The Four Horsemen: Revelation 6:1-8

In Revelation 6:1-17, John recorded the opening of the first six seals to prepare God’s people for what is to come.  This chapter also reminds us that we as believers need to be prepared for how God is going to bring history to its close.  My prayer is that God would prepare our hearts today through this passage for what is to come. 

[6:1] Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” [2] And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer. [3] When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come!” [4] And out came another horse, bright red. Its rider was permitted to take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another, and he was given a great sword. [5] When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a black horse! And its rider had a pair of scales in his hand. [6] And I heard what seemed to be a voice in the midst of the four living creatures, saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius, and three quarts of barley for a denarius, and do not harm the oil and wine!” [7] When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” [8] And I looked, and behold, a pale horse! And its rider's name was Death, and Hades followed him. And they were given authority over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.

[9] When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. [10] They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” [11] Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.

[12] When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, [13] and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. [14] The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. [15] Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, [16] calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, [17] for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:1-17 ESV)

Before we dive into chapter 6, a word about the overall structure of the book of Revelation would be helpful.  After the introductory comments of 1:1-8, John received a glorious vision of Christ in which He dictated seven addresses to seven churches in Asia Minor (1:9-3:22).  John then received another glorious vision of God’s throne room where John is going to be shown what is to come (4:1).  In this vision, the Lamb who was slain receives a scroll that is sealed with seven seals from One seated on heaven’s throne (4:1-5:14).  Chapter 6 is continuation of that vision, but is also the beginning of a new section of material in the book of Revelation, where we encounter three sets of seven with interludes: seven seal, seven trumpets, and seven bowls (6:1-16:21).  For reasons we shall see along the way, I take these three series of sevens to be cycles which intensify with each cycle, repeating common themes and each ending with a description of the second coming (6:12-17, 11:15-19, 16:17-21).  You should think of this as you would a piece of music, with chord progressions that cycle and have interludes, and where each cycle intensifies the previous one.  In Revelation 17-20, this world system, Satan, and death itself all meet their final end as Christ returns, takes His bride and eventually judges the world.  Chapters 21-22 then contain descriptions of the new heavens and earth in which the people of God will dwell forever and a concluding exhortation from the Apostle John.

1. We Must Never Forget that We Live in a World that is Passing Away (6:1-8)

The first eight verses of chapter 6 introduce us to the famous “four horsemen” of the apocalypse.  Much ink has been spilled over these four horsemen.  We will want to root our understanding of them in two places: their Old Testament background in Zechariah 1:8-17, 6:1-8 and then the parallels between the events in chapter 6 and Jesus’ Olivet discourse on the way history would end (Matthew 24-25, Mark 13).  In Zechariah 1:8-17, 6:1-8, we read about similar horsemen and similar horses, where the horsemen are described as patrolmen of the earth.  They are commissioned by God to patrol the earth and to punish nations who had oppressed His people.  They have a somewhat similar function here: they are sent to execute God’s judgments upon a fallen world.  In Revelation 6, they carry out God’s indirect judgments of allowing human wickedness to run its course.  In other words, he four horsemen represent the natural progression of human wickedness bringing our world to an end. 

The reason Jesus’ Olivet discourse is important is because many of the “signs” that He gave for “the close of the age” are paralleled by what we see here in Revelation 6.  I’m going to argue that what we see taking place in Revelation 6 is military conquest, war & bloodshed, martyrdom of Christians, famine & times of scarcity, pestilence, natural disasters, etc.  With that in mind, listen to the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:3-14: [3] As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” [4] And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. [5] For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. [6] And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. [7] For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. [8] All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.

[9] “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. [10] And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. [11] And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. [12] And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. [13] But the one who endures to the end will be saved. [14] And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. 

See the parallels?  Notice that Jesus said these things were not the end but the beginning of the end, or “the beginning of the birth pains” (Matthew 24:8).  Likewise, here in Revelation 6, what we have is not necessarily events that will happen at the end of history, but events that will transpire throughout history as it comes to its end.  As we have already said, the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus marked the beginning of the end of history (Revelation 1:1, 5:1).  It began the 4^th Quarter of salvation history.  So these judgments are things that will take place throughout the history of the church age, but like “labor pains” will increase in frequency & intensity in the end.  In other words, the seals are indirect, preliminary judgments that take place throughout the history of the church, but that also have an ever increasing intensity and frequency (like a pregnant woman’s contractions do) as we reach the end. 

