CHAPTER #22
Revelation 5:1-14
Everything God says to men, he says through a Mediator. Everything God does to men, for
men, or with men, he does through a Mediator. Everything God reveals and makes known about
himself, he reveals through a Mediator. And that Mediator is the Lord Jesus Christ, our
Savior.
God is so infinitely above us, so infinitely unlike us that we cannot know him, or
approach him, unless he reveals himself to us by the mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ alone is the Way, the Truth and the Life. Without him, no one can approach the
living God (John 14:6). Christ alone is the Revelation of God. Apart from him, no one can
know God (John 1:1-3, 18).
In Revelation 5 the vision John relates to us conveys one message: Everything God has
for men is in the Lamb, provided by the Lamb, revealed through the Lamb, and shall bring
praise to the Lamb of God. All that God gives to sinners, he gives through Christ. And all
that God receives from sinners, he receives through Christ. In chapter 4 John saw the
sovereign majesty of the triune God in creation. In chapter 5 he tells us how that he was
made to see the sovereign majesty of the triune God in the redemption of sinners by Christ
Jesus.
Take a couple of minutes to read through the chapter to familiarize yourself with the
vision John describes. He describes five things which he saw and heard in these fourteen
verses.
The central object of the vision John relates to us in chapters four and five is the
throne of God. His vision was constantly filled with "him that sat on the
throne" (v.1). In these two chapters he calls our attention to God's throne seventeen
times! In chapter 4 John describes the splendorous, incomparable glory of the triune God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in his sovereign glory. In chapter 5 he describes the
Mediator, the Lamb, whom he beheld in the midst of the throne, by whom the triune God
makes himself known to men. And that Lamb is himself God, the Son.
As always, the throne of God is a symbol of his sovereignty. It is a symbol of God's
supreme majesty and universal power, authority and dominion. Let it never be forgotten
that our God is God upon a throne. He rules all things in total sovereignty. A god without
a throne is a worthless god, for such a god is no God at all! "But our God is in the
heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hat pleased" (Ps. 115:3). "Whatsoever the
LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places"
(Ps. 135:6). The Lord our God, the one true and living God is a God of absolute
sovereignty. He always does exactly what he wills in creation (Rev. 4:11), in providence
(Rom. 8:28; 11:36), and in grace (Rom. 9:11-24). Every believer has learned, and rejoices
to know, "that the heavens do rule" (Dan. 4:26).
And we rejoice to know that God's sovereign throne is a throne of grace (Heb. 4:16).
Grace originates at God's throne. Grace is dispensed from God's throne. And grace brings
sinners to God's throne. Our God is sovereign, and he is gracious. He is great, and he is
good. He is almighty, and he is merciful. "He delighteth in mercy!" God always
exercises his sovereign power and dominion to accomplish his everlasting purpose of grace
toward his elect.
First John saw the throne of God, the throne of all sovereignty and grace. Then he
saw...
In the right hand of the eternal God John saw a book, a book written within and
without. And it was bound shut, sealed with seven seals.
"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. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a
loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in
heaven, nor in earth, neither the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look
thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book,
neither to look thereon" (vv. 1-4).
This book is the book of God's eternal decrees. It represents God's eternal plan and
purpose of grace, his purpose of predestination, which includes all things. It is to this
book that our great Surety referred when he said, "Lo, I come: in the volume of the
book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God" (Ps. 40:7-8; Heb.
10:5-10). William Hendriksen said of this book, "It symbolizes God's purpose with
respect to the entire universe throughout history, and concerning all creatures in all
ages and unto all eternity."
Our God is a God of purpose, eternal, unalterable purpose (Isa. 46:9-11). God's purpose
of predestination includes all things (Eph. 1:11). And the objects of God's eternal
purpose of predestination is the salvation of his elect (Rom. 8:28-30). Everything that
comes to pass in time was purposed by God in eternity (Rom. 11:36). And the object of God
in all that he does is the effectual accomplishment of the everlasting salvation of his
elect. In election God chose a people whom he would save. In predestination he sovereignly
ordained all things that come to pass to secure the salvation of his chosen. And in
providence he accomplishes in time what he purposed from eternity. Isaac Watts captured
the meaning of this vision in one of his hymns.
Chained to His throne a volume lies, with all the fates of men,
With every angel's form and size drawn by the eternal pen.
His providence unfolds the book, and makes His counsels shine;
Each opening leaf and every stroke fulfils some deep design.
Here He exalts neglected worms to sceptres and a crown;
Anon the following page He turns, and treads the monarch down.
Not Gabriel asks the reason why, nor God the reason gives;
Nor dares the favorite angel pry between the folded leaves.
My God, I would not long to see my fate with curious eyes,
What gloomy lines are writ for me, or what bright scenes may rise.
I Thy fair book of life and grace may I but find my name,
Recorded in some humble place beneath my Lord the Lamb!"
As John saw it, the book of God was closed, a mystery sealed with seven seals. These
seven seals do not represent an imaginary "seven dispensations" of time. The
writing within and on the back and the seven seals simply mean that God's purpose is full,
complete, perfect and unalterable. Nothing can be added to it. And nothing can be taken
from it. The seven seals also tell us that God's purpose of grace unknown, unrevealed, a
secret known only to God, until Christ revealed it. He revealed it at first in the types,
shadows and prophecies of the Old Testament. Then, in these last days, he has revealed it
to us more fully in the gospel. And in the last day, when the restitution of all things is
made, our Lord will perfectly reveal God's purpose in all things.
