Training Day 14 Much More Than: Digging Deeper

Digging Deeper Days
Finding the original intent of Scripture and making good application to our everyday lives as we become equipped to correctly handle the Word of Truth!
The Questions
Revelation 5:8-14
8 When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth. 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. 12 They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing! 13 I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Original Intent
1) Who were the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders worshiping? (verse 10)
In Revelation 4:3 we are introduced to the Throne Room of heaven, with God the Father sitting on His throne. Surrounding Him are the thrones of the twenty-four elders. There are many theories about who they are, but according to Meyer’s NT Commentary they are “the representatives of the entire congregation of all believers, to whom…belong the holiness and glory indicated by the white robes, and the royal dominion by the thrones and crowns”. The four creatures are representatives of some of the characteristics of God. “These four creatures represent dominance and majesty (lion, the king of animals), vigor (calf), wisdom (man), and speed or sovereignty (eagle).” (Verse By Verse Commentary) Their role is to praise God forever. (Revelation 4:8) We see them in chapter 5 still in the Throne Room, but this time joined by the Only One able to open the scroll and break the seven seals. (verse 5) He is “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” (Revelation 5:5) but is presented in the Throne Room as a slain lamb with “the marks of omnipotence (seven horns) and omniscience (seven eyes).” (Enduring Word Commentary) Who is this Lion of Judah (Genesis 49:9-10), this “Lamb of God” (John 1:29) who was slain but is still alive? It is Jesus, to Whom the elders and creatures offer praise for being the Only One worthy to open the scrolls and break the seals. Jesus is the One who gave His life to purchase His people (verse 9) and made us a “kingdom of priests…holy nation”. (verse 10)
2) What is the significance of the seven items ascribed to The Lamb in verse 12?
The twenty-four elders, the four living creatures, and the thousands upon thousands of angels (verse 11) are all praising and celebrating Jesus, the Lamb, listing the things He is worthy to receive. But Jesus already has all these things because He is God, the Creator and Sustainer of everything. John Gill explains it this way, “…when He is said to be worthy to receive these, it is not to be understood of His receiving the things themselves, but of the praise of them; and that these are to be observed in Him, and to be ascribed to Him.” Specifically, those characteristics are “power-omnipotence; riches-beneficence; wisdom-omniscience; strength-power in prevalent exercise; honour-the highest reputation for what he has done; glory-the praise due to such actions; and blessing-the thankful acknowledgments of the whole creation.” (Studylight.org) Because of how magnificent Christ Jesus is, He alone is worthy to receive all honor and glory.
3) Why is it important that every creature join in the praise? (verse 14)
Philippians 2:9-11 tells us of Father God’s intentions with Jesus. He gave Jesus “the name that is above every name so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”. Every creature giving Jesus praise in the Revelation passage shows the fulfillment of God’s plan. Job even said to God, “I know that you can do anything and no plan of yours can be thwarted.” (Job 42:2) Also important is that by joining in the praise of Jesus, the worshipers are acknowledging Him as God, for only God deserves all worship, “There cannot be the slightest doubt that the Lamb is to be reckoned with God and as God.” (Enduring Word) This is evidenced by the elders worshiping in complete surrender. (verse 14)
Everyday Application
1) Who were the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders worshiping? (verse 10)
The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders were worshiping the Lamb who was slain but was yet alive. They worshipped Him as the Lion of Judah and the Root of David. (Revelation 5:5) We know Him as Jesus. We worship Him as the Lamb because He went to the cross to pay for our sins. (1 John 3:16) We worship Him as the Root of David because “the Messiah was the Branch that would grow from Jesse’s root to restore David’s dynasty.” (Global Study Bible) Jesus is that Messiah. Finally, we worship him as the Lion of Judah because He conquered sin and the grave. (2 Timothy 1:10) Just as Jesus was worshiped by the living creatures and the elders, so should we worship Him for Who He is and what He has done for us. Consider your own view of Jesus in your everyday life. How often do you consider worshiping Him for Who He is in the middle of your daily routine? If heavenly elders and creatures worship Him on their faces, how can we do less?
2) What is the significance of the seven items ascribed to The Lamb in verse 12?
Each of the seven items are characteristics we can observe in Jesus. The Lord Jesus has the power to do what He plans, therefore, we can depend on Him to handle every situation. Every resource belongs to Jesus. He is able to bless us with those riches, of which the most precious is His grace “that He richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.” (Ephesians 1:8) All wisdom comes from God. (Proverbs 2:6) We only need to ask and He will give it “generously and ungrudgingly.” (James 1:5) In everything we face, we can be strong because David reminds us in Psalm 28:7, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.” We all like to be recognized for our accomplishments. Jesus who “suffered the ultimate dishonor of being crucified as a common criminal to pay for our sins” and who “focused on honoring His heavenly Father during His ministry” (Kids Talk About God) deserves all honor due Him. Yet He also honors us! (John 12:26) Glory is the praise received for doing something of great significance. There isn’t enough space here to list all the things Jesus has done that are of great significance. Given they are too numerous, this alone is more evidence pointing to Him deserving all glory. And finally blessing. Jesus was there in the beginning with Father God crafting all of creation. (John 1:1-5) Jesus is the holder of blessings, which He freely gives to us. (James 1:17-18) Looking at this list, we begin to see the depth of Jesus’ goodness and His supreme holiness. How blessed we are to be able to worship Him and lavish Him with praise!
3) Why is it important that every creature join in the praise? (verse 14)
In our current culture, there are many who do not believe Jesus is God. There are many who don’t even believe there is a God. In Isaiah 45:22-23, God declares this unchangeable and inevitable truth, “For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; truth has gone from My mouth, a word that will not be revoked: Every knee will bow to Me, every tongue will swear allegiance.” Since it has been established that Jesus is God, then just as every knee will bow and confess God as God, then so too must every creature confess Jesus as Lord. They must acknowledge His divinity and bow in worship to Him. We are able to freely choose this worship today and should make every effort to do so as often as we can. Jesus is Lord. Let us offer Him our praise and worship! On the day Christ returns to earth to set up His rule and reign, the choice will no longer be ours to make. Every tongue will confess Him as Lord, but the opportunity to surrender willfully will have passed. The decision to reject Christ as Lord will be honored by God and all who have willfully rejected Him will spend eternity apart from Him. Choose today to surrender in full worship with your life!
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Digging Deeper is for Everyone!
1) Take this passage (or any other passage).
2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times
3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.
4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)
5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!
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Why Dig Deeper?
Finding the original meaning is a huge deal when we study Scripture and can make all the difference in our understanding as we apply God’s truths to our everyday lives.
In our modern-day relationships, we want people to understand our original intention as we communicate; how much more so between God and humanity?!
Here’s a little bit more on why we take Digging Deeper so seriously.
Study Tools
We love getting help while we study and www.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.
Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!
Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))
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