The reason these are called indirect judgments is because even though human wickedness is simply running its course in these events, God remains sovereign over it all.  The Lamb is the One opening these seals.  The horsemen aren’t rogue agents; they are commanded to come forth (1,3,5,7).  The horsemen are only doing what they are being given divine permission to do (2,4,8).

When the Lamb opens the first seal, one of “four living creatures” issues a command: “Come!”  In response to this command, the first horseman comes forth riding a “white horse,” carrying “a bow” (a symbol of military power) and is given a victor’s “crown.”  John says that this rider goes forth “conquering and to conquer” (1-2).  This seems to be communicating that one indirect judgment that God will allow to drive the world to its end is a spirit of conquest (military conquest most probably).  It highlights humanity’s lust for conquest.  Anyone will some knowledge of history can attest to this truth both in Biblical history and in world history in general.

When the Lamb opens the second seal, the second living creature commands another rider to come forth.  This rider comes forth on a “bright red horse.” He was “given” a “great sword” and “was permitted” to “take peace from the earth, so that people should slay one another” (3-4).  This seems to indicate that another judgment that God will allow to drive the world to its end will be war and bloodshed.  This is what happens when people are consumed with a lust for conquest: they go to war with each other.  This slaughtering refers to bloodshed in general, from wars and also from violent, criminal acts.  One is reminded of the days of Noah, when “the earth was filled with violence” (Genesis 6:11-13).  It’s possible that in this chapter, given its message as a whole, may also have in mind the blood shed by martyrs at the violent hands of their persecutors. Is this not the world we live in even today? 

When the Lamb opens the third seal, the third living creature commands yet another horseman to come forth.  This horseman is riding a “black horse” and has “a pair of scales in his hand” (5).  A pronouncement is made as he goes forth, declaring that a “quart of wheat” will cost a “denarius” and that “three quarts of barley” will cost a “denarius” as well.  The “oil and wine” is also not to be harmed.  This pronouncement indicates severe food shortages in which items cost 10-12 times their normal price.  It communicates times of famine and scarcity of basic commodities.  So a third judgment that God will allow to drive the world to its end will be severe shortages of resources, which are probably the result of a war ravaged world. 

When the Lamb opens the fourth seal, the fourth living creature commands the final rider to come forth.  This horseman rides a “pale horse” (literally a pale green, corpse-color) and is named “Death” and has a companion named “Hades” who follows his trail, collecting his dead (8).  This rider seems to be a culmination of the previous three, because he is “given authority” to kill a fourth of the earth “with sword and with famine and with pestilence and by wild beasts of the earth.”  Sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts are the four dreadful judgments found in Ezekiel 14:21 to describe God’s judgment upon unbelievers who were both outside and inside the covenant community.  This is the grim picture for how this present world will pass away: conquest leading to bloodshed, and then that ravaging the world to the point where its resources are nearly exhausted, leaving people to die by sword, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts.

Its not clear at this point whether or not believers are protected from these indirect, preliminary judgments.  It seems that they are protected later from the clear and direct outpouring of God’s wrath.  The judgments in this chapter, however, are indirect, so it is difficult to say whether or not believers will be victims of what is envisioned here.  If they are, there are two things that need to be kept in mind.  First, if these horsemen are meant to remind us of Zechariah’s horsemen, then we need to remember that these are the patrolmen of the earth, who are keeping tabs on the suffering and persecution of God’s people.  This means that no bloodshed, oppression, persecution, starvation, or death among God’s people due to sickness or wild beasts will go unnoticed.  All oppression will be avenged and all suffering for God’s glory will be rewarded. 

The second thing that needs to be kept in mind is that if believers are victims of the natural progression of human wickedness bringing the world to its end, this does not mean that they are being separated from the love of God in Christ.   Romans 8:35-39 reads, “[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? [36] As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” [37] No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. [38] For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, [39] nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39 ESV)  Notice that God’s being for a believer (Romans 8:31) and all things working together for their good (Romans 8:28) does not mean that they will not suffer “tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword.”  It does not mean that I won’t starve to death.  It does not mean that I won’t die from nuclear fallout in WWIII.  It doesn’t mean that I won’t die of a pandemic disease that sweeps the planet.  It doesn’t mean that wild animals won’t eat my family and me as the world goes to hell.  What it does mean though, is that in all those things I am more than a conqueror through Christ and that none of those things can separate me from the love of God in Christ!   

