Apocalipse 5
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Apocalipse 5:1-5
5:1 "I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne" A better translation of this phrase would be "on the right hand of Him" (Peshitta translated into English by Lamsa and the Amplified Bible). It is not the idea of God holding tightly to the book, but God holding it out for someone to take and open. The phrase "the right hand of Him" is a biblical anthropomorphism to describe God's power and authority (see note at Rev. 2:1). God does not have a physical body; He is a spiritual being (cf. John 4:24), uncreated and eternal. SPECIAL TOPIC: HAND SPECIAL TOPIC: GOD DESCRIBED AS HUMAN (anthropomorphism) ▣ "book" The Greek term is "biblion" which later was used to refer to a codex (book). Most commentators agree that books did not appear until the second century, so what we have here is a papyrus or parchment scroll (NKJV, NRSV, TEV and NJB). There are several theories as to the meaning of this book. the book of woes found in Ezek. 2:8-10; and Rev. 10:8-11 the book which the people are unwilling to read because God has spiritually blinded them (cf. Isa. 29:11; Rom. 11:8-10,25) the events of the end-time (cf. Dan. 8:26) a Roman last will or testament, which was traditionally sealed with seven seals the book of life (cf. Dan. 7:10; 12:1), which is mentioned so often in the book of the Revelation (cf. 3:5; 17:8; 20:12,15) the Old Testament (cf. Col. 2:14; Eph. 2:15) the heavenly tablets of I Enoch 81:1,2 In my opinion aspects of #1, #2, or #3 seem to be best; the scroll is a book of the destiny of mankind and God's culmination of history. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE TWO BOOKS OF GOD ▣ "written inside and on the back" This was very unusual in the ancient world because of the difficulty of writing on the back side of papyrus, although it is mentioned in Ezek. 2:8-10 and Zechariah 5:3. It symbolizes God's complete and full control over history and human destiny. Both of the PARTICIPLES (written and sealed) that describe this scroll are PERFECT PASSIVES. The first is a special grammatical form used to describe Scripture as being inspired (i.e., John 6:45; 8:17; 10:34, etc). The second is a way of expressing that the scroll was protected, preserved, and reserved by God. ▣ "sealed up with seven seals" The seven seals have two possible origins. Seven was the number of perfection from Genesis 1, therefore, it was perfectly sealed. Roman wills were sealed with seven seals. The seals were small blobs of wax containing the imprint of the owner, placed where the book or scroll would be opened. In Rev. 6:1-8:1 the breaking of these seals brings woes upon the earth, but the content of the scroll is not revealed in this literary unit. As a matter of fact, in the structure of the book, the seventh seal starts the seven trumpets which is the seventh seal. SPECIAL TOPIC: SEAL 5:2 "I saw a strong angel" Some see a connection etymologically to the name Gabriel, which means "God's strong man." Another strong angel is mentioned in Rev. 10:1 and 18:21. Angelic mediation is common in Jewish intertestamental apocalyptic literature (i.e., Daniel 10). ▣ "proclaiming with a loud voice" He was addressing all creation. ▣ "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?" The term "worthy" is a commercial term relating to the use of a pair of scales. It came to mean "that which corresponds to." Something is put on one side of the scales and what is put on the other is equal. It could be used in a negative or positive sense. In Rev. 4:10-11 it is used of God the Father. Here, it is the inestimable value of the sinless Savior. Only Jesus was equal to the task of redemption. Only Jesus was equal to the task of consummation. Only Jesus is worthy. SPECIAL TOPIC: GLORY (kabod, OT) 5:3 "And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it" This shows the total inability of angels or humans (i.e., alive and dead) to bring about the will of God! Rebellion has affected them all! Creation cannot help itself! No one is worthy! 5:4 "I began to weep greatly" This is an IMPERFECT TENSE VERB, which denotes the beginning of an action or repeated action in past time. This meant "loud wailing," so characteristic of the Ancient Near East. 5:5 "one of the elders said to me" Here we find one of the elders acting in the role of an angelic interpreter, as in the book of Daniel. SPECIAL TOPIC: ELDER ▣ "Stop weeping" This is a PRESENT IMPERATIVE with the NEGATIVE PARTICLE which usually meant to stop an act which is already in process. ▣ "the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah" This is an allusion to Gen. 49:9-10 (cf. II Esdras 12:31,32). The Messiah is the conquering Lion (king) from the tribe of Judah. SPECIAL TOPIC: LIONS (OT) ▣ "the Root of David" This is an allusion to 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17, and particularly Isa. 11:1-10. This same idea of a royal Davidic Messiah can be found in Jer. 23:5; 33:5 and Rev. 22:16; also note Gen. 49:10. ▣ "has overcome" This is an AORIST ACTIVE INDICATIVE, which implies it was an accomplished fact (i.e., Calvary and the empty tomb). Notice that the Lion is not going to conquer by His power, but by His sacrifice (cf. Rev. 5:6).
