05 worthy is the lamb slideshow

The Book of Revelation 04/01/2007

Lesson 5
Worthy is the Lamb

Amen! Hallelujah! – A Study of the Book of Revelation
By Dale Wells
Text: Rev 4.1-5.14

THE INVITATION TO THE THRONE
ROOM
Rev 4:1 WEB After these things
I looked and saw a door opened
in heaven, and the first voice
that I heard, like a trumpet
speaking with me, was one
saying, "Come up here, and I
will show you the things which
must happen after this."
Revelation 4:1-11:19 contains
John's second vision.
The first vision (1:9-3:22)
focused on the Son of Man
among the lampstands & his
words to each of the churches.
"After these things" does not
mean "these things occurred
after those things," but "this
vision came after that vision".

God once again steps into history to
give eternal insight to his people
God prepared Israel before he
gave them the law at Sinai.
Then Yahweh called Moses to
the top of the mountain.
Exo 19:20 WEB Yahweh came
down on Mount Sinai, to the top
of the mountain. Yahweh called
Moses to the top of the
mountain, and Moses went up.
In a similar way, Jesus has
prepared his people and now
John is invited up into heaven,
in order to receive the decrees
of the Lord.

Lesson 5 1


THE ONE ON THE THRONE

Rev 4:2-3 WEB Immediately I was in the Spirit. Behold, there
was a throne set in heaven, and one sitting on the throne that
looked like a jasper stone and a sardius. There was a rainbow
around the throne, like an emerald to look at.
The initial focus of the vision is "one sitting on the throne", who
had an appearance that John describes in three images.

The first image is "like a jasper
stone"
“Jasper" is a clear stone. John
intends us to think of diamond.
Who is on the throne? We get a
clue in Revelation 21:11, where
the new Jerusalem is described.
Rev 21:10-11 WEB He
showed me the holy city,
Jerusalem, coming down out of
heaven from God, having the
glory of God. Her light was like
a most precious stone, as if it
was a jasper stone, clear as
crystal;
The glory of God and of the city
are described in the same
terms. John wants the reader to
know that God is on the throne!

The second figure is "like ... a
sardius"
This blood red stone was
named after the city of
Sardis where it was mined.
It is equivalent to our ruby.
Its color signifies the
judgment of the one on the
throne.

Lesson 5 2


The third figure is "a rainbow around
the throne, like an emerald "
The rainbow signifies mercy:
Gen 9:13-16 WEB I set my
rainbow in the cloud, and it will
be for a sign of a covenant
between me and the earth.
Since then, the rainbow has
signified God's mercy.
The color in Revelation 4 is
emerald green, signifying
peace.

These three stones were featured on
the High Priest's breastplate
Exo 28:15-21 WEB "You shall
make a breastplate of judgment
(17) You shall set in it
settings of stones, four rows of
stones: a row of ruby, topaz,
and beryl shall be the first row;
(18) and the second row a
turquoise, a sapphire, and an
emerald; (19) and the third row
a jacinth, an agate, and an
amethyst; (20) and the fourth
row a chrysolite, an onyx, and a
jasper: they shall be enclosed in
gold in their settings. (21) The
stones shall be according to the
names of the children of Israel

On the breastplate, these
represented three of Israel's tribes
Sardius (ruby) represented Reuben, Israel's eldest son by Leah,
who was judged by his father for incest with his step-mother.
Gen 49:3-4 WEB "Reuben, you are my firstborn (4) Boiling
over as water, you shall not excel; because you went up to your
father's bed, then defiled it. He went up to my couch.
Jasper (diamond) represented Benjamin, who was Jacob's
favorite because he was the last child of Rachel.
Gen 35:18 WEB It happened, as her soul was departing (for she
died), that she named him Benoni, but his father named him
Benjamin.
Emerald represented Judah, from whom Jesus came, bringing
peace between God and man.
Gen 49:10 WEB The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the
ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it
belongs. To him will the obedience of the peoples be.

Lesson 5 3


They are also three of the foundation
stones of the heavenly city
Rev 21:19-20 WEB The
foundations of the city's wall
were adorned with all kinds
of precious stones. The first
foundation was jasper; the
second, sapphire; the third,
chalcedony; the fourth,
emerald; (20) the fifth,
sardonyx; the sixth, sardius;
the seventh, chrysolite; the
eighth, beryl; the ninth,
topaz; the tenth,
chrysoprasus; the eleventh,
jacinth; and the twelfth,
amethyst.

