Revelation 5– The Scroll

(Rev 1:19 NKJV) "Write (1) the things which you have seen, and (2) the things which are, and (3) the things which will take place after this.

(Rev 4:1 NKJV) After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this."

We are now in the part described as “the things which must take place after this..” – the future!

(Rev 4:2 NKJV) Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne. . . . (4) Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.

(Rev 5 NKJV) And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. {2} Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" {3} And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

I think an extremely important question that needs to be asked is: “What is the scroll? What does it represent? Why is it so special?” Unless we answer these questions, we will have missed an important part of what is going on.

I believe this scroll is a Title Deed to Something. We have an example of a Title Deed in Jeremiah.

(Jer 32:6-14 NKJV) And Jeremiah said, "The word of the LORD came to me, saying, {7} 'Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, "Buy my field which is in Anathoth, for the right of redemption is yours to buy it."'

We have to understand that in those days, you had to have the right to redeem, or buy the land.

(Jer 32:8) "Then Hanamel my uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said to me, 'Please buy my field that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin; for the right of inheritance is yours, and the redemption yours; buy it for yourself.' Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. {9} "So I bought the field from Hanamel, the son of my uncle who was in Anathoth, and weighed out to him the money; seventeen shekels of silver. {10} "And I signed the deed and sealed it, took witnesses, and weighed the money on the scales. {11} "So I took the purchase deed, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open; {12} "and I gave the purchase deed to Baruch the son of Neriah, son of Mahseiah, in the presence of Hanamel my uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses who signed the purchase deed, before all the Jews who sat in the court of the prison.

What is special about this account as it relates to Revelation 5: The Scroll? What does it take to “be worthy” to open the scroll?

(Jer 32:7) 'Behold, Hanamel the son of Shallum your uncle will come to you, saying, "Buy my field which is in Anathoth, for the right of redemption is yours to buy it."'

(Rev 5:4) So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. {5} But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." {6} And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

the Lion of the tribe of Judah, -- Lion is Kingly

the Root of David,-- This is also Kingly – Hebrew poetry: Two ways of saying the same thing.

“a Lamb as though it had been slain” Our Redeemer! He has the purchase price: His blood!

(Rev 5:7) Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. – that is, God! {8} Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

A Verdict is Rendered about Jesus!

(Rev 5:9) And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals;

Why? What makes Him worthy?

(Rev 5:9b) For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

Heaven is quite a different place from earth. He was slain on earth because He was rejected by men. He is acknowledged as worthy in heaven because He was slain.

(Rev 5:10 NKJV) And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth."

Here we make a dramatic break with the KJV & NKJV. Note that “us” changes to “them.” And “kings” changes to “kingdom.” In this case, I think that the context of Revelation fits the other translations better, and they are based on the majority texts of the Greek New Testament.

(Rev 5:10 NASB) "And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."

(Rev 5:10 NIV) You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

This is future! It does not say we are reigning now. Some of my brethren like to say that we are reigning now, but if we are:

Why do we get the horrible rulings that we do from the Supreme Court of the U.S.?

(Rev 5:11) Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, [100,000,000!] and thousands of thousands, {12} saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!"

The question of his being “Worthy” has been settled by millions in heaven! They are witnesses.

Everything in God’s Creation is saying that God (Him who sits on the throne,) and Christ (the Lamb,) are worthy of "Blessing and honor and glory and power forever and ever!"

{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, I heard saying: "Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!"

Final Declarations of the Chapter!

{14} Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

Those of the heavenly court are in full agreement with everything that has happened. Those who are the witnesses to this transaction are all in agreement. Jesus is about to take complete control of the earth. What follows is a description of things that must take place before the final victory of God and Jesus over everything.

(Rev 1:3 NKJV) Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

So we conclude chapter 5. Chapter 6 is the beginning of the opening of the seven seals. That is similar to what we studied in Matthew 24.