The closed book indicated that God's plan was both unrevealed and unexecuted. If the
book should remain closed, God's eternal purpose would not be realized. His plan would not
be executed.
The thought of God's purpose being shut up, unrevealed and unfulfilled, caused John
great lamentation and grief. And he began to weep. If God's book is opened, if the seals
are broken, then the universe is ruled and governed in the interest of God's elect,
according to the purpose of his grace. Then God's glorious purpose of redemption would be
accomplished. But if it is not opened and fulfilled, then the purpose of God himself would
be thwarted. The grace of God would be frustrated. The plan of God would go unfulfilled.
God himself would lose his glory. But there is no cause to weep! Look at the next thing
John describes.
"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.And I beheld, and, lo, 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. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat
upon the throne" (vv. 5-7).
"One of the elders", one of those chosen of God, redeemed by the blood of the
Lamb and saved by grace, "saith unto me, Weep not." Why should he stop weeping?
"Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose
the seven seals thereof."
In other words, Christ has conquered all his enemies and ours (John 12:30-32). By the
shedding of his blood, by his death upon the cross, this Lion of Judah, this Root of
David, has prevailed. He has removed the sins of his people, satisfied the law, crushed
the serpent's head, and conquered death. By virtue of his sacrifice Christ has earned the
right to open the book and to rule the universe in accordance with God's eternal purpose
of grace (Rev. 10:1-3). God has given him power over all flesh that he might give eternal
life to his elect (John 17:2).
John beheld the Lord Jesus Christ not only as a conquering Lion, but also as a sin
atoning, mediating Lamb. He saw the Lamb standing in the midst of the four beasts and the
twenty-four elders as a Lamb that had been slaughter. That means that the virtue and merit
of his sacrifice is of abiding, perpetual value (I John 1:9; 2:1-2).
This Lamb, symbolically, has "seven horns". And horns are emblems of power.
Christ is the horn of salvation. As such he has plenty of power. He is able to save his
people (Heb. 7:25), keep them in his grace (John 10:27-29) and to do for them all that
they need. He also has "seven eyes", abundant wisdom. These seven eyes represent
the gifts, power and wisdom of the Holy Spirit which are dispensed to God's elect upon the
earth by virtue of Christ's death, resurrection and exaltation as our Substitute (Ps.
68:18-20).
Then, as John looked on, Christ the Lamb took the book out of the right hand of him
that sat upon the throne (v.7). John Trapp said, "As a Mediator he took it, as God he
gave it." Our Savior did not ask for the book. He took it, because it is his right to
do so. This is the significance of what John saw. The Lord Jesus Christ, our Mediator,
received authority to rule the universe according to the will of God by virtue of his
sin-atoning sacrifice (John 17:2).
This is a picture of the coronation of King Jesus (Heb. 2:8-9). As the Father's reward
to him for his mediatorial accomplishments, at his ascension, Christ received for himself
a kingdom (Luke 19:12; Phil. 2:6-11; Ps. 2; 110; Dan. 7:9-14). God has turned the world
over to the rule of the God-man, the Lamb, our Mediator! God governs the universe,
according to his own eternal decrees, through the Lamb. This is Christ's reward and every
believer's comfort.
"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 odors,
which are the prayers of the saints. 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; and hast made
us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 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; saying with a loud
voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and
strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing" (vv.8-12).
As soon as the Lamb took the book in his hands, and accepted the sceptre of universal
monarchy, a song of praise broke out in heaven. This song began with the church, the
redeemed ones, and was taken up by the heavenly angels. This song is a celebration of
Christ's worthiness to rule the universe according to God's purpose (Rev. 10:1-3), and to
receive all praise, honor and glory forever. And the basis of both his worthiness of such
honor and the praise given to him by saints and angels is his effectual redemption. Praise
is not given to him simply because he was slain, (Many have been slain!), but because his
slaughter was the accomplishment of our redemption.
The death of Christ, as the sin-atoning Lamb, was the accomplishment of a particular
and effectual redemption. The song does not say, "Thou hast redeemed every kindred,
tongue, people and nation." That would mean either that his blood was shed in vain
for the multitudes who are lost, or that all the universe is saved. Neither of which is
true. The song says, "Thou hast redeemed us out of every kindred, tongue, people and
nation!"
Having seen the throne of God, the book of God and the Lamb of God, and after hearing
the song of the redeemed, John beheld...
"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 honor, and
glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and
ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and
worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever" (vv. 13-14).
It is God's ultimate purpose that everything and everyone in his creation bow before
and bring honor to his dear Son. And God will see to it that his purpose is accomplished
in the end (Ps. 76:10; Isa. 45:20-25; Col.1:18). He who made all things, sustains all
things and rules all things shall have the eternal praise of all things. "O the depth
of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments,
and his ways past finding out!...For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things:
to whom be glory forever. Amen" (Rom. 11:33,36).
These are the things John saw when he was in the Spirit. He saw that the entire
universe is governed by the throne of almighty God, and that God rules the universe
through the Mediator Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God. Having accomplished the redemption of
his people by the sacrifice of himself, our Lord Jesus ascended back into heaven and sat
down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, exalted above all principality, power and
dominion. God the Father put all things in subjection to Christ, under his feet, and made
him to be Head over all things to his church, which is his body, "the fulness of him
that filleth all in all" (Eph. 1:22-23). Ultimately, all things will glorify Christ,
our God and Savior. God's purpose will be carried out in his creation. The throne of God
is secure. The Lamb of God reigns supreme, without rival, by incontestable right. The
kingdom of God is safe and secure. The glory of the eternal God is sure. Blessed is that
person to whom these things have been revealed!
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