The Book Sealed with Seven Seals

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Overview.

This chapter can be separated into three distinct sections.1 

 

One, there is a problem in verses 1-4 (no one can open the seals).

 

Two, there is a solution in verses 5-7 (the Lamb = Jesus Christ. Revelation 15:3 says, “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.”; 1 Peter 1:19 says, “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot…”; John 1:29 says, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” and verse 36 says something similar, “And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!”).

 

The third and final section gives the overall response of the universe to what the Lamb could do and is in verses 8-14.

 

Chapter 5 is the story of redemption and the majority of the verses in this chapter are about praise.

 

This chapter is also depicting the scene of the investigative judgment which parallels Daniel 7:9-10 which shows the same event. God sits in judgment to determine who is saved and who is not, then He returns at the second coming with His reward. 

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• Revelation 5:1, 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.

 

5V1: Throne = The same throne as described in chapter 4. This is the same scene, so this is God the Father on the throne. 

 

5V1: Book = Scroll. This book is like a will or testament for the human race or more specifically it is like a title or deed for the human race which Jesus purchased with His blood as our Redeemer. Jesus bought us back from Satan who gained control of the earth when Adam and Eve chose to follow Satan in the Garden of Eden. It is written on both sides to represent that it is the complete history of the human race.2 

 

Ezekiel 2:9-10 says, “And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.”

 

5V1: Ezekiel 2:9-10 specifically says the roll was written within and without, so I tend to side with the belief that the scroll was written on both sides. But, some theologians say that the comma is not needed and was placed in the wrong spot by scribes. It is true that the original manuscripts didn’t have punctuation. It was added centuries later for printing purposes and to make it easier to read and to find chapters and verses. For other examples of misplaced commas see Acts 19:12 and Luke 23:43. 

 

 

• Revelation 5:2, And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 

 

5V2: Worthy = Qualified. The answer to this question is Jesus, verses 5-7 (which is the solution to the problem). 

 

 

• Revelation 5:3, And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 

 

5V3: No man in heaven… = No man was worthy except Jesus our Redeemer. There were other men in heaven because of early resurrections, Genesis 5:24 (Enoch); 2 Kings 2:1-17 (Elijah); Jude 19 and Luke 9:30 (Moses); Matthew 27:52-53 (small group at the time of the death and resurrection of Jesus, but these individuals came with Jesus at His ascension). 

 

5V1-3: The book = The book of life. The book of life is always referred to using the singular form “book” and never as “books”. But there are other books that use the singular form such as the book of iniquities in Jeremiah 2:22. When the plural form “books” is used it refers to the record of life or other books and not the book of life.3

 

Some examples are Philippians 4:3 which says, “And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.”

 

Psalm 56:8, “Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book?”

 

Malachi 3:16, “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.”

 

Revelation 3:5 which says, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”

 

Revelation 13:8 which says, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

 

Exodus 32:31-32 which says, “And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Oh, this people have sinned a great sin, and have made them gods of gold. Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.”

 

Daniel 12:1 which says, “And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.”

 

Revelation 20:12-13 which says, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.”

 

In Revelation 20:12-13 both the singular book and the plural form books is used, with the book referring to the book of life and books referring to the books of remembrance or books of iniquity.  

 

 

• Revelation 5:4, And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

 

5V4: No man was found worthy = No man was worthy except Jesus our Redeemer. There were other men in heaven because of early resurrections, Genesis 5:24 (Enoch); 2 Kings 2:1-17 (Elijah); Jude 19 and Luke 9:30 (Moses); Matthew 27:52-53 (small group at the time of the death and resurrection of Jesus, but these individuals came with Jesus at His ascension). Although there are others in heaven, Jesus is the only one that was worthy because He is our Redeemer. 

 

 

• Revelation 5:5, 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.

 

5V5: Prevailed = Overcome, same word that is used in the closing of each of the churches, to those that overcome.

 

5V5: Lion of the tribe of Juda = This represents Jesus. “…the symbol of the lion brings out several characteristics the Bible emphasizes: It represents strength, predatory ferocity, majesty, and leadership. The lion is the symbol of a ruler, a king, and often a very fierce and powerful one. These are the general meanings of the symbol based on a lion's traits. They help us to comprehend what God wants us to focus on in the context. Thus, a lion can represent both Satan and Jesus because they both have a lion's characteristics.”4 Satan is represented as a lion in 1 Peter 5:8. Also, in Revelation 10:1-3, it describes Jesus roaring like a lion in verse 3.  