By introducing the one on the throne,
John tells us about God’s nature
God is pure and precious
(signified by the diamond-like
jasper)
God is the source of judgment
(signified by the red sardius
stone)
God is also the source of mercy
(signified by the emerald
rainbow).
Which of these a man – or a
nation – receives is going to
depend on how he, or they,
respond to the God who sits on
the throne!

THE THRONE AS A SYMBOL OF
GOD'S JUDGMENT
The Old Testament is rich
with references to God on
the throne as the ruler of the
universe who judges ungodly
kings and kingdoms.
The best place to begin is
one of the Psalms that
emphasizes the rule of God.
Psa 47:8-9 WEB God reigns
over the nations. God sits
on his holy throne. (9) The
princes of the peoples are
gathered together

Lesson 5 4


"God sits on his holy throne" (v. 8)
but the rulers await judgment (v. 9)

Micaiah said God on his throne plotted Ahab's death
1Ki 22:19-22 WEB Micaiah said, Therefore hear you the word of Yahweh: I
saw Yahweh sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by
him on his right hand and on his left. Yahweh said, Who shall entice Ahab,
that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? One said on this manner; and
another said on that manner. There came forth a spirit, and stood before
Yahweh, and said, I will entice him. Yahweh said to him, 'How?' He said, 'I
will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets.' He
said, 'You shall entice him, and shall prevail also: go forth, and do so.'

Uzziah began ruling Judah at the age
of 16 and reigned for 52 years
Twelve years before he died, he
forced his way into the temple to
offer incense. He became a
leper. (2 Chr 26:16-21).
Isaiah saw a vision of God – as
Uzziah's judge – on the throne.
Isa 6:1-3 WEB In the year that
king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord
sitting on a throne, high and
lifted up; and his train filled the
temple. Above him stood the
seraphim. Each one had six
wings. With two he covered his
face. With two he covered his
feet. With two he flew. One
called to another, and said,
"Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of
Hosts! The whole earth is full of
his glory!"

Kings and kingdoms may come and
go, but God sits on an eternal throne
God judges kings & nations.
During the exile, Ezekiel had a
vision of God on his throne.
Eze 1:26-28 WEB Above the
expanse that was over their
heads was the likeness of a
throne, as the appearance of a
sapphire stone; and on the
likeness of the throne was a
likeness as the appearance of a
man on it above. As the
appearance of the bow that is in
the cloud in the day of rain, so
was the appearance of the
brightness round about. This
was the appearance of the
likeness of the glory of
Yahweh...
God is in control.

Lesson 5 5


God IS and God RULES!
Nebuchadnezzar learned that God rules.
Dan 4:24-25 WEB[T]his is the interpretation, O king, and it is the
decree of the Most High, which is come on my lord the king: that
you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the
animals of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass as oxen,
and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall
pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the
kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will.
When he accepted God's rule, he was restored
Dan 4:34-35 WEB At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted
up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I
blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives
forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his
kingdom from generation to generation. All the inhabitants of the
earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in
the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and
none can stay his hand, or tell him, What do you?

THE THRONE AS THE SYMBOL OF
GOD'S MERCY
To God’s enemies his throne
was the source of judgment.
To God's people, his throne
was the mercy seat atop for
the ark of the covenant
inside the Most Holy Place.
Exo 25:17-22 WEB You
shall make a mercy seat of
pure gold. You shall put
the mercy seat on top of the
ark, and in the ark There
I will meet with you, and I
will tell you from above the
mercy seat all that I
command you for the
children of Israel.

The earthly tabernacle was a copy of
what Moses saw
John describes in Revelation 4
what Moses saw on Sinai. The
tabernacle is the image we
should see when we read the
description of God's throne.
And what an appropriate image!
The tabernacle was God's tent –
among Israel’s tents – a
reminder of his presence with
his people in the desert en route
to their promised land.
Inside that tent was God's
mercy seat – his throne in
Israel's camp.

Lesson 5 6


And what is the story of the Book of
Revelation?
Isn't it the story of God's people
en route to promised land?
The overcomers are on their
way to the new Jerusalem of
Revelation 21-22. And God,
himself, is right there with his
people, on his throne!
For God's enemies, his throne is
the throne of judgment; for his
people, it is the throne of mercy.
God IS and God RULES!

THE REST OF THE THRONE
SCENE
Rev 4:4-5 WEB Around the
throne were twenty-four
thrones. On the thrones
were twenty-four elders
sitting, dressed in white
garments, with crowns of
gold on their heads. Out of
the throne proceed
lightnings, sounds, and
thunders. There were seven
lamps of fire burning before
his throne, which are the
seven Spirits of God.

