In 2 Samuel 12, Nathan comes to David to rebuke him for committing adultery and murder. Now, you can imagine the weight of this moment simply on the human plane. David is the king. He gives orders to kill, and people die. He gives orders for one to be blessed, and that one has life. He is a powerful figure, reigning over all of the united kingdom of Israel. But Nathan is committed to honoring the Lord and saying what the Lord has given him to say. Therefore, as David needs harsh rebuke for his atrocious actions of adultery and murder, Nathan comes to him, ready to give it.
So, how do you start this conversation in which you’re about to tell the king that though he thinks he’s gotten away with it, you know that he’s committed adultery and murder? How do you begin talking when you ultimately want to say to him that you know he’s sin and must repent? Well, if you remember the story, you know that Nathan starts by talking about a man who had a little lamb, that he used to feed with his own hands, give drink out of his own cup, and lie in his arms and how another man who had many flocks and herds took this man’s one little lamb and killed it to feed to a guest.
It is a powerful story that pierced David’s heart. David was so pulled into the story that he exclaimed that the man deserved to die before Nathan declared, “You are the man!” referring to David’s act of taking Uriah’s wife, Bathsheba for himself. The event – the means by which Nathan rebukes David – reminds us again how powerful it can be to see a truth portrayed in a drama before us. No doubt, Nathan could have come to David and said, “It was utterly wrong of you to take Bathsheba and have Uriah killed,” but that might not have pierced to the very heart of David and his emotions the way this dramatic story did. The drama revealed the truth of the situation more powerfully than a simple declaration would have.
I think that’s very much what we find in Revelation 5. If I were to sum up the truth communicated in Revelation 5 it would be something like: The crucified and risen Lamb has done everything necessary for God’s work of salvation and judgment to be carried out in full, and he is, therefore, worthy of all worship. However, Revelation 5 gives us much more than that statement. It gives us a drama – a drama that does more than tell us this truth but shows it in a visible and powerful way.
Therefore, this morning, I want us merely to walk through the steps of this drama, seeing what unfolds in this vision that John sees, a vision which started in chapter 4 when John declared, “After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven!” (4:1). Then, we’ll conclude by looking at what our response must be in light of this truth presented in this dramatic unfolding scene.
The opening scene is provided for us in one verse, 5:1. There, we read, “Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.” Now, this opening scene impacts us more powerfully when we remember the setting of this vision that was given to us in chapter 4.
In chapter 4, we saw a vision of the one sitting on the throne, and the clear message was his majestic glory, awesomeness, and transcendence. Our God, sitting on his throne, was surrounded by flashes of lightning, peals of thunder, surrounded by fire, separated by a vast sea, and encompassed by majestic and powerful heavenly creatures. If nothing else, John would have known certainly by this setting of the heavenly vision of God’s throne that God is other than us. He is not to be approached. Everything about that scene communicated the fearful transcendence of God. It was an awesome and frightening setting.
And it is this one seated on the throne who has something in his right hand. Specifically, we are told, he has a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
Now, this probably doesn’t communicate to us as clearly as it would the original readers, but a scroll with seals was common. For example, someone’s will in this time and place in history might have been written on a scroll, rolled up, and then sealed with something like wax and an insignia on it. Then, the will would become known and enacted only as the seal was broken and the scroll opened.
There are two elements, though, that are a bit different in this case. First, the scroll had seven seals, which in apocalyptic literature (like the book of Revelation) show that the scroll was completely and certainly sealed. Second, the scroll was written on front and on the back.
Now, this wasn’t common for a scroll to be written on both sides. The way the scroll was pieced together was in such a way that really only one side was made smooth for writing. And that smooth side would be the internal part of the rolled up scroll that would be written on. The back part would rarely be written on, since it writing on that part of the scroll would be a much more difficult task.
However, there were some occasions when the scroll would be written on both sides. Sometimes it would be done if someone were poor and simply could not afford two scrolls, thus, forcing the need to write on the back if they wanted to write more than could be contained on the inside. Sometimes it would be done if the information was so important that you didn’t want to risk having two scrolls. Obviously if information is written such that two scrolls are used, there was always the risk of losing one of the scrolls and thus losing half of your book, if you will. This latter is probably more in the direction of why this was written on both sides; the scroll in the right hand of him who is seated on the throne is obviously important. But I think there’s another reason.