 

5V5: Root of David = This refers to Jesus. Isaiah 11:1 and 10 says, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots…And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.” 

 

Ruth 4:1-6 says, “Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down. And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down. And he said unto the kinsman, Naomi, that is come again out of the country of Moab, selleth a parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech’s: And I thought to advertise thee, saying, Buy it before the inhabitants, and before the elders of my people. If thou wilt redeem it, redeem it: but if thou wilt not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know: for there is none to redeem it beside thee; and I am after thee. And he said, I will redeem it. Then said Boaz, What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance. And the kinsman said, I cannot redeem it for myself, lest I mar mine own inheritance: redeem thou my right to thyself; for I cannot redeem it.”

 

The book of Ruth is a love story about a redeemer which parallels the love story in the book of Revelation about Jesus as our Redeemer. Boaz is redeeming his family just like Jesus is redeeming His people; Boaz had the elders witness the transaction; Jesus has the 24 elders to witness the transaction in heaven in Revelation 5:6-7.5

 

5V5: Boaz = Kinsman redeemer = Jesus.

 

Redeemer = Goel. Jesus became our goel (kinsman redeemer). Many times in the Bible when we read redeemer it is the concept of goel.  

 

Leviticus 25:47-54, “And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family: After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him: Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself. And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him. If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for. And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubile, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption. And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him: and the other shall not rule with rigour over him in thy sight. And if he be not redeemed in these years, then he shall go out in the year of jubile, both he, and his children with him.”

 

Kinsman redeemer must;

1. Be a kinsman.

2. Be free.

3. Be able to pay the ransom or debt (Leviticus 25:47-52).

4. Be able to pay for property (Leviticus 25:25-34).  

5. Be willing (Romans 5:8). 

6. Marry the widow for descendants. 

7. Appear in court for relative.

8. Be the avenger for relative. 

 

 

• Revelation 5:6, 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.

 

5V6: Lamb = John truly believed that Jesus was the Lamb of God. He first heard this term used to identify Jesus by John the Baptist. John, the brother of James and an apostle of Jesus, used the term Lamb twenty-nine times in the book of Revelation. Jesus came the first time as a Lamb to be the sacrifice for everyone’s sins. During the time of John, lambs were sacrificed in the temple on a daily basis representing the future death of Jesus on the cross as the Lamb of God. 

 

5V6: Stood a Lamb = Referring to Jesus Christ. 

 

Revelation 15:3 says, “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.”

 

1 Peter 1:19 says, “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot…”

 

John 1:29 says, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” and verse 36 says something similar, “And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!” 

 

5V6: Stood = Jesus suddenly appears in this verse. Remember that Jesus was not mentioned in chapter 4 and neither were the multitudes of angels which also appear suddenly in verse 11 (the same time as Jesus appears). Jesus is standing which indicates He just arrived and has not yet sat on the throne.6 

 

Jesus has just returned from earth which is described in Acts 1:9-11. After Jesus died on the cross and was resurrected, He stayed with His disciples for 40 days, Acts 1:3. After the 40 days, Jesus returned to heaven and ten days later the day of Pentecost occurred where the disciples received the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:1.  

 

5V6: As it had been slain = This indicates that Jesus had already died on the cross and was resurrected. 

 

5V6: Seven Spirits = The complete fullness of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 11:2 gives the seven facets of the Holy Spirit. 

 

Isaiah 11:2, “And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD…” The seven facets of the Spirit are spirit of the Lord, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and fear of the Lord. 

 

5V6: Seven Spirits of God sent forth = The Holy Spirit sent into the world. In Revelation 4:5 the Spirits of God are before the throne, but in chapter 5 after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the Holy Spirit is sent forth to the earth (Acts 1:8) at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4; predicted in Matthew 3:11). 

 

In Revelation chapter 4 the Holy Spirit was around the throne, after Jesus appears (after His death, burial and resurrection on earth), then the Holy Spirit is sent to the earth. The first seal aligns with the apostolic church which is when Pentecost occurred. 