Who are these 24 elders on 24
thrones?
In Rev 2 & 3, Jesus made
promises to overcomers:
Rev 3:21 WEB He who
overcomes, I will give to him to
sit down with me on my throne
Rev 3:5 WEB He who
overcomes will be arrayed in
white garments ...
Rev 2:10 WEB Be faithful to
death, and I will give you the
crown of life.
These 24 elders are sitting on
thrones, they are dressed in
white & they are wearing
crowns. So, they are "faithful" or
"overcomers".

Lesson 5 7


The word for "crown" is the Greek
stephanos, not diademnos

The stephanos was the victory crown which was given as a prize, like a
medal or a plaque would be given today, to commemorate some
success achieved or service rendered.
The diademnos, on the other hand, was the ruler's crown.
It is important to notice that these individuals who are sitting on thrones
are wearing the prize that they have received. They are not wearing the
crowns of kings, but those of victors.

From these points, it appears that the
24 elders represent the redeemed

Why 24? Why not 12? Remember 12 is the number of God's people.
24 results from adding the 12 patriarchs or tribes of the Old Testament
to the 12 apostles of the New Testament.
24 represents the redeemed under both covenants.

"Out of the throne proceed lightnings,
sounds, and thunders"
In Exodus 19, God showed his
power on Sinai:
Exo 19:16-18 WEB It happened
on the third day, when it was
morning, that there were
thunders and lightnings, and a
thick cloud on the mountain,
and the sound of an
exceedingly loud trumpet; and
all the people who were in the
camp trembled. Moses led the
people out of the camp to meet
God; and they stood at the
lower part of the mountain.
Mount Sinai, the whole of it,
smoked, because Yahweh
descended on it in fire; and its
smoke ascended like the
smoke of a furnace, and the
whole mountain quaked greatly.

Lesson 5 8


This "shock and awe campaign" beat
any before or since
It was designed to impress on
Israel the glory of God!
Later in the Book of Revelation,
these figures are going to be
used when God executes his
judgments on the ungodly. For
example, when God instructs
his angel to execute his
judgment:
Rev 8:5 WEB The angel took
the censer, and he filled it with
the fire of the altar, and threw it
on the earth. There followed
thunders, sounds, lightnings,
and an earthquake.

The figures of thunder, lightning &
earthquake depict God's judgment
Rev 11:19 WEB God's temple
that is in heaven was opened,
Lightnings, sounds, thunders,
an earthquake, and great hail
followed.
Rev 16:18 WEB There were
lightnings, sounds, and
thunders; and there was a great
earthquake, such as was not
since there were men on the
earth ...
This combination of figures –
thunder, lightning, rumblings
and earthquakes – are symbols
in the Book of Revelation for
God's glory which is seen in his
judgment of the ungodly.

Isaiah says God will judge the world,
including the "kings of the earth"
God will be glorified, either by
the obedience of the nations, or
by their destruction.
Isa 24:21-23 WEB It shall
happen in that day, that
Yahweh will punish the host of
the high ones on high, and the
kings of the earth on the earth.
They shall be gathered
together, as prisoners are
gathered in the pit, and shall be
shut up in the prison; and after
many days shall they be visited.
Then the moon shall be
confounded, and the sun
ashamed; for Yahweh of Hosts
will reign on Mount Zion, and in
Jerusalem; and before his
elders shall be glory.

Lesson 5 9


John sees seven lamps before the
throne
The background of this figure
also comes from the tabernacle.
Exo 27:20-21 WEB "You shall
command the children of Israel,
that they bring to you pure olive
oil beaten for the light, to cause
a lamp to burn continually. In
the tent of meeting, outside the
veil which is before the
testimony, Aaron and his sons
shall keep it in order from
evening to morning before
Yahweh: it shall be a statute
forever throughout their
generations on the behalf of the
children of Israel.

FOUR LIVING CREATURES AND
THE SEA OF GLASS
Rev 4:6-8 WEB Before the
throne was something like a sea
of glass, similar to crystal. In the
midst of the throne, and around
the throne were four living
creatures full of eyes before and
behind. The first creature was
like a lion, and the second
creature like a calf, and the third
creature had a face like a man,
and the fourth was like a flying
eagle. The four living creatures,
each one of them having six
wings, are full of eyes around
about and within. They have no
rest day and night, saying,
"Holy, holy, holy is the Lord
God, the Almighty, who was and
who is and who is to come!"

