REDEMPTION
KINSHIP & THE SEALED BOOK
REVELATION 5
Revelation 1-3 introduces Christ and the Seven Churches
Revelation 4-5 introduces God the Father and the Seven Seals.
The book sealed with seven seals is the title deeds to the world, the record of all nations and peoples from the beginning of the world to itʼs end.
This world was lost by Adam but redeemed by Christ...by the Law of Redemption, it could not be denied him because he was our next of kin and only a next of kin is entitled to pay the redemption price and gain back that which was lost. The cost was enormous - death.
OVERVIEW
Chapter 5 continues the vision into heavenʼs sanctuary begun in chapter 4. Rev 1:5, 7, 18 emphasized Christʼs sacrifice.
Rev 4-5 describes heavenʼs sanctuary where Christ ministers as our High Priest.
Rev 4-5 appear to describe Christʼs inauguration following His ascension. All heaven is present to welcome their Lord as a returning Victor - the Father, the angels, the living creatures and the 24 elders. Christ presents Himself, the bleeding Lamb, with the desire that if His sacrifice is acceptable His people may be gathered to Him. (See John 17:24). The Father gives Christ the sealed book - the title deeds to the world which contains the record of all history past, present and future. Revelation 6 describes what was seen as Christ opens the seven seals.
Revelation Chapter 5
1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four [and] twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying 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.
13 And 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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory,
and power, [be] unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four [and] twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
verse 1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
In Godʼs open hand lay the book, the roll of the history of Godʼs providences, the prophetic history of nations and the church. Herein was contained the divine utterances, His authority, His commandments, His laws, the whole symbolic counsel of the Eternal, and the history of all ruling powers in the nations. In symbolic language was contained in that roll the influence of every nation, tongue, and people from the beginning of earthʼs history to its close. The destiny of every nation was contained in that book. There was no more space for writing. Parts of these things John saw as the seals were opened.
verse 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
verse 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
verse 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
John was so distressed at the utter inability of any being to open the book and read the words, or even to look thereon. Such was his agony and suspense that one of the elders had compassion on him and pointed Him to Christ, the King from the tribe of Judah (Matt 1:21) who had prevailed over Satan...
verse 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Sometimes through misfortune one had to sell oneʼs property but it could be bought back immediately by oneʼs closest relative providing that he could prove he was family and PAY THE REDEMPTION PRICE. An example of redeeming property is seen in Jeremiah 32:10-12. There is described a sealed book of the property to be redeemed, witnesses and a redemption price.
Adam lost the world but Christ our next of kin and our Redeemer prevailed over Satan, paid the redemption price with His own life and bought us and the world back. Because of this He is worthy to open the sealed book.
v 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Christ the Lion became our Lamb and died to pay the debt of death we owed for having broken Godʼs 10 commandment law (sinned). See 1John 3:4, Rom 3:23; 6:23.
Seven horns symbolises (complete power. Lam 2:3)
Seven eyes symbolises complete understanding).
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." 1John 3:4 And we know that "...all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 And that, ".... the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23 "And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin." 1John 3:5
Hence "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1John 1:9 God is not only faithful to forgive but he is just and will forgive because the just requirements of the law have been met in Jesus Christ's death.
Forgiveness of sin does not occur in a vacuum. It cost something for God to be able to forgive sin, even the death of His son because the wages of sin is death. The law demanded death of the transgressor. The death of Christ provided the way for God to be able to forgive the sinner. The life of Christ paved the way for victory over sin. Rom 5:10, ...for the sinner to be made free from sinning. Rom 6:22
THE LAW OF REDEMPTION & KINSHIP
The Law of Redemption of property lost through whatever means is found in the book of Leviticus, chapter 25:25-28. An example of redeeming property is seen in Jeremiah 32:10-12. There is described a sealed book of the property to be redeemed, witnesses and a redemption price.
If for some unfortunate reason a person sold their property, then the property could only remain in the new owner's possession until the feast of Jubilee and then ownership reverted back to the original owner. However, this could be 50 years in the making and if the person who lost the property was able to buy it back then he may do so before the Jubilee. If the person was unable to buy it back, then a NEXT OF KIN may do so but the individual must truly be a NEXT OF KIN in order for this to happen.
Adam lost his property - this world that was created for him.
Christ became Adam's next of kin in order to buy back this world.
Adam lost the property through Sin. And the wages of sin is death.
Adam could not buy back the property because he was condemned to die. There was to be no feast of Jubilee for him in death. The redemption price, even his life was impossible for Adam. He was lost.
Christ became Adam's next of kin, became one of us in order to pay the Redemption price so that Adam might live and not only live but have his property restored to him - the earth made new as it was in the beginning.
In every respect, bar sin, Christ was truly our NEXT OF KIN. He took our human nature in its fallen condition and identified so completely with our human nature that he alone is worthy
through his sacrifice to receive honour and glory and power as portrayed in Revelation 5. He became our redeemer by becoming one of us because only a next of kin could be THE redeemer. He is our brother and as a brother He is not ashamed to call us brethren.
The Redemption Price paid in full
"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Galatians 4:4,5
The Human Nature of Christ - our next of kin
The Scripture
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."
Christ the divine Son of God, the word, was made flesh, made like unto ourselves with flesh that was fallen, sinful and degenerate. A body was prepared for him, a body that included a fallen human brain and mind. He connected His divine nature with our sinful human nature in order to become our next of kin.
Hence the Bible teaches: "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil";
What sort of "flesh and blood" did the children partake of? "...flesh and blood that cannot inherit the kingdom of God..." Fallen flesh and blood. This He inherited from His mother Mary, human nature in its fallen, sinful condition after Adam's fall. Mary like the rest of us was a sinner who needed a saviour - see Luke 1:47
"But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." Galatians 4:4,5
Therefore, Christ was made of a woman, a woman who was under the law in order to redeem them who were under the law. Kind David said: "Behold, I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me." This is the way every human being by inheritance from fallen Adam is shapen and brought forth into the world. Every human is born with a sinful fallen nature. And Christ was human with a human nature he inherited from his sinful mother and when tracing his genealogy, it goes all the way back to Adam, fallen, sinful Adam.
And again we ask, what sort of flesh did he partake of? Flesh that is as grass, Flesh that is as the flower of grass, grass that withereth, and the flower thereof that falleth away: 1Peter 1:24 And what sort of flesh is that? Flesh that is none other than fallen flesh, fallen, sinful human flesh that like the grass withereth away. In other words fallen sinful human nature.
Paul makes the point that, "This [is] a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief."