Does God have hands like we do? The answer is no. Why, then, is He pictured this way in Revelation 5:1?
John saw a vision of heaven, which he then put into words (Revelation 4 and 5). His description of what he saw was accurate, but picturesque visions should not be confused with realism. Jesus is not a lamb, and God, who is spirit, doesn’t have hands. As explained previously, apocalyptic writings have to be viewed more as Impressionist paintings than photographs.
The overall response I come away with after reading these two chapters is simply that, unlike here on Earth, heaven is a setting where God is constantly receiving the glory due His name, and for this I am glad.
Between Revelation chapter three (the seven churches) and four, a major shift took place. In chapter four, John is transported in spirit from Earth to heaven, where a trumpet-like voice tells him, “…I will show you what must take place after this.”
After describing the celestial surroundings, we are informed in chapter five that apparently this information regarding the future is contained in a scroll that’s been sealed seven times. Because no one can be found capable of opening the scroll, John weeps and weeps. Soon he is told, however, that the Lion of the tribe of Judah will be able to do the job.
Instead of a Lion, John sees a Lamb, “looking as if it had been slain.” It’s standing in the center of the throne of God. When the Lamb takes the scroll to open it, loud praise breaks forth from all quarters. Prolonged worship continues of both “the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.”
This sets up chapter six, in which the seals are opened one at a time, at the end of which “what must take place after this” starts to be revealed.
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