Chapter Fifteen/ "Who Is Worthy to Open the Scroll?" -The Worthy One

 Jehovah himself, Sovereign Lord of all creation, is holding out that scroll. It must be full of vital information, for it has writing on the front and on the back. Our curiosity is aroused. What does the scroll contain? We recall Jehovah's invitation to John: "Come on up here, and I shall show you the things that must take place." (Revelation 4:1) With tingling expectation, we look forward to learning about these things. But alas the scroll is tightly closed, sealed shut with seven seals! 

Will the strong angel find something worthy to open the scroll? According to the Kingdom Interlinear, the scroll is located "upon the right hand" of Jehovah. This suggests that he holds it out on his open palm. But it appears that no one in heave or on earth is worthy to accept and open that scroll, not even underneath the earth, among faithful servants of God who have died, is anyone qualified for this high honor. No wonder John is visibly upset! Perhaps he is not going to learn "the things that must take place" after all. In our day, too, God's anointed people have anxiously waited for Jehovah to send forth his light and truth on Revelation. This he would do progressively at the appointed time for the prophecy's fulfillment, in order to lead his peole in the way of a "grand salvation." - PSALM 43:3, 5. 

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Chapter Fifteen /"Who Is Worthy to Open the Scroll?"

 SUBLIME! AWE INSPIRING! Such is the stirring vision Jehovah's throne in its setting amid the lamps of fire, the cherubs and the 24 elders, and the glassy sea. But John, what do you see next? John focuses on the very center of this heavenly scene, telling us: "And I saw in the right hand of the One seated upon the throne, a scroll written within and on the reverse side, sealed tight with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice: 'Who is worthy to open the scroll and loose its ends?' But neither in heaven nor upon earth nor underneath the earth was a there a single one able to open the scroll or look into it. And I gave way to a great deal of weeping because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it." - REVELATION 5:1-4. 

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Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Jehovah's Praises Ring Out -

 Who can remain unmoved at reading John's account of this vision? It is splendorous, grand! But what must the reality be like? Jehovah's very majesty must enliven anyone with an appreciative heart to join the four living creatures and the 24 elders in praising Him, both in prayer and by publicly proclaiming His name. This is the God for whom Christians are privileged to be witnesses today. (Isaiah 43:10) Remember that John's vision applies to the Lord's day, where we are now. "The seven spirits" are ever at hand to guide and strengthen us. (Galatians 5:16-18) God's Word is available today to help us to be holy in serving a holy God. (1 Peter 1:14-16) Certainly, we are happy to read aloud the words of this prophecy. (Revelation 1:3) What an inducement they provide to be faithful to Jehovah and not allow the world to distract us from actively singing his praises! - 1 JOHN 2:15-17. 

So far, John has described what he sees when he is invited to approach through that opened door in heaven. Most outstandingly, he reports that Jehovah, in all the magnificence of his majesty and dignity, is seated on His celestial throne. He is surrounded by the mightiest of all organizations-radiant in its splendor and loyalty. The divine Court is in session. (Daniel 7:9, 10.18) The stage is set for something extraordinary to happen. What is it, and how does it affect us today? Let us watch as the scene unfolds!

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The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Jehovah's Praises Ring Out - Continue

 The 24 elders have the same mental attituded that Jesus displays, even casting their crowns down before Jehovah. It is furthest from their minds to exalt themselves in the presence of God. They humbly recognize that the only purpose of their kingship is to bring honor and glory to him, just as Jesus always does. (Philippians 2:5. 6. 9-11) Submissively, they acknowledge their own inferiority and confess that their rulership is dependent on the sovereignty of Jehovah. Thus, they are in heartfelt harmony with the cherubs and the rest of faithful creation in giving praise and glory to the God who created all things. - PSALM 150:1-6. 

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Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Jehovah's Praises Ring Out - Continue

 Listen! Melodious, soul stirring is the song of praise that the cherubs render to Jehovah: "Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah God the Almighty, who was and who is and who is coming." Again, the threeness indicates intensity. The cherubs strongly affirm the holiness of Jehovah God. He is the Source and the ultimate Standard of holiness. He is also "the King of eternity, "always the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." (1 Timothy 1:17; Revelation 22:13) The cherubs take no rest periods as they proclaim the matchless quality of Jehovah before all creation.  

The heaven of heavens resounds with praises to Jehovah! John's description continues: "And whenever the living creatures offer glory and honor and thanksgiving to the one seated upon the throne, the one that lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne, saying: 'You are worthy, Jehovah, even our God, to receive the glory and the honor and the power, because you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created.' " (Revelation 4:9-11) In all Scripture, this one of the grandest declarations of homage to Jehovah our God and Sovereign Lord!