The Revelation of the Lamb's Victory, Part 2: Revelation 5:1-14

Last week we began a journey that we did not finish, considering the first of what I called three ramifications of the Lamb’s victory in Revelation 5:1-14.  Just as the fall in Genesis 3 had universal ramifications, so did the victory of Jesus Christ on the cross, which is what I am referring to as “the Lamb’s victory” (His being “slain” and what that has accomplished). It bears repeating again that Revelation 4-5 is, as Greg Beale put it, the theological heart of the book of Revelation.  That is because the truths found here are meant to stir up the people of God to face anything for the glory of their King.  They are meant to give God’s people everything they need to endure in the face of any temptation or persecution. We must saturate our hearts and minds with these ramifications of Christ’s victory if we are going to endure temptation and persecution.  May God stir up our hearts with these truths today so that we may endure anything for the glory of our King! 

      [5:1] Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. [2] And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” [3] And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, [4] and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. [5] And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

      [6] And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. [7] And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. [8] And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each 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 scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, [10] and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

      [11] Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, [12] saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

      [13] And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” [14] And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:1-11 ESV)

I.              The Lamb will Finish His Story (5:1-7)

      History is His-story, God’s story that is.  One thing that is clear in this chapter is that Jesus, by virtue of His victory on the cross, has earned the right to finish history.  Because He has conquered, He is worthy to take “the scroll of destiny”[1](called such because it contains what God has determined to be the destiny of the world) and execute its contents.  As we will see, God’s plan for history includes both redemption (for His people) and judgment (for His enemies), but the big idea here is that the destiny of the world is now in the hands of the Lamb who was slain. 

      Because the destiny of the world is in the hands of the Lamb, I can trust that whatever befalls me (because I am part of that story) is part of His good and wise plan.  God’s plan for History includes working all things together for my good as one of His followers (Romans 8:28).  No temptation or trial is meaningless.  They are all God approved to make me more like His Son.    

II.            The Lamb will Have His People (5:8-10)

      What we also see in this chapter is that Jesus, by virtue of His victory on the cross, has ransomed a people for God.  Once the Lamb takes the scroll, there are three consecutive songs sung to the Lamb.  The first song is sung by the heavenly council that we saw in Revelation 4:1-11.  They are further described as “each having a golden harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” (8a).  In response to the Lamb taking the scroll, they sing a “new song” that explains the nature of the Lamb’s victory.  This is how He “conquered”: He was “slain,” and in being slain, His BLOOD “ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” and He “made them a kingdom and priests to our God” who “shall reign on the earth.”  The Lamb’s victory has purchased a multi-ethnic people to be the subjects in God’s kingdom. 

      God has always desired a people, or a kingdom, to be His treasured possession.  When God first created man and woman, His desire was that they would “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion” (Genesis 1:26-28).  Instead of filling up the earth with a kingdom for God, they rebelled against their Creator and filled the earth up with rebels and sinners as subjects of Satan’s kingdom instead.  God, however, still desired a people to be His treasured possession.  He chose a man named Abraham to be the father of this kingdom and promised to make his offspring into a great nation and to bless all nations with salvation through the coming Messiah (Genesis 12:1-3).  He kept this first promise by delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt through the blood of the Passover Lamb and after defeating the armies of Pharaoh, God expressed His heart’ desire for this people in Exodus 19:5-6: “[5] Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; [6] and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”  We see the same Exodus imagery being alluded to here in Revelation 5.

      The Israelites, however, would fail to be this kingdom of priests because even though they were free from slavery to the Egyptians, they were still slaves to sin, just like you and me.  There would have to be a greater Passover Lamb who would ransom people from their greater bondage.  This is what we see being celebrated in Revelation 5:8-10: a greater Lamb (Jesus Christ) effecting a greater deliverance, ransoming a people for God.  But this is not just an Israelite people that are being ransomed.  The blood of the Lamb who was slain has ransomed and secured a multi-ethnic multitude for God from “every tribe and language, and people and nation.”  His victory has accomplished everything necessary to purchase these subjects and secure their place in God’s kingdom.  These people are the people of God’s new covenant, who are God’s new creations and will dwell in God’s new heaven and new earth.  That is why the song about them is called a “new song.” 

