This is an article in the series on the vision of the book with the seven seals (Rev 4:1-8:1).
SUMMARY
Purpose: When are the seals broken?
As discussed in the article on Revelation 4, that chapter does not describe a point in time but provides a timeless description of heavenly worship. Revelation 5, in contrast, describes one specific event when all the billions of angels gather in God’s throne room (Rev 5:11) to witness the Son of God receive the sealed book (Rev 5:7).
He does not open the book immediately. In Revelation 6, He breaks the seals one by one, causing catastrophic events on earth. Therefore, to know WHEN these things happen, we need to know when he receives the book.
Revelation 5 describes Jesus’ ascension.
Some put the event in Revelation 5 in the end-time; shortly before Christ returns. However, this article shows that Revelation 5:7-14 describes what happens when Jesus arrives in heaven after He ascended. This is argued in three ways:
Firstly, the events in verses 7-14 fit exactly with what the New Testament elsewhere says happened when Jesus arrived in heaven after His ascension.
Secondly, Revelation 3:21 provides an outline of the vision of the seven seals (4:1-8:1) and, in that outline, 5:7-14 aligns with His exaltation on His Father’s throne after His ascension.
Thirdly, the Synoptic Apocalypse (e.g., Matthew 24) identifies the first four seals (Rev 6:1-8) as the entire church age. It follows that Revelation 5, which precedes the first four seals, must describe an event right at the beginning of the Christian era.
In conclusion, since Revelation 5 describes what happened in heaven after He ascended, Jesus received the sealed book and began to break its seals 2000 years ago.
(A) It fits the New Testament description
Elsewhere, the Bible consistently tells us that Jesus, after He died, was resurrected, ascended to heaven, and was exalted at His Father’s right hand (e.g., Eph 1:20-22), followed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (e.g., John 7:39) We see this same sequence in Revelation 5:
Death – He overcame (Rev 5:5) by remaining faithful to God, even to death. Revelation 5 emphasizes His death by describing Him as a slain Lamb who is “worthy” because He has purchased men for God with His blood. (Rev 5:6, 9-10, 12)
Enthroned – Revelation 5 also describes Him as exalted on His Father;s throne. The book was on the right hand of God (5:1) and Jesus took it from the right side of God (5:7), implying that, when He took the book (Rev 5:7), He also sat down at His Father’s right hand. Both He and the Father are then praised by “every created thing” (Rev 5:13), implying that They are now both on the throne (cf. Rev 7:17).
Spirit – Thirdly, before Jesus appeared, “the seven Spirits of God” were “before the throne” (Rev 4:5) but after He appeared as a slain lamb, God’s Spirit is said to be “sent out into all the earth” (Rev 5:6). This corresponds with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.
Since He received the book when He was exalted on His Father’s throne, He received it right after His ascension.
(B) Revelation 3:21 explains Revelation 5.
Revelation 3:21 provides an outline of the entire vision of the sealed book (4:1 to 8:1). It reads:
(a) To him who overcomes,
(b) I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,
(c) just as I overcame
(d) and sat down with my Father on his throne (NIV).
This is explained as follows:
(a) “To him who overcomes” – This is in the present tense, meaning that God’s people are NOW overcoming. This is what Revelation 6 – the breaking of the seals – is all about.
(b) “I will give the right to sit with me on my throne” – This is in the future tense and is fulfilled in Revelation 7 where the overcomers are described as an innumerable multitude who are able to stand before God when Jesus returns (Rev 7:9; cf. 6:17; 7:15, 17).
(c) “Just as I overcame” – This describes Jesus’ life and death on earth. Jesus “has overcome so as to open the book” (Rev 5:5). Since 5:5 announces an end to John’s weeping, the time of weeping (Rev 5:1-4) is the time before He overcame. In other words, He overcame somewhere between Revelation 5:4 and 5:5.
(d) “And sat down with my Father on his throne.” – Since Jesus overcame between verses 4 and 5, the rest of Revelation 5 describes Him sitting down on His Father’s throne after His ascension.
Based on 3:21, the entire vision of the sealed book (4:1-8:1) may be summarized as follows:
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- Revelation 5 describes the Lamb sitting down with His Father on His throne after He had overcome.
- Revelation 6 describes the struggle of God’s people to overcome.
- In Revelation 7, they “sit down with Me (Jesus) on My throne.”
(C) The Synoptic Apocalypse dates Revelation 5.
