In this episode, we see the beautiful account in Revelation 5:8-14 of the Lamb stepping forward and taking the scroll from the One who sits on the throne. J. Mark explores the scene that John describes, following the 3 choirs, each with a distinct expression of praise and worship to the worthy Lamb. They praise Lamb, who is worthy to take the book and open its seals, because he was slain and has redeemed us.
Transcript
What does it mean to adore something? I see pictures of adorable puppies. Some people adore pecan pie. Some ladies say they adore shopping in all the boutiques. Is that what the choir sang about?
No, our culture has cheapened many words by using them carelessly. Adoring Christ means to give Him honor, reverence, and worship. We do this not only because of what He has done, but because of who He is! To adore someone implies love and emphasizes an individual, personal attachment. How can we not love Him after all He has done for us?
In this episode, we turn our attention to Revelation 5:8-14. In our previous episode, we looked at John’s vision of the sealed scroll. The scroll was in the hand of the One who sits on the throne. However, after the angel’s announcement that rang throughout the universe, no one was found who was worthy to open the book. John, not knowing the future, began weeping loudly, afraid that what was in the scroll would remain forever hidden.
As John weeps, one of the 24 elders addresses him. “Stop weeping. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to break its seven seals.” With those words of comfort ringing in his ears, John looks, “and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.”
That brings us to our text for today, Revelation 5:8-14. This is the record of what happened when the Lamb stepped forward and took the scroll from the hand of the One who sits on the throne. He is John’s description of the incredible scene.
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, 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 who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor 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, I heard saying:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
As we follow the progression of events in this text, we see three choirs, each with a unique expression of praise and worship to the worthy Lamb.
The First Unique Choir is,
The Choir of Elders
As the Lamb takes the book out of the hand of the One seated on the throne, the 4 living creatures and the 24 elders fall before Him in worship. The acts of adoration described here, as rendered by the four living creatures and the elders, according to Revelation 4:4-7, are emblematic of the honor accorded to the Redeemer by the church.
A casual reading of the text implies that both the creatures and the elders each had a harp and a censer. Marvin Vincent and others argue that the grammar indicates that only the elders were holding these two items. That makes sense as we’ll see in a moment.
Unlike the harps we have today, biblical harps were more like a lute or a guitar. The ancient ones had seven strings; later, some had eleven. The harp was the traditional instrument of the Psalms and, along with the trumpet, the two main instruments of Israel’s worship.
In addition, the elders were holding golden bowls full of incense. Some translations say “vials,” but Thayer’s Greek Dictionary says they were broad, shallow bowls or deep saucers. The incense in these bowls, according to verse 8, represents the prayers of the saints. The imagery John uses here is from the tabernacle and temple service. Psalm 141:1-2, “Lord, I cry out to You; Make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You. Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Zacharias’s experience in Luke chapter one further illuminates this picture. I encourage you to read it.
In that setting, as the [presiding priest] gave the word of command that ‘the time of incense had come,’ the whole multitude of the people without withdrew from the inner court and fell before the Lord, spreading their hands in silent prayer. It is this most solemn period, when, throughout the vast temple buildings, deep silence rested on the worshipping multitude. At the same time, within the sanctuary itself, the priest laid the incense on the golden altar, and the cloud of odors rose before the Lord, which serves as the image of heavenly things in Revelation.
So, returning to the idea that only the elders have the harps and bowls, not the 4 living creatures, it suggests that the elders are the representatives of the church in heaven. They are spoken of as priests in verse 10, and are described as officiating in the heavenly temple. Furthermore, their song is a song of redemption, of which the seraphim have no need.
Verse 9 tells us that this choir is singing a new song, that is, one that is new in nature, not in time. It is a fresh song for new mercies. In Isaiah 42:10, in the context of the Gentiles being invited into God’s kingdom, the prophet wrote, “Sing to the Lord a new song, and His praise from the ends of the earth.” This song is in praise of redemption through Christ, Revelation 14:3, like the new name in Revelation 3:12, the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21:1, the new heaven and the new earth. This is not the old song of creation, found in Revelation 4:11.
Let’s notice the focus of their worship. They praise the Lamb as worthy to take the book and open its seals, because You were slain (v. 6), and you have redeemed us (past tense). Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’).” That redemption was purchased by Jesus’ blood (v. 9), and rescued some from all nations and races (Revelation 7:9).
The blood of Christ as the price of our redemption runs all through the Apocalypse. This is the reason why Christ is worthy to “take the book and open its seals.” That is, he is deserving of receiving adoration and worship as the Father does (Revelation 4:11). The beautiful worship of the elders highlights Jesus’s priestly/sacrificial functions.
Their praise continues. “You have redeemed us out of every tribe and tongue, and people and nation, and made us a kingdom and priests to our God.” They are echoing the words of the Lord to Moses in Exodus 19:6, “And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.” Isaiah 61:6 has the same idea.
The last part of their song is, “And we shall reign on the earth.” These elders, representing the redeemed church, anticipate Revelation 20:4-6. “And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.
But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.”
What a glorious song of worship and a statement of both our position in Christ now and our future reign with Him!
