Vere Dignus (Rev 5:1-14)

In our final series of advent songs, we continue to look at Bible passages that are Christ-centric. Revelations 5 is written by the apostle John. It’s a great chorus of praise sung for Vere Dignus, the truly worthy—Jesus Christ.

(A) Revelation Song: Already but Not Yet

Let’s establish the context of this passage. We see in Rev 1:9, 12, 17-19 that John is on the island called Patmos on the account of the testimony of Jesus, in exile and under persecution. While on the island, he has an encounter with the Holy Spirit who tells him to write down what is about to be shown to him. Jesus appears to John, and he receives a revelation about the things that are to come. Now this is after Jesus’s death and resurrection on the cross, and we see that He is speaking from a position of victory and authority (Rev 1:18).

In our past 2 studies, the songs looked forward to the birth of Jesus. In Rev here, we read of things that happen after His death and resurrection. Rev 1:17-19 speaks of a victorious Jesus. The birth of Jesus has already marked a change, but we do not yet experience it fully. Thus, Advent isn’t just about waiting for the birth of Jesus. What else are we waiting for? We hope to answer this at the end of this study.

Rev 5 starts with John seeing someone on the throne, holding on his right hand a scroll sealed with seven seals (Rev 5:1). God is on His throne and He has not left it (c.f. Rev 4:2-11)! Even in 2020, He is sovereign. In the rest of the book of Revelation, the question “who is seated on the throne?” keeps getting asked and the reader has to answer this question! This is also applicable to us today! Even if we cannot make sense of all the chaotic events in our world today, we need to remember that He is in charge.

(B) Meekness and Majesty: the Conquering Lion and the Slain Lamb (Rev 5:2-7)

The one on the throne holds a scroll (Rev 5:1), and learn that this scroll was sealed in seven layers. Ancient scrolls were often scrolled and tied up with wax or adhesive substance with care, and these scrolls only had one seal. The only other type of document that was sealed this securely would be a person’s will and testament, where only an heir to the will could open it. Another thing to point out was that both sides of the scroll were written on. Scrolls that are written on both sides were unusual, and this indicates that the scroll contained a great deal of knowledge. Because it was sealed, nothing more could be added to it too!

Based on this, some commentators guess the scroll to be containing God’s will for the universe. In Rev 6, the seals are also broken one by one and we get a sense of what the scrolls are about. We can’t know for certain what was on that scroll just yet, but what we do know is that the contents were exclusive to only those worthy of opening it. This is why John laments in Rev 5:2-4 because he saw that “no one was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.” If the scroll cannot be opened, is there no way to make sense of all that’s going on?

This is a terrifying prospect! If we had no knowledge of God without Jesus Christ, how can we understand the world that we’re living in? Global warming, COVID, threats of war etc — all the chaos of this world could just exist without any meaning and hope.

Yet, John receives an assurance from an elder in Rev 5:5. One of the elders told John not to weep, to behold the “Lion of the tribe of Judah”, the “Root of David” who has conquered and can open the scroll and seals (Rev 5:5). There is one who is worthy! Sometimes this is all we need to hold out to those who are despairing. We just need to point the despairing to the hope that is in Christ.

From what the elder told John, he might have expected a powerful and perfect Lion who walked where no one else has. However, we see in Rev 5:6 that among the elders stood a Lamb, not a lion, that was slain, not victorious. It was a helpless creature in a defeated state, an image of sacrifice, which is not a typical image of victory or power, let alone ultimate power.

God’s will was achieved not through might or power, but through the weakness of the Lamb. This probably boggled John’s mind. In John’s day, military strength gave civilisations their worth. It also explains why the Jews hoped for a conquering King as their Messiah.

Does this jar with your own expectation of power and success too? What is our barometer of power and success? Today, we may think of worth in relation to wealth and social standing or career success. We think that we are worth something if we do something meaningful. We seek our worth and identity from these areas. These verses also show us that the only one who is truly worthy is a Lamb that was slain! God’s victory was achieved not by might, but through the meekness and weakness of the cross. This is highly offensive to the worldly way of thinking!

Weakness is rarely, if not never, associated with success. We show our strongest, fanciest moments to the outside world, hoping to gain better social standing, income, and power in relationships. However, 1 Cor 1:27-30 speaks to this upside-down logic of Christianity: “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”

In God’s economy, meekness is majesty, and we see this most clearly in the person of Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was slain, who was the only perfect one to open the scroll.

(C) Awake my Soul and Sing: the Greatest Glory is Worth the Highest Praise (Rev 5:8-14)

The passage reaches a high point as the slain Lamb walks out from the elders and takes the scroll (Rev 5:7). Here, we see that the Lamb was standing among the elders, human representatives. Jesus shares human nature with us. He stands among us in order to be able to bear our suffering. This is what we’ve been seeing in this Advent series as we’ve been reading about the God who took the form of a man and came to us.

On the other hand, this Lamb has divine attributes like no other. He has seven horns and seven eyes, representing omnipotence (all-powerful) and omniscience (all-knowing). Seven is a biblical number that represents perfection too. The Lamb is slain, yet perfect. It is perfectly weak, yet perfectly divine.

As the Lamb takes the scroll, four living creatures and all others fall down and worship the Lamb. In their praise in Rev 5:9-10, they say that the Lamb paid the ransom in his own blood to redeem the kingdom of people for worship unto God and for the glory of God. In the act of redemption that was purposed by the Father, accomplished by the Son, and made known to every living creature by the Spirit, all fall down and proclaim praise. 

The praise is specific; the Lamb is deemed worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing (Rev 5:12). Notice John writes of seven blessings. The chorus builds up finally to Rev 5:13-14; the whole universe is offering praise. Jesus is revealing to John that one day, every creature, redeemed or fallen, whether they like it or not, will see and proclaim praise for the Lamb, Jesus Christ Himself.

We will participate in the universal chorus too. How does this make us feel about our own participation? Is our worship joyful, voluntary? Are there things keeping us from joining the chorus on a daily basis?

At the same time, if Jesus is the only worthy Lamb who will surely be praised, what does it say about the worth we place in other things? If Jesus is worthy, everything else must make way for Him in our life! Songs we sing reveal the object of our worship! It means that everything else is transient. Have we been chasing things that are lost causes?

How does all this relate to Advent? Rev 22:7, 20 shows us why we still observe Advent! There is the reality of the already but not yet. But how are we to make sense of our lives as we wait? It keeps us from being cynical and worn out. When there is suffering, we can hold forth the good news of the gospel. The good news of Jesus’ victory may not always stop the bleeding, but it can heal the wound! In 2020, we can pray with confidence that a decisive victory has been won! A virus does not set the agenda but let’s turn to Jesus and ask Him to shed light on our hearts as we wait in this already, but not yet.