 

Since the churches, seals and trumpets are closely aligned in time the Holy Spirit is sent at the beginning of the seals (Revelation 5:6) and trumpets (Revelation 8:5). The first church, the first seal and the first trumpet are all in the apostolic age (time of the apostles).7 

 

John 7:39 says, “(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)” Once Jesus ascended to heaven, the fullness of the Holy Spirit was sent to the apostles and disciples on earth at Pentecost. 

 

5V6: Seven eyes = Omniscient, all seeing. 

 

Zechariah 4:10, “For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.”

 

5V6: Seven horns = Omnipotent, power and authority. Daniel 7:24 says, “And the ten horns out of this kingdom are ten kings that shall arise: and another shall rise after them; and he shall be diverse from the first, and he shall subdue three kings.” Horns represent kingdoms (kings) which have power and authority over their subjects.

 

 

• Revelation 5:7, And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

 

5V7: He came = Jesus had just returned from the earth as our Redeemer and was now able to take the book and open it. 

 

5V7: Jesus accepting His reward since He redeemed us and the earth by His sacrifice on the cross.

 

 

• Revelation 5:8, 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. 

 

5V8: Saints = In Revelation (and in Daniel) the prophetic use is to primarily describe those that are persecuted by end time powers. Basically, they are followers of Jesus Christ that have been and will be persecuted, Daniel 7:21; Revelation 13:7; 17:6; Also saints = The church, in Revelation 12:17, it says the dragon (Satan) was wroth with the woman (which is the church) and in Revelation 13:7, it says the beast makes war with the saints.8 

 

Satan is working through the beast (antichrist) to persecute the saints (or church). Satan works through earthly powers to accomplish some of his goals, such as working through the Pharaoh in a failed attempt to kill Moses as a baby; working through King Herod in a failed attempt to kill the baby Jesus; working through the church to persecute the saints; and working through the Roman Empire to persecute God’s people, first the Jewish nation and then the early Christians. 

 

5V8-10: This song is in honor of the Redeemer, Jesus Christ who has taken the book/scroll. The song in chapter 4:8-11 was in honor of the Father who sits on the throne. But now the focus of their singing has shifted to Jesus.9 

 

This also shows that Jesus was not in chapter 4, but now shows up in chapter 5 after His death, burial and resurrection on the earth.  

 

5V8: Golden vials full of odours = This shows that one of the tasks of angels is to bear the prayers of saints to God and bring God’s answers back to us. 

 

“Will the Lord of heaven pass by such homes and leave no blessing there? Nay, verily. Ministering angels will guard the children who are thus dedicated to God. They hear the offering of praise and the prayer of faith, and they bear the petitions to Him who ministers in the sanctuary for His people and offers His merits in their behalf.” (Ellen White, CT 110.3)

 

“Let the members of every family bear in mind that they are closely allied to heaven. The Lord has a special interest in the families of His children here below. Angels offer the smoke of the fragrant incense for the praying saints.” (Ellen White, Manuscript 19, 1900. CG 519.1)

 

 

• Revelation 5:9, 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; 

 

5V9-10: There is an unfortunate translation in these two verses that appears to be wrong. Instead of ‘redeemed us’ it should be ‘redeemed people’ or ‘redeemed men’. In fact, other translations have this correct. The 24 elders are not part of the redeemed, so how could they include themselves as being redeemed. Therefore, they must be singing this song about the redeemed, not about themselves. See verse 10 for the other corrections. See the study on the 24 Elders. 

 

Here’s the American Standard Version (ASV): “And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth.” (bold and underlining added for emphasis)

 

Here’s the International Standard Version (ISV): “They sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slaughtered. With your blood you purchased people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (bold and underlining added for emphasis)

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EGW also mentions that the angels will sing with us. 

“Holy angels will join in the song of the redeemed. Though they cannot sing from experimental knowledge, "He hath washed us in His own blood, and redeemed us unto God," yet they understand the great peril from which the

people of God have been saved. Were they not sent to lift up for them a standard against the enemy? They can fully sympathize with the glowing ecstasy of those who have overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony.” (Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, page 922)

 

A short summary of why the 24 elders are not the redeemed (humans).10 

1. Revelation chapter 4 does not mention Jesus or the angels, but it does mention the 24 elders, so they were there already before Jesus ascended to heaven. 

2. The elders are strong angels, see Ellen White 12MR 296.4 where she gives commentary on verse 5 where the elder comforted John. 

3. In verse 8, the elders with the four living creatures are presenting the prayers of saints in heaven. That means they can’t be humans (or the redeemed on earth). 