In His sermon in Matthew 24, Jesus divided history into three great eras:
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- General realities of the entire Christian age;
- A great persecution toward the end of that era; and
- His return.
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This fits the seven seals:
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- The first four seals (Rev 6:1-8) are the general realities of the church age,
- The fifth seal (Rev 6:9-11), read together with the sealing (Rev 7:1-3), describes a great end-time persecution.
- The sixth seal is His return (Rev 6:12-14).
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Since Revelation 5 precedes the first four seals, and since the Synoptic Apocalypse identifies the first four seals as the church age, Revelation 5 must describe an event right at the beginning of the Christian era.
The first five seals describe the Church age.
When he received the book, it was still sealed. In Revelation 6, He breaks the seals one by one. Each time that He breaks a seal in heaven, something happens on earth. The sixth seal begins with the signs of Christ’s return (Rev 6:12-14; Matt 24:29) and ends with Judgment Day (Rev 6:15-17). The first five seals, therefore. symbolize the present-tense overcoming of God’s people over the church age.
Alternative Interpretations
The Rapture
In Dispensationalism, Revelation 4:1 is the rapture. However, since Revelation 5 describes what happens in heaven when Jesus arrives after His ascension, and since 4:1 precedes Revelation 5, 4:1 cannot be the rapture.
The Judgment of Daniel 7
The strongest parallel to Revelation 5 is probably in Daniel 7:9-14. In both:
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- God is on the throne (Dan 7:9; Rev 5:1),
- Books are mentioned (Dan 7:10; Rev 5:1),
- The Son of man appears (Dan 7:13; Rev 5:6),
- But only AFTER God is already introduced, and
- Authority is bestowed on the Son (Dan 7:14; Rev 5:12).
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Daniel 7 seems to be a judgment scene shortly before the return of Christ and many understand Revelation 5 as also describing that end-time judgment. However, Revelation 5 is different. In it, no books are opened and we find no typical judgment language, such as judge or avenge.
These are two different meetings in God’s throne room. However, the strong parallels between them imply that the two meetings are related. Since the Revelation 5 meeting is about the sealed book, which, at that time is still fully sealed, it implies that the Daniel 7 meeting IS ABOUT THE SAME BOOK – perhaps when it is fully open or perhaps when it is time to break the final seal.
Day of Atonement
Revelation 5 is also not the great Old Testament Day of Atonement because Revelation 5 does not mention (1) the ark of the covenant, (2) judgment language, (3) the Most Holy Place, or (4) a male goat.
– END OF SUMMARY –
PURPOSE
Revelation 4 does not describe a point in time but provides a general description of heavenly worship. For example:
1) When John enters the throne room, the throne was already there (Rev 4:2). This may be contrasted with Daniel 7:9, where the throne was set in place for the judgment of the little horn (Dan 7:26).
2) The four living creatures say “holy, holy, holy” DAY AND NIGHT without ceasing (Rev 4:8). This implies continuous action over some time rather than at a specific moment.
3) The word translated as “when” or “whenever” implies worship as a repetitive action (Rev 4:9-11).
Revelation 5, in contrast, is a very important meeting at a specific point in time. The whole universe (Rev 5:13) gathers in God’s throne room to see Jesus receive the sealed book (Rev 5:7). The billions of angels looking on (Rev 5:11) and the presence of “every created thing” (Rev 5:13) emphasize the intense importance of this heavenly meeting.
The purpose of this article is to show that Revelation 5 describes what happens when Jesus arrives in heaven after He was raised from death and was “caught up to God and to His throne” (Rev 12:5). This will be argued in three ways:
Firstly, the events described in Revelation 5:7-14 fits exactly with what the New Testament elsewhere says happened when Jesus arrived in heaven after He ascended.
Secondly, Revelation 3:21 provides an outline of the vision of the seven seals (chapters 4 to 7) and, in that outline, 5:7-14 aligns with the statement, “I (Jesus) also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
Thirdly, a comparison with the Synoptic Apocalypse (e.g., Matthew 24) identifies the first four seals (Rev 6:1-8) as the entire church age. Since Revelation 5 precedes the first four seals, it must describe an event right at the beginning of the Christian era.
In conclusion, since Revelation 5 describes what happened in heaven after He ascended, Jesus received the sealed book and began breaking its seals 2000 years ago.