      There are several applications that flow out of the certainty that the Lamb will have His people.  First, in order to be a part of this people, or kingdom of God, a person must be ransomed by the blood of the Lamb.  We do not become part of God’s people by anything that we do, but by what He has done.  Being a member of a church doesn’t make you a member of God’s kingdom; being ransomed by the blood of the Lamb does.

      Second, if we have been ransomed by the blood of the Lamb, we are and will be made into priests to our God.  That we are priests implies that we have a job to do.  We exist to serve God and take His saving message to the nations.  If we really believe that the Lamb will have His people, then we should have all the confidence we need to count any cost to take this gospel to the ends of the earth.  The success of the church is not in question.  Jesus will build His church.  His sheep will hear His voice.  If this is true, then what are we waiting for?  Also, the truth that we will be made priests is a great encouragement to believers who are struggling with sin and suffering.  We may struggle and fall, but in the end, sin will not win!  The victory of the Lamb has secured your destiny as a child of God.  He who has begun a good work in you will be faithful to bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6).  Notice also that the golden bowls of incense, “which are the prayers of the saints,” are “full.”  Every prayer that His people have uttered in their trials and temptations are accounted for and have been heard.  In Revelation, these are normally prayers for vindication and relief from suffering.  This picture reminds believers that God has heard their prayers and will see them through. 

      Thirdly, if churches are the outposts of God’s coming kingdom in this world, then churches should be marked by great diversity.  This people are a multi-ethnic multitude from all over the world.  If we are going to show a world that needs this ransom how God’s will is done on earth as it is in heaven then we should pursue becoming a diverse bunch of people who learn to unite around the gospel.  Worship will not be segregated in heaven, and it should not be on earth. 

      Finally, if we have been ransomed by the blood of the Lamb, then our ransom should amaze us at least as much as it does the angelic hosts.  They are amazed at our ransom.  Are you?  Am I?  If we were honest, many of us live like the work of Christ on the cross means very little to us.  To many of us, His work on the cross is nothing more than “eternity insurance” that we once signed up for and now don’t have to think about that much.  This should not be so. 

     

III.         The Lamb will Have His Glory (5:8-14)

      The final ramification of the Lamb’s victory that we see in this chapter is that Jesus, by virtue of His victory on the cross, will have the glory that He deserves.  “When” the Lamb takes the scroll, it initiates an awesome time of worship in heaven.  Heaven goes nuts!  As I said, verses 8-14 contain 3 songs to the Lamb (the last song being to both the Lamb and the One on the throne), with each song being sung by an expanded audience in order to amplify the reality of the Lamb’s worth.  First there is the song of the four living creatures & the twenty-four elders (8-10).  All four living creatures and twenty-four elders fall down (what they did before the One on the throne in chapter 4) and sing a new song.  They give the Lamb glory because He has conquered on the cross.

      Then there is the song of the angelic multitude (11-12).  The audience is now expanded by “the voice of many angels” (11).  How many?  They number “myriads of myriads” and “thousands of thousands.”  It is an innumerable host.  Their song is a seven-fold ascription of worth to the Lamb who was slain.  They too give the Lamb glory because He has conquered on the cross.

      Finally, there is the song of the universe (13-14).  The vision is now expanded to include all of creation.  There is a great significance that all creation is singing this song.  All creation has been “in bondage” and has been “groaning” under the curse (Romans 8:18-23) since Genesis 3.  But just as the fall had universal ramifications, so does the victory of the Lamb!  The victory of the Lamb will crush the power of the curse over creation!  This song is to both to “Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb” and is a four-fold ascription of worth that should be theirs forever and ever.  Putting this together with chapter 4, we see that the Father is worthy because He created everything and the Lamb is worthy because He redeemed everything!  We could say that the Father is praised for His work of creation and the Son is praised for His work of new creation.  At this song, the four living creatures shout “Amen!” and the twenty-four elders once again fall down and worship.

      Don’t we celebrate when championships and wars are won?  The victory celebrated in Revelation 5 is the greatest victory in the universe.  May we celebrate what the Lamb has accomplished as well.  He will have His-story; He will have His people; and He will have His glory.  None of these certainties are in question.  My question for you today is this: is the Lamb receiving glory from your life right now?  1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”  You exist for the glory of God.  It’s what you were made for.  That truth isn’t meant to keep you from having a life, it’s meant to help you truly live!  Know that the Lamb will have His glory in your live, one way or another.  He will have it sooner or later.  Every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will confess Him as Lord (Philippians 2:9-11).  Give Him glory by surrendering your life to Him today for your eternal good.  He is worthy of it because He has borne all of your sins on the cross and has ransomed your for God by His death.  As His priests, let us take the good news of His kingdom to this broken world! 