4. In Revelation 4:4 the elders are clothed in white robes with crowns of gold. That sounds like the redeemed, but is that the case? 

   1. They are created beings, since all things were created in heaven and on earth by Jesus. Colossians 1:16. 

   2. The word for crown is stephonos, which means those that gain victory or the crown of a victor but it doesn’t always mean that in scripture. Sometimes it just means a king. See Matthew 27:29 and Revelation 14:14. The 24 elders wear crowns because they are kings of the unfallen worlds. 

   3. Not only humans will wear white robes in heaven. See Matthew 28:2-3 and Acts 1:10. Angels also wear white robes. 

   4. The 24 elders meet all the characteristics as angels and do not have to be redeemed humans. They are the rulers of the unfallen worlds participating in the heavenly council. 

5. The 24 elders are not part of the multitude of Revelation 7:13-14. The elder describes those that went through the tribulation, but does not include himself. 

6. Revelation 19:4, 6. All the same groups are mentioned but the great multitude are added. The 24 elders are still listed as a separate group.

7. The 24 elders are not part of the 144,000. See Revelation 14:3. The song sung by the 144,000 is before the four beasts and the elders, so the elders were not singing this song. 

8. Are the 24 elders part of those that resurrected or are alive at the second coming? No, the elders are mentioned in both chapters 4 and 5 and this occurs before the second coming. 

9. Are the 24 elders part of those resurrected with Jesus in Matthew 27:52-53? No, the 24 elders were already in heaven before Jesus ascended and appeared in chapter 5. Those resurrected at His resurrection followed Him to heaven, they did not precede Jesus to heaven. 

10. Both the four beasts (seraphim) and the elders sing the song in verses 9 and 10. Both the four beasts and the 24 elders are not the redeemed and are singing about the redeemed. If we say the 24 elders are part of the redeemed, then the four beasts must also be a part of the redeemed and that doesn’t make sense. 

11. Revelation 11:15-16 describes the seventh seal, the close of probation which is then followed by the second coming of Jesus. The 24 elders are mentioned as already being in heaven.  

 

5V9: Sung a new song = See description above for verses 8-10. This new song is for Jesus as the Redeemer. 

 

5V9: Slain…by thy blood = This refers to Jesus on the cross, shedding His blood to redeem the saints and the world. 

 

 

• Revelation 5:10, And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

 

5V10: There is an unfortunate translation in this verse and in verse 9 that appears to be wrong. Instead of ‘us’ and ‘we’ it should be ‘them’ and ‘they’. The 24 elders are not part of the redeemed, so how could they include themselves as being redeemed. Therefore, they must be singing this song about the redeemed, not about themselves.

 

Here’s the American Standard Version (ASV): “And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy art thou to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, and madest them to be unto our God a kingdom and priests; and they reign upon earth.” (bold and underlining added for emphasis)

 

Here’s the International Standard Version (ISV): “They sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because you were slaughtered. With your blood you purchased people for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (bold and underlining added for emphasis)

 

See verse 9 for a short summary of why the 24 elders are not part of the redeemed. 

 

5V10: Kings and priests = The saints, or all those that are saved, are made kings and priests. 

 

Revelation 1:6 says, “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

 

1 Peter 2:9 says, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light…”

 

2 Timothy 2:12, “If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:”

 

Deuteronomy 7:6 says, “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” and 14:2 says, “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.”

 

Exodus 19:5-6 says, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.” 

 

We will have the awesome privilege of reigning and serving as kings and priests in the heavenly court after the order of Melchizedek (which means serving as both a priest and a king simultaneously). The Levitical priests of the earthly temple could only be priests and not kings. 

 

Psalm 110:4, “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”

 

Genesis 14:18, “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.”

 

Hebrews 7:17, “For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

 

Hebrews 6:20, “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”

 

5V10: Reign on the earth = The meek shall inherit the earth, Matthew 5:5. After the first resurrection, where the saints are resurrected, they are taken to heaven for a thousand years which is called the millennium (see the study at the end of chapter 20 called, The Millennium). After the thousand years in heaven, God will move His throne (kingdom) to earth, Revelation 21:1-8. Then the second resurrection will occur for the wicked and the final judgment will occur where God will rain fire and brimstone down on the earth and destroy the wicked once and for all, Revelation 20. After the wicked are destroyed in hellfire, God will remake the earth for His saints, Revelation 21:1. 