In the book of Ezekiel, the Lord gives Ezekiel a scroll that symbolizes God’s message for Ezekiel, a scroll that Ezekiel is to eat, thus, representing that Ezekiel is to take God’s words, put them in his mouth, and speak them. However, that scroll was written on the front and the back as well, and in that occasion it’s because God wanted Ezekiel to know that the prophet was to speak God’s word alone. There was no need for Ezekiel to add his own words. He merely was to speak God’s words. Thus, there was no need to leave any room for writing on the scroll. Ezekiel would add nothing to God’s word; it was full and complete.
I think the same thing is going on here. God is showing that this scroll needs nothing added to it. What is there is complete. Man cannot add to what God has to be carried out in the scroll in his right hand. So, the question, of course, we want to ask is: “What are the contents of the scroll? What does this scroll symbolize?”
I think the answer is that this scroll represents all of God’s plans and promises of salvation and judgment. That is, the scroll has written out in it everything that God promised and planned for his work of judging the wicked and bringing salvation to his people and redemption to his world, culminating in a new heavens and a new earth. And there are two reasons why I think that’s what this scroll is. The first is that in the book of Ezekiel, the scroll is unfolded throughout the rest of the book of Ezekiel, and the rest of the book of Ezekiel speaks of God’s plans and promises of judgment and salvation. Equally, when you see the scroll unsealed throughout the rest of the book of Revelation, what we’ll see is God’s promises and plans of judgment and salvation.
Therefore, this is the opening scene. In the right hand of the one seated on the throne is a scroll, full of God’s promises and plans of judgment and salvation, sealed with seven seals, ready to be unfolded and enacted. But there’s a problem. And that brings us to the second move in this drama:
Next, John tells us in verse 2, “And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” That is, who is worthy to come to this fearful and awesome one seated on the throne, take the scroll from his right hand, break the seals, and open the scroll? And of course, it’s not surprising that John writes in verse 3, “And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it.”
There was absolutely no one, in heaven, on earth, living or dead, who was worthy to take the scroll and open it. No matter how majestic and powerful the four living creatures or the elders or any heavenly creature was, none of them would have thought for one second of approaching the one seated on the throne and taking the scroll from his right hand. After all, at his very presence they continually, day and night, never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come” (4:8). You would need to have as much glory and might as the one who is infinitely glorious and almighty.
Equally, it would need to be a man. After all, it is man who needs salvation, if this scroll symbolizes God’s work of judgment and salvation. How would there be one equal to God himself and yet be man? And there was none worthy, John tells us.
So, we are told in verse 4, “And I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.” Now this isn’t John seeing that he’s got a part to play in the drama and thus he cries. This is genuine. John begins to cry and to cry loudly. But why? The answer is because unless there is one able to take, open, and enact the promises and plans of God written in the scroll, then there simply is no salvation.
Now, that might not mean much to those who profess Christ but do not seek the costly obedience of taking up one’s cross in the world. However, if, like John, you’ve made costly decisions to obey Christ in ways that have brought you suffering, pain, and heartache, and there is no ultimate reason for it and no hope of salvation, you don’t need anyone to explain to you why John would break down and cry loudly. In the words of Paul, “If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor. 15:19).
So John weeps, and he weeps loudly. But then one tells him to stop. We see next:
John tells us in verse 5, “And one of the elders said to me, ‘Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’”
Now, at this point, John has yet to see the one the elder is talking about, but he would have known exactly what he meant. After all, the Messiah, the Savior of God’s people, was prophesied throughout the Scripture, and as early as Genesis 49:10, we are told that a king would come from Judah’s line, who would reign with a scepter. Then, in Isaiah 11, we are told that one would come from David’s line, David’s son, who would reign. But he would not only be David’s son – a shoot from the tree – but also the root of David, since he would come from David’s line would also have existed before David was ever born. John would have known these references. This is the Messiah who was to reign over the earth. He was coming to receive all authority in heaven and on earth. He was coming to reign. He had conquered. He was ready to receive all authority, a kingdom over which to reign.