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[1] Robert Mounce, The Book of Revelation: NICNT, 116

The Revelation of the Lamb's Victory, Part 1: Revelation 5:1-14

Have you ever been going through a really rough time and had God use a sermon, a song, or a word from a friend to completely lift your spirits?  I want to start out by reminding you today that the function of Revelation 4-5 is to do just that.  These chapters are meant to give God’s people everything they need to endure in the face of anything, whether that be temptation or persecution.  They are, as Greg Beale put it, the theological heart of the book of Revelation.  That is because the truths found here are meant to stir up the people of God to face anything for the glory of their King.  

      Last time, we saw three ultimate realities that were meant to encourage believers to persevere: the beauty, sovereignty, and worth of God.  Today, we are going to see one more: the ultimate reality of the Lamb’s victory.  Just as the fall in Genesis 3 had universal ramifications, so did the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  In Revelation 5:1-14, John pulled the curtain back to reveal the ramifications of the Lamb’s victory, giving believers another ultimate reality to help them endure anything.  We too must saturate our hearts and minds with these ramifications of Christ’s victory if we are going to endure temptation and persecution.  My prayer today is that God would stir up our hearts with these truths so that we may endure anything for the glory of our King! 

      [5:1] Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. [2] And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” [3] And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, [4] and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. [5] And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

      [6] And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. [7] And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. [8] And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each 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 scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, [10] and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

      [11] Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, [12] saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

      [13] And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” [14] And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:1-11 ESV) What are these ramifications of Christ’s victory that help us to face anything? 

I.              The Lamb will Finish His Story (5:1-7)

      Let me first give you a summary of this point and then try to show you how I arrived at it in the passage.  What I mean by the Lamb finishing His story is that Jesus, by virtue of His victory on the cross, has earned the right to finish history.  Chapter 5 begins with the search for one worthy to open the scroll (1-5).  Continuing the vision that began in chapter 4, John now sees in the right hand of the One seated on heaven’s throne “a scroll” with writing on both sides.  What is this scroll?  Robert Mounce, in his commentary on Revelation, calls it “the scroll of destiny.”[1]  Remember that when John was called up to heaven in Revelation 4:1, what was stated was that he was going to be shown “what must take place after this.”  As the seals on this scroll are opened, we see epic, historic events begin to transpire on earth and once opened, we see God’s swift judgment as He brings history to its end and ushers in His eternal kingdom (Revelation 6-22).  So calling this scroll “the scroll of desity” is a fitting title because it looks like it contains what God has determined will be the destiny of the world.  This is also an allusion to Ezekiel 2:9-10, where Ezekiel is given a scroll with writing on both sides.  There the scroll is said to contain, “words of lamentation and mourning and woe.”  In other words, it is a message of judgment, which is precisely what we see in the Book of Revelation: judgment upon Satan and the world as God brings History to a close.  The point of the scroll is that God has a good and sovereign plan for history, because history is ultimately His-story.  

      This explains a lot that we see here.  As this scroll is opened, its contents are executed.  So the question of who can open it is not only a question of availability, but of power, authority, and ultimately of worth.  Who is worthy to end history?  The answer given by this passage is that no one in creation is “worthy to open the scroll or to look into it” (3-4).  This also explains why John reacts the way He does.  When no one steps forward, John begins to “weep loudly” (4).  He’s not weeping because he is extraordinarily curious.  There is something tragic about this document not being opened.  If this is the scroll of destiny, then if it is not opened, God’s plan for the universe will be thwarted.  His kingdom will never come.  The world will never be made right.  So John’s weeping reveals a heart that bleeds for God’s kingdom to come and for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.  What about you? 

      At the height of this chapter’s tension, John is told to “weep no more” (5)!  There is One Worthy to open the scroll (6-7).  Who is He?  In short, He is Jesus Christ, but He has three important descriptions in this chapter.  First, He is “the Lion of tribe of Judah” (5a).  This alludes to Genesis 49:8-12, which is a messianic passage concerning God’s coming Messiah and the kingdom that He will bring: “[9] Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? [10] The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”  It was a promise that not only would the kingly line come from Judah in Israel’s history, but that one day a “lion” would arise from Judah’s line who would be both the King and the bringer of God’s kingdom. 

