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UNDERSTANDING THE KINGDOM OF GOD
THE BOOK OF REVELATION - PART 10 
By John S. Torell

3 February 2002

CHAPTER FIVE
I believe that the scene the apostle John is shown in this chapter took place after Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, when he went to present himself to the Father in heaven - Hebrews 9:11-15. This event was recorded to be kept forever, and was played back to the apostle John.

Verse 1: As the apostle John is now in the very throne room of heaven, it is the Father himself who is seated on the throne. What he holds in his hand is not a book as we know books, but it is a scroll, sealed by seven seals.

Verses 2-3: There is only one person who can open this scroll, and that is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. This is the mystery of God, which has been hid since the beginning of the creation, known only to God himself. 1 Corinthians 2:1-10; Romans 16:25-27; Ephesians 3:7-11; Colossians 1:25-29

Verse 4: The apostle John was overcome with grief that no one was able to open this scroll, since he knew in his spirit that this was a document that must be read. He must have remembered the words that Jesus spoke to him some 60 years earlier - John 16:6-16

Verse 5: The Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ, has the authority to open the scroll.
Genesis 49:8-10; Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-5

Verse 6: In this vision Jesus is portrayed as the suffering servant, the lamb of God that takes away all sins, and tied in as the all powerful Christ! Isaiah 53:1-7; Zechariah 3:9;
John 1:29; Revelation 1:12-18

Verse 7: Jesus turns to the Father and takes the scroll out of his hand to reveal the mystery of all ages!

Verses 8-10: In these verses we learn that the 24 elders are redeemed humans who have been saved by faith in the Messiah. It is the blood of Jesus that paid for our sins - Hebrews 9:14-26. 

Every prayer spoken by a believer (saint) on this earth is retrieved in heaven and presented continually to God the Father - Revelation 8:3-5

The saints in heaven and on earth are all kings and priests - Revelation 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5-10

Verses 11-14: There is praise and worship in the heavens by God’s holy angels, and all created beings with flesh and blood are joining in this universal praise and worship of Father God. Are you part of this choir of praise and worship?