Revelation 5 - What Will Worship Look Like in Heaven?

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The Scroll and the Lamb

5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the 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.”

Scrolls were used to record official documents. The Hebrew bible and other letters in the bible were written on scrolls. The seal was made of wax and usually the one who had written or authorized the scroll stamped his signature or symbol on the wax when it was soft thus sealing the document. 

In this case the scrolls represented what we learned in previous chapters "what was to come". John went up to heaven in the Spirit and saw heaven's throne, the Son of Man, seven lampstands, and seven spirits. In this case in lieu of what information the scrolls contained, they could not be opened by anyone. This made John sad, but one of the 24 elders said to him that Jesus could open the scroll. 

He identifies Jesus as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, who has triumphed. This a reminder that Jesus fulfilled the royal covenant God made with David that there would never fail to be a king who came from David's lineage. In this case, Jesus fulfilled the covenant when He became the Messiah, which also means anointed One. It is the language of kings. 

"These were not seven writings each separated by a seal; but seven seals all set upon one scroll. All the seals must be opened before the scroll could be read." - Guzik

 Some think the scroll was the Old Testament, or the Old and New Testaments together, or fulfilled prophecy. But these ideas look back, not forward, and John wrote of things related to things which must take place after this (Revelation 4:1). Additionally, if the scroll was the Old or New Testament, who is unworthy to open that scroll? - Guzik

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[a] 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, (a) and they will reign[b] on the earth.”

Then, John sees a different picture, this time of a lamb. The appearance of the Lamb was if it had been slain. The lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits referred to earlier. Jesus, the Lamb of God, who took away the sins of the world was fresh in the mind of John the apostle who was there when Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead. 

The seven horns represent power. Jesus is all powerful. He is omnipotent. The seven eyes represent that Jesus can be anywhere he wants. He is omnipresent. And the seven spirits are also sent out. The seven spirits could represent the fullness of the Holy Spirit. We know the Holy Spirit is one, so this could be other spiritual entities, or a reference to the one Holy Spirit. 

The Lamb who took the scroll from the One who was on the throne could be Jesus the Son taking it from God the Father. In the midst of this, the four living creatures and twenty four elders bowed down before the Lamb (Jesus). They were playing music from instruments and were holding golden bowls of incense, which represented the prayers of the people.. 

In my church tradition when we say the prayers during the service after the sermon we call it, "the prayers of the people". So while the pastor who leads the prayer, the people in the congregation say "Lord in your mercy" after each petition. Finally, the people are also represented by the saints who have gone before us. 

The elders and creatures sang a new song reaffirming that the Lamb of God had the power and authority to open up the scrolls because of what he had done on the cross for all people. They use the language that Jesus blood "purchased" or "redeemed" people from every nation, not just the Jews. 

They were made a kingdom of priests. Note the language of king and priest. A king had authority which can only come from God. God's kingdom is where God rules or reigns. God's kingdom comes when the church proclaims Jesus' name and does deeds of power in His name and authority given to us. 

A priest is one who reconciles someone to God. There were the Jewish priests in the Old Testament descended from Aaron', Moses' brother. And Jesus was a priest, who reconciled all people to God through his atoning sacrifice. 

But now John combines the two by saying they have become a kingdom and priest to serve God reign on earth. We are kings and priests here on earth, but in heaven we will reign in a different way. Martin Luther coined the term "the priesthood of all believers" showing us that their is no hierarchy in the church. We are all "little priests" tasked with helping people reconcile with the Father through the Son in the power of the Holy Spirit. 

Because of the elder’s announcement, John expected to see a Lion, but saw a Lamb instead. John even used the specific word for a little lamb; he “Signifies a little or delicate lamb.” (Clarke)

In this we see how precious the prayers of the saints are to God. He regards them as a sweet smelling incense, as if set in precious golden bowls. - Guzik

Believers are kings because of their royal birth and their destiny to reign with Jesus. They are priests because they need no mediator other than Jesus Himself. - Guzik

When a fellow comes forward in all sorts of curious garments, and says he is a priest, the poorest child of God may say, ‘Stand away, and don’t interfere with my office: I am a priest; I know not what you may be. You surely must be a priest of Baal, for the only mention of the word vestments in Scripture is in connection with the temple of Baal.’ The priesthood belongs to all the saints.” (Spurgeon)

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.

John continues to see the scene unfolding in heaven. It is the scene of thousands upon thousands of angels encircling the throne with the living Creatures and the elders singing, "Worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

Can you imagine what that must have looked like for John to behold this? This is why I said at the beginning of John's letter of Revelation, a big theme of this book is what worship looks like in heaven.  Today, we worship God usually once a week at church on Sunday, in our private prayer times, and maybe with our small groups. In heaven I think it is going to the be center of our life together in the center of heaven where Jesus sits on his throne.  Worship will be CENTRAL to everything we do in heaven. 

As you worship tomorrow it would be good to at least imagine what it is going to be like when every Christian and every tribe and nation is worshipping the Lamb of God on the throne forever. We will be free of sin, death, and the power of the devil.

I can't wait! It's gonna be great!