Revelation 5: Song of Angels

From chapter four onward we begin the viewing of many symbols to reflect the events of the future, and from that chapter the church is no longer the focus of the story.

We begin with the Lord upon His throne in heaven, holding in Bis right hand a scroll. This scroll was unusual as it was written on both front and back ( containing much information as scrolls were generally written only on one side) and it was sealed with seven seals. Such seals were generally wax and contained strings to bind the scroll after sealing.

There are many views as to what the scroll contained. The most logical seems to be that it is the book of the affairs of the universe, kept from the foundation and now to be revealed to John, so that we might know what is to come. Roman law of the time' required a will to be sealed by seven people, each with his own seal, to assure proper witnessing ?f what is to be done with an estate a person may leave at death. Only God could hold the scroll and only God could reveal it, for it likely contained the plan of the second coming of Jesus.

Now the question given is who is worthy to open it? No one in heaven or earth or under the earth was seen to be worthy for such a task. John goes to tears because it seems the scroll may not be opened. But an elder said to John that there is no reason to weep as the Lion of the tribe of Judah is worthy. He is also called the Root of David, and as John looks again, he sees a lamb as though it had been slain. The lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, more use of the perfect number of seven, and the picture given is from Genesis 49:9-10, Isaiah 31 :4 & Hosea 11: 10, and will be repeated in Revelation 22: 16. The Lion is a fitting image as it shows excellency of strength, heroic spirit, and a reminder of the King of all beasts.

The marks of sacrifice are on the lamb showing the continual and eternal virtue of the sacrifice of Jesus for the sins of man. The seven horns are symbols of all power with the seven eyes a symbol of all seeing and all knowing.

Now the scene is set for the praise to the One worthy.

The four living creatures and the twenty four elders fall before the lamb, each having a harp and a gold bowl which hold the prayers of the saints, an assurance to every believer that our prayers do indeed reach heaven. Here we are also reminded of there being only one mediator between the prayers of men and the heavenly throne, the lamb of God, introduced by John the Baptist originally.

There begins a new song, for mercies that are forever new and never ending. It is a song of hope, embracing the songs sung by the faithful since the beginning from the eye of faith before Jesus came, and from the heart of faith after He had arrived.

YOU ARE WORTHY FOR YOU WERE SLAIN, AND HAVE REDEEMED US TO GOD BY YOUR BLOOD OUT OF EVERY TRIBE AND TONGUE AND PEOPLE AND NATION, AND HAVE MADE US KINGS AND PRIESTS TO OUR GOD, AND WE SHALL REIGN ON THE EARTH.

(paraphrasing verses 9-10)

The emphasis is on the work of redemption. The song honors the price and payment for our redemption, the work done on the cross, the destination (to God), the scope (from every part of creation), the result (we are now kings and priests and will reign on the earth in the new creation).

Luther ended his reformation work by saying all men are now their own priests (after the temple vail was torn) and Spurgeon preached that the Holy Priesthood now belongs to all saints who are saved.

Now countless angels join in, declaring the worthiness of the lamb because of the redemption he accomplished. While the voices of angels likely joined in praising the worthiness of Christ, it seems also likely that only the elders themselves sang the new song of actual redemption as there are no Bible words showing us redemption for angels. But angels do indeed know His power, wisdom, strength, honor and glory.

Lastly, all creation praises the Father and the lamb. Praise and worship come from every creature singing blessing and honor and glory and power to the One of the throne as well as the lamb, who is Jesus.

Now we are given the strongest possible scriptural proof that Jesus, while coming to us in the likeness of flesh, was truly also God, for if he were not so, this worship and praise would be idolatry. The last verse grants us the confirmation of eternal redemption for the praise and worship toward the Lord is said to be forever and ever.