1And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Revelation 5:1-5
Who is worthy to open the book? This book has been witten in and sealed up by somebody. It has been preserved and protected by someone waiting for a moment in time. Who did that? It must have been God the Father because He is the one with the book; therefore, we can safely assume this book belongs to Him since He has possession. However, He is looking for a worthy man that can receive this very important book.
Sadly, no man is found anywhere that is worthy to take this book from the Father. Some translations say "no one" is found worthy to open and read the book. However, the King James and other translations say "no man" is found worthy to open the book. Not one of the Father's human sons is worthy to open the book. The elders are redeemed men that are highly esteemed by Heaven's court, but they are not worthy to open this book. Revelation 5:7-10 No one in the grave is worthy to open this book. Daniel, God's greatly beloved one; Noah, the father of everyone born since the flood; and even Job, the tried and true one, is not worthy to take this book and open it. No one on the earth is worthy to open this book. Consider the most upright man you know and realize that they are not worthy. John is devestated. I am perplexed. Apparently John knows what is in the book. I do not and am confused by its contents. What is in the book that is so important? I must wait for God to reveal the answer to my question.
Must it be a man that opens the book? Yes, it must be one of God's sons from the human race that opens this book. This book will determine who lives to reign on the earth. It is about our inheritance. It determines our right to rule with Christ on the planet that God gave to mankind in the garden. Genesis 1:27-28 We were destined to be kings and queens, but dominion was stolen from us. Our first parents lost dominion. Eve sinned because she was deceived by doubt; Adam was not deceived but chose his will over the will of God. We blame Eve for the woes of the world and rightly so; however, dominion was lost through the choice that Adam made. That does not mean Eve is blameless, but dominion was lost through Adam so it is through Adam that it must be regained. 2 Corinthians 11:3; 1 Timothy 2:14; Romans 5:12-21
The woman also plays a part in regaining dominion. The man that opens this book must be born of a woman. The woman was cursed with and will be saved by the pain of childbirth. 1 Timothy 2:15 This passage has puzzled women of all ages since Christ ascended and called Paul to preach. We do not like this passage and all it implies. Most women are not going to vote for Paul when asked to identify their favorite apostle. However, like all scripture, we must look beyond our notions and ideas to search the mind of God. It is through childbirth that the daughters of Eve will partake in the slaying of the serpent. Genesis 3:14-15 If Eve's daughters commit to birthing children, one of their sons will be the Worthy One.
Eve's heart was broken when her children fought each other to death. I am sure she felt great loss because one son was taken by death and another by distance. However, after experiencing the pain of childbirth multiple times, she willingly chose to deliver another son and praised God because she hoped he would be the Worthy One. Without her persitent faith and Seth's lineage, the Worthy One would not be born.
The woman bearing children through pain represents the state of believers. All believes of all ages were born again through the trevails of other believers that were willing to birth them. Galatians 4:19 Why must we born again? Our original birthright was lost in the garden, but through Christ it is once again established. God was not mean and vindictive when He cursed Eve and all her daughters with the pain of childbirth.
God desired that Eve and her daughters would understand that the spirit of disobedience, even when it is done in ignorance and appears small to us, has very large consequences. In giving the daughers of Eve this knowledge, He gave the hand that rocked the cradle the opportunity to share this information will all her children so they would not be deceived by the wiles of the devil. The pain suffered by the woman in childbirth represents the pain the bride of Christ (believers of all ages) have felt and will continue to feel in delivering the kingdom of God. Galatians 4:19; John 13:33; 1 John 2:1, 12, 28; 3:7, 18
Mary was the most cursed and blessed woman because she gave birth to the Worthy One. Luke 1:29-33; 2:33-35 She did not have to do this wonderful, but oppressive thing. God gave Mary free will in this matter just as He gave free will to Eve in the garden. Free will is not given to those enslaved, but is only given to those with the right to reign. Mary, regally chose to bow before the Lord in servitude, said, "May it be to me as you have said." Luke 1:38 Mary is a daughter of Eve, and because the daugthers of Eve willingly choose to suffer the pains of childbirth, just for the joy of a child being born and placed in their arms, many men women and children will be born again into the Kingdom of God. Man plays a role in the birth of the Worthy One through procreation, but it is only the Worthy One that can make a difference. Yes, the woman was deceived, but without the faith of the women in the world the Worthy One would not have been born and you could not be born again. Be born again or forfeit your place in the kingdom to come. John 3:1-15
John is consumed by his grief and despair until one of the angels points out that there is One with the right to reign. He has been born of a woman of the tribe of Judah and is of the lineage of David, the one chosen by God to reign. David's God given right to reign over Israel typifies God's right to reign in Heaven and on earth. God's power to set up and take down reigning monarchs demonstrates His authority over the cosmos. It is also representative of God's right to choose His only begotten Son to reign over the earth. Since Jesus is born of the tribe of Judah and is a descendent of David, he has met the legal requirement that establishes Him as a rightful heir to the throne, but is He the Worthy One?
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 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 holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
Revelation 5:6-10
Please recall that in Revelation 4:2, 6 we saw God the Father sitting on the throne and we saw the Spirit of God in the front of and also in the center of the throne. Here we see that the lamb is also in the center of the throne. The saints, like the twenty-four elders, will be given thrones but only God can sit on His throne. In this throne room scene we see the most beautiful illustration of God that is three but one. We see the Father, the Spirit and the Son rightfully occupying the throne. We know from this demonstration that the Lamb has the right to reign in Heaven, but does He have the right to take dominion of the earth back from the one that stole it? John 12:30-32 The prince of this dark world will not forfeit his right to rule although he is an usurper. He will fight the lamb to death. In fact, he did fight the lamb to death.