 

 

• Revelation 5:11, 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;

 

5V11: Angels about the throne = The angels of God surround the throne in heaven, Revelation 3:5 (before his angels); Revelation 7:11 (angels stood round about the throne). God’s throne is in heaven (Psalm 103:19).

 

5V11: Suddenly the angelic host arrives on the scene. They arrived with Jesus after His resurrection. The multitude of angels were not in chapter 4 because they had left to receive Jesus after His resurrection, Acts 1:9-11. The book Desire of Ages page 833 says, “All heaven was waiting to welcome the Saviour to the celestial courts. As He ascended, He led the way, and the multitude of captives set free at His resurrection followed. The heavenly host, with shouts and acclamations of praise and celestial song, attended the joyous train.” (Ellen White, DA, pages 833-835) This Bible commentary shows that the 24 elders could not be those that were resurrected with Christ, Matthew 27:50-53; Ephesians 4:8; Psalm 68:18, because they are described as following Jesus from earth to heaven. But the 24 elders were already there in chapter 4. This is describing His ascension in chapter 5 when he suddenly appears with the angelic host.11

 

 

• Revelation 5:12, 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.

 

5V12: Lamb = Jesus Christ. Revelation 15:3 says, “And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.”; 1 Peter 1:19 says, “But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot…”; John 1:29 says, “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” and verse 36 says something similar, “And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!”

 

5V12: Power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and blessing = The seven things we lost because of sin and the seven basic needs of the human heart. These seven qualities God built into every man and woman at creation. (Mark Finley, Understanding Daniel and Revelation, page 214-215)

 

Power = Adam and Eve were given dominion over the earth. They had power over God’s creation.

 

Riches = At the end of creation, God saw that everything He had made was very good. Humanity had everything it needed for a rich, abundant life. 

 

Wisdom = Eve lost true wisdom, trying to be like God and eating fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Wisdom that comes from heaven is pure, peaceable, gentle and full of mercy and good works. James 3:17, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.”

 

Strength = Because of sin, we have no strength in ourselves to withstand Satan’s temptations. The true source of spiritual strength is in the power of Jesus. Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.” Also Hebrews 11:11 and 2 Corinthians 12:9.

 

Honor = John 5:44, “How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?” Many seek after worldly honor instead of the honor that comes from God. 

 

Glory = Before the fall, Adam and Eve displayed the glory of God (His character). But this was lost at the fall when their robes of righteousness disappeared. 

 

Blessing = We lost His blessing at the fall (all the things listed above), but He will bless us immensely as He restores all that was lost through sin. 

 

 

• Revelation 5:13, 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. 

 

5V13: Every creature in heaven… = Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, Philippians 2:10-11. 

 

 

• Revelation 5:14, And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

 

 

​

Chapter 5 Resources and Notes

1.  Pastor James Rafferty and Pastor Ivor Myers, Salvation in Symbols and Signs (Program on 3ABN’s Dare To Dream Network), video series can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i42C2tZ5yuI&list=PLZE9r6f37K0AJPuImVU9DX-Y1Ntikqv0R.

 

2.  Ibid.

 

3.  Pastor Stephen Bohr, Unsealed Secrets Ministry video series called, 24 Elders, can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL08FblwEmHeKagMtLWSeL8DTIcpKCLsZ9.

 

4.  Richard T. Ritenbaugh, from an article titled, Bible verses about Christ as Lion (From Forerunner Commentary), found on the bibletools.org which can be accessed here: https://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Topical.show/RTD/CGG/ID/2017/Christ-as-Lion.htm. 

 

5.  Pastor James Rafferty and Pastor Ivor Myers, Salvation in Symbols and Signs (Program on 3ABN’s Dare To Dream Network), video series can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i42C2tZ5yuI&list=PLZE9r6f37K0AJPuImVU9DX-Y1Ntikqv0R.

 

6.  Ibid.

 

7.  Ibid.

 

8.  Pastor Stephen Bohr, Unsealed Secrets Ministry video series called, 24 Elders, can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL08FblwEmHeKagMtLWSeL8DTIcpKCLsZ9.

 

9.  Ibid.

 

10.  Ibid.

 

11.  Ibid. 

 

 

Ellen White references can be found here: https://beta.egwwritings.org.