THE BOOK OF REVELATION is an *“uncovering” of apocalyptic prophecy given to John by Jesus, who “made it known by sending his angel to his servant John.” (Rev. 1:1) It tells of the tragic resolution of humanity’s sad history, and the following beginning of a perfected new destiny.
John’s vision of impending judgment began with an overwhelming literally other-worldly view of God sitting on his throne in heaven, worshiped by heavenly beings. They cry out, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Rev. 4:11) The portent of extensive judgment is in the powerful hand of the sovereign of all creation. “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.” (Rev. 5:1) We are present, with John, to hear the mighty angel proclaim, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” (Rev. 5:2)
Perhaps there was/is/will be silence at this moment. The angel looks across the assembled creatures and elders, but none of them answer. We get the impression that his gaze takes in all of heaven and all of earth, and includes all who have lived in the first creation from beginning to now. “But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.” (Rev. 5:3) John is deeply affected by this: As a youth, he was mentored by and ministered with Jesus; in maturity, he has been an apostle and elder; in old age, he has seen the church of Jesus Christ under persecution and threat of extinction. Now, in his surreal vision of heaven, aware of the dire state of the inhabitants of the earth, he is shaken by the silence. “I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.” (Rev. 5:4)
The tension of the moment is at a nexus greater than at any time since Jesus’ death on the cross. Now even more so, heaven, hell, and eternity are trapped in a vortex of energies that must have resolution, or the universe itself, along with the unknown realms outside it, will vibrate into chaos. And a sudden bright burst of illumination comes. “Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah (cf. Gen. 49:9-10) , the Root of David (cf. Isa. 11:1, 10, Rev. 22:16 ), has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’” (Rev. 5:5)
John’s anxious heart stills as his gaze settles on a figure. “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne.” (Rev. 5:6a) Scripture says that “The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” (Rev. 5:6b)
Biblically, the number seven has great significance. The seventh day completes creation, so seven is seen as a perfect number; it represents perfection and completeness both physically and spiritually. A horn symbolizes strength and power, so the Lamb is not only all-powerful, but perfect in power, indicating righteousness in judgment. The Lamb’s seven eyes/spirits are all-seeing, and encompass all wisdom, perception, knowledge, and understanding. A prophecy of Isaiah says of the Messiah, the “shoot from the stump of Jesse” (Isa. 11:1), “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.” (Isa. 11:2-4) Three sevens, or ‘777,’ is a number of the perfection of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—all here present at the throne of God.
At the appearance of the Lamb, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders “each had a harp, 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 purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Rev. 5:8-9) And with this, the holy of holies in heaven is widened, as are John’s eyes. “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. In a loud voice they were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain.’” (Rev. 5:11-12) The crescendo of voices in chorus breaks open the fabric of the universe that have separated heaven and earth. “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!” (Rev. 5:13)
John’s depiction of this scene in heaven gives great hope to all of us who await for Jesus to be revealed. That time will come during a period of great travail upon the earth, perhaps a time as now. It will answer the cry of the hearts of his righteous followers who await for his promised return. “At that time people will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. And he will send his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of the heavens.” (Mark 13:26-27)
Q. Am I able to patiently endure? (cf. Rev. 13:10)
*Louw Nida 28.38
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