The Lamb - Revelation 5

5:1-6 - We have the scene set before us, the throne of God with colors representing the 12 tribes of Israel, a rainbow arched over the throne, 24 seats around the throne with 24 elders kneeling in front of them with their crowns out in front of them. The ground is crystal and represents the celestialized earth and there are 4 winged beasts in front praising God. Chapter 5 picks up here when John notices that the man sitting on the throne, presumably God, is holding in his right hand “a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.” I had always envisioned this as a literal book like we have that just had binding around different chapters, but the IM has a picture of what this probably looks like according to what was used at the time that this was written, and it’s really interesting. Under the picture of an ancient sealed papyrus scroll, the IM says, “Sealing an ancient document identified its owner and his authority, made the document legally binding, and protected it from unauthorized disclosure.” An angel proclaimed “with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” There was no one who was worthy to open the book or to look at what was inside of it. I imagine that this was a sword in the stone or hammer of Thor type of scenario, where only the one who was worthy could yield it. John was pretty upset that no one could open or read the book and cried, but was comforted by one of the elders who said, “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed up open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” In the “midst” of the throne and the elders and the beasts, “stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having twelves horns and twelve eyes, which are the twelve servants of God.” This Lamb takes the book out of the hand of God and everyone, the elders and beasts, all fall down “before the Lamb.” This is all very abstract, but obviously this Lamb is Jesus, we can tell because some of the characteristics of Christ are expounded by the descriptions given here. First is the description of “the Lion of the tribe of Juda,” which the IM comments, “is a fitting title because a lion is majestic and powerful and because the Savior was born through the lineage of Judah. The titled Lion of Judah is a stark contrast to the meek and sacrificial ‘Lamb’ mentioned in verse 6. These two images convey that Christ possesses both majesty and meekness.” If I saw a baby sheep that obviously had been done violence to the point of death and thought “that animal is as strong as a lion,” there’s a cognitive disconnect there because sheep and lions are natural enemies, one hunting the other, so for one being to encompass the characteristics of both and to have both aspects live peacefully inside him is profound. The other description used by the elder to describe Jesus was the “Root of David.” We know that Jesus is a descendant of David, but the IM makes an interesting connection to that phrase saying, “A root provides lifesaving water and nourishment to a plant- such was the mission of Jesus Christ to all who accept Him as their Savior and Redeemer.” I can’t help but feel that all this imagery about plants and animals to describe the Savior is a nod to his role as creator as well. This Lamb is the only one worthy to open the scroll and the IM says, “a central message of Revelation 5 is that Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is the only One worthy to fulfill the work of God, which is represented by the book sealed with seven seals. Revelation 5 depicts several groups worshipping Christ, declaring His worthiness in song.” This Lamb also has 12 horns and 12 eyes, which is a JST because the KJV says 7 horns and 7 eyes. Concerning these horns and eyes, the IM says, “In the scriptures, horns are often a symbol of power. Eyes often symbolize light and knowledge… Since the Lord’s people in ancient Israel were numbered as twelve tribes and the Lord organized His Church with Twelve Apostles, the number twelve can symbolize divine government and organization, or the priesthood. This verse may suggest that all priesthood power and knowledge is centered in the Lamb of God.” 5:7-10 - The Lamb comes up to God and takes the book “out of the right hand,” then all the beasts and 24 elders fall down before the Lamb, “having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song.” This song is praise because He is worthy to “take the book, and to open the seals thereof,” and we are all redeemed to God by His blood because he was “slain,” and here’s an interesting part, “and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” The first thing I noticed is that the elders and beasts seemed to fall down and worship the Lamb, but I thought they were already worshipping God on the ground, but I think the significant part about this is that their focus shifted from worshipping God on His throne to worshipping the Lamb who was just standing near it. The next thing is that these elders and beasts suddenly have harps and golden vials of prayers.” I think that the golden vials of prayers are equivalent to the incense burned in the ancient temple that was symbolic of the prayers of the people always being offered up to God. The third thing in these verses is the gratitude felt by those singing because through the blood of the slain Lamb, they were made kings and priests to reign on earth. The IM explains, “Revelation 5:9-10 declares that through the worthiness and redeeming blood of Jesus Christ, all people may be redeemed and crowned with glory to reign on the glorified earth as kings and priests.” This might be alluding to both physical and spiritual authority that will be given to those who are faithful. Interestingly though, the IM further quotes Elder Bruce R. McConkie as tying the concept of becoming “kings and priests” to temple ordinances, saying, “Before the time when Christ shall reign personally upon the earth, the elect of God among every kindred,… having first believed the restored gospel, will go to the temples of God and receive the ordinances of exaltation whereby they qualify to becomes kings and priests.” Interestingly wording to be tied to temple ordinances. 5:11-14 – Surrounding the throne of God and the 4 beasts and the 24 seats of the elders were “many angels… and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.” That’s a lot of people. Just doing a quick ten thousand times ten thousand is one hundred million angels then thousands and thousands on top of that, I wonder if it’s one of those things where it’s not supposed to be a real exact number and more of a concept. All these millions and probably billions of angels are singing praises “with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” One thought that I had while reading this was, the price of all power and glory and honor and all that is to be slain for the sins of the world like Jesus was. I kind of wondered if that was a price too steep to pay. In Satan’s plan, he would save everyone, just like Jesus did, but he wouldn’t bear any of the cost that it would take to make that happen. He wanted the glory and power and honor and all that, but he didn’t want to make undertake any inconvenience to do it. I guess it’s one of those things where the reward is unlimited power and in the wrong hands it would be a disaster for everyone. But the job that needs to be done is so severe and specific that only someone who would wield unlimited power in a righteous way would be willing to undertake such a horrific and monumental task. Not only were angels and the 4 beasts and elders praising God but also “every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them,” are praising the Lamb, singing glory to him. Like I said yesterday about that quote being “nothing is more powerful than the testimony of Jesus Christ borne to you by a blade of grass,” this seems to fit in here. I’m a firm believer that all animals ever created that have suffered were part of the atonement and that Jesus Christ suffered for the pains caused to them. I don’t necessarily talk about this that much, even though I feel it’s justified by the scriptures, it might be considered a more “out there” concept. It only makes sense that their suffering and anguish would be included in the atonement because it was all caused by our fallen world which was caused by Satan’s lie, etc. So it would be necessary in my mind in order to make everything right. Anyway, about the creatures referenced here, the IM has a lengthy, but interesting quote from Joseph Smith saying, “I suppose John saw beings there of a thousand forms, that had been saved from ten thousand times thousand earths like this,- strange beasts of which we have no conception: all might be seen in heaven… John learned that God glorified Himself by saving all that His hands had made, whether beasts, fowls, fishes or men; and He will glorify Himself with them. Says one, ‘I cannot believe in the salvation of beasts.’ Any man who would tell you that this could not be, would tell you that the revelations are not true. John heard the words of the beasts giving glory to God, and understood them.” I’ve thought about this a lot recently, even on this planet, what kinds of plants and animals are there that I don’t know about? What other creations are there that I haven’t seen? What other colors are there that I can see eventually? It’s just something interesting to think about.