Revelation Chapter Five

Revelation 5:1-5, “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.”

This is a more difficult chapter of the Holy Bible for me to interpret. Pastor Charles Spurgeon refused to preach on Bible prophecy, because he said it was a subject that he had difficulty understanding. Today, in the 21st century we have the amazing internet at our fingertips, where we can Google any question and hundreds of thousands of answers are returned. There is no reason for any child of God to remain ignorant about Bible prophecy.

In verse 1 above, Him that sitteth upon the throne is God the Father. We know this because in verse 7 the Lamb takes the book out of the right hand of Him that sitteth upon the throne.

In verse 1-7 above we learn that no human being is worthy, except the God-man Jesus Christ. Only Jesus is worthy to open the book with seven seals. That is very interesting. We know from reading Revelation chapter six what is contained in the book—seven separate but related judgments upon the earth and mankind. Each time another seal is broken, and another part of the book opened, there is another deadly devastation unleashed upon the earth.

Since this is a book of judgments upon humanity, it seems logical to me why only the Lamb of God is worthy to open the seals, because only a righteous God has a right to judge sinners! James 4:12, “There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?” James 5:9, “Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.” Since only God dictates the laws by which men must live to please Him; therefore, only God has a right to judge men!

Also, it is interesting in Revelation 5:5 that Jesus is called “the Root of David.” In the book of Matthew, the apostle traces Jesus' lineage through Joseph back to David. So Jesus is not only the descend of David in the kingly line, but as Creator Jesus is also the Root of David. Our God is more than amazing! This lineage through Joseph establishes Mary as the physical descendant of David, so it can be stated that Jesus truly was “the Son of David” through the lineage of David’s son Nathan (the third of four sons born to David and Bath-Sheba).

Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1–16), from Joseph’s perspective, is also important because it clearly demonstrates Jesus’ legal right to the throne of David. Joseph descended from David through Solomon, and this was the chosen line from David to Christ, proving His right as King. Jesus is the son of Adam biologically through Mary's flesh (which is why Luke traces Jesus' lineage through Mary back to Adam); but Jesus is the King of Israel by legal right (which is why Matthew traces Jesus' lineage through Joseph back to king David). Amen!

Remember, Jesus was born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23). Mary had never had carnal knowledge with any man to conceive Jesus, God's Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and wrought the miracle of the virgin birth. There has only been, and will always only be, just one virgin birth in history. Jesus was born of a virgin, meaning that God almighty is Jesus' biological Father, which makes Jesus 100% deity (God almighty). In the future when Jesus returns at His Second Coming (after the 7-year Tribulation period), Christ will literally reign as King of kings (upon the throne of David from Jerusalem) over the whole earth with a rod of iron.

Revelation 5:6-7, “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.”

To be honest, I do not know what “the seven Spirits of God are.” Some theologians think it refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety and the fear of the Lord. While some Christians accept these as a definitive list of specific attributes, others understand them merely as examples of the Holy Spirit's work through the faithful. We simply don't know for certain, and that is okay. Where the Bible is silent we should be silent. It is okay to speculate, just so long as you are honest to admit that it is mere speculation. Everyone has a right to their own opinion, but no one has a right to their own facts.

Having said that, I disagree with the preceding suggested view of “the seven Spirits of God.” The Bible plainly says in verse 6 that the seven Spirits of God are seven horns and seven eyes sent forth into all the earth. A horn in the Bible symbolizes victory and strength. The eyes represents God's divine providence watching over all humanity. This verse is a mystery to me. I do not know exactly what it means, but the best guess I can make is that God's Holy Spirit is all-present (omnipresent), all-powerful (omnipotent), all-knowing (omniscient), all-loving (omnibenevolent) and all-wise (omnisapient). The number seven in the Bible represents completeness or wholeness. We find Scriptural support for this truth:

2nd Timothy 3:16-17, 'All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.'

Psalms 19:7, 'The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.'

Psalms 18:30, 'As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.'

The reason why God's inspired Word is all we need as humans to be perfect (complete) is because God is perfect (complete). God's Word has been tried and tested, proven to be perfect. God Himself is perfect. I think this is a good suggested interpretation of Revelation 5:6-7, but I truthfully do not know for sure.

Revelation 5:8-14, “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.”

There are saved people in every kindred, tongues, people and nation on earth. Someday we will help Jesus reign during the 1,000 year Millennium (Revelation 20:6). We will reign with Christ as kings and princes on earth. In Heaven there are at least 104,000,000 angels (ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands). So we have 10,000 times 10,000 and 2,000 times 2,000 (thousands of thousands, plural). I think there are far more than 104,000,000 angels, but there would have to be at least this amount (based on these provided numbers).

Here is something interesting. Revelation 5:12b, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” I noticed that there are SEVEN things that Jesus Christ is deemed worthy to receive in verse 12. God for some reason loves the number seven (and so do I for that reason). There are SEVEN colors in a rainbow. There are SEVEN notes in a diatonic music scale. There are SEVEN days in a week. There are SEVEN years in a Jubilee year. Although there are 12 ribs on each side in a human body, only the first SEVEN ribs are considered true ribs. Only SEVEN percent of our DNA is unique to humans. The universe is filled with God's handiwork as it relates to the number SEVEN.

Every creature praises God. As strange as it may seem, verse 13 says that birds and mammals and fish all praise God. Are they not creatures? Yes, they are. Every living creature knows that God is their Creator. Animals and birds don't have a spirit to communicate with God as humans do, but they do have souls to think, feel and decide. I would hate to think that lions, tigers and bears would praise God, but humans fail to do so. May we all praise, thank and love our great God.