The Scroll and the Lamb
Revelation 5:1-10
Good News Translation (GNT)
*************************
1 I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who
sits on the throne; it was covered with
writing on both sides and was sealed with
seven seals.
2 And I saw a mighty angel, who announced in
a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the
seals and open the scroll?"
3 But there was no one in heaven or on earth
or in the world below (a) who could open the
scroll and look inside it.
4 I cried bitterly because no one could be found
who was worthy to open the scroll or look
inside it.
5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Don't cry.
Look!
The Lion from Judah's tribe, the great
descendant of David, has won the victory,
and he can break the seven seals and open
the scroll."
6 Then I saw a Lamb standing in the centre
of the throne, surrounded by the four living
creatures and the elders.
The Lamb appeared to have been killed.
It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are
the seven spirits of God that have been sent
through the whole earth.
7 The Lamb went and took the scroll from the
right hand of the one who sits on the throne.
8 As he did so, the four living creatures and the
twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb.
Each had a harp and gold bowls filled with
incense, which are the prayers of God's
people.
9 They sang a new song: "You are worthy to
take the scroll and to break open its seals.
For you were killed, and by your sacrificial
death you bought for God people from every
tribe, language, nation, and race.
10 You have made them a kingdom of priests
to serve our God, and they shall rule on earth."
Footnotes
(a) The world of the dead
(see 1.18)
*************************
Commentary taken from
'The Applied New Testament Commentary'
(Kingsway)
The Scroll and the Lamb
Then John saw in God's
hand a scroll,
which was sealed with
seven special seals.
All the events and judgments
that will take place
at the end of the world
were written in this scroll.
However, at first no one
was found who was worthy
to open the seals on the scroll;
no one who was worthy
to bring to pass all the events and judgments
written in the scroll.
It seemed to John
that God's final purposes
would not be fulfilled;
therefore, he began to weep.
But there was someone
who was called the
Lion of the tribe of Judah
and the Root of David -
namely, Jesus himself.
Judah was the fourth of
Jacob's twelve sons;
Jacob called him a lion's cub.
At the time he gave the
blessing to his sons,
Jacob said:
"The sceptre will not depart
from Judah until he comes
to whom it belongs" -
that is, until Jesus
comes at the end of the world.
He was descended from Judah.
Therefore, He will receive
the sceptre of Judah;
His kingdom will have no end.
Jesus was also descended
from King David;
therefore, He is called
the Root of David.
This is the Christ,
the Messiah,
who was worthy to open
the scroll and bring
the world to an end.
He has triumphed over
the world, over Satan,
over death.
Only He is worthy.
Then John saw a lamb.
Perhaps he was looking
for a lion,
the Lion of the
tribe of Judah;
but instead, he saw a lamb!
What an amazing thing!
The Saviour was not a lion
but a Iamb!
Not only that,
He was a lamb that looked
as if it had been slain.
Jesus has received His kingdom
and authority not by power
and force, but rather by
His suffering and dying
as a sacrifice to take
away our sins.
According to John's vision,
this lamb had seven horns
and seven eyes.
The number "seven"
has a special meaning
in the Bible:
it means completeness
or fullness.
The word "horn" in the Bible
usually stands for
power and authority.
Therefore, the seven horns
stand for complete
power and authority.
In the same way,
the seven eyes stand for
complete knowledge and wisdom.
From this, we can understand
that this lamb has all power
and authority,
and all wisdom and knowledge.
The seven eyes are also seven spirits,
or they represent the
seven-part Holy Spirit.
One who has "seven spirits"
has received the Holy Spirit
in the fullest possible measure.
We can understand, therefore,
that this Lamb, the Christ,
has received the Holy Spirit
without limit.
When the Lamb took the scroll,
the four living creatures
and the twenty-four elders
fell down before Him
and worshiped Him.
They each had a harp,
which is a musical instrument
especially used in
worshiping God.
The incense in the
golden bowls represents
the prayers of believers.
Let us not doubt that God
hears our prayers;
our prayers constantly
rise up before Him like incense.
The four living creatures
and the twenty-four elders
then sang a new song
(Psalm 98:1).
This song was a song
of praise to the Lamb,
who, with His blood,
purchased men for God
from every tribe and
language and
people and nation.
Those whom He has "purchased"
He has made to be
a kingdom and priests,
and they will reign on the earth.
Some Bible scholars
believe that this reign
refers to the thousand-year
reign of the saints
which is to take place
at the end of the world.
Other versions are available here
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