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LESSON 10 -
CHAPTER 5:1-14
R E V E L A T I O N
Charles Caldwell Ryrie, p.
55-59
A REMINDER
These lessons are
written as an accompanment to
Charles C. Ryrie's [1996] Book
REVELATION
Everyday Bible Commentary
Moody Publishers
Chicago
ISBN: 978-0-8024-1825-8
(You Must Own your own copy)
(Ryrie's book text is not included in these lessons)
THE SEVEN SEALED BOOK
Ryrie pg. 55 Top
2.
The Seven-Sealed book 5:1—14
a.
Description of the book 5:1a
Its Placement,
of
Him who sat on the throne
Ryrie pg. 55 mid
Our Comments:
We continue with John’s vision,
focusing upon the Throne and the book which contains the prophecy of the events
to be unfolded in the book of Revelation – it is in the right hand of God on His
Throne.
It’s
Description, 5:1b
a book written
inside and on the back,
Ryrie pg. 55
bottom
Our Comments
Considering the cost of such a
parchment scroll, it is important to observe that it is written on both sides of
the parchment.
& Its Contents 5:1c
sealed up with seven seals.
Ryrie pg. 56 top
Our Comments:
The book is actually a scroll that is bound by 7 seals so
that it can only be unraveled one seal at a time. John Walvoord reminds us that
according to Roman law required a will to be sealed seven times.
b.
Problem Related to the book 5:2-5
(1.) The Problem 5:2
2 And
I saw
a strong angel proclaiming with a loud
voice,
“Who is worthy
to open the book [scroll] and
to
break its seals?”
Our Comments:
An important and strong angel has been selected for the
pronouncement of who can, and who can’t open this scroll. The angel speaks with
a loud voice – he makes a pronouncement, and he is thus a qualified herald
making this announcement. J. B. Smith tells us that this strong angel is
doubtless Gabriel, the one who ordered the closing and sealing of the book to
Daniel.
(2.) The
Reactions 5:3-5
3 And
no one
in heaven or
on the earth or
under the earth
was able
to open the book [scroll] or
to look into it.
4 Then I began to weep greatly because
no one was found worthy
to open the book [scroll] or
to look into it;
“Stop weeping.
behold,
the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah,
the Root of David,
has
overcome so as to open
the book [scroll] and
its seven seals.”
We see here that no one was found, anywhere in
heaven or on earth, worthy to open, read, or even look at the book and its
contents – thus the importance of the Book.
c.
Recipient of the book 5:6-14
(1.) The Lamb is Revealed 5:6-7
The Lamb
The Lamb is Standing
The Lamb is Slain
The Lamb is Strong
The Lamb Is Scrutinizing
And
I saw
between the throne (with the four
living creatures) and
the elders [Lit. in the middle of the throne and of
the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders] ||
Ryrie pg. 57 mid
(Revealed – 1 sentence)
Our Comments:
The Lamb of God is here revealed – in an unexpected manner.
Quite different from the usual approach of revealing a lamb – He is a Lamb, He
has been slain, now, having been resurrected He is Strong, and He now stands
here in this vision as one who is scrutinizing the situation around Him.
The Lamb:
a Lamb standing,
Ryrie pg. 57 mid
(The Lamb)
Our Comments:
As we have said before – the Lamb of God is here
Standing, He has overcome his place in death, he has been resurrected and
returned to a powerful life.
One important thought comes to us from Walter Scott who observes, “The term lamb occurs in the Accopalypse twenty-eight times. The word lion is only once applied to Christ in this book.”
John Walvoord tells us that “the revelation of this
person (the lamb) signifies a diminutive animal, and it is He who takes the book
out of the right hand of the One sitting upon the throne, who is clearly God the
Father. Thus, it becomes evident that judgment and power over the earth are
committed to Christ the Son of God.
The Lamb is Slain
as if slain,
Ryrie pg. 57 lower mid
Our Comments:
If you’ve never had the chance
to have or witness a lamb (lambs) in a close relationship, let me tell you they
are the most adorable little creatures. They play, jump around, but you with
their little heads, and cuddle in your arms. That’s the Christ, as presented
here – full of the grace of God, offering a sin-free eternal life as a full
member of the family of God almighty offering that eternity of blessing to
anyone who will believe in Him and love Him for what he has done. And here he
stands post-crucifixion, covered in His blood – but standing, alive and well… as
the only one anywhere that can be worthy enough to open the seven sealed scrolls
outlining the future of the world.