But as John turned to see the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the picture is perhaps not what is expected. John writes, “And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders [that is, this one is not coming from the outside but is right in the midst of the throne] 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” (5:6).
Instantly, John is reminded how this Christ, the God-man, Jesus has conquered, and why he is worthy to reign. It is because he gave himself to death so that he might redeem his people. This isn’t to say to us, however, that John was told that he was a powerful reigning Lion and then turned and saw a feeble slain Lamb standing there. Rather, we are told that this Lamb had seven horns, which are pictures of power and the ability to reign. We are told that he had seven eyes, which remind us that he is omniscient. He knows all and has all power.
He is the Christ who laid down his life, but he is also the Christ who was risen and reigns. He is the one who conquered by living, dying, and being raised. He is a lamb who was slain but who is now standing. He is the one who has made possible (and indeed certain) by his life, death, and resurrection the promises and plans of God for salvation and judgment.
You see, every promise of God from the Old Testament concerning the salvation of his people and the judgment of his enemies were utterly and completely dependent on one being able to enact this work. All of God’s promises are utterly focused and dependent on the work of Jesus Christ. And he has conquered. All of God’s promises and plans will be enacted because of, though, and by him, throughout the Holy Spirit, whom he sends out into all the earth (v. 6).
Therefore, we read in verse 7, “And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.” He alone is worthy. In him alone is salvation. He alone has conquered. He alone dare approach the one seated on the throne. He alone can represent man in need of his salvation. And he alone is able as the God-man to represent us and approach the one who is infinitely glorious and almighty. He is worthy to take the scroll and open its seals. And this brings us to the conclusion of the drama.
As the Lamb, Jesus, takes the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne, no one had to tell anyone what to do next. We read that worship erupted and began spreading throughout all of heaven and throughout all of creation. John writes, ‘And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a hard, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints [that is, we can now pray with hope and assurance]. And they sang a new song [you see, the song they sang in Revelation 4, around the throne, celebrated God creating the world and upholding, and indeed, that is a cause to worship God. But that song is no longer sufficient. Worshiping God for the fact of creation is simply not sufficient on its own when you know that God the Son took on flesh, lived, died, and was raised to redeem rebellious sinners like you and me so that we might be forgiven, cleansed, and made sons of God. So, 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, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth’” (5:8-10).
We worship him because he has ransomed us, bought us by his blood, for God. We belong to God now, purchased by the blood of Christ. This is why John was told weep no more. We were bought with a price, and we are no longer our own but belong to God. That’s why we live our lives as living sacrifices to God in order to worship the Lamb. It’s why we do things that cost us, because Jesus Christ purchased us by his blood and our lives are no longer our own. It’s why you, in obedience to Christ make the difficult sacrifices of taking the gospel around the world. It’s why you willingly choose the struggle of taking orphans into your home and showing compassion and care to widows. It’s why you fight to be faithful in a difficult marriage when people to your left and right and getting out of theirs. It’s why you continue to fight your lusts when everyone says it’s natural to give in. It’s why you continue to fight your homosexual temptations when our culture says it’s right and good to indulge them like everyone else. It’s why you say to Jesus, “I’ll obey you, whatever it costs me.” You do it because your life is no longer yours. You’ve been ransomed, purchased, by the blood of Christ for God. You’re not your own. You’re God’s now. So you’re entire life is simply lived in obedience to him.
But obedience to him is hopeful obedience, for we can approach his throne with our prayers, praise him with our lips, and will one day reign with him in eternity with no more suffering, no more struggle, and no more sin. This is why the four living creatures and elders fall down before the Lamb.
But that’s not enough. The praise spreads. We read in verses 11-12, “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, 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!” Thousands of thousands of angels now lend their voices to giving the Lamb perfect praise.
But that’s not enough. John concludes, “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 [which will be a continual refrain throughout the rest of the book – the One on the throne and the Lamb] be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever! And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ and the elders fell down and worshiped (5:13-14).
What a picture! Revelation 5 screams to us that the crucified and risen Lamb has done everything necessary for God’s work of salvation and judgment to be carried out in full, it is certain, and he is, therefore, worthy of all worship. Therefore, let us give our lives to him and full, for this is our spiritual act of worship. Let us rejoice now in his work of redemption as we come to the table. Amen.