This scene is similar to one
described by Ezekiel
Eze 1:5-10 WEB Out of the
midst of it came the likeness of
four living creatures. This was
their appearance: they had the
likeness of a man. Every one
had four faces As for their
faces, they had the face of a
man; and the face of a lion ...
and the face of an ox also
the face of an eagle.
Eze 10:20-21 WEB This is the
living creature that I saw under
the God of Israel by the river
Chebar; and I knew that they
were cherubim. Every one had
four faces, and every one four
wings

Lesson 5 10


What is the significance of the four
living creatures and their faces?
The living creatures depict the
standards of Israel camped
around the tabernacle in the
desert (Num 2:1-31)
Each tribe had its banner and
each triad (group of three tribes)
had its standard.
Jewish tradition says that the
tribal banners corresponded in
color to the twelve stones in the
breastplate of the high priest
(Exo 28:15-21) and that the
standard of each triad was
depicted by one of these four
images.

The lion was the standard of Judah
That would be easy to see from
Jacob's blessing:
Gen 49:9 WEB Judah is a lion's
cub. From the prey, my son,
you have gone up. He stooped
down, he crouched as a lion, As
a lioness. Who will rouse him
up?
When Israel camped in the
desert, Judah camped east of
the tabernacle and was joined
by the tribes of Issachar and
Zebulun, to form the first triad.

The ox was the standard of Ephraim

The tribe of Ephraim camped
to the west of the tabernacle
and was joined by the tribes
of Benjamin and Manasseh,
forming the second triad.

Lesson 5 11


The man was the standard of
Reuben
The tribe of Reuben camped
to the south of the tabernacle
and was joined by the tribes
of Gad and Simeon, forming
the third triad.

The eagle had become the standard
of Dan
The standard had originally
been the serpent.
Jewish tradition holds that this
identification with a serpent was
changed by Ahiezer, the leader
of the Tribe of Dan during the
Exodus (Num 2:25), to an eagle
with a serpent in its mouth as
their tribal ensign.
The tribe of Dan camped to the
north of the tabernacle and was
joined by the tribes of Asher and
Naphthali, forming the fourth
triad.

This is the same order in which
Ezekiel describes the faces
Eze 1:10 WEB As for the
likeness of their faces, they
had the face of a man; and
they four had the face of a
lion on the right side; and
they four had the face of an
ox on the left side; they four
had also the face of an
eagle.

Lesson 5 12


Can there be any doubt about the
message of the throne scene?

If you were looking at Israel's camp from the south, you would
see the face of a man. To the right (east) you would see the face
of a lion. To the left (west) you would see the face of an ox.
Finally, to the north you would see the face of an eagle.
The heavenly scene is designed to make the reader think of
God's people, being cared for by God in a hostile environment,
while they are on the road to promised land.

What about the sea of glass?
John saw "a sea of glass"
before the throne; Ezekiel saw
something similar above it.
Eze 1:22 WEB Over the head
of the living creature there was
an expanse, like crystal to
look on, stretched forth over
their heads above.
Earth's ceiling is heaven's floor.
The imagery comes from Sinai
Exo 24:9-10 WEB Then
Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu,
and seventy of the elders of
Israel went up. (10) They saw
the God of Israel. Under his
feet was like a paved work of
sapphire stone, like the skies
for clearness.

It may also be the basin in the
tabernacle & temple called the sea
1Ki 7:23-25 WEB He made the
molten sea of ten cubits from
brim to brim, round in compass,
and its height was five cubits;
and a line of thirty cubits
encircled it. (24) Under its brim
around there were buds which
encircled it, for ten cubits,
encircling the sea: the buds
were in two rows, cast when it
was cast. (25) It stood on
twelve oxen, three looking
toward the north, and three
looking toward the west, and
three looking toward the south,
and three looking toward the
east; and the sea was set on
them above, and all their hinder
parts were inward.

Lesson 5 13


This particular sea will be seen again
in the Book of Revelation
Here it separates man & God;
there the faithful have crossed
Rev 15:2-3 WEB I saw
something like a sea of glass
mixed with fire, and those who
overcame the beast, his image,
and the number of his name,
standing on the sea of glass,
having harps of God. They
sang the song of Moses, the
servant of God, and the song of
the Lamb, saying, "Great and
marvelous are your works, Lord
God, the Almighty; Righteous
and true are your ways, you
King of the nations.

There the overcomers sing the "song
of Moses ... and of the Lamb"

The Song of Moses comes from Exodus 15.
Israel's perspective was different on the two shores of the Red Sea.
On the west, with Pharaoh's army bearing down, they despaired of life.
On the east, after God had delivered them and disposed of their enemies,
they sang with joy. Their song was the song of Moses.
That is the picture John wants his readers to see.