      He is also called the “Root of David” (5b).  This alludes to another messianic passage in Isaiah 11:1-10, where the Messiah is described as both “a shoot from the stump of Jesse” (He will come from David’s line) and “root of Jesse.”  This is also a promise about God’s coming kingdom to this world and the King who will bring it.  [10] In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. (Isaiah 11:10 ESV)

      Finally, He is described as “a Lamb” who “had been slain,” but is now “standing” (6).  It becomes pretty clear that this is a reference to Jesus, who in Revelation 1:18 was said to be the “living One” who had “died,” but is not “alive forevermore.”  Do you remember what John the Baptist said when he laid eyes on Jesus?  He said, “Behold, the LAMB OF GOD, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). 

      The way this Lamb is described is very important.  We first see that He has been mortally wounded.  He has “been slain.”  This alludes to both the Passover Lamb of Exodus 12, where a lamb was to be slaughtered in place of the first born son in order to avoid God’s judgment (which event marked their deliverance from the Egyptians), and the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53:4-7, Who “like a lamb” was “led to the slaughter” for His people.  This Lamb was not only mortally wounded though.  He was also powerfully resurrected!  He is now “standing”!  He also has “seven horns” and “seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth” (6).  This is a picture of perfect power (omnipotent) and perfect knowledge (omniscience).  He has the power to end history and the knowledge and wisdom to do so in such a way that no decision could be called into question.  Do you believe this? 

      But here is the best part.  Why can the Lamb open the scroll and bring history to its end?  He can do so because He “has conquered.”  If Revelation 4-5 is the theological heart of the book, then this passage is the theological heart of these chapters!  Notice the past tense: this conquering has already happened.  How has He conquered?  Verse 9-10 describes this victory: He conquered by being slain.  Now that sounds a lot like a paradox: Jesus conquered being slaughtered.  But this is the beauty of the cross.  If God is going to have His story (a kingdom of worshippers) in a fallen world full of rebels, something had to be done to redeem them and the world they live in.  Something would have to be done to destroy the sin and Satan forever.  Without the finished work of the Lamb, “the scroll of destiny” cannot be executed.  We would have to be executed instead. 

      Notice one more thing before we close.  In verse 7, Jesus takes this scroll.  We’ll see what all happens when He does next week, but for now, notice what does not happen.  The One on the throne (God the Father) doesn’t object.  His silence and handing over of the scroll implies the He is pleased with the finish work of His Son and is glad to have Him finish history.  Like a parent whose heart is filled with joy at their child’s recital, God the Father is overjoyed and wants to showcase the accomplishments of His Son. 

      So here it is again: Jesus by virtue of His finished work on the cross, has earned the right to end history.  The Lamb will have His story.  I’d like to close with a few applications from what we’ve seen today.  First, is your heart and life anchored in the sovereign rule of God?  History has been written by its King and you are a part of it.  That means that God brought you here today to hear about the victory of His Son and become a part of this kingdom that is to come.  If you are a part of it, this should radically change the way you view the trials that you face.  Every trial and temptation you will face has been God approved and none of them are meaningless.  They are part of God’s story for you, meant to conform you more and more into the image of His Son. 

      Second, notice that God doesn’t define victory and heroism in all the ways that we do.  Jesus conquered by dying.  The heroic, kingly Lion became a Lamb and in doing so, won the greatest victory in history.  When we read the Bible, it becomes clear that the way to victory that Jesus chose is the same way to victory we are to choose.  We too conquer by dying.  We save our life by losing it.  We conquer this world by becoming crucified to it.  Have you learned to die daily in order to live victoriously?  The reason that many people struggle so poorly with sin is because they have not learned to die. 

      Finally, where is your heart rooted?  Are you in love with this world and the things in it or are you so in love with God and the world to come that you would weep as John does at the prospect of its delay?  I’ve shared with you the story of David Livingstone before, whose heart was cut out and buried in Africa when he died before his body was shipped home for burial.  It was a picture of where his heart was.  Where would we bury your heart today?  Does your heart bleed for God’s kingdom to come and for His will do be done on earth as it is in heaven?  I pray that it does.  I also pray that if it doesn’t come today, that you will ask God to show His kingdom and His will to this world through your own life.  That can only happen in the life of a person who has been ransomed by the Lamb and made a part of the kingdom.  Will you come to Him today? 

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[1] Robert Mounce, The Book of Revelation: NICNT, 116