Apocalipse 5:6-10
5:6 "a Lamb standing" This concept of a sacrificial Lamb (i.e., baby lamb, arnion) depicts the vicarious atonement and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Lamb is mentioned throughout the book of the Revelation (cf. Rev. 5:6,8,12,13; 6:1,16; 7:9,10,14,17; 12:11; 13:8; 14:1,4 (twice),10; 15:3; 17:14; 19:7,9; 21:9,14,22,23,27; 22:1,3). This sacrificial imagery is from the Passover Lamb (Exodus 12) one of the lambs that was sacrificed daily in the morning and evening ("the continual," cf. Exod. 29:38-46; Num. 28:3,6,10,23,31; 29:11,16,19,22,25,28,31,34,38) the slain lamb of Isa. 53:7 or John 1:7,29 the sacrificial lamb of John 1:29 This imagery is used of Jesus in two distinct senses: as an innocent sacrificial victim as the overcoming victor (also found in Jewish apocalyptic literature, cf. I Enoch 90:9; Testament of Joseph 19:8-9) In the NT only John the Baptist in John 1:29,36 and John in Revelation 5:6,8,12,13; 61:1, refer to Jesus as "Lamb." Paul asserts this, but without the term in 1 Cor. 5:7. The Lamb and the Lion characterize the two comings of Jesus, Savior now, Judge later (cf. John 3:14,15,16-21). ▣ "as if slain" He was dead but now alive. The Messiah's resurrection is parodied by the sea beast in Rev. 13:3. SPECIAL TOPIC: RESURRECTION ▣ "having seven horns and seven eyes" The first term refers to power or omnipotence (cf. Exod. 27:2; 29:12; Deut. 33:17; 2 Chr. 18:10; Ps. 112:9; 132:17; Jer. 48:25; Ezek. 29:21; Zech. 1:18-21). The second term refers to God's omniscience (cf. Rev. 4:6,8; Ezek. 1:18; 10:12; Zech. 3:9 and 4:10). This symbolism is similar to Dan. 7:13-14. ▣ "which are the seven Spirits of God" See and note at Rev. 4:5. SPECIAL TOPIC: THE SEVEN SPIRITS IN REVELATION 5:8 "When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb" This denoted angelic worship of the Lamb as well as the worship of God (cf. Rev. 5:13), which is a central theme in Revelation (cf. 1 Cor. 15:24-28). ▣ "harp" Ancient harps were stringed instruments used in praise (v. 9). ▣ "and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints" Angels were the regular bearers of prayers to God in inter-biblical Jewish literature (cf. Tobit 12:15; III Baruch 11). The idea of incense representing prayers or at least the occasion of offering incense was accompanied with prayer (cf. Rev. 5:8; 8:3-4; Ps. 141:2; Luke 1:9-10). ▣ "saints" Although the word "church" does not appear after chapter 3, the concept of "saints" does continue throughout the book and must refer to the people of God. The concept of believers as "saints" is common in Revelation (cf. Rev. 8:3-4; 11:18; 13:7,10; 14:12; 16:6; 17:6; 18:20,24; 19:8 and 20:9). SPECIAL TOPIC: SAINTS 5:9-10 There is a significant Greek manuscript variant related to the PRONOUN "us." The NKJV has the PRONOUN "us" in Rev. 5:9, "have redeemed us to God," and in Rev. 5:10, "and have made us kings and priests to our God." Most modern translations (NASB, NRSV, TEV, NJB) omit "us" in both verses. If "us" is present in both verses then Jesus' sacrificial death includes the twenty-four elders who seem to be angelic creatures. Nowhere in the Bible is Jesus' death related to angelic redemption. Also, the presence of "them" (autous) in Rev. 5:10 grammatically excludes the possibility of "us" being original. The United Bible Society's fourth edition rates the two PLURAL PRONOUN'S omission as "certain." 5:9 "And they sang a new song" In the OT there are many allusions to the new song (cf. Ps. 33:3; 40:3; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1 and Isa. 42:10). At every major event in the OT, the people of God were encouraged to sing a new song praising God's activity. This is the ultimate song about God's revealing Himself in the Messiah and the Messiah's work of redemption on behalf of all believers (cf. Rev. 5:9,12,13; 14:3). The emphasis on "new" things is characteristic of the new age in Isaiah 42-66. "new things," Isa. 42:9; 43:19; Jer. 31:22 "new song," Ps. 96:1; Isa. 42:10 "do something new," Isa. 43:19 "new things," Isa. 48:6 "new name," Isa. 56:5; 62:6; 65:15 "new heavens and new earth," Isa. 65:17; 66:22 "new covenant," Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:22-36 "new heart, new mind, new spirit," Ezek. 11:19; 18:31; 36:26 In Revelation there are also many "new things." "new Jerusalem," Rev. 3:12; 21:2 "new name," Rev. 2:17; 3:12 "new song," Rev. 5:9,10,12,13; 14:3 "new heaven and