John pictures the overcomers singing
a song of deliverance
The NIV captures the idea of
Revelation 15:2 best when it
says the overcomers were
standing "beside" the sea.
To have the overcomers
standing by the sea and singing
songs of deliverance indicates
that God's enemy has been
overthrown and God's people
have been rescued.
But why the song of the Lamb?
These are not two songs, but
one. The song of Moses is the
song of the Lamb. John shows
that his focus is on the
redeemed of both covenants.

Lesson 5 14


Later, still, John says
Rev 21:1 WEB I saw a new
heaven and a new earth: for the
first heaven and the first earth
have passed away, and the sea
is no more.
In Rev 4, the sea separates the
overcomers from God.
In Rev 15 the overcomers have
crossed over and are singing
songs of deliverance.
Finally, in the new Jerusalem,
there is no more sea. What had
once separated them from God
has been removed and there is
nothing to separate them from
God any longer.

HEAVEN'S WORSHIP
Rev 4:9-11 WEB When the
living creatures give glory,
honor, and thanks to him who
sits on the throne, to him who
lives forever and ever, the
twenty-four elders fall down
before him who sits on the
throne, and worship him who
lives forever and ever, and
throw their crowns before the
throne, saying, "Worthy are you,
our Lord and God, the Holy
One, to receive the glory, the
honor,and the power, for you
created all things, and because
of your desire they existed, and
were created!"

The four living creatures lead the
heavenly entourage in glorifying God

These are the creatures of Ezekiel. They are also the seraphs of Isaiah:
Isa 6:1-3 WEB In the year that king Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a
throne, high and lifted up; and his train filled the temple. Above him stood
the seraphim. Each one had six wings. With two he covered his face. With
two he covered his feet. With two he flew. One called to another, and said,
"Holy, holy, holy, is Yahweh of Hosts! The whole earth is full of his glory!"
Isaiah doesn't describe their faces because they were covered in the
presence of God. But they were singing a song similar to the one in
Revelation 4, "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty " They are
"heaven's choir," singing praises to God.

Lesson 5 15


The living creatures sing "Holy, Holy,
Holy"
When they sing, the twenty-four
elders take off their crowns and
fall before the throne. They sing
their song – "Worthy Art Thou!"
At this point, they're only singing
verse one – about God being
worthy.
In the next chapter, they'll add a
verse about the Lamb being
worthy.

THE SEALED BOOK
Rev 5:1-4 WEB I saw, in the
right hand of him who sat on the
throne, a book written inside
and outside, sealed shut with
seven seals. I saw a mighty
angel proclaiming with a loud
voice, "Who is worthy to open
the book, and to break its
seals?" No one in heaven
above, or on the earth, or under
the earth, was able to open the
book, or to look in it. And I wept
much, because no one was
found worthy to open the book,
or to look in it.

John sees a book in the right hand of
the one on the throne
Writing on both sides.
Literally, "within and on the
back". That was unusual –
manuscripts were written on
one side only.
This manuscript has no space
left to write. It is full of words,
and the words are full of
significance.

It contains the whole revelation
of God on whatever subject it
addresses.
But what could that subject be?

Lesson 5 16


Ezekiel had a similar experience
Eze 2:9-10 WEB When I
looked, behold, a hand was
put forth to me; and, behold,
a scroll of a book was
therein; He spread it before
me: and it was written within
and without; and there were
written therein lamentations,
and mourning, and woe.
Using the same imagery as
Ezekiel, the words on the
scroll spell out bad news for
someone. Whom could it
be?

The book John sees is sealed with
seven seals

Do not visualize a traditional "scroll".
Imagine a 7-page pamphlet, with the pages bound together along one edge.
Imagine that booklet rolled up, with each page sealed where the edge ends.
By opening each seal, you open one page at a time, without revealing the
contents of the others.
7 speaks of the completion of God's purpose.
So this scroll contains not only a message from God, but the complete will,
or purpose of God. But it cannot be read, because the pages are sealed.

The apparently insurmountable
problem
A mighty angel asks for a
volunteer who is worthy to
receive and open the book.
His request is met with
silence. No one is worthy,
either in heaven, or on earth,
or even under the earth, to
open the seals - or even to
look inside - and reveal the
message from the God on
the throne.

Lesson 5 17


THE WORTHY LAMB
Rev 5:5-7 WEB One of the
elders said to me, "Don't weep.
Behold, the Lion who is of the
tribe of Judah, the Root of
David, has overcome; he who
opens the book and its seven
seals." I saw in the midst of the
throne and of the four living
creatures, and in the midst of
the elders, a Lamb standing, 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.
Then he came, and he took it
out of the right hand of him who
sat on the throne.