FITS THE NEW TESTAMENT
New Testament Testimony
A common theme in the New Testament is that, after Jesus died, was resurrected, and ascended to heaven, He was exalted at His Father’s right hand. For example:
“He RAISED Him from the DEAD
and seated Him at His RIGHT HAND in the heavenly places,
far above all rule and authority” (Eph 1:20-22).
“Christ Jesus is He who DIED,
yes, rather who was RAISED,
who is at the RIGHT HAND of God” (Rom 8:34; see also Heb 8:1-2; cf. Acts 2:31-36; 5:30-32; 7:55-56; Heb 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; Acts 5:30-31; Phil 2:8-11; Col 3:1; Heb 1:3; 10:12; 12:2, 21; 1 Peter 3:21-22; Matt 22:44; 26:64; Mark 12:36; 14:62; Luke 10:42; 22:69).
Furthermore, according to the Scriptures, Jesus was exalted at His Father’s right hand BEFORE the Holy Spirit was poured out on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Pentecost was on the feast of the Passover – fifty days after the crucifixion and ten days after His ascension. For example:
“The Spirit was not yet given,
because Jesus was not yet glorified” (John 7:39).
“This Jesus God RAISED UP again …
having been exalted to the RIGHT HAND of God,
and having received from the Father
the promise of the HOLY SPIRIT,
He has poured forth this
which you both see and hear” (Acts 2:32-33).
So, within 50 days, Jesus died, was resurrected, ascended to heaven, and was exalted at His Father’s right hand, followed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Revelation 5 fits this picture.
Revelation 5 fits into those 50 days because:
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- Jesus appears as a slain lamb,
- Jesus was enthroned at His Father’s right hand, and
- The Holy Spirit was poured out.
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To elaborate:
1. Slain Lamb
John hears that Jesus “has OVERCOME so as to open the book and its seven seals” (Rev 5:5). When John looks, He sees Jesus appearing as a SLAIN LAMB (Rev 5:6, 12). This means that the symbol of the slain lamb shows HOW Jesus overcame. Later, the heavenly beings confirm this by saying to Jesus:
“Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals;
for You were slain, and purchased for God
with Your blood men from every tribe” (Rev 5:9-10).
This emphasis on His death implies that Jesus received the book (Rev 5:7) IMMEDIATELY after He was resurrected and ascended to heaven.
2. Jesus is enthroned in Revelation 5:7.
According to the NASB, the book was IN the right hand of God (Rev 5:1) and Jesus took it OUT OF His hand (Rev 5:7). But, according to the interlinear translations, the book was ON the right hand (or side) of God (5:1) and Jesus took it FROM the RIGHT SIDE OR HAND of God (5:7). This means that, to take the book, He had to go to the right side of God. Since the Bible often states that Jesus was exalted AT the right hand of God (e.g. Eph 1:20-22), it is proposed that when He took the book (Rev 5:7), He also sat done at His Father’s right hand.
This is confirmed a few verses later when Jesus, TOGETHER WITH THE FATHER, is praised by “every created thing” (Rev 5:13). This implies that They are now BOTH sitting on the throne.
This is further confirmed when Jesus is described as “in the CENTER of the throne” (Rev 7:17).
3. The Holy Spirit poured out
Before Jesus appeared, “the seven Spirits of God” were “before the throne” (Rev 4:5) but after He appeared as a slain lamb, God’s Spirit is said to be “sent out into all the earth” (Rev 5:6); apparently a reference to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in.
Conclusion
By way of summary, elsewhere in the New Testament, we read that Jesus was slain but again raised to life. There-after, He ascended into heaven, where He was glorified at the Father’s right hand. At the same time, the Holy Spirit was poured out.
Similarly, in Revelation 5, Jesus appears as “a Lamb … as if slain” (Rev 5:6) and is glorified by all at God’s right hand (Rev 5:13; 1, 7). At the same time, the “seven Spirits of God (are) sent out into all the earth” (Rev 5:6).
The similarities imply that Revelation 5 describes what happens when Jesus arrives in heaven after His ascension.
REVELATION 3:21
This verse provides a second line of support for the view that Revelation 5 describes what happened when Jesus arrived in heaven after His ascension.
Revelation 3:21 is one of the verses in Revelation that are found in the climax of one part of the book that provides an outline of the next part. (See – Other examples of duo-directional verses.) 3:21 is the climax of the overcomer promises given to the seven churches. At the same time, it is an outline of the vision of the sealed book (4:1 to 8:1). It reads:
(a) To him who overcomes,
(b) I will give the right to sit with me on my throne,
(c) just as I overcame
(d) and sat down with my Father on his throne (NIV).
