Revelation 5
Chapter 5 gives us an introduction to the seven seals. The seals give us an overview of the seventieth week of Daniel, the final seven years for the Jews before Christ’s return.
John is in the throne room. A scroll with the seven seals is presented by a strong angel, asking who is worthy to open the scroll. They found no one, so John was moved to tears. One of the elders told John not to weep because Jesus was worthy to open it.
Then John looked up and saw the Lord Jesus, having 7 horns and eyes, which are the 7 spirits of God (3:1, 4:5). Jesus went to Father God and took the scroll from His right hand of authority. When He took the scroll, the elders and 4 creatures bowed before Him, recognized as the Lamb, the sacrificial offering that paid for the sins of the world. He was worthy, qualified to take the Word of God and open it.
Each elder had a harp for worship and golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. This shows us that our prayers are heard, hold onto, and answered. They have meaning and value.
The elders and creatures sang a new song, worshipping the Lamb for being worthy to open the scroll with the seven seals. In addition, John heard angels worship the Lamb, many of them, ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands. Then John heard creation worshipping the Lamb, from heaven, from the earth, from under the earth, and in the sea. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6)!
Amos 1-3
God will choose whomever He wishes to do what He wishes. Look at Amos – he was a shepherd and tended to sycamore-fig trees in the small town of Tekoa, just south of Jerusalem, yet God called Him to prophesy and write it down. This is God’s prophetic word that spoke to Israel, but also became a book in the Bible.
Amos can be outlined as such:
Chapters 1-2 Judgment on the nations
Chapters 3-6 Oracles against Israel
Chapters 7-9:10 Visions of Judgment
Chapters 9:11-15 Restoration of Israel
In chapters 1-2, judgments are giving against Damascus, Gaza, Tyre, Edom, Ammon, Moab, Judah, and Israel.
In chapter 3, there are continued messages against Israel, and as we know, He speaks judgment with the intent of restoration, which we see at the end of the book.
In 3:3-7 we see God’s heart to work together with His people. Verse 7 “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” He also says in verse 3, “Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?”
Amos also communicates the authority of the prophetic word, saying, “A lion has roared! Who will not fear?” In 2:4, Amos says Israel has despised the Lord’s laws. The Hebrew word is ma’as #3988, which means, “to regard as unimportant or worthless, to disregard, to reject.” They treated God’s Law with dishonor, not valuing it, treating it as insignificant.
The fact that you are reading this commentary shows me that you have reverence for His Word. If someone doesn’t read His Word, whether through Cover to Cover or another way, they aren’t choosing to value it. People who value the Bible will read the Bible; and not only read it, but apply it to our lives.
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