AS WE SAW in last month's study, chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation give us a scene in heaven, which is preparatory to the bursting forth of God's judgments upon the world during the day of Jehovah. Naturally, since these judgments begin in the mind and plan of God, John was given this scene of heaven and the actors that play the leading role in this closing drama of the ages. In these studies we saw that God the Father and God the Holy Spirit figured largely in the action of chapter 4. In chapter 5 the Son is under the spotlight throughout.

"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back, close sealed with seven seals" (5:1). In New Testament times usually the books were in the form of scrolls or rolls, made either of papyrus or vellum. About the beginning of the present era books with folios, such as we have today, began to come into existence and use.

John saw in the hands of the Almighty, as He was sitting upon the throne, a book that was "written within and on the back," and that was sealed with seven seals. This description leads us to believe that the form of the book which he saw was that of a scroll which had seals at various intervals, and which had to be broken as the book was unrolled. This book was written on both sides. It reminds one of that which Zechariah saw in vision as found in Zechariah 5:1-4.

"2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no one in the heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look thereon" (vss. 2,3). All intelligible writings are to be read and understood. The strong angel in this verse proclaimed with a great voice, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" He doubtless was not asking for information, but to make the announcement that there was no one able or worthy to break the seals and to read the book. Among all the creatures of God--both celestial and terrestrial--there was found no one who was able to break the seals and to read the book. Obviously, it takes might, power, wisdom, to perform this feat. Let it be noted that none of the elders, or the living creatures, or any of the angels, could perform this task. If none of the angels of the celestial hosts was worthy or powerful enough even to look on the book, certainly none of Adam's race upon earth could look upon it and could break the seals.

"4 And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look thereon: . . ." (vs. 4). John was given understanding that there was great significance and importance attached to this book--that mighty and eternal issues were involved in this matter. He therefore wept much because none of God's creatures could do this. It is quite likely that John jumped to the hasty conclusion that there was no one who could, or would, open it and carry out the plans and purposes inscribed on the scroll.

"... 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book and the seven seals thereof" (vs. 5). One of the elders admonished John to stop his weeping and stated that there was one who was able to deal with the situation, and who was "the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David." The expression, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, is an echo of the prophecy made by Jacob (Gen. 49:8-10). In this prophecy Judah was compared to a lion. This graphic description focuses its rays of light upon some descendant of Judah who undoubtedly proves to be Shiloh, the one to whom the right of reigning belongs. (Cf. Ezek. 21:27). This one is not only the tribe of Judah, but is of the house of David, the founder of the throne in Judah. David was granted a vision of Him as is seen in II Samuel 23:3c-5:

3. ". .. One that ruleth over men righteously,
   That ruleth in the fear of God,
4. He shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth,
   A morning without clouds,
   When the tender grass springeth out of the earth,
   Through clear shining after rain.
5. Verily my house is not so with God;
   Yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant,
   Ordered in all things, and sure:
   For it is all my salvation, and all my desire,
   Although he maketh it not to grow,"

The seed thought of our Lord's being the Root of David is couched in the expression, "Although he maketh it not to grow." The verb in the Hebrew text rendered to grow is the word from which we get our noun translated Branch. Based upon this one prophecy are four most important predictions regarding Messiah. The first to be noted is Isaiah 4:2: "In that day shall the branch of Jehovah be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel." Here the twofold nature of the Branch is brought forth most graphically: It is the Branch of Jehovah, having the divine nature; it likewise is the fruit of the ground, having human nature. Jeremiah likewise refers to Him in the following words: "Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land" (Jer. 23:5). Here the Branch becomes King of Judah and shall be recognized as "Jehovah our righteousness." The third passage involving the Branch is Zechariah 3:8: "8 Hear now, 0 Joshua the high priest, thou and thy fellows that sit before thee; for they are men that are a sign: for, behold, I will bring forth my servant the Branch." Here the Branch is called a servant, because He serves humanity, although He is God in human form. The fourth and last passage on the subject of the Branch is Zechariah 6:12: ". . . 12 And speak unto him, saying, Thus speaketh Jehovah of hosts, saying, Behold, the man whose name is the Branch: and he shall grow up out of his place; and he shall build the temple of Jehovah; . . ." The human nature of the Branch is here emphasized--He is a man, though He is the God-man.