One of the elders tells John not to
give up hope so quickly

One is worthy, but not the one everyone expects.
The emperor declared himself to be a god, worthy of worship (Greek
kaisarsebaston, “Caesar, worthy of worship”). The emperors all took
the throne name “Caesar Augustus” (Latin version of kaisarsebaston).
It is not Caesar on his throne, but God on his, who is worthy of worship.
When it comes time to receive and reveal the will of God, Caesar is not
even in the running.
There is only one who is worthy, and that is the "Lion who is of the Tribe of
Judah".

The "Lion of the tribe of Judah"
comes from Jacob blessing his sons
Gen 49:8-10 WEB "Judah, your
brothers will praise you: Your
hand will be on the neck of your
enemies; Your father's sons will
bow down before you. Judah is
a lion's cub. From the prey, my
son, you have gone up. He
stooped down, he crouched as
a lion, As a lioness. Who will
rouse him up? The scepter will
not depart from Judah, Nor the
ruler's staff from between his
feet, Until he comes to whom it
belongs. To him will the
obedience of the peoples be.

Lesson 5 18


He is also identified as another OT
figure - the "Root of David"
Isa 11:1-5 WEB There shall
come forth a shoot out of ..
Jesse, and a branch out of his
roots shall bear fruit. The Spirit
of Yahweh shall rest on him
His delight shall be in the fear of
Yahweh; and he shall not judge
after the sight of his eyes,
neither decide after the hearing
of his ears; but with
righteousness shall he judge the
poor, and decide with equity for
the humble of the earth; and he
shall strike the earth with the
rod of his mouth; and with the
breath of his lips shall he kill the
wicked. Righteousness shall be
the belt of his waist, and
faithfulness the belt of his loins.

David was the son of Jesse & Jesus
is the pre-eminent son of David!
As David surpassed his father,
Jesse, so also, Jesus
surpassed his ancestor, David.
Jer 23:5-6 WEB Behold, the
days come, says Yahweh, that I
will raise to David a righteous
Branch, and he shall reign as
king and deal wisely, and shall
execute justice and
righteousness in the land. In his
days Judah shall be saved, and
Israel shall dwell safely; and this
is his name by which he shall be
called: Yahweh our
righteousness.

The Lord promised an heir to David's
throne

2Sa 7:12-16 WEB When your days are fulfilled, and you shall sleep
with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who shall proceed
out of your bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a
house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom
forever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son Your house and
your kingdom shall be made sure for ever before you: your throne shall
be established forever.
In the immediate future, he was talking about Solomon, but the Jews
saw in that promise a future Messiah,the son of David, to whom the
Lord promised the throne in his eternal kingdom

Lesson 5 19


The voice says the Lion of Judah
& Root of David has "overcome"
Overcome (nikaoo) is the same
word as in Rev 2-3. Jesus was
the first overcomer. He met the
power of the universe and won.
Col 2:13-15 WEB You were
dead through your trespasses
and the uncircumcision of your
flesh. He made you alive
together with him, having
forgiven us all our trespasses,
wiping out the handwriting in
ordinances which was against
us; and he has taken it out of
the way, nailing it to the cross;
having stripped the principalities
and the powers, he made a
show of them openly,
triumphing over them in it.

The Lion has overcome
He is able to take & open the
scroll, so there is no more need
for tears.
A lion is announced, so John
expects to see a lion. Instead,
he sees a lamb advancing to
the throne to take the scroll!
But this is no ordinary lamb! It
looks as if it had been slain.
The WEB makes it sound like a
mere matter of appearance.
That is not the force of the
Greek text.
The NEB does a good job when
it describes the lamb as having
"the marks of slaughter upon
him".

The literal translation is "standing as
one having been slain"
These are Greek perfect
passive participles.
The idea is of something that
actually happened in the
past, but which has abiding
results in the present.
Here, John sees a lamb.
It is obvious that the lamb
has been slaughtered, but
there it stands,
nevertheless, and it is alive!
This is no matter of mere
appearance.

Lesson 5 20


The Lamb was actually killed
Rev 5:9-10 WEB They sang a
new song, saying, "You are
worthy to take the book, And to
open its seals: For you were
killed, And bought us for God
with your blood, Out of every
tribe, language, people, and
nation, And made them kings
and priests to our God, And
they reign on earth."
The Greek sphazoo was the
word for ritual, sacrificial
slaughter.
This is a sacrificial lamb, that
has been sacrificed, but that is
alive, nevertheless!

