Revelation 5

  The Coronation of the Mediator: the throne is henceforth the throne of God and of the Lamb (22:1).

     5:1.  The margin is correct.   This is obviously a scroll, not a book.   It lies in the right hand of God.  Normally, a scroll is written only on the inside, but this one is filled with writing on both sides, and is sealed with seven seals.   It is the secret, unalterable plan of God, his eternal purposes in which there is no empty space left to chance or other contingency that is not foreseen and included in God’s providence.  “I am God, and there is no other, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure’ ”  (Is. 46:9, 10; cf. Ecc. 3:14; Eph. 1:9-11; 3:9-11).

     5:2-6.  But there was no one in all creation found worthy to unroll the scroll of God’s redemptive purpose, or break the seals to look into it.   Thus John began to weep greatly.  Nor was this the first time.  There was a time before when John (and all of the other disciples) was in despair for God’s plan.  He gathered with most of the others in an upper room and wept.  They were not comforted until Jesus himself, still bearing the marks of having been slain, appeared alive in their midst (Luke 24:36, and also see 25, 26, 38, 39, 44).

     Now, in the throne room of heaven, one of the elders calls upon John to stop weeping, and to behold the One who is in their midst.  (The KJV is the better reading of v.6.  It reads like the NASB margin, but uses “midst” rather than between or middle.  This word is the same Greek word translated midst in Luke 24:36, and the point in each case is not to locate Jesus on some diagram, but to call attention to his presence among them.)  He is there!  He is in heaven in the midst of the throne and in the midst of the elders, just as he is at the same time in the midst of his struggling church militant in Rev. 1-3.  “For where two or three have gathered together in My name, there I am in their midst” (Mt. 18:20).

     “Behold, the lion that is from the tribe of Judah,” says the elder, “the Root of David” (i.e., David’s origin, Ps. 110:1; cf. Mt. 22:41-45).

     When John looks for the lion, he sees him not as a lion, but as the Lamb of God, the One to whom all of the OT sacrifices pointed and found their meaning.  He possesses perfect power and wisdom to rule, represented by the seven horns and seven eyes, “which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.”  As James Ramsey points out, Peter’s words at Pentecost are the best brief exposition: “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured forth this which you both see and hear” (Acts 2:33).

     5:7.  “Advancing to Him that sat upon the throne, the mysterious scroll containing the hidden destinies of men and of nations is committed to His hands” (Ramsey, p. 291; see Eph. 1:22; John 3:35; 5:20, 22, 23; 17:2; Mt. 11:27).

     The history of the world, and the eternal destiny of each one of us, is in these same hands, hands that bear the nail marks of the cross.  Trust in him.  Whatever evil thing befalls us; no power in heaven or earth can take what the Father has given him out of his hand (John 10:28, 29).

     5:8-14.  (See Dan. 7:13, 14, 27.)  The usurper, Satan, has been overthrown (Heb. 2:14).  The Son of Man has ascended to his heavenly Father to receive an everlasting kingdom, and his saints shall reign with him forever.  This is the coronation of the Mediator, Son of God, Son of Man, and we see him crowned with glory and honor (Heb. 2:8, 9; cf. Php. 2:8-11).  The whole witnessing creation begins to praise him, beginning with those closest to the throne.  “Joy to the world…let heaven and nature sing.”  Though the King has not as yet begun to unseal the scroll of kingdom history, the final outcome is sure.

     5:8.  The guardians of God’s justice and holiness, the four living creatures, joined immediately by the elders, the representatives of the redeemed out of mankind, fall down before the Lamb.  The harp is the symbol of joy and praise, and the golden bowls full of incense are the prayers of the saints, who find in him the Amen to all of them.

      5:9.  They sang a new song; the song is new in relation to the song sung in chapter four in praise of the holy Creator for the wonder and perfection of his creation.  Now they sing the song of the new creation.  This new song is the song of the redeemed in the Lord having just seen their redemption price being accepted by the Father.  This song is in praise of the Lamb, the King of the new creation.  (See Ps. 33:3; 40:3; 98:1; Is. 42:10-13; Rev. 14:3; 15:3.)

     5:10.  These redeemed are a kingdom of priests to our God.  Like their King, they may appear weak to the world, but they will reign upon the earth (cf. 1:6; 3:21; 2 Tim. 2:12).

      5:11-12.  Joining in praise of the Lamb are an innumerable host of angels, who have been watching in wonder (cf. Eph. 3:9, 10; 1 Pet. 1:12).  They praise with loud voices the worthiness of the Lamb to receive all the seven fold honors due him.

     5:13-14.  Four represents the all encompassing created order.  From all four directions, all four possible habitations and all things in them then join to give four-fold praise to the Father and Son who reign forever and ever.  To this the four living creatures continued to say Amen.  And the elders fell down and worshiped.  All this, and the Lamb’s reign has only just begun.