Let's Study Revelation (Chapter 5) by E. G. Cook

CHAPTER FIVE     The first thing we see in Chapter Five is the seven sealed book. Our Authorized version says, "in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne," but the Greek word EPI in this expression is their word for "on." So it should read "on" the right hand of Him that sat on the throne." This book is being offered freely to any one who is worthy. It is sealed, not with just a seal but with seven seals. This is not a book as we know books, but rather a scroll which was rolled into a roll. It was written and rolled to a certain point at which a seal was placed. Then it was written and rolled to another point and sealed. This was continued until the whole scroll was written and sealed. This book, or scroll is not only the title deed to the redeemed possession, but it is also the foreordained process by which our Lord will claim His possession. He has redeemed this possession on the Cross, and for us to understand what is going on here we need to be familiar with the kinsman redeemer as set forth in Ruth 4, and in Jeremiah 32.
    Adam was given possession of the earth and everything on it, but when he sinned he lost possession of all this. It fell into the hands of old Satan, the god of this world. Now no one but a kinsman of Adam could redeem that which Adam had lost. By means of the Virgin Birth our Lord became that kinsman who was eligible to redeem the lost possession. This He did on the Cross of Calvary, but He did not take possession at that time. In Jeremiah 32 we see Jeremiah redeeming the field of Hanameel, but he did not take possession of the field at that time. This field he had redeemed was at this time in the hand of the enemy, the Babylonians, so Jeremiah had his title to this field put in a vessel that would neither rot nor rust in order that his heirs might take possession when the seventy year captivity had ended. So here we see Adam's possession in the hands of the enemy, old Satan, the god of this world at the time our Lord redeemed it. But now the time has come for Him to lay claim to that which He had redeemed long ago.
    In verse 2 we see a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" In Ruth 4:4 Boaz must first give others a chance to assert their rights to redeem Elimelech's possession. So it is here the strong angel is giving any and everyone an opportunity to assert his right, or worthiness to claim the lost possession. No man in Heaven, on earth, or under the earth, that is, in Hades itself, was found who was worthy to so much as look in or inspect the book. As a result of this we see John weeping, and in the Greek it means he wept bitterly. I am persuaded that his weeping is brought on as a result of his having seen man's terrible unworthiness rather than his fear of not being able to see what was in the book as some claim. When we see the sinfulness and the unworthiness of even the best of men it is enough to provoke us to bitter weeping. This word "wept" is the same word found in Luke 19:41 where we are told that our Lord wept over Jerusalem. This weeping. too, was brought on by His seeing the awful unworthiness of sinful man.
    As John wept one of the elders began to console him. No man was found who was worthy to open the book, but this elder assures him that there is one who is worthy. This one is the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the offspring of David. John no doubt expected to see a majestic lion, but when he looked he saw a lamb which looked as though it had been slain, or sacrificed. When you come into the presence of Him who redeemed you on the Cross of Calvary may I warn you not to expect Him to resemble the heathen Catholic god you see on the walls of even Baptist churches and homes. This so-called picture of Jesus is an abomination in the sight of almighty God. I am persuaded that when the anti-Christ is revealed he will resemble this abominable picture so much that the religious world will have absolutely no difficulty in recognizing him as their god. But when we, the redeemed of the Lord, come into the presence of Him who redeemed us we should be looking for one with wounds in His hands and feet and a wound in His side. These are open wounds which He will ever wear as a memorial of His redemptive work on the cruel tree. So then, that we be not confounded when we come to meet Him, let us be looking for one that looks as if He had been slain, and not for a heathen god made by the hands of depraved man.
    This Lamb that John saw had seven horns and seven eyes. A horn is the symbol of power and authority and seven is the number of completion. So the seven horns means that our Lord has all power and authority just as He said He had in Matthew 28:18. The eye speaks of wisdom and knowledge. And certainly He has all wisdom and knowledge because these eyes are the seven Spirits of God which are sent forth into the whole world. Actually there is only one Holy Spirit, but He has seven distinct functions to perform in the world. In Isaiah 11:12 He is "the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord." Then in John 16:8 He is the Spirit of reproof, or conviction. So in these two Scriptures we see the sevenfold function of the Holy Spirit. He is performing all these functions here in the world today.
    This One who is worthy comes and takes the book (scroll) out of, or rather off the hand of Him that sat upon the throne. Here we see the fulfillment of Daniel 7:13-14. Daniel saw One like the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven. This One came to the One who is Ancient of days and He was given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom all of which is everlasting. This One who is Ancient of days in Daniel 7:13 and the One who sat upon the throne here in Revelation 5:7 are one and the same. Here the One who is Ancient of days is the Father.