Isaiah had described the Messiah in
terms reminiscent of this
Isa 53:7 WEB He was
oppressed, yet when he was
afflicted he didn't open his
mouth; as a lamb that is led
to the slaughter, and as a
sheep that before its
shearers is mute, so he
didn't open his mouth.

There can be no doubt who this
Lamb is
We cannot help but think of
John the Baptizer
introducing Jesus to his
disciples:
Joh 1:29 WEB The next
day, he saw Jesus coming
to him, and said, "Behold,
the Lamb of God, who takes
away the sin of the world!

Lesson 5 21


It reminds us of other passages
about our redemption
1Co 5:7b WEB For indeed
Christ, our Passover, has
been sacrificed in our place.
It also reminds us that we
were not redeemed with
silver or gold ...
1Pe 1:19 WEB but with
precious blood, as of a lamb
without spot, the blood of
Christ;

It has "seven horns and seven eyes"
"Seven" is a depiction of God's complete will. So what do seven
horns and seven eyes signify?
The horn in the Old Testament is a symbol of strength.
Deu 33:17 WEB The firstborn of his herd, majesty is his; His horns
are the horns of the wild-ox: With them he shall push the peoples
all of them, even the ends of the earth: They are the ten thousands
of Ephraim, They are the thousands of Manasseh.
To say that the lamb has seven horns is to say he has God's
power.
In other words, he is omnipotent!
To say that he has seven eyes, is an affirmation that he has
God's vision.
Pro 15:3 WEB Yahweh's eyes are everywhere, Keeping watch on
the evil and the good.
In other words, he is omniscient!

John saw the lamb do what no one
else in creation was worthy to do
He walked up to the throne of
God and took the book out of
the hand of the Almighty!
No wonder heaven erupts with
praise of his worth!
Our word "worship" comes from
old English "worth-ship." It is an
affirmation of worth!
Revelation 4 declares that God
on the throne is worthy of
worship!
Revelation 5 adds a second
verse, declaring that the Lamb
is worthy of worship, as well!

Lesson 5 22


WORSHIP OF THE LAMB
Rev 5:8-14 WEB Now when he had taken the book, the four living
creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each
one having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the
prayers of the saints. They sang a new song, saying, "You are worthy
to take the book, And to open its seals: For you were killed, And bought
us for God with your blood, Out of every tribe, language, people, and
nation, And made them kings and priests to our God, And they reign on
earth." I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around
the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them
was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands;
saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to
receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and
blessing!" I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth,
under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, "To him
who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the
glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!" The four living
creatures said, "Amen!" The elders fell down and worshiped.

In Revelation 4, all eyes had been on
the throne
Now, in Revelation 5, all eyes
are on the Lamb.
The entire heavenly scene, the
four creatures and 24 elders, fall
before the Lamb and worship
him.
The harps signify their worship,
and John tells the reader that
the bowls of incense signify the
prayers of the saints, which
come out of the tabernacle.
He would understand the
sentiment of David:
Psa 141:2 WEB Let my prayer
be set before you like incense;
The lifting up of my hands like
the evening sacrifice.

John's situation is unique vis-à-vis
every human before, or since

He has the unique distinction of seeing the same moment in
celestial history from both earth's and heaven's perspective.
He was with the few who saw Jesus ascend to heaven in Acts 1.
Now, he sees the ascended Christ as he enters into heaven.

Lesson 5 23


And when Jesus enters, all heaven
erupts with praise!
The fact that they sing a
"new song" means only that
it is new as compared with
the song they had sung in
Revelation 4.
There, the song was a song
of praise to God on the
throne, as worthy because of
his work in creation.
Here, the song is a song of
praise to the Lamb as worthy
because of his work in
redemption.

This is the New Testament
counterpart to the "Song of Moses"
Recall that when Israel had
crossed the Red Sea, and
the Egyptian army had been
drowned in it, the Israelites
sang the "Song of Moses" in
which they praised God for
redeeming them, and for
vanquishing their enemies.

In Rev 14:3, we will read of God's
people who have been delivered
Rev 14:3 WEB They sing a
new song before the throne,
and before the four living
creatures and the elders. No
one could learn the song
except the one hundred
forty-four thousand, those
who had been redeemed out
of the earth.
In this picture, the redeemed
are standing on Mount Zion
singing a song
commemorating their
redemption.

