The Throne of God continued…
In the previous chapter, we read how John was caught up to Heaven to show him the events that would take place later. In order to provide a reference point for when these events would start, John was taken to the Throne of God where he saw the Father seated on the Throne, and the Spirit of God in front of the Throne. Not mentioned in John’s account is the Son of God, which tells us that John was being shown events prior to the Ascension of Jesus Christ to Heaven. Having been given the above reference point, John next saw a Scroll with Seven Seals in the right hand of Him who sat on the Throne.
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Rev. 5:1-5
As we will soon discover, the Scroll with Seven Seals contained a description of the future events that were to be shown to John. When no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll, it caused John to weep until he saw the Lamb of God appear and take the scroll from the one seated on the Throne.
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. Rev. 5:6-7
The description of the Lamb, looking as if it has been slain, and standing at the center of the Throne is an unmistakable account of the Ascension of Jesus Christ to Heaven following His crucifixion. Accordingly, the appearing of the Lamb at the Throne tells us that the Timeline of Events has moved from the period before the Ascension of Jesus Christ, to right after this event. In this way John was given the starting point for when the first event of the Seven Seals would begin, i.e. the events of the Seven Seals would begin following the Ascension of Jesus Christ. [1] At first this may sound confusing, as the events that were to be revealed to John through the opening of the Seven Seals were supposed take place later. However, as we will see, the first event that will be shown to John in the opening of the Seven Seals, and that will take place later, will actual start following the Ascension of Jesus Christ, but that will become even more prominent the closer we get to the end. (We will read about this event in the next chapter.)
When the Lamb took the scroll form the Father, the Four Living Creatures and the Twenty-Four Elders bowed down to worship Him.
And 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. And 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. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Rev. 5:8-10
In addition to the worship of the Four Living Creatures and the Elders, John next saw myriads of angels encircling the throne and worshiping the Lamb.
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. 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!” Rev. 5:11-12
Next John heard all of creation worship the Lamb.
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!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Rev. 5:13-14
The above description of events in Heaven corresponds with how the Throne of God is organized along military lines, with the Four Living Creatures surrounding the Throne serving as a type of inner guard, with the angels of heaven serving as a heavenly host (army) encircling the Four Living Creatures. Further out still is all of creation that belongs to the kingdom of God and that praises the King who sits on the throne.
Footnotes:
[1] The use of the passing of one event (the Ascension of Jesus Christ) to show us when another event will begin (the events of the Seven Seals) corresponds with the Lesson from the Fig Tree, which Jesus used to teach the disciples how they could anticipate the timing of an event (the beginning of summer) by watching for the events that must occur before it (the budding of the fig tree). In this way, the Revelation never gives us the times or dates of when the events of the Last Days will occur, instead we are taught to use the passing of one event to determine when the next event will start.
Revelation Chapter 4
Revelation Chapter 6
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