Revelations 5 - Events in Heaven

After these things

Rev. 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door was opened in Heaven. And the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, saying, Come up here, and I will show you what must occur after these things.

After what things?

After the course of previous events! (Rev. 1 - 3)
i.e.
After what John had seen! (Rev. 1)
After the Church era! (Rev. 2-3)
After the Rapture of the Church! (Rev. 4:1)

Then???........

John's vision of what follows in heaven.... before the start of the Great Tribulation!

Rev 4 : The judgement throne of God;
Rev 5 : The Lamb and the book sealed with 7 seals

Rev 5 : The Lamb and the book sealed with 7 seals (Rev. 4:2-11)

All three the judgements of Revelation (the seals, the trumpets, and the bowls of wrath) are preceded with an introduction in heaven. The introduction relative to the judgments of the seven seals is recorded in Revelation 5.

Rev. 5:1 And I saw a book on the right of Him sitting on the throne, written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

The scroll is described and also the fact that it is sealed by 7 seals. It is written on both sides. Nothing can thus be added to the scroll. What is written in it is full and final. A document that was sealed with seven seals was known as a last will and testament. It was sealed in such a way that it could only be opened by one having testamentary authority.

The content of the scroll describe the destiny of mankind, it is God's determined judgments for mankind and incorporates all that God has in mind for mankind.

Rev. 5:2-3 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book and to loosen its seals? (3) And no one in Heaven, nor on the earth, nor under the earth, was able to open the book or to look at it.

The scroll is a depiction of the future and the call for someone that was worthy enough to step forward and open the scroll, was left unanswered. Nobody in creation was found worthy, nobody in heaven, or earth, or under the earth (realm of the dead), nobody in the realm of heavenly creatures, or angels or human beings was found to be worthy. (Rev 5:4)

Eventually. the worthy One, the only appointed heir is revealed to John by of the elders. It is the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David. It is Jesus Christ! Concerning His humanity, His roots could be traced back to David (Isa. 11:1,10) and as far as His Divinity is concerned, Christ is the Root of David. Both titles have strong Jewish characteristics. Both have as their origen a description of the coming Messiah, and also find their fulfillment in Him. (Rev. 5:5)

John saw in the middle of the throne the four living creatures and the elders with Lamb standing in the midst of them. Here we have a tremendous image of Jesus Christ as He appears as the Lamb and the Lion before the throne. (Rev. 5:6)

The lamb took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Jesus Christ is the Conqueror, the only One who was found worthy of opening the scroll. Jesus Christ is the true witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth; the First and the Last and the Living one; the one who was dead and now is alive for for evermore. (Rev. 5:7)

A new song is sung for the Lamb. This song contains the sum total of the results of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, the lamb. His death was no mere accident; it served a purpose. The purpose was to restore and bring about a relationship between God and man. The death of the Lamb had a universal effect. That was to purchase men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. The redeemed would become a kingdom of priests, and to them would be given power to rule. The redeemed will reign as kings; and as priest they will be a channel of blessing. (Rev. 5:8 - 10)

At the trone of God there is consensus of the opinion as well as confirmation that the lamb is indeed the One in creation who is worthy to open the scroll, and to break the seals, and to receive praise and worship. (Rev. 5:11 - 13)

Rev. 5:14 And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the One living forever and ever.

Rights (C) 2011 Raymond D Lombard