Rev 5 (KJV)  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. 

This chapter is the introduction to the seven-sealed scroll which is the title deed to the earth.  It is also the book of redemption for the all of the elect of God.  This whole chapter is a picture of the search for a kinsman redeemer for both the elect of God and the earth, which is currently under the control of Satan as the god of this earth.  The four living creatures and the 24 elders as the Firstfruits of the Church are observing the action taking place as Jesus Christ is in the process of establishing his legal right to claim possession of the earth.  This chapter describes the preparation for the ceremony of opening the deed to the earth.

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.

a. God the Father is seated on the throne holding the title deed to the earth, which contains the requirements for redemption.  Even though the authority of man to rule over the earth has been forfeited by sin, the sovereignty of God over the land has not been lost.  The sin of man does not vitiate (i.e., set aside) any of the rights of God.  Satan has merely usurped the possession of the earth, and God permits it for a time until the proper Goel comes to pay the price and eject the alien and his offspring. 

b. The seven-sealed scroll is equivalent to a lien on some mortgaged property or an inheritance that has been forfeited by default.  The writing on the inside enumerates the criteria for the redemption of the land, the widowhood of Israel, or the bride of Christ.  The writing on the outside contains the names and attestations of the witnesses to the forfeiture of the possession.  Thus, the scroll is a book of redemption rather than a book of revelation as some have stated. 

c. There are three criteria for redemption to take place.

1. A near kinsman must be found.

2. The kinsman must be willing to redeem.

3. The kinsman must be able to pay the purchase price for redemtion to take place.

d. Redemption is primarily still future, and it remains a hope for those who have received the firstfruits of the Spirit.  Regeneration of the spirit of man is the promise for the inheritance to be completely redeemed in the future.

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?

a.  This verse shows the forfeited inheritance is now open for redemption, and the primary question is if there is a near kinsman who is willing and able to redeem the purchased possession.  If there is a kinsman-redeemer who is worthy to open the scroll and redeem the earth, it is now time to step forward.

3. And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

a. The purpose of this verse is to demonstrate the costliness of the purchased possession, and how the sin sickness of man has touched every human being upon the earth.  There was not one man found on the whole earth who was able to pay the required purchase price for redeeming the earth and the elect of God.

b. "...neither to look thereon" emphasizes that not only is no man able to pay the awesome price for sin, but no man even understands the awesomeness of the price that had to be paid.  Only the trinity of God fully comprehends the truly awesome price required for redemption to take place.

4. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

a. John in this verse demonstrates the profound sadness that comes from the seriousness of the depravity of mankind upon the earth.  He reveals the hopelessness of the situation, if Jesus Christ had not appeared to pay the price of sin.

b. John is not only sad over man's depravity, but he is distraught over man's inability to even fully comprehend what God has done for us through his Son. 

c. The lost estate of man was totally unrecoverable by man, angels or spirits of the underworld.  The situation was hopeless without God.

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.

a. One of the Firstfruits of the Church consoles John and tells him to stop his weeping as a kinsman redeemer has not only been found, but he has already "prevailed to open the book."  This states that the redeemer has already paid the price, and He is now available to open the scroll.  The opening of the Scroll is the public demonstration that the price has been paid and the Goel is preparing to take over the possession of the land.

b.  The opening of the Scroll is the equivalent in modern days of the closing on a house as the legal requirement, before the new owners can move in and occupy the new house.  Jesus has to complete the closing before He can move in and boot out the occupants that govern the earth.

c. The legal transaction takes place during the first half of the tribulation, and Jesus makes his move to possess the earth in the last half of the tribulation period.

d. Jesus is the Lion of the Tribe of Juda, and He is the root or foundation of the Davidic hopes.  This shows his legal right as heir to the throne to reign and rule over Israel and the earth. 

