Revelation 5:6-10 Prelude of Praise

Rev. 5:6   And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.  7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.  8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.  9 And they sang a new song, saying,

            “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10        “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

Prayer and Bible Expo

Describe the Lamb standing between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders. (5:6) Who is the Lamb?

§  “. . . a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth” (5:6).

§  The Lamb = Jesus.

o   ἀρνίον (arnion) – “a sheep of any age, sheep, lamb, in our literature only in imagery: in Rv a designation of Christ 5:6, 8, 12f, 6:1, 16; 7:9f, 14, 17; 12:11; 13:8; 14:1, 4, 10; 15:3; 17:14; 19:7, 9; 21:9, 14, 22f, 27; 22:1, 3” (BDAG, 133).

o   Zech. 3:9 ‘For behold, the stone that I have set before Joshua; on one stone are seven eyes. Behold, I will engrave an inscription on it,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.

o   John 1:29   The next day he  saw Jesus coming to him and  said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Who is holding the book in his right hand? Who takes the book out of His hand? (5:7)

§  Yahweh - Him who sat on the throne (5:7).

§  Jesus came and took the book out of the right hand of Yahweh.

What is the response of the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders when He had taken the book? What are each of the twenty-four elders holding? What are they? 5:8)

§  When Jesus had taken the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne, the 4 living creatures and 24 elders fell down before the Lamb (5:8).

§  Each one was holding – “. . . a harp and golden bowls full of incense” (5:8).

o   θυμίαμα (thumiama) – Aromatic substance used in cultic ritual, incense (BDAG, 461).

§  “prayers of the saints” (5:8).

o   Psa. 141:2  May my prayer be counted as incense before You;

The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.

What is the new song  that they sang? (5:9)

§  “. . . Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth” (5:9-10).

Why is He worthy to take the book and to break its seals? What did He purchase for God with His blood? What has He made them to be? Where will they reign? (5:9-10)

§  Worthy - “. . . for You were slain. . .” (5:9).

§  “. . . and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (5:9).

§  “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God . . .” (5:10).

§  “. . . and they will reign upon the earth” (5:10).

What do you learn about God in Rev 5:6-10?

Jesus is the Lamb Who was slain and purchased for God with His blood men from every tribe, tongue, people and nation, and He made them to be a kingdom and priests to God.

How could this truth transform your life? 

§  Remember that redemption is by the blood of the Lamb.

§  Offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Father,

You so loved the world that You gave Your only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. Jesus is the Lamb Who came and took away the sins of the world. Just as was foretold through the prophet Zechariah, You removed the iniquity of the land in a single day. We were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from the futile way of life inherited from our forefathers, but with precious blood as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. Through Jesus are believers in You, Who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that our faith and hope are in You. To You, our God Who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.