God has the book with judgement for the earth and all of heaven looks on. Who can open the seals and execute these judgments? There is only one that is qualified, only one that is capable, Jesus, the Lamb that was slain, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the risen king. He is the one that redeemed “from every tribe and language and people and nation” that we can be a nation of priests to God. And as the seals are opened, we find a great host in their white robes, the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. Then silence in heaven, the seventh seal?
A Throne Was Set in Heaven
Revelation 4:1–11
In Revelation 4:1 John gets an invitation, “an open door in heaven … Come up here and I will show you”. Many people think God is far away, somehow holding us back and separate from himself, but here is who God is. He says Come. And there He is on the throne. Then by the description, we understand the awesome greatness and power of God. But this isn’t a fearsome dread, it is an awestruck wonder at His magnificent splendor. An expanse of smooth, “something like a sea of glass, like crystal stretched out in front of the throne. Then living creatures in service around the throne, and elders around the throne, John must have been there a while because he says in Revelation 4:8 “they do not rest day and night”.
Who Is Worthy?
Revelation 5:1–7
In Revelation 5:1 John’s attention changes from the grandeur of heaven and of God himself as the centerpiece, to focus on the scroll. And as he does, the angel cries out in Revelation 5:2 “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” There wasn’t anyone to open it in Revelation 5:3 and John began to weep in Revelation 5:4 because he sensed its importance. Then in Revelation 5:5 “one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals”. John sees him in Revelation 5:6 and he takes the scroll in Revelation 5:7. Even though John was just learning about what was happening, those in heaven knew what was going on. All of heaven was aware, only Jesus, the lamb, could take this book, the judgement of God, and open it.
You Are Worthy
Revelation 5:8–14
All of heaven responds as “the Lamb” has the book, the scroll. It begins with the four living creatures and the twenty four elders. And the elders are keepers of the prayers of the saints, with them, always in the presence of God. And they sang and recounted the work that Jesus performed in Revelation 5:9 “You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals because” and then the redeemed, the people “from every tribe and language and people and nation” and then they prophecy of “a kingdom and priests” that will reign on the earth. Now the angels join in and echo the message confirming in Revelation 5:12 “Worthy is the Lamb”.
I Watched When The Lamb Opened
Revelation 6:1–8
With the first seal in Revelation 6:1-2 one on a white horse with a crown and a bow, “He Went Out Conquering”. Then the second seal was opened in Revelation 6:3-4 a fiery red horse and one with a large sword “to take peace from the earth, and that they would slaughter one another”. The third seal is opened in Revelation 6:5-6 and a black horse with one that had a balance in this hand measuring out the cost of grain, representing “partial hardship rather than total famine, the situation described is at least one of great economic difficulty and inequality”1.
Now, the fourth seal, in Revelation 6:7-8 is “a pale green horse, and the one seated on it was named Death, and Hades followed … authority was granted to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill”.
How Long Holy and True Lord
Revelation 6:9–17
When the fifth seal in opened in Revelation 6:9-11 it doesn’t at first seem to be a judgement or tribulation on the earth. This is the cry of the saints that have been martyred. This is the cry of their blood for judgement. Then in Revelation 6:11 “to each one of them a white robe was given, and it was said to them that they should rest yet a short time” until their number was fulfilled.
The sixth seal is opened in Revelation 6:12-14 “and a great earthquake … the sun became black … the moon became like blood … the stars of heaven fell … the sky was split apart … every mountain and island were moved”. And at this event, God has everyone’s attention. In Revelation 6:15-17 “And the kings of the earth, and the most important people, and the military leaders, and the rich, and the powerful, and every slave and free person hid themselves”.
I Saw Four Angels Standing
Revelation 7:1–8
Here in Revelation 7:1 everything stops for a time and we see the “four angels at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds, so that no wind could blow. Then, in Revelation 7:2 “another angel descending” with authority over the four saying wait until the servant of God are sealed. And in Revelation 7:4-8 this is done, twelve thousand from each tribe, 144,000.
From Every Nation and Tribe and People
Revelation 7:9–17
Suddenly in Revelation 7:9-10 “a great crowd … crying out with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb!” Then the rest of heaven joins in Revelation 7:11-12. Now one of the elders asks in Revelation 7:13-17 “Who are they … These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation”. Even the elders were not expecting this crowd, but for them there is no more hunger, no more thirst, no more sorrow.
Study Verses
- Revelation 5:1–7
- Revelation 5:8–14
- Revelation 7:9–17
Today’s Reading
- Revelation 4:1-11
- Revelation 5:1-14
- Revelation 6:1-17
- Revelation 7:1-17
References
- 1. Wilcock, M. (1986). The message of Revelation: I saw heaven opened (p. 71). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.