  - In 2 Chron 5:11-14, harps were among the instruments used by the Levite musicians in worship when the Ark was brought into Solomon's Temple for the first time, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple. So golden bowls and the harps of the Levitical musicians tell us that Christ the Lamb is being worshipped in the Holy of Holies of God's Temple, receiving the worship only God deserves. This means that the Church, symbolized here by the 24 elders and the 4 living creatures--the Church that worships Christ as God--is the spiritual fulfillment of the ancient Temple of God in Jerusalem. What was prefigured in Israel’s Tabernacle and Temple, is answered in the “Church of the Living God” (1 Tim 3:15).

He loved His Father most

Sometimes even well-meaning Christians twist the Gospel into making it sound like Jesus worships us instead of the other way around. As if we, the people He rescued, are the most wonderful treasure in the Universe. If that were true, it would mean that we are worthy, that salvation is no longer God’s grace, but what we deserve. But look closely in vv9-10:

9 And they sang a new song, saying, "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,  10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."  (Rev. 5:9-10 ESV)

This says "for God" (v9); and "to our God" (v10). Yes, the way Jesus the Lamb conquered was by giving His life, as He said was the reason He came, "to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45). And thank God, yes!, His ransom rescued us--every sinner who believes in Him, whose guilt was paid for in His blood when He died on the cross. But verse 9 says His ultimate reason was not about us: He ransomed us “for God”! So what a wonderful honour that you and I are mentioned in that song! The "people ransomed for God" by the blood of Christ, include people "from every tribe and language and people and nation"--and so it is also implied, "from every period of history"![iv] If you are depending on Jesus’ death today to save your soul, then that’s you too! Every person Jesus saves is out of love for His Father. Stop thinking you need to be good enough. The only perfect man who ever lived didn’t give up His life because of you. Jesus did it because of His Father. God’s infinite worth is why Jesus loves to present former-rebels to His Father as sanctified servants to rule forever with Jesus in His Father’s Kingdom! (v10)

God Is Glorified In Him

The setting described here is as if two grand choirs face each other and sing back and forth. But don't get lost in the details: the choirs sing because of what the Lamb has achieved. The choirs see the people redeemed by the Lamb, praising Him as God, and just like the angels burst out in song at the birth of Christ, now not just the angels of Heave, but all creatures of our God and King add their voices to the chorus singing God’s glory. One scholar studying this could not contain himself and wrote, "The future which God rules is revealed by him through Christ; and this moves enthusiastic gratitude, till the universe rings from side to side with praise."[v]

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,  12 saying with 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!"  (Rev. 5:11-12 ESV)

It’s as if for the first time, John notices that all around the throne, the elders, the sea of glass, the torches, and the living creatures, are countless angels watching. The math here would literally add up to “hundreds of millions” and “millions” of angels in the audience to this cosmic drama.[vi] And their song thunders as the angels of Heaven shout praises to Jesus of Nazareth, “who died and came to life” (Rev 2:8). The only reason this Gospel doesn’t shake you and me to the very core of our being is because our hearts are so deadened and dull through sin.

Creation exists for His glory

“And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" (Rev. 5:13 ESV).  Every creature in every place sings out in answer to the angelic choir, every mortal being replies to the song of every immortal being with their own song of praise directing glory to the Father and to the Son. This is more than a scene in a vision. This is a snapshot, a picture of the goal of all time and space: the purpose and destiny of all Creation. “…all things were created through Him and for Him” (Col 1:16). The psalms say, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD!” (Psa 150:6), and, “let all flesh bless His holy name forever and ever” (Psa 145:21), and,

Praise is due to you, O God, in Zion, and to you shall vows be performed. O you who hear prayer, to you shall all flesh come. When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions. Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple! By awesome deeds you answer us with righteousness, O God of our salvation, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas… (Ps. 65:1-5)

The duty of the Church is to herald His glory now

“And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped,” (Rev. 5:14 ESV). The living creatures and the elders, standing respectively for the ministers of the Church, with the whole Church of Christ's people, are the first to sing about the song of the New Covenant in verse 9, and in this dramatic scene of cosmic destiny, they have the last word as well. Up until this is all fulfilled in the glorious future Christ is bringing, our cry is, “amen!” This Hebrew word means “truly”, and here it means not only “it is true”, but that “it should be true”, and that “it will be true!”[vii] That faithful Welsh pastor of the 18th century, Matthew Henry, wrote that “…as we see this sealed book passing with great solemnity from the hand of the Creator to the hand of the Redeemer”, the very church “…that began the heavenly anthem, when heaven and earth join in the concert, concludes everything with their ‘Amen.’”[viii] So do we? Will we be rebels or worshippers?

Oh church, do you see what God has done? Do you even glimpse it yet? As my favourite hymn puts it, "the Lamb is all the glory in Emmanuel's land", but the wonder of God's grace is made more stunning in this: Christ is glorified through His Church. Will we who began to sing “Hallelujah!”, end with “Amen!”? Will you raise your voice? The Lamb who gave His life—will you give Him yours? Will the glory of Christ be your final joy and delight? I invite you to bow with me and pray these words of the Apostle Paul, “that [we] may know…”

…What is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might  20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,  21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,  23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.  (Eph. 1:19-23 ESV)