The Seven Seals

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Revelation 5:5   Then one of the (24) elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

 

Revelation 5:6   Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns [all power] and seven eyes [omniscience], which are the seven spirits [angels] of God sent out into all the earth.

 

Revelation 5:7   He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. [Because He alone – in the entire universe is worthy to undertake the fulfilling the demand under each seal and exposing the contents of the book.]

 

Revelation 5:8   And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were given golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints [that is, the 24 elders are the saints].

 

[“Prayers of the saints….” This language is taken from the sanctuary services in the Old Testament. Morning and Evening, special incense was put on the glowing coals of the Altar of Incense by priests. As the sweet fragrance drifted in and around the temple, people would come to the courtyard and while standing there they would present their petitions and praises to God because of the sweet aroma of the incense was designed to teach Israel that God’s love for sinners overpowers the stench of sinners… thus, it was understood among the Jews that God would be favorable to their requests and praise if they offered evening and morning when incense was offered by the priests.

 

In ancient times it was a fatal mistake to presume to enter into the presence of any king without bathing or in common clothes and God did not allow Israel to treat His temple with contempt. When the four living creatures and the 24 elders [who are priests] fell down and worshiped the Lamb, as priests they presented their praise and their prayers with the incense to insure that nothing would dim their praise of the Lamb.]

 

Revelation 5:9   And they sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

 

Revelation 5:10   You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”

Revelation 5:11   Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.

 

[This is no ordinary worship service. Billions of angels have been assembled around the Father. The Holy Spirit is present. The Lamb is present. And, a book with seven seals is at the center of attention.]

 

Revelation 5:12   In a loud voice they sung: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

 

1.   to receive power [that he didn’t previously have]

2.   and wealth…  [that he previously didn’t have]

3.   and wisdom…[that he previously didn’t have]

4.   and strength…[that he previously didn’t have]

5.   and honor… [that he previously didn’t have]

6.   and glory…. [that he previously didn’t have]

7.   and praise!…[that he previously didn’t have]

 

Revelation 5:13   Then I heard every creature in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”

 

[John describes great rejoicing!!! However, no one on Earth knew about this event at the time it took place, so how could John say, “every creature in Heaven and on Earth and under the Earth and the Sea was singing! I’ll respond to this question in a minute…]   

 

John 5:14   The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.” 

 

1.   What is this event about?

2.   What qualifications are necessary to receive the book?

3.   When did this event occur?

 

Introduction

Long ago, before any angels or human beings existed, there were three co-eternal Gods.

 

They had the same powers, abilities and prerogatives. Today, we call them by many names and various titles, but I would like for you to think of them as one family having the last name “God.”

 

Father God,

Son God,

Holy Spirit God.

 

Three equal Gods, separate Gods, co-eternal beings. They are sometimes called: The Trinity or the Godhead.

Because of their great love for each other, these three Gods relinquished certain powers and prerogatives to each other so that they could have a very large family. Their perfect union is called “one God” because they are one in purpose, plan and action.

 

Deuteronomy 6:4   Hear, O Israel, The Lord our God (‘elohiym = Gods). The Lord is one. 

 

(Hebrew: a compound “one” – one union involving others)

 

Genesis 3:32   And the Lord (‘elohiym) said, “The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and also take from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.”

 

Out of love for one each other, three Gods voluntarily surrendered their lives to each other in a manner that is similar to human marriage.

 

Genesis 1:27   So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

 

Genesis 2:24   …a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.”

 

Two people = one flesh? How is this possible? Hebrew: They are a compound one as in one group.

 

After some discussion among themselves, it was agreed that one God would take the highly exalted but lonely job of sitting on the throne and serving the universe as Ruler over Everything.

 

It was also agreed that one God would serve as the Creator of life and that He had to live among His creation as one of them. In other words, the Creator had to see and experience life from the perspective of His creation!

 

It was also agreed that one God would become invisible and live within the hearts and minds of everyone the Creator created. The end result of their marriage and submission to each other is that throughout the universe:

 

1.   God rules over everything

2.   God walks beside us

3.   God lives within us

 

Because these three Gods are infinite, and their creatures is finite and mortal, their union is a wonderful but painful solution…  Consider for a moment what they had to give up to start a family!

 

We have a lonely Commander in Chief that sits on a brilliant and glorious throne….  His majesty, brilliance, glory and power is so great, that no one can see Him!

 

John 6:46   “No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.”

 

1 Timothy 6:15:   “…God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords,

 

1 Timothy 6:16   who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen.”

 

Because the Father is so majestic and glorious, the family needs a God living among them so that we can understand the character and love of God from our limited perspective.

 

Hebrews 4:15   Fore we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are---yet was without sin.

 

Hebrews 4:16   Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

 

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