Balancing the Narrative with Reality.
“Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” – Revelation 5:1-5. NLT
Just a little clarification as we begin chapter 5. If we make the mistake of literalizing everything we read in Revelation, we create problems in our own minds. For example, is the throne literal? Can you limit omnipresence to a “chair?” Remember it said that we will sit down with him on His throne – if it was just me and Him then that would be OK, but it includes you and myriads of “overcomers” through the ages. That would make the ‘chair’ a bit crowded! The Bible speaks to us in conceptual language that our minds can understand.
What does the concept of a “Throne” speak to you about? Rulership, sovereignty, and authority.
Does God need judgment books? He is omniscient, He knows everything. The “books” convey to our limited finite minds the concept that a record is being kept. Do angels actually have wings or is this a concept that we understand in terms of flight? Yes, I believe that angels get around at great speed, but I’m not sure that they actually have wings. The Father and Son is also conceptual language that helps us understand the role of Jesus while on earth. As a study of this chapter will demonstrate, in Christ is life, original, unborrowed and underived.
Conceptual language is portraying literal things in a way that we can understand. Scientists say that we will soon be able to communicate with dolphins. If so, how will we be able to tell them about things that are way beyond water and fish and boat bottoms? This is how God is dealing with our limitations. He speaks to us in concepts and symbols. He uses the language of the past (The history of the Old Testament) to enlighten our futures. I believe that God is Sovereign of the Universe, I believe that Jesus is “the Lamb that was slain,” but I also believe that he is King of Kings and Lord of Lord’s.” There’s a concept worth contemplating.
I share this because we are about to enter one of the most amazing chapters in the Revelation of Jesus Christ and I want you to be able to balance reality with the narrative of how it is presented. Chapter 5 will seal forever any doubt you may have about Jesus Divinity and His equality with the father.
Many translations suggest that the scroll is in the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. But recent research suggests that the phrase “in the right hand” probably means “at the right side” instead. This makes a lot of sense in light of how thrones were used in the ancient world. It was generally felt that the right side of the king was the highest possible place of honour. In Ps.80:17 and 110:1, the king of Israel is described as sitting at God’s right side as co-rulers of Israel.
Many ancient thrones were large enough for 3-4 people to sit on. The ancient reader may have understood the scroll to be lying on the throne at God’s right side. If that is so, to take up the book is to sit on the throne at God’s right side. In other words, when Jesus takes the book into His hands, He also sits down at the right side of the Father, taking up His role as the new king in the line of David (Rev .5:5).
In Old Testament times the Israelites came out of an extended period in which they had no king except God (the time of the Judges). There was no clear central control for the country. While putting a king on the throne could cause them to look away from God, in practice things were rather chaotic without an earthly king to give direction (Judges17:6; 21:25). So, God permitted them to institute a monarchy, first in the person of Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, and then in the person of David, from the tribe of Judah. David’s reign was so blessed in comparison with Saul’s that his reign, and that of his son Solomon, became models of ideal rulership for Israel.
So, this concept of Davidic kingship lies behind the story of Rev.5. The Lamb is “the Lion of Judah” and the “root of David.” Elsewhere in the NT Jesus sits down at the right hand of His Father on the throne in heaven (Matt.26:64; Heb.8:1. etc.) So, when Jesus comes and picks up the scroll, He is taking his seat on the throne in the heavenly sanctuary.