(a) To him who overcomes
In the Greek, this is an extremely continuous construction. This is stated in the present tense, meaning that God’s people are NOW overcoming.
This is what breaking the seals is all about. Breaking the first seal sends forth the conquering white horse (Rev 6:1-2), which is interpreted as the gospel going out. Breaking the next three seals brings suffering and death (Rev 6:3-8) culminating in the fifth seal when we are shown God’s martyrs crying out for revenge (Rev 6:9-10). The sixth seal is Christ’s return (Rev 6:12-14) but then Revelation 7 jumps back to the time before Christ’s return to describe the sealing of God’s people in preparation for the release of the four end-time winds (Rev 7:1-3). These winds are interpreted as the seven last plagues.
The point is that the breaking of the seals describes the gospel going forth into the world, its acceptance and rejection, and the experience of the people of God on earth, struggling to overcome much opposition and many trials. The phrase, “to him who overcomes,” therefore, indicates what God wants His people to achieve during that time.
If Jesus takes the book at His ascension and began breaking its seals immediately, since the sixth seal is the return of Christ, the breaking of the seals describes the conditions under which God’s people must overcome throughout the church age.
(b) I will give the right to sit with me on my throne
This is in the future tense. God’s people will rule with Jesus (sit on His throne) when He returns (Rev 20:4; cf. Gen 1:26). In the seals, the overcomers are described when Jesus returns as an innumerable multitude who are able to stand before God (Rev 7:9; cf. 6:17; 7:15, 17). These verses describe the new heavens and new earth (Rev 21:1).
(c) Just as I overcame
Jesus “overcame” by remaining faithful to God until death (cf. Rev 2:10). This is stated in the past tense because this happened BEFORE John received this prophecy.
In Revelation 5, one of the elders similarly says that Jesus “has overcome so as to open the book” (Rev 5:5). Then John saw “a Lamb … as if slain” (Rev 5:6). This indicates HOW Jesus overcame, namely, by living a sinless life, even when tempted to the point of death. (See, What is Christ’s saving death?)
Since 5:5 announces an end to John’s weeping because Jesus “has overcome” (Rev 5:4-5), the time of sorrow in heaven, as described in Revelation 5:1-4, is the time BEFORE He overcame through His life and death. In other words, He overcame somewhere between verses 4 and 5.
(d) and sat down with my Father on his throne
This is also stated in the past tense meaning that this also happened BEFORE John received the prophecy, namely, very soon after Jesus’ death.
3:21, therefore, is one of the many verses in the New Testament that state that the Son, after He was resurrected, was exalted at the Father’s right hand. A list of similar statements is provided above, including Ephesians 1:20-22 and Romans 8:34.
The main point is this: Since 3:21(a) and (b) are an outline of Revelation 6 and 7, and since 3:21(c) fits in 5:4-5, the phrase in 3:21(d) (“sat down with my Father on his throne”), summarizes the remainder of Revelation 5. In other words, 5:7-14 describes Jesus sitting down on His Father’s throne. This confirms that Revelation 5 describes what happened when Jesus arrived in heaven after His ascension.
Conclusion on 3:21
As shown above, 3:21 provides an outline of the vision of the seven seals (4:1-8:1). Based on 3:21, this vision may be summarized as follows:
The struggle of God’s people to overcome and the promise that they will “sit down with Me (Jesus) on My throne” are described by Revelation 6 and 7).
But, before that, the statement that the Lamb “overcame and sat down with … (His) Father on His throne” aligns with Revelation 5, meaning that He sits down on His Father’s throne in Revelation 5.
Duo-Directional Verses
As shown above, 3:21 is one of the verses in Revelation that are found at the end of one part of Revelation and that provide an outline of the next part. Jon Paulien refers to them as duo-directional. Another example is Revelation 1:19:
| “Write the things which you have seen, | Referring to Revelation 1 |
| and the things which are, | Revelation 2 and 3 – the seven churches |
| and the things which will take place after these things” | Revelation 4 and further; cf. Rev 4:1 |
Still another example is Revelation 11:18:
| “The nations were enraged, | Rev 12-14 – Persecution of God’s people; cf. Rev 13:7, 15-17 |
| and Your wrath came, | The plagues = Rev 15-19; cf. Rev 15:1 |
| and the time came for the dead to be judged, | Rev 20; cf. Rev 20:12 |
| and the time to reward Your bond-servants … | Rev 21-22; cf. Rev 21:1-2 |
| and to destroy those who destroy the earth | Rev 20:14-15; 21:8 |
SYNOPTIC APOCALYPSE
So far, we have shown the following:
Firstly, the events described in Revelation 5 are consistent with what the New Testament elsewhere says happened when Jesus arrived in heaven after He ascended.
