Revelation chapter 5: 1 to 10 - 'The Scroll and the Lamb'
1
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 earthcould open the scroll
or even look inside it.
4 I wept and wept because no one was found who wasworthy 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
scrolland its seven seals."
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the
centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures
and the elders. He
had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent
out into all the earth.
Chapter five, although developing out of the imagery presented in chapter four presents, initially, an altogether different aspect. Whereas in the fourth chapter we are introduced to a scene of magnificent power and splendour with God reigning supreme, and with innumerable eyes looking outward towards the whole of creation, chapter five draws us back to reflect on ‘the One’ who is central to God’s purpose with mankind.
Much of the scene is as presented in the previous chapter: yet there are significant differences. The twenty-four elders (verse 8), each had a harp and they were holding golden bowls (A.V.‘vials’), full of incense, ‘… which are the prayers of the saints.’ The Greek word for ‘vial’ or ‘bowl’ is ‘phiale’, and is correctly a flat-bottomed bowl, used for libations. In the right hand of Him who sat on the throne was a scroll, with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.
A ‘mighty angel’ asks: ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ Because no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it, the Apostle ‘wept and wept.’ It was one of the Elders who told John that he need not weep! At which the Elder identifies for John ‘The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David’, who, having ‘triumphed’, stands in the centre of the throne ‘… a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain.’ The Elder assured John that the Lamb would be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.
The Lamb is further described as having ‘… seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.’ Given the weight of other scriptural ‘echoes’, there can be no doubt concerning the identity of ‘the Lamb.’ It was John the Baptist who most clearly identified ‘the lamb of God’ as being God’s son, Jesus Christ:
‘The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said (to his disciples) "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”’ John 1:29
Just a few verses later, he confirmed this association:
‘When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"’ John 1:36
It’s the Gospel writer, the Apostle John, who both recorded John the Baptist’s observation and would certainly have made the same association when he received this vision regarding ‘the Lamb.’
Just two chapters later in Revelation, regarding the vision of ‘the one hundred and forty-four thousand’, the Apostle John observed:
"These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore, they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.” Revelation 7:14-16
Other than stating that he spoke in a ‘loud voice’, no other description is given to the ‘mighty angel’.
Throughout the creation of this series of images, it has been my ongoing endeavour, not only to be true to the text of Revelation, but also - through comparison - to support such through the ‘evidence’ of other Scriptures - both from within the Old and New Testaments.
To the best of my knowledge, all artists since Bible times have provided their angels with the expedient of ‘wings’: yet in all Biblical references to angels, no such provision is described. Indeed, on a number of occasions, they were, initially mistaken for mere men.
Perhaps the angels of art history were provided with such, either with a concern for their mobility, or as an allusion to ‘the seraphim’ of Isaiah’s Prophecy, chapter six, verses two and three:
‘Above Him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.”’ Isaiah 6: 2-3
Clearly the relationship between the seraphs (A.V.‘seraphim’) of Isaiah, and the four living creatures of Revelation, is intended to be understood by the reader, and should not be confused with angels who, in scriptural terms, were frequent visitors to mankind - most likely without the expedient of wings!
My visual interpretation of the text presents the moment of tension as John (not included within my image), weeps at the words of the mighty angel. Clearly to the relief of the Apostle, the text concludes this particular revelation by confirming that the Lamb - in the centre of the throne - was uniquely worthy to take ‘… the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.’ Revelation 5: 7
The chapter ends with the twenty-four elders singing ‘a new song’ in praise of the Lamb, and - encircling the throne and the living creatures and the elders - angels, ‘numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand’, themselves singing loud the praises of the Lamb.
Finally, this magnificent refrain is taken up by ‘… every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honour and glory and power, for ever and ever!”’ Revelation 5:13