The Next Unique Choir is,
The Choir of Angels
Now, the scope of John’s vision expands! A new feature is introduced by the outer, vaster circle of angels, with the throne of God in the center. These angels catch up the new song of redemption in antiphonal singing, answering the song of the twenty-four elders.
The angels are represented here, as they are everywhere in the Scriptures, as taking a deep interest in all that pertains to the redemption of people. 1 Peter 1:12 tells us the angels long to look into the details of the plan of salvation. It is not surprising that they are here described as uniting with the representatives of the church in rendering honor to the Lamb of God.
Their number is myriad and myriad and thousands of thousands, as in Daniel 9:10. This is a divine effort to give a number the finite human mind can begin to grasp. In reality, it is an innumerable host of angels. Hebrews 12:22 and Jude 1:14 make similar attempts to describe a vast host of heavenly beings.
This angel choir has a worship song, too, but it is different from the choir of elders. “Worthy is THE Lamb THE slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
While the angel choir proclaims the worth of the Lamb, they cannot echo the song of the redeemed. Instead, they focus on seven of His attributes. God the Father, the One sitting on the throne, already has these attributes from time immemorial. He grants them to the Lamb, who is worthy to receive them because he did not selfishly grasp at them (Philippians 2:5-11). They henceforth belong both to him and to his Father forever and ever.
Before we look at the seven attributes of the Lamb, I want you to know that there is one “definite article” for all seven reasons for the praise of the Lamb. A definite article is a word placed before singular and plural nouns, and it refers to a specific/particular thing or person. For example, “Vladimir Putin is the President of Russia.” He is the specific person, the only one currently holding the office. So, Christ, being one with the Father, singularly holds these.
The list begins with power. This is not delegated power; this is inherent power residing in a person or thing by virtue of its nature. It is that which a person or thing exerts or puts forth. It has a whole range of meanings from authority to omnipotence. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “[God] has in these last days spoken to us by His Son…who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…”
Next is wealth, riches, and opulence. God is the source of ALL spiritual and material blessings (James1:17). His resources are unlimited! Wisdom is the following attribute. It is superior knowledge and enlightenment. In His omniscience, the Lamb never needs to guess; He never needs multiple plans in case one doesn’t work out. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians, “the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” Did you notice in that quote from Paul that he mentions both wisdom and strength?
The choir praises the Lamb for His strength. Are strength and power the same thing? They are closely related, but in human terms, strength refers to the body’s ability to overcome resistance. Power refers to the speed of that ability. A biblical example is in Ephesians 6:10, “Finally, grow strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power.”
And then, honor. The original word is time. It has a variety of meanings, like price, sum, proceeds from a sale, etc. What that conveys is that honor comes as a result of assigning value to something or someone. That value is demonstrated through obedience, respect, and service, not merely verbal acclaim. A considerable part of the value/honor we should have for Christ is the price He paid for our redemption!
Glory is the sixth attribute. It is magnificence, splendor, exaltation, praise, and renown. We have seen this in John’s descriptions of the eternal throne room. In the New Testament, it is always a pleasant opinion concerning a person that results in praise and honor. The final attribute is blessing. The original word is the one from which we get our English word, eulogy. In Scripture, it is the pronouncement of good, the exaltation of character, and the acknowledgement of generosity. Truly, we have ample things for which we can bless the Lamb who was slain!
This doxology recognizes the infinite, incalculable, and intrinsic power that Christ eternally possesses within Himself. This list is also very similar to the one in Daniel 7:14, showing us, once again, the connection between the prophetic Scriptures.
The Final Unique Choir is,
The Choir of All Creatures
Now, the scope of John’s vision expands even wider! Every creature in the universe, without exception, will ultimately acknowledge the universal rule of the Lamb. However, only the redeemed will enjoy its benefits as outlined in Revelation 20:11-15.
Paul wrote in Philippians 2:8-11, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
As I meditated on this scene, my mind went to Romans 8:20-22. “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now.” No wonder all creation praises the Lamb. What an incredible contrast! Praise and worship are rendered to the Lamb precisely as to God on the throne. Pliny says that the Christians sing a song to Christ as to God. The universe here worships him.
In response to this universe-wide acclamation, the four living creatures kept repeating, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshipped Him who lives forever and ever. The “Amens” acknowledge that what was attributed to Christ was His due. As in Revelation 4:10, so here the representatives of the redeemed bow in silent adoration that closes the whole service of praise to the One upon the throne and to the Lamb.
Revelation literally identifies the Lion-Lamb-Messiah with ultimate Truth and Stability (Revelation 3:14). On Him rests the existence and fate of the entire universe. This is why, at the beginning of this chapter, John was stopped from weeping by one of the elders (v. 5). However, when John looked, expecting to see the Lion, he instead saw the Lamb.
Yes, the time is coming when the Lamb will rule and reign as the Lion. Today you must choose, putting your sins under the blood of the slain Lamb or waiting to experience His divine judgment as the Lion! The first choice guarantees your place in that heavenly choir represented by the 24 elders. The second experience will not be a choice; worship will be compelled! “And whoever falls on this stone [Christ] will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” What will your choice be? How and when will you worship the worthy Lamb?