Secondly, Revelation 3:21 provides an outline of the vision of the seven seals and, in that outline, Revelation 5 aligns with the statement, “I (Jesus) also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
Thirdly, in this section, the parallels between the synoptic apocalypse (Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21) and the vision of the sealed book provide further evidence for this conclusion. In this sermon, Jesus divided history into three great eras. The following table shows that Revelation 6 follows the same pattern:
| Synoptic Apocalypse | Revelation 6 |
| Firstly, the general realities (preaching the gospel, wars, rumors of wars, insurrections and rebellions, famines, pestilence, earthquakes) are typical of the entire Christian age. Jesus was explicit to say that they are NOT signs of the end (Matt 24:6-8). | The first four seals (Rev 6:1-8) resemble these general realities of the Christian age for they include preaching the gospel, war, famine, pestilence, and wild beasts. |
| Secondly, Jesus spoke about great persecution toward the end of that era: Jerusalem is to be “trodden underfoot” (Luke 21:24). (This great end-time persecution is not so clear in Matthew and Mark.) | The fifth seal (Rev 6:9-11) is a point in time that divides the persecution of God’s people into two phases; before and after that point in time. That SECOND PHASE has been interpreted as the great end-time persecution. |
| Thirdly, the end-time with its heavenly signs preceding the return of Jesus (Luke 21:25-28). Again, in Matthew and Mark, these tend to be blended, but in Luke the distinctions between the three eras are clear. | The sixth seal begins with the signs associated with the second coming of Jesus (Rev 6:12-14) and concludes with the Day of Judgment (Rev 6:15-17). |
Conclusions
1) Since the heavenly scroll is still fully sealed in Revelation 5 and the seals are broken one by one in Revelation 6, Revelation 5 precedes the first four seals.
2) Since the parallels to Jesus’ synoptic apocalypse indicate that these four seals describe the church age, Revelation 5 must describe an event right at the beginning of the Christian era. The ascension and enthronement of Christ fit that picture.
CONCLUSION
In Revelation 5, Jesus overcame (Rev 5:5), appears as a slain lamb (Rev 5:6), accepts the sealed book at His Father’s right hand (Rev 5:7), and, while the Holy Spirit is sent out into all the world (Rev 5:6), the Son is glorified by the entire universe (Rev 5:13). This fits exactly with His exaltation at His Father’s right hand after His ascension, as described elsewhere in the New Testament – somewhere between AD 30 to 33, based on astronomical calculations. The conclusion is that, since He also received the book when He was exalted at His Father’s right hand, He receives the book also somewhere between AD 30 to 33.
At that time, the book was still sealed. In Revelation 6, the Lamb breaks the seals one by one. Each time that He breaks a seal in heaven, something happens on earth. The sixth seal is the return of Christ (Rev 6:12-14, 17). A further conclusion, therefore, is that the first five seals symbolize the present-tense overcoming of God’s people OVER THE CHURCH AGE.
Thus far, we discussed what Revelation 5 symbolizes. The remainder of this article responds to certain alternative interpretations.
ALTERNATIVE INTERPRETATIONS
The Rapture
In Dispensationalism, Revelation 4:1 is regarded as the rapture. However, for the following reasons, this cannot be the rapture:
1) As shown above, Revelation 5 describes what happens in heaven when Jesus arrives after His ascension. Therefore, since 4.1 precedes Revelation 5, 4:1 cannot be the rapture.
2) The interpretation of 4:1, where John is called “Come up here,” as the rapture of the Church, rests on very slender evidence. It is much more likely that Revelation 11:12, where the two witnesses are also called to “Come up here,” represents the rapture of the church.
3) In Revelation 10:1, John sees an angel coming down from heaven. John, therefore, in that chapter, IS STILL ON EARTH. Later in that chapter, when he receives the little book with further instructions (Rev 10:8-9), John represents the church. This means that the church is still on earth in Revelation 10.
