Last blog we looked a little deeper into one of the most sobering texts from Daniel chapter 7.
I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened. Daniel 7:9-10.
We focused on the phrase “the judgment was set, and the books were opened.” We explored the concepts of the judgment mentioned in the text and found that each one of us will stand before the throne of God. Before making a final judgment He will ask if our names are written in the book of life. Because Daniel does not give us many details about this judgment, let’s explore Revelation for more information.
Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.
What an invitation? Come up and enter heaven and I will show you the future. Wouldn’t you say yes?
Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne. 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.
4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal:
John sees God the Father sitting on a throne with a rainbow surrounding Him. Next to Him John sees 24 elders sitting on seats dressed in white with crowns on their heads.
Rev 4:6 …And in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind. 7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
These four beasts are different from the beasts mentioned in Daniel 7. They are angels attending to the wishes of God. They respond to the glory and work of God, and declare His holiness.
Rev 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
John tells us when these angelic beings praise God, the elders respond with worship to God by saying that He is worthy to be praised.
Revelation 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.
John describes a detail that he missed on first glance. God the Father has a book in His right hand.
Rev 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
The mighty angel Gabriel asks a question, Who is worthy to open the book that is in the right hand of God? This scene in the heavenly court is now focused on a book! What could be so important about this book that Gabriel asks a question that is heard throughout the universe? Let’s read on.
Rev 5:3 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.
What is this book, or what is in this book which would make this man, called the son of thunder, weep?
The Lamb of God
Rev 5:5 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.
Gabriel tells John, Don’t weep for God has a solution for your problem. Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, has earned the right to open this book. What did He do that would qualify Him to take the book and to open it?
Rev 5:6 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.
This Lamb looks like it has been slain. It is our Brother and Savior. He has earned the right to open the book in the courtroom in heaven and as our advocate He is standing there for us. He approaches God the Father and takes this book. The response of the heavenly court is amazing.
Rev 5:8 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.
A new song? Jesus is worthy to take the book and open it. He died on the cross for us, and has redeemed us from sin. And not only that, He will make us kings and priests forever and ever. His work on earth covers our past and his work in heaven now prepares for our future.
Rev 5:11 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.
All heaven recognizes the work of Jesus Christ and praise Him. Worthy is the Lamb.
Revelation 6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
The Book of Life Opened
This Lamb of God begins His work as our High Priest and opens the book. The significance of this book can be found in the following verses in Revelation.
Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
These verses tell us about those who will be saved and those who will not be saved. We read about them in the last blog (Blog) when we discussed the relationship of the judgment and the open books in Daniel. In this chapter in Revelation, we see that God the Father was keeping the book safe and secure until the judgment. In Revelation 5 the Lamb of God takes this book and begins to open it, He is worthy to open this book and to pass judgment on those written on its pages. For “the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son (John 5:22).” Judgment means that each case must be examined. Do the works of each case justify entrance into heaven? This is the work of Jesus. Just like in Daniel 7 where we read that, “the judgment was set and the books were opened,” we should understand that in Revelation 5, He takes this book and opens it and judges. This book has a name; it is called the Lamb’s book of life.
What are you told about this book of life in the following verses?
Revelation 3:5 He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Revelation 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Revelation 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
The Judgment of God
In Daniel 7 and Revelation 4 & 5 we are shown the judgment seat of God the Father in the heavenly kingdom. The judgment is set and the books are opened. Come and see for yourselves. These books that tell the story and reveal the character of the candidates for heaven are opened to the universe. The worthy blood of the Lamb has redeemed each man and women written in this book of life. They are the overcomers. They have shown themselves worthy to enter and live in the heavenly kingdom, because they have followed Jesus. They are the sons of God. Like the story of the prodigal son all heaven is invited to welcome them home.
John shows us the reason why this judgment was needed. Behold the Lamb of God. And like the elders and angelic beings that surround the throne of God, we say, that Jesus is the answer. Let’s now go back to the book of Daniel and find the time line for this judgment.