new earth," Rev. 21:1 SPECIAL TOPIC: OLD THINGS. . .NEW THINGS ▣ "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals" This new song (Rev. 5:9-10) is a fivefold description of the worthiness of the Lamb. substitutionary death (cf. Rev. 5:6,9,12; 13:8; 1 Pet. 1:18-19) redemptive price paid (cf. Rev. 5:9; 14:3-4; Mark 10:45; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; 7:23; 1 Tim. 2:6) purchased men from every nation (cf. Rev. 5:9; 7:9; 14:6) made the believers a kingdom of priests (cf. Rev. 1:6; 5:10) they will reign with Him (cf. Rev. 3:21; 5:10; 20:4) ▣ "from every tribe and tongue and people and nation" This is recurrent imagery of universality (cf. Rev. 7:9; 11:9; 13:7; 14:6). It may be an allusion to Dan. 3:4,7 or even 4:1. ▣ "and purchases for God with Your blood" This is surely a reference to the vicarious atonement of the Lamb of God (i.e., John 1:29). This concept of Jesus as the sacrifice for sin is central in Revelation (cf. Rev. 1:5; 5:9,12; 7:14; 12:11; 13:8; 14:4; 15:3; 19:7; 21:9,23; 22:3) and also in all the NT (cf. Matt. 20:28; 26:28; Mark 10:45; Rom. 3:24-25; 1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; 4:5; Eph. 1:7; Phil. 2:8; 1 Tim. 2:6; Titus 2:14; Heb. 9:28; and 1 Pet. 1:18-10). SPECIAL TOPIC: RANSOM/REDEEM 5:10 "have made them to be a kingdom and priests" This is an allusion to Exod. 19:6 and Isa. 61:6. This terminology, originally designating Israel as YHWH's covenant people, is now used for the Church, the new covenant of God (cf. Rev. 1:6; 20:6; 1 Pet. 2:5,9). See note at Rev. 1:6. ▣ "they will reign upon the earth" Some translators see this in a future sense and some see it as a present reality. There is a Greek manuscript variant between the FUTURE TENSE in MSS א, P and the PRESENT TENSE in MS A (Alexandrinus). If it is in a PRESENT sense it is similar to Rom. 5:17 and Eph. 2:6. If FUTURE it possibly deals with the reigning of the people of God with Christ (cf. Matt. 19:28; Luke 22:30; 1 Cor. 4:8; 2 Tim. 2:12; Rev. 3:21; 5:10). Even this future reign is seen in two ways. in Rev. 20:4, 6 it seems to refer to a millennial reign in Rev. 22:5 it seems to refer to an eternal reign (cf. Ps. 145:13; Isa. 9:7; Dan. 2:44; 7:14,18,27) possibly the millennium is a symbol of eternity (10x10x10) The UBS 4 gives the future tense an "A" rating (certain). SPECIAL TOPIC: REIGNING IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Apocalipse 5:11-14
5:11 "many angels" This verse lists three groups of angels: many angels (thousands of thousands) living creatures (four) elders (twenty-four). ▣ "the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands" This seems to be an allusion to the heavenly court of Dan. 7:10 attending angels (cf. Deut. 33:2) SPECIAL TOPIC: HEAVENLY COUNCIL SPECIAL TOPIC: ANGELS OR ANGELIC BEINGS 5:12 "the Lamb that was slain to receive power" This is the affirmation of the Son from the angelic beings. "Was slain" is a PERFECT PASSIVE PARTICIPLE (cf. Rev. 5:6; 13:8), which implies "slain in the past" with the marks and effect of the slaying remaining. When we see Jesus He will still have the marks of the crucifixion. They have become His badge of honor! The concept of the cross is implicit and central in Revelation. See note at Rev. 5:9. In this verse seven attributes are given unto the Lamb by the angelic orders: power riches wisdom might honor (cf. Rev. 4:11; 7:12) glory (cf. Rev. 4:11; 7:12) blessing These attributes may come from 1 Chr. 29:10-12, which may also be the OT source for the liturgic conclusion to the Lord's Prayer in the doxological conclusion of the Model Prayer in Matt. 6:13. The NASB Study Bible (p. 1855) adds the note that the attributes of God begin with three in Rev. 4:11, then four in Rev. 5:13, and finally seven in Rev. 5:12 and 7:12. Remember apocalyptic literature is a highly structured genre which uses symbolic numbers often. SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE 5:13 All conscious human creation (the largest human choir possible), humans (both alive and dead) in Rev. 5:13 bless the Father and the Son with a fourfold eternal blessing (cf. Rev. 5:14; Ps. 103:19-20; Phil. 2:8-11) and the angelic orders (the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders) surrounding the throne affirm the blessing (cf. Rev. 5:14). blessings honor glory dominion 5:14 "Amen" This is an affirmation from the four throne angels (the four living creatures). SPECIAL TOPIC: AMEN