    But this name like that of Jehovah and many other of the wonderful names by which our God is called may be, and in truth are used interchangeably. In Daniel 7:22 the One who is Ancient of days is most assuredly the Son who is coming to reign on the earth. Our Lord's receiving this book from off the Father's hand is the fulfillment of His being given dominion, and glory, and a kingdom in Daniel 7:14. May we who are called by His name become more concerned about, and pray more earnestly for the coming of that glorious day when all the filth and corruption that is called judgment in our day will be forced to give way to that righteous judgment that will cause even the mountains and the hills to break forth before us into singing. Isaiah 55:12.
    When our Lord takes the book (scroll) from off the extended hand of the Father the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fall prostrate before Him. Each of them have harps (stringed musical instruments) and golden vials. If some of these people who are afraid of musical instruments in their churches should happen to get to Heaven, I fear they won't feel at home. Our Lord loves good music and there will be plenty of it up there. Won't it be wonderful to hear all this music, that is, for those who are not afraid of musical instruments? Not only do each of these wonderful ones have their musical instruments that will make up the orchestra I long to hear, but they also have the golden vials which are full of odours, or rather incense, which are the prayers of the saints. There is a lot concerning the part that our prayers play in the working out of God's sovereign will in the world that, so far as I am able to see, is still hidden in His strong box of Deuteronomy 29:29. But they play an important part whether we are able to see it or not. God does not command us to pray and urge us to pray just to fill up our time. Our sincere and fervent prayers mean more to God and His working out His will in this old sin cursed world than we will ever be able to know in this life. It might be well for each of us to stop and think just how long it has been since we really and truly prayed fervently that our Lord's will be done here on earth. How many times have you and I really, sincerely prayed for our dear Lord to come and set up His kingdom and rule in righteousness on this earth? I assure you that everyone of our honest and sincere prayers for these things will some day be found in these golden vials.
    These living creatures and elders will sing a new song that we should all wish to hear. I thought for many years that this was our song of redemption. My thinking this was not due to any error in God's Word, but to a serious error in our translation. If you leave the word "us" out of verse 9 and then read verse 10 as follows, "And hast made them unto our God a kingdom of priests: and they shall reign on the earth" you will have a clear picture of what is going on here. They are singing a song of worthiness because of redemption rather than a song of redemption. These who are singing have never been lost and therefore need not to be redeemed, and since they have not been redeemed, quite naturally they cannot sing the song of redemption. But in spite of the errors in our King James version, however, I still would recommend it as the best translation we have in our English language for all around Bible study. The errors in this version are for the most part honest errors, or mistakes which are common to all men. I would not go so far as to say that all the errors in this version are honest mistakes. In Matthew 3:6 they deliberately, knowingly, and intentionally erred. Every student of the Greek language knows that the word BAPTIZO means to immerse. These translators knew that, but they also knew that if they translated that word, that is, gave it the meaning it had always had and still has it would wreck their whole religion. You see they were what we know as Episcopalians and for them to say immerse there in that Scripture and all the others where that word was found would show to the world that their sprinkling was unscriptural. So they just made them up a brand new word that would cover everything and touch nothing. That is how we got the word "baptize" which has just any meaning you want to give it. As we said they did this intentionally in order to protect their unscriptural practices. They did this just as Adam ate the forbidden fruit, with their eyes wide open. All other translators since that time, even Charles B. Williams, a Baptist, have followed this same line for monetary reasons. This error is open and in full view of all who wish to see it, but in the case of our later translations there are so many serious errors that are as subtle as the old serpent in the garden. They are the kind that are so dangerous especially to our young people.
    It might be well for us to stop at this point and get a good view of what is before us in this Scripture. First, there is the Father on His throne. Then we see the Son who comes and takes the seven sealed scroll from off the Father's hand. When He does this the four living creatures who form the inner circle around the throne and the twenty-four elders who make up the next circle round about it fall down before Him playing and singing the song of our Lord's worthiness. As they do this John looks and sees a great host of angels making up a huge outer circle round about the throne and round about the living creatures and the elders. At first he sees a hundred million of these angels, and then thousands of thousands of others come into view. What a magnificent array of majesty, power and might bedecked in gorgeous splendor. This our eyes should long to see - may it be soon.
    When John had seen all this wondrous splendor he heard this great host of angels saying - please note the word "saying." It seems that our song writers have permitted their imagination to run wild. I fail to find any instance where the angels sang. We are told plainly that the living creatures and the elders sang, but when it comes to the angels, they are saying. And what they are saying in a loud voice is that this Lamb that was slain is worthy to receive all these wonderful things He is receiving. Then out beyond all this great huge outer circle of angels we see in verse 13 every living creature in the whole universe, whether in Heaven, on the earth, under the earth, that is in Hades or in the sea praising Him as they say, "Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne." This is in fulfillment of Philippians 2:9-11. At this point we hear the living creatures saying amen to this praise of every creature and again we see the twenty-four elders as they fall down and worship Him. If a scene like this does not provoke us to worship Him, our Spiritual nature is in a very serious condition indeed.