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.

a. John looks to the throne and sees the Lamb in the midst of the living creatures who are in the midst of the elders.  The Lamb has already paid the price of redemption by being slain.

b. The seven horns depicts the omnipotence of the Lamb.  Seven is the number of divine perfection, and a horn is the symbol of power.  Seven horns intimates that something more than sacrifice and intercession has now become his business.  He has fulfilled his roles as Prophet and Priest, and He is now to fulfill his role as the omnipotent King.

c.The seven eyes represent divine intelligence or the omniscience of Jesus Christ as God himself.  He is now to function as the all-knowing Judge of mankind with the redemption of his elect as the earth as his primary focus.

7. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

a. The Goel has not only prevailed to pay the purchased price, but He has now stepped forward to open the Scroll as the final step in the legal process of possessing the land. 

b. This is the most awesome individual act recorded in the apocalypse.  This act includes all that the suffering creation has been yearning for since the fall of creation six thousand years ago.  This act sums up all that is included in the remainder of the apocalypse.  This is the act that points to the subjugation of the world, the judgment of Babylon, the overthrow of Satan, the elimination of death, the end of the curse, the renewal of the earth, and the reign of everlasting peace and blessedness.  The earth will be transformed into an unfading paradise of God.  This act pictures the completion of the act of redemption.

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.

a. The opening of the book is the Church's joy and glory.  It is the reinstatement of that which was lost by Adam.  It is the recovery of that which has long been deprived by sin.  Unless the book is opened, and its seals broken, the people of God must remain tearful, sorrowful and deprived of their inheritance.

b. The taking of the book by Jesus results in profound worship by the Firstfruits of the Church (i.e., the four living creatures and the 24 elders).  As the incense pertains to the office of priest, the harp pertains to the office of prophet (1 Sam 10:5; 1 Chron 25:3; Ps 49:4).  The harps are related to the worship of Jehovah and the prophesying of the coming kingdom.  Harps are especially related to redemption and the joyful song of redemption.  Singing the song of redemption is peculiarly related to the redeemed of the earth.

c. The Firstfruits of the Church are holding the shallow bowls of incense (i.e., odours) which represent their own prayers for the kingdom to come.  The prayers of the saints for the kingdom of God to come to earth is now in the initial stages of finally being answered.

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;

a.  The Firstfruits of the Church are singing the song of redemption out of their overwhelming joy that the Lamb is worthy and ready to open the book of redemption that will complete the redemption of the earth, the purchased possession of God.

b. The phrase "...hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;" is peculiar to the Church.  Here, the Firstfruits are singing this song even though the main body of the Church is on the earth and will not be be raptured until Rev. 7:9 in the middle of the tribulation period.

10. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

a. The Firstfruits are rejoicing that they have been made kings and priests, and they will reign on the earth.  It is important that no mention of being made kings and reigning on the earth is made at the Main Harvest Rapture in Rev. 7:9-17. Many in the Main harvest will not reign and rule with Christ.

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;

a. This is a quick inventory by John of all of those in heaven.  This demonstrates that the four living creatures and the 24 elders are representative numbers that are symbolical of many thousands or even millions of individuals.

b. It is significant that they can be numbered here, but later at the Main Harvest Rapture, the multitudes could not be numbered by any man (Rev. 7:9).  This indicates that those in the Main Harvest Rapture will be many times the number in the Firstfruits Rapture.

c. The same number is given in Daniel 7:10, and this ties the saints of chapter 7 of Daniel in with the Church, and not Israel as is thought by many. 

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.

a. Jesus is pictured in the character of a Lamb that was slain, because it was by his perfect obedience unto death that qualified him to open the seven-sealed scroll.

b. It was his coming as a Lamb that qualified him to later come as a Lion to assert and enforce his supremacy.

c. There was not a holy heart unmoved in heaven, nor a holy tongue that did not sing the song of redemption.

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.

a. John hears all of creation joining in on the song of redemption.  This is the consummation of Romans 8:19-22.  

14. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

a. The Four Living Creatures say "Amen" to the song of redemption, and the 24 elders fall down and worship the resurrected redeemer who lives forever and forever.