Scripture Reading: Rev. 5:5-10
Ⅰ
The book of Revelation is a picture of Jesus Christ; the twenty-two chapters of this book are a single portrait portraying and depicting Jesus—1:1-2, 5.
Ⅱ
“Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome”—5:5a:
A
The lion is a symbol of Christ, portraying Him as a strong fighter against the enemy, as revealed in Genesis 49:8-9.
B
Christ’s overcoming qualifies Him to open the scroll and its seven seals—Rev. 5:5-10.
C
The title Root of David signifies that Christ is the source of David; therefore, David, His forefather, called Him “Lord”—Matt. 22:42-45.
D
As the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Christ overcame and defeated the rebellious Satan, the enemy of God, and as the redeeming Lamb, He took away the sin of fallen man:
１
By so doing, He removed the hindrances to the fulfillment of God’s purpose.
２
The result is that He is worthy to open the scroll concerning God’s economy.
Ⅲ
“I saw in the midst of the throne…a Lamb standing as having just been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth”—Rev. 5:6; 1:4; 3:1:
A
In chapter 5 is the scene in the heavens after Christ ascended there:
１
He was recommended to the apostle John as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but He appeared to John as the Lamb.
２
Asthe Lion, He is the Fighter against the enemy; as the Lamb, He is the Redeemer for us.
３
He fought toredeem us, and He won the battle over the enemy and accomplished redemption for us.
４
To the enemy He is a Lion, and to us He is a Lamb; hence, He is the Lion-Lamb.
B
As far as redemption is concerned, Christ sat down at the right hand of God in the heavens after His ascension (Heb. 1:3; 10:12), whereas regarding the carrying out of God’s administration, He is still standing in His ascension.
C
Having just been slain indicates that the Lamb had just been slain and also that the scene in the heavens that is depicted in Revelation 5 took place immediately after Christ’s ascension into the heavens.
D
The Lord has seven horns—v. 6b:
１
Horns signify strength in fighting—Deut. 33:17.
２
Christ is the redeeming Lamb, yet He has horns for fighting.
３
He is the fighting Redeemer; His fighting is complete in God’s move, as signified by the number seven.
E
Eyes are for observing and searching:
１
Christ as the redeeming Lamb has seven observing and searching eyes for executing God’s judgment upon the universe to fulfill God’s eternal purpose, which will consummate in the building up of the New Jerusalem.
２
In Zechariah 3:9 Christ is prophesied as the stone, the topstone (4:7) with seven eyes for God’s building.
３
These seven eyes are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth, and they run to and fro through the whole earth—v. 10.
４
According to Greek grammar, the antecedent of which is seven eyes—Rev. 5:6.
５
The seven Spirits of God refer only to the seven eyes of the Lamb, and not to His seven horns.
Ⅳ
“The seven Spirits of God”—1:4; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6b:
A
Revelation 1:4 speaks of “the seven Spirits who are before His throne”:
１
The seven Spirits are undoubtedly the Spirit of God because They are ranked among the Triune God in Revelation 1:4-5.
２
As seven is the number for completion in God’s operation, so the seven Spirits must be for God’s move on the earth.
３
In essence and existence God’s Spirit is one; in the intensified function and work of God’s operation, God’s Spirit is sevenfold:
ａ
This is similar to the lampstand in Zechariah 4:2.
ｂ
In its existence it is one lampstand, but in its function it is seven lamps.
４
At the time that the book of Revelation was written, the church had become degraded:
ａ
The age was dark.
ｂ
The sevenfold intensified Spirit of God was needed for God’s move and work on the earth.
B
In Matthew 28:19 the sequence of the Triune God is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; in Revelation 1:4-5 the sequence is changed:
１
The seven Spirits of God are listed in the second place instead of the third.
２
This reveals the importance of the intensified function of the sevenfold Spirit of God.
３
This point is confirmed by the repeated emphasis on the Spirit’s speaking in 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; 14:13; and 22:17.
C
At the opening of the other Epistles, only the Father and the Son are mentioned:
１
From the Father and the Son grace and peace are given to the receivers.
２
In Revelation 1:4-5 the Spirit is included; from Him grace and peace are imparted to the churches.
３
This indicates the crucial need of the Spirit to counteract the degradation of the church for God’s move.
D
The seven Spirits are working in the churches, so the churches will surely go forward.
E
Today we need to see and experience the sevenfold Spirit, the intensified Spirit, the Spirit of recovery—vv. 4-5.
Ⅴ
“They sing a new song, saying: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain and have purchased for God by Your blood men out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation”—5:9:
A
The song here is new because the Lamb whom it praises had just been slain.
B
In the whole universe no one is worthy to open the mystery of God’s economy but Christ, the overcoming Lion and the redeeming Lamb:
１
As the overcoming Lion, He defeated Satan for God.
２
As the redeeming Lamb, He put sin away for us.
３
Christ is the only One qualified to unveil and carry out the mystery of God’s economy.
４
We need to realize that Christ is worthy to open the seals of the secret of the divine economy; this aspect of the Lord’s worthiness is universal and immeasurable.
５
Christ is worthy of our praises; He is worthy even of our lives.