The Lamb was slain, but the grave could not hold Him. Christianity has been criticised for being exclusive, but this faith is exclusively the only one that will boldly proclaim the resurrection of the body. Israel, excluding the Sadducees, proclaimed it first. Christians serve a God that did it! I am sure the demons led by the Devil danced around the pole at the death of Jesus. They laughed with glee when the desciples were overcome with fear. However, at the resurrection of Christ everything turned around. The desciples danced with glee and the Devil and his demons quivered in fear and anger. That moment defines the faith of many both past and present. Satan knew he would in time forfeit those in the grave. The ones with a legitimate claim to this world will live again and exert their right to rule. However, he has one ace up his sleeve. If the former owners are deserving of death, they can not live and reign.
I think I am starting to get it. This grand Heavenly assembly is not just about our right to live and reign on earth--it is about our right to live! Each year the great high priest would go into the Most Holy Place and find atonement for himself, his household and Israel. Leviticus 16, 23; Numbers 29 If he entered in and was found "unworthy" he would be slain by the presence of God demonstrating that he was not worthy to live. There is no biblical example of this ever happening. However, Israel believed that if atonement was not made for corporate Israel, the nation would die. If the individual believer did not seek atonement, he would die within the year. The fall festivals that included Elul, Feast of Trumpets and Day of Atonement all meet in the earthly tabernacle. They represent the atonement process completed for us by Christ in the Heavenly temple.
The slain, but living lamb is the resurrected Jesus. The great high priest had to be found worthy, but the lamb also had to be a worthy sacrifice. It must be unblemished and without spot. The life of Christ is without the stain of sin. He is not only worthy to be our Great High Priest, but He offered Himself as a worthy sacrifice as required by the Passover. Exodus 12; Leviticus 23 Jesus met the legality of the law by by being a legal heir to the throne. Of greater significance, He fulfilled the morality of the law with His sinless life. He lives and has bestowed life upon all the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve that choose The Way.
Of course, Satan will cry foul. Therefore, before the world was formed from its very foundation God made a law that any son or daughter of Adam and Eve could partake of eternal life. God predetermined that The Way back into the kingdom was available to all the sons and daughters of Adam and Eve before they knew a need. However, free will demands that you have a say in this matter. You do not have to walk in The Way. God did not predestine who would choose life, but through His foreknowledge He knew the names of the ones that would and wrote their names in a book sealing it up until the very end of time. Exodus 32:31-33 This book plays a very big part in the revelation of Jesus. The letter to the church in Sardis teaches us that Jesus will preserve our names in the Book of Life if we overcome. Revelation 3:5
At the removal of the sixth seal, Jesus will call forth from the grave all those that have their names written in the book even with it still sealed with the final seal--the seventh seal. At the great white throne, the last seal will be removed and the Book of Life will be opened. Revelation 20:11-12 When the names of the ones Jesus calls forth from the grave match the names of the ones in the book, then both the Father, The Way and the ones that walked in The Way will be exonerated. The twenty-four elders are in Heaven because they accepted The Way. Now they have also accepted the Worthy One. Will Heaven also accept the Worthy One?
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. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 5:11-14
The entire cosmic community accepts the Worthy One. Heaven's slain lamb will now rise up and begin removing the seals from the book so it can be opened. He has taken the book from the Father, and it is now the Lamb's book of life. Heaven has put full confidence in this conqueror and has opened up the windows of Heaven to support this mission. All power in Heaven and earth has been given to our warrior. The coffers of the cosmos (wealth) are an open resource to Him and His. Those that seek wisdom will not be disappointed because it is time for the wise to shine like stars forever leading many to eternal life. The Messiah to the world is encouraged by all of Heaven to flex His muscles because His strength surpasses Satan. Our Savior is the most honored man in the universe and He will bring honor to His own. It is time for Him to reveal His glory to all. Finally, it is the time for all that will praise Him to do so now because today is the day of salvation!
The slain Lamb that is in the midst of and in the front of the throne also has seven horns and seven eyes. Revelation 5:6 Horns represent power and when a king or a kingdom's horn is broken off, the power is gone. Daniel 8:5-8 Jesus has seven horns because He is all powerful. He has seven eyes because He is all knowing. These seven eyes represent the seven fold spirit of God. The number seven represents the completeness of Heaven. Jesus sends the seven fold Holy Spirit out into the four corners of the earth to do the bidding of the Father and the Son. Each time a seal is opened the Spirit of God will deliver the will of the Son to the earth. Revelation 6:1, 3, 5, 7 It is the work of the Spirit to reveal the work of the Son to the church. John 14:25-26; 15:26 It is the work of the Spirit to empower the church to complete our work in the Lord. Acts 1:6-8
Each time one of the seals is removed Jesus takes action to implement the rescue mission. Of course, the Devil will resist and try to thwart the Messiah. Jesus has conquered death and He will conquer Satan. War is declared. The accuser of the brethren accuses us day and night in the temple of God, but he will be kicked out of the presence of God. He will no longer have access to Heaven and the throne of God. He will be cast to the earth. He will be furious because his time is short and will take his anger out on the born again sons and daughters of Adam and Eve. Revelation 12:7-12 Hell is coming to earth, but know that Heaven was here first and never left. God's will be done on earth as it is in Heaven, and we are the beneficiaries of His will.
The following story is fascinating. It is the history of your future. It is history because the end has already been declared from the foundation of the world. Yet, it has still to be fulfilled in all its glory and you have yet to partake of the full bounty as a child of God. Time is running out for mankind to determine our fate. We have great opportunities before us. You are invited to participate in the greatest covert rescue mission known to man. It is covert because God reveals His mysteries only to His own. It has been predetermined that you have the grand privilege to be God's own and have the mysteries of God revealed to you so, read on!