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Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Jehovah's Praises Ring Out

 John continues his description: "And as for the four living creatures. each one of them respectively has six wings; round about and underneath they are full of eyes. And they have no rest day and night as they say: 'Holy, holy, holy is Jehovah God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is coming. ' " (Revelation4:8) This fullness of eyes suggests complete and farsighted vision. The four living creatures exercise this unceasingly, as they have no need of sleep. They imitate the One of whom it is written: "As regards Jehovah, his eyes are roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf of those who heart is complete toward him."(2 Chronicles 16:9) Having so great a number if eyes, the cherubs can see everywhere. Nothing escapes their attention. Thus they are well-equipped to serve God in his work of judging. Of him, it is said: "The eyes of Jehovah are in every place, keeping watch upon the bad ones and the good ones." (Proverbs 15:3) And with three pairs   of wings-the number three being used in the Bible for emphasis-the cherubs can move with lightning swiftness to herald Jehovah's judgments and execute them. 

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Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Behold "Four Living Creatures" -Conclusion

 The third living creature has a face like a man's. This must represent godlike love, since on earth man alone was created in God's image, with the superlative quality of love. (Genesis 1:26-28; Matthew 22:36-40; 1 John 4:8, 16) Undoubtedly, the cherubs display this quality as they serve around Jehovah's throne. What now of the fourth living creature? This one is like a flying eagle in appearance. Jehovah himself calls attention to the eagle's great vision: "Far into the distance his eyes keep looking." (Job 39:29) Hence, the eagle well symbolizes farsighted wisdom. Jehovah is the Source of the wisdom. His cherubs exercise divine wisdom as they obey his commands. - PROVERBS 2:6; JAMES 3:17.

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John continues: "And the first living creature is like a lion, and the second living creature is like a young bull, and the third living creature has a face like a man's, and the fourth living creature is like a flying eager." (Revelation 4:7) Why do these four living creatures look so different, one from another? These distinctive living creatures evidently highlight specific godly qualities. First, there is the lion. A lion is used in the Bible as  a symbol of courage, especially in the pursuit of justice and righteousness. 2 Samuel 17:10; Proverbs 28:1) Thus, the lion well represents the godly quality of courageous justice. (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 89:14) The second living creature resembles a young bull. What quality does a bull bring to your mind? To the Israelites the bull was a valuable possession because of its power. (Proverbs 14:4; see also Job 39:9-11) The young bull then represents power, dynamic energy as supplied by Jehovah. 

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Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Behold "Four Living Creatures" - Continue

 These four living creatures are "in the midst of the throne and around the throne." Exactly what does that mean? It could signify that they are positioned around the throne in such a way that one is standing in the middle of each side. Thus, the translators of Today's English Version paraphrased the original Greek expression in this way "surrounding the throne on each of it's sides." Alternatively, the expression could mean that the four living creatures ae in the central position in heaven where the throne is. Likely, that is why the Jerusalem Bible renders the phrase "in the center, grouped round the throne itself." The important thing is the closeness of the cherubs to Jehovah's throne, comparable to that of the cherubs that Ezekiel saw at each corner of Jehovah's organizational chariot. (Ezekiel 1:15-22) All of this harmonizes with the words of Psalm 99:1: Jehovah himself has become the king. . . . He is sitting upon the cherubs." 

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Chapter Fourteen/The Magnificence of Jehovah's Celestial Throne - Behold "Four Living Creatures"

 John now observes another feature. He writes: "And in the midst of the throne and around the throne there are four living creatures that are full of eyes in front and behind." - REVELATION 4:6b. 

What do these creatures picture? A vision reported by another prophet, Ezekiel, helps us to find another answer. Ezekiel saw Jehovah enthroned on a celestial chariot, which was accompanied by living creatures embodying characteristics similar to those described by John. (Ezekiel 1:5-11, 22-28) Later, Ezekiel saw again that chariot throne accompanied by the living creatures. This time, however, he referred to the living creatures as cherubs. (Ezekiel 10:9-15) The four living creatures that John sees must represent the cherubs of God-creatures of high rank in his spirit organization. John would not think it unusual to see cherubs positioned so close to Jehovah's person, since in the ancient tabernacle arrangement, two cherubs of gold were displayed upon the lid of the ark of the covenant, which represented Jehovah's throne. From between these cherubs, Jehovhah's voice issued commandments to the nation. - EXODAUS 25:22; PSALM 80:1.

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