4) The PURPOSE of John’s ascension to heaven in 4:1 is not to rescue the church from tribulation but to receive knowledge of future events. It is explicitly stated that John must come up to heaven to see “what must take place after these things” (Rev 4:1).
See also the article on the rapture in the discussion of the seven plagues: Revelation 16:15 and the Rapture.
The Daniel 7-Judgment
The strongest parallel to Revelation 5 is probably Daniel 7:9-14. In both:
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- God is on the throne (Dan 7:9; Rev 5:1),
- Books are mentioned (Dan 7:10; Rev 5:1),
- The Son of man appears (Dan 7:13; Rev 5:6),
- But only AFTER God is already introduced, and
- Authority is bestowed on the Son (Dan 7:14; Rev 5:12).
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In Daniel 7, this seems to be a judgment scene shortly before the return of Christ and many understand Revelation 5 as also describing that same judgment. However:
1) No books are opened in Revelation 5, as is done in Daniel 7:10. Jesus takes the book and breaks the seals in Revelation 6.
2) We find no typical judgment language (e.g., judge, avenge) in Revelation 5. Except for the fifth seal, which is only a request for judgment; not the judgment itself, we find such language only in the second half of Revelation.
3) If Revelation 5 was the judgment before Christ’s return, then Revelation 6 must have been His return. But the first five seals symbolize the church age.
While Daniel 7 is a judgment before Christ’s return, Revelation 5 represents the events in heaven after Christ’s ascension. These seem to be two DIFFERENT meetings in God’s throne room. However, the strong parallels between them imply that THEY ARE RELATED. Since the Revelation 5 meeting is about the sealed book, which, at that time is still fully sealed, it implies that the Daniel 7 meeting IS ABOUT THE SAME BOOK – perhaps when it is fully open or perhaps when it is time to break the final seal.
The Day of Atonement
In the Old Testament, on the annual “Day of Atonement” (Lev 23:26-27), “atonement” was made for “the holy place, because of the impurities of the sons of Israel and because of their transgressions in regard to all their sins” (Lev 16:16). During the year, to obtain forgiveness, sinners symbolically brought their sins to “the holy place” (the temple). Thus their sins accumulated in the temple. On the Day of Atonement, their sins were symbolically removed from the temple and put on a goat (the scapegoat Lev 16:8), and the goat was led away into the wilderness (Lev 16:21).
This is symbolic of how God deals with sin in reality. In other words, God forgives His people their sins, but that is not the end of their sins. These sins are no longer held against God’s people, but they are held against God’s temple, which is where God abides. By implication, the sins now are held against God. As stated by Romans 3:25, “in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed” but that caused the need to “demonstrate His (God’s) righteousness.” There is something else that must be done to make a complete end to the consequences of those sins, namely to demonstrate that God is “righteousness” when He selectively absolves some sinners of their sins.
For some, Revelation 4 and 5 describe the real Day of Atonement. However, there are several reasons to rule this out as the focus of Revelation 5:
(a) The primary piece of furniture associated with the Day of Atonement is the ark of the covenant (Lev 16:13). Later, John mentions the ark (Rev 11:19) but he makes no mention of the ark in Revelation 4 and 5.
(b) Again, there is no judgment language in Revelation 4-5. Revelation reserves such language for clear end-time settings. As we have noticed, even at the time of the fifth seal, which is much later than Revelation 5, judgment has not yet begun.
(c) The Day of Atonement was associated with the Most Holy Place (Greek: naos). This is the inner chamber of the holy place. John uses this term (naos) about a dozen times (e.g. Rev 11:19) but all such references are found in the second half of the book and are completely absent from Revelation 4-5.
(d) If Revelation 5 was the true Day of Atonement, we would also expect a male goat instead of a Lamb as the central figure.
FINAL CONCLUSIONS
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- While Revelation 4 is a general description of God’s throne room, Revelation 5 presents a specific event.
- Revelation 5 describes Christ’s enthronement at the Father’s right hand after He ascended into heaven; somewhere between AD 30 to 33.
- The seals in Revelation 6 describe:
- The overcoming of God’s people
- Over the broad sweep of history from the ascension of Jesus to His return.
- Revelation 4:1 is not the rapture.
- Revelation 5 is not:
- A judgment before Christ’s return, or
- The anti-typical Day of Atonement.
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Other Articles
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- Next: The sealed book is the Book of Life.
- List of all articles on the Seven Seals (4:1-8:1)
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