Someone may ask, "is it really necessary for us now living to understand this fifth chapter?"  "The fifth chapter of Revelation needs to be closely studied.  It is of great importance to those who shall act a part in the work of God for these last days". 9 Testimonies 267.

    Just prior to penning the above words, the paragraph before says, "What will such a one do in the day that the books are opened and every man is judged according to the things written in the books?" 9 Testimonies 266.

    Some may choose to speculate about this book in the hand of him that sat on the throne saying, "it is the book of life".  Is there more in this book than just the names of those who professed to serve Jesus?  "Thus the Jewish leaders made their choice.  Their decision was registered in the book which John saw in the hand of Him that sat on the throne, the book which no man could open.  In all its vindictiveness their decision will appear before them in the day when this book is unsealed by the Lion of the tribe of Judah." Christ's Object Lessons 294.  See how plain this becomes?  This book is a book of deeds of the professed people of God.  The wicked, their judgment will begin during those 1000 years in heaven by the saints who will qualify by being redeemed themselves, taken to heaven without seeing death at Jesus second coming, or they will be raised at the last trump when Jesus says those healing words "...awake, awake, awake, ye that sleep in the dust, and arise!"  Great Controversy 644.

    Verse 9 tells us that the four beast and the twenty four elders came from planet earth. They were "redeemed".  They remember when they lived on this earth of Satan's deceptions, and his ability to twist God's ever so clear instructions, and Satan with his bag of tricks.  It is encouraging to me to know, that the jury who decides on my destiny, knows exactly how I am tempted each and every day.

    Some may question about the four beasts, being human.  The description of six wings each, full of eyes etc. renders them confused and ready to accept whatever the evangelists says.  The Bible could not be any plainer in stating "...for thou was slain, and hast redeemed us to God." Rev 5:9, referring to the twenty-four elders and the four beasts.  In chapter six, one begins to see the role they occupy which only confirms their earthly origins.  Verse six sheds some light on Jesus being a "lamb" "slain" "having seven horns and seven eyes".  Our lovely Jesus does not have the appearance of a freak with seven horns, no, that refers to His omnipotence.  Seven eyes mean that He can see everything forward and backward.  Please notice how many angels are present in verse eleven during this anticipated judgment, the same number as the prophetic book of Daniel mentioned in Daniel 7:10.

    It is not until the next chapter when the first seal was opened that judgment actually begins.  From the prophecy of Daniel 8:14 to 9:27 all serious Bible students will recognize the year of 1844 when this phase of the judgment began in heaven with this grand assembly. This grand assembly has a very important job to perform, mentioned in chapters four, five and six.  Common sense suggests that the very first name to come up in judgment as soon as the first seal is opened would be that of Abel the son of Adam.  With him being the first to die and being a worshiper of God, his name is in that book of deeds being held "in the right hand of him that sat on the throne".  Revelation 5:11.

    With the exception of Enoch, Elijah, and Moses, all those in heaven sitting on those twenty-four “seats” died for their faith.  See Desire of Ages 786, "cost of their lives".  I am so thankful someone with that kind of integrity is weighing my actions when my name comes in review.