1 I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?" 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. 4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; 5 and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals." 6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures ) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 When He had taken the book, the four living creature and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. 10 "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." 13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." 14 And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 5
The following is paraphrased and taken from Alistair Begg's study. It is his "firm conviction...that we ought not to regard the book of Revelation as a book of riddles. The way to insure that we do not go wrong is to remind ourselves: The Bible was written not to us, but to first century believers who were being persecuted by the authorities of their day..."
"Graeme Goldsworthy, Australian theologian, states, 'John’s first concern is not to minister to arm-chair prophets in some far off age, but to those of his own day who struggled to reconcile the fact of their suffering with the fact of Christ’s victory over sin and satan and death...' "
"The gospel had been preached and it was believed. The gospel was the historic data of the work of Jesus Christ..."
"John introduces himself as a brother. He is located on the island of Patmos, off coast of modern day Turkey. He was there because he had been preaching the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus. He had been banished, because of his commitment to the gospel of the Lord, Jesus Christ. John writes his fellow saints, in order that they might understand that Jesus is triumphant Lord and King..."
"The apostles of John's time had not gone around giving their own personal testimonies, but rather had gone out into the world to make sure their fellow saints and listeners understood that Jesus Christ, as Messiah, had to suffer. The apostles preached Jesus, who was crucified, dead, buried, raised, had appeared and had ascended. The first century saints believed that Jesus was fully in control of all circumstances. The first century believers also looked into the future and wondered when he would again appear..."
"Their circumstances, however, were so vastly different from their beliefs. Scoffers asked, 'Where is the promise of His coming?' "
Listen to Alistair Begg’s beautiful and insightful look at the Lamb on the Throne. You will be inspired by his customary heart, humor and soul, and by Alistair’s deep and abiding love of our Lord, Jesus Christ.
Lamb on the Throne, Part One, by Alistair Begg
Lamb on the Throne, Part Two, by Alistair Begg