The elder, in calling John's attention to the fact that the Lion of the tribe of Judah is the Root of David, is referring to all these promises that are contained in the Branch passages. He will carry out all the predictions that are foretold of Him. At His first coming He fulfilled all the predictions that related to the first coming of the Messiah. When He returns, He will carry out the program just as outlined.

"6 And 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 forth into all the earth. 7 And he came, and he taketh it out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne" (vss. 6, 7). Though the Messiah is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, He is also the Lamb, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Christ was foreknown before the foundation of the world as the one who would deal with the sin question, and who would procure salvation for all who will accept. Thus that which was foretold of Him concerning His death, He carried out literally, as was foretold in Isaiah, chapter 53, and in many other predictions. Christ, who is the Lamb of God, and who suffered at His first coming, comes forth and takes the Book out of the hand of the Almighty who is seated on the throne in order that He might open it.

"8 And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sing a new song, saying,

Worthy art thou to take the book, and to
open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain,
and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men
of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,
10 and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and
priests; and they reign upon the earth" (vss. 8-10).

Only these heavenly beings engaged in this act of worship and praise. Not only does each one have his harp, but each has a golden bowl full of incense--the prayers of the saints. We are given the significance of the bowls of incense, namely, that they represent the prayers of God's people, which they have presented to Him, and which He, in the time of the Tribulation, answers. No prayer ever goes unanswered, but in His own time and way God fulfills every petition.

The reader is urged to note especially verses 9 and 10. The American Standard Version (published in 1901), following the Greek literally and absolutely, declares that "thou," the Lamb, didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation. . . ." Those who are worshiping do not include themselves in those who have been purchased by the Lamb. The reason for this is that they have never been lost and need no salvation. Those who are thus saved and purchased from among men constitute a kingdom and priesthood. They are at present in the spiritual aspect of the kingdom of God, but will enter the outward, visible manifestation of it at the second coming of our Lord. Moreover, we who are in the present phase of the kingdom are priests in that we can intercede in behalf of others, bringing them before the throne of grace constantly. When our Lord returns, we shall reign with Him upon the earth as the last statement of verse 10 declares.

"11 And I saw, and I heard a voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 saying with a great voice,

Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and glory, and blessing" (vss. 11,12).

Here we have a description of the second song of praise that is offered by the angelic hosts to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. Note the fact that many angels joined their voices with the living creatures and the four and twenty elders. The number in this chorus are ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. Ten thousand times ten thousand makes one hundred million; in addition to these there are thousands of thousands.

The soul-stirring chorus which they sing is, "Worthy is the Lamb that hath been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and glory, and blessing."

This is a sevenfold statement of the things which our Lord will receive because of His having purchased from among men those who would accept the truth and receive His salvation.

"13 And every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea, and all things that are in them, heard I saying,

Unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb, be the blessing, and the honor, and the glory, and the dominion, for ever and ever.

14 And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the elders fell down and worshipped" (vss. 13,14). Here is the largest chorus, or choir, that ever is assembled, and yet it is not assembled, for we are told that every created thing which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea will engage in this mighty song of praise to the Lamb for His redemption. The statement is that every created thing in the heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on the sea will join in this mighty chorus. This is the thing of which Paul, in Philippians 2:9-11 speaks. When the time here foreseen in this passage arrives, all the angelic hosts, all the people who will be upon the earth, and all the lost in Hades, together with Satan and all of the demons, will bow the knee and confess with their tongues that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. All the lost will see that God has been absolutely righteous and just in all His doings, and that He, in consigning them to the place of the condemned, is righteous, just, and true--that He could not do otherwise than He does.

They will, therefore, render praise to Him who sits upon the throne (God the Father) and unto the Lamb who purchased redemption for the human family. When this hymn is finished, the four living creatures will close with a hearty "Amen." Then the elders will fall down and worship. Thus will close this heavenly scene that is set forth in Revelation, chapters 4 and 5.