The Lamb is Strong
having seven horns
and
Ryrie pg. 57 bottom
Our Comments:
Yes, here is the Lamb of God with 7 horns. Absolute definition of absolute
perfect power over all things. Here, through us, perfection is “hard to come
by.” And Here The Lamb of God stands in absolute perfection as our redeemer.
Redemer of all who love Him and of the future whole world.
The Lamb is Scrutinizing
seven eyes,
which are the
seven Spirits of God,
sent out into all the earth.
7 And He came
and took the book out of
the right hand of Him
who sat on the throne.
Ryrie pg. 57 very bottom
Our Comments:
I see the reference to the trinity
here. We have God the Father on His throne, we have the Lamb of God, The Christ,
taking the book from the right hand of His Father, and we have the 7 qualities
of the Spirit of God reaching out into all the earth.
(2.)
Revered 5:8-14
The Lamb is Revered by the 24 Elders
8 When
He had taken the book,
the four living creatures and
the twenty-four elders
fell down before the Lamb,
Ryrie pg. 58
(their actions)
Our Comments:
It probably should have been said earlier, and much more often, but we should
ask the question, “Why.” Here, the 24 representatives of all the saved humans
falls down and worships the Lamb of God – because He gave up His own life in
order to free believing men, women, and children from their sins, and the
penalty of their sins, and obtain instead and eternal life as His brothers and
sisters, the children of Almighty God – forever.
2. Their Instruments
each one holding a harp and golden bowls
full of incense,
which are
the prayers of the saints. 9 And
Ryrie pg. 58 Their Instruments
3. Their Song
they *sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are You
to take the book and
to break its seals; for
You were slain, and
purchased for God with Your
blood
men from every
tribe and
tongue and
people and
nation.
10 “You
have made them to be
a kingdom and
priests to our God; and
they will reign upon the earth.”
Ryrie pg. 58 Their Song
Our Comments:
The bloody Lamb of God, who as the only
one in all of creation who was worthy to open the book and break its seals –
thus completing the process of salvation through the sacrifice of His blood –
and He did it for us!
Revered by the Angels 5:11-12
11 Then
I looked, and
I heard the voice of
many angels around the throne and
The living creatures and
the elders; and
the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of
thousands,
12 saying
with a loud voice,
Ryrie pg. 59 By Angels
Our Comments:
I like Ryrie’s comments about the
seven-fold ascription of praise. Once again, we are presented the number of 7 –
the perfect number. The praises which are given, here at this time, present us
with a perfect response to what the Lamb of God has done, not just for humanity,
but also for all of creation – and specifically for creation of the Angelic
domain. Now they are free from the presence of evil there and the domain of that
evil one, Lucifer – whose final doom is yet to come.
Revered by Every Creature 5:13
13 And every created thing which is
in heaven and
on the
earth and
under the earth and
on the sea, and
all things in them,
I heard saying,
“To Him who
sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and
dominion forever and ever.”
Our Comments:
A quote from John F.
Walvoord, “The beauty and wonder of the scene in chapter 5 are in startling
contrast to the dark clouds of divine judgment portrayed as falling upon the
earth in the tribulation as revealed in the chapters which follow. The scenes of
earth are always dark in comparison to the glory of heaven. The Christian
engulfed by temptation, persecution, and trial can take heart in the fact that
our Lord also suffered and was tried, and that He in triumph ascended on high
having completed His earthly work. Those who follow in His steps while in the
world may endure many afflictions, but they are assured that they will share
with the Lord His glory and His grace throughout all eternity.”[1]
Revered by the
“Living Ones” 5:14
14
And the four living creatures kep saying,
“Amen.”
And the
elders fell down and worshipped.
Ryrie pg. 59 by
the Living Ones
Our Comments:
What a beautiful way to end
this chapter. There is the Lord God Almighty on His throne, and there is His
beloved Son, symbolized by the bloody Lamb who as Hebrews 12:2 tells us, “…Who
for the JOY set before Him endured the Cross….” Here we, with our hearts fallen
down, worship Him as our most holy brother and Savior, as we peer into this
wonderful symbolism revealed to John.
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