Lesson 5 24


Then, just a chapter later, we'll read
again of the overcomers singing
In the context of God's
judgments on the ungodly, the
redeemed sing a song of
deliverance.
Rev 15:3 WEB They sang the
song of Moses, the servant of
God, and the song of the Lamb,
saying, "Great and marvelous
are your works, Lord God, the
Almighty; Righteous and true
are your ways, you King of the
nations.
So what is there about this
Lamb that is so special?
The Lamb is worthy because of
his death, and because of what
his death accomplished. Look
at what his death did

His death purchased men from every
tribe, tongue, people and nation
The King James Version incorrectly says he purchased "us".
That is not what the Greek text says. It says he purchased men.
But not just any men, and not just men from a select group.
Jesus' death made it possible for men to be purchased from
every tribe (ethnic group), tongue (language group), people
(racial group), and nation (national group).
No matter what there is that segregates men from one another,
it has been abolished in the cross.
As Paul put it, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free,
male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians
3:28).
The days are past when one had to be a physical descendant of
Abraham in order to be a part of God's people.
Jesus opened the doors of heaven to everyone!

His death made these people into a
"kingdom" and "priests"
In spite of their diversity of race, culture and language, the
Lamb's blood has made them into a "kingdom" (not "kings" as
in some translations), in which God rules.
In spite of the fact that their sins separated them from God, the
Lamb's blood has made them into "priests", with access to God!
The OT prophets said God's intention was to give them access
to his throne.
Isa 61:6 WEB But you shall be named the priests of Yahweh; men
shall call you the ministers of our God: you shall eat the wealth of
the nations, and in their glory shall you boast yourselves.
No wonder the hosts of heaven sing praises to the Lamb with
their own version of "Worthy art Thou!"

Lesson 5 25


The chapter began with a question:
"Who is worthy?"
Of course there is the foregone
conclusion that God is worthy.
That is why the singers sang the
first stanza of "Worthy Art Thou"
in Revelation 4.
There, they ascribed to God the
same kind of worthiness that the
prophets had ascribed to him
centuries before.
1Ch 29:11 WEB Yours,
Yahweh, is the greatness, and
the power, and the glory, and
the victory, and the majesty: for
all that is in the heavens and in
the earth is yours; yours is the
kingdom, Yahweh, and you are
exalted as head above all.

But "who is worthy" to take the book
out of God's hand and open it?
They looked everywhere and
no one could be found who
was worthy.
But, just when it seemed
hopeless, there was found
one - no more and no less -
who was worthy!
Now everyone who had
been involved in the search
joins in the assent that he
truly is worthy!

Every created being joins in the act
They sing about the worthiness
of the one on the throne, and of
the Lamb, as well. (5:13).
The singers are the ones
described by Daniel as those
who minister to and stand
before God.
Dan 7:10 WEB thousands of
thousands ministered to him,
and ten thousand times ten
thousand stood before him:
When everyone and every thing
in creation agree that God and
the Lamb are worthy, there's
just one thing for the elders and
the four living creatures to say -
"Amen!"

Lesson 5 26


The Old Testament background of
this entire scene is Daniel 7:9-14
Dan 7:9-14 WEB I saw until thrones were placed, and one who
was ancient of days sat: his clothing was white as snow, and the
hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and
the wheels of it burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came
forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered to
him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the
judgment was set, and the books were opened I saw in the
night-visions, and, behold, there came with the clouds of the sky
one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days,
and they brought him near before him. There was given him
dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples,
nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an
everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his
kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

In that grand vision, God is seen on
the throne, ready to judge
God's judgment is about to
come upon one kingdom, and a
king who thought he was worthy
of worship.
Into the scene came "one like a
son of man" who was led into
his presence.
He was given dominion over all
peoples, nations and
languages.
There is a final word about his
rule: "his dominion is an
everlasting dominion, which
shall not pass away, and his
kingdom that which shall not be
destroyed."

Ready or not, God's enemy is about
to be judged!
We’re going to see that the
nation - and the king - who
are facing judgment in
Daniel 7 are the same as the
enemies of God's people in
the Book of Revelation.
It is the Roman Empire and
the Roman emperors, and,
in particular, one emperor
named Domitian.

Lesson 5 27


The scene in Revelation 4-5 is this

God is on his throne. His court is assembled, and his judgments
are ready to be pronounced.
But there is no one worthy to pronounce God’s judgments.
Then, the only worthy one in the universe comes to the throne.
He takes the book and it's time for God's judgments to begin.
The judgments are the seals, trumpets, thunders, and bowls that
we'll see in the rest of the book.

Lesson 5 28

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