UNDERSTANDING THE BOOK OF REVELATION:Chapter 5

[DrFrank]

Unless you have a strong aversion to news reports,this thought must have crossed your mind recently:OH NO! THESE MUST BE THE BIBLE PREDICTED "LAST DAYS"!! Hey you sure are perceptive !!! With the firm belief that we are now entering into the Tribulation period,I am publishing a series of studies of the Book of Revelation,that difficult to understand road map that shows exactly where we are headed,using the easy to understand Contemporary English Version (CEV) Bible that has been created by the American Bible Society.I will then add insights in capitol letters which will provide explanations and historical background information for the words you have just read, which will be in agreement with leading biblical commentaries,in order to at long last make the startling predictions made in this important and fascinating book comprehensible. I will occasionally make changes in the CEV words if I detect variance from the meaning found in the King James Bible.


Revelation: 5



1.In the right hand of the One (GOD) sitting on the throne I saw a scroll (A ROLL OF PAPER ) that had writing on the inside and on the outside. And it was sealed in seven places.(THE SEALS MIGHT BE MADE OF WAX) 2 I saw a mighty angel ask with a loud voice, "Who is worthy (MORALLY AND SPIRITUALLY QUALIFIED) to open the scroll and break its seals?" 3 No man in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or see inside it. 4 I cried hard because no man was found worthy (BECAUSE OF SIN) to open the scroll or see inside it.(THIS IS BECAUSE THE SCROLL CONTAINS IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE JUDGMENT AND GOD'S PUNISHMENT FOR SIN) 5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Stop crying and look! The One who is called both the `Lion from the Tribe of Judah' and the root of David (NAMES GIVEN TO JESUS) has won the victory. He will open the book and its seven seals."6 Then I looked and saw a Lamb standing in the center of the throne that was surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb looked as if it had once been killed. (REFERS TO JESUS' CRUCIFIXION) It had seven horns (THIS IS A SYMBOL FOR POWER) and seven (THIS NUMBER INDICATES FINAL OR IN THIS CASE,TOTAL) eyes (THIS CAN INDICATE THE ABILITY TO SEE OR IN THIS CASE,UNDERSTAND) which are the seven spirits ( OF THE HOLY SPIRIT) of God, sent out to all the earth. 7 The Lamb (JESUS) went over and took the scroll from the right hand of the One (GOD) who sat on the throne. 8 After He had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders knelt down before Him. Each of them had a harp and a gold bowl full of incense, which are (A SYMBOL FOR) the prayers of God's people. 9 Then they sang a new song, "You are worthy to receive the scroll and open its seals, because you were killed And with your own blood you bought (OBTAINED SALVATION) for God people from every tribe, language, nation, and race.(ALL PERSONS)10 You let them become kings and serve God as priests and they will rule on earth." (DURING JESUS' 1000 YEAR KINGDOM) 11 As I looked, I heard the voices of many angels around the throne and the voices of the living creatures and of the elders. There were millions and millions of them 12 and they were saying in a loud voice,"The Lamb (JESUS) who was killed (JESUS' SACRIFICE FOR OUR SINS ON THE CROSS IS A FREQUENT SUBJECT FOR TEACHING IN HEAVEN) is worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise." (THESE ARE CALLED THE SEVENFOLD BLESSINGS FROM GOD)13 Then I heard all beings in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and in the sea offer praise. Together, all of them were saying, "Praise, honor, glory,and strength forever and ever to the One who sits on the throne (GOD) and to the Lamb!"14 The four living creatures said "Amen," while the elders knelt down and worshiped Him who lives forever.

 

[veteran]

Rev 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.
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?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

God holds a Book in His right hand while an angel asks who is worthy to open it and loose its seven seals. No man is found worthy, and John weeps because of it.

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.

Only our Lord Jesus Christ is found worthy to open The Book and loose its seals, for He has prevailed.

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.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of Him That sat upon the throne.

These "seven Spirits of God" are given in Isaiah 11 about Christ, and again down a few verses. Christ takes the Book out of The Father's right hand.

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.
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;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

The 24 elders were redeemed out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation, and rule on the earth with Christ as kings and priests (Milennium timing). This is a future forward look of Christ's Salvation having come, with the "new song" they sing linked with those of Rev.14 & 15 who appear with Christ upon Mount Zion during Christ's Milennium reign.

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;
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.
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.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him That liveth for ever and ever.
(KJV)

Every creature, in heaven and on earth, and under the earth, say a blessing to The Father and The Lamb (Jesus Christ), for He has taken power over all things and is glorified. That begins literally, with Christ's future coming to reign on the earth.