It is written:
Revelation 7:1, 6-7-And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals…And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
The Apostle John describes here a powerful view of the Trinity. With his words, he not only upholds the Bible truth of the Godhead, but he clearly refutes the teaching of modalism (a heretical belief which the early church combatted which claims that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are actually the same Person).
Let’s study.
First, John describes One Who sits on the throne of Heaven and Who has a scroll in His right hand. In the first century world, scrolls often contained important messages and proclamations and thus came to symbolize authority and judgment. In the same way, the “right hand” was used throughout the Old Testament to describe authority and strength.
For example:
Job 40:14-Then I will also confess to you That your own right hand can save you.
We read further:
Genesis 48:14-18-14 Then Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand on Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands knowingly, for Manasseh was the firstborn. 15 And he blessed Joseph, and said: “God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has fed me all my life long to this day, 16 The Angel who has redeemed me from all evil, Bless the lads; Let my name be named upon them, And the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; And let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.” 17 Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.”
Notice what has happened in this passage. Joseph was upset because his father Israel (I.e., Jacob) had placed his right hand on Ephraim. The placing of the right hand on the firstborn indicated greater blessing upon him. In this case, however, Jacob placed his right hand on the younger son, which was very troubling to Joseph. The right hand suggested favor, honor, blessing, and strength.
Again:
Exodus 15:6-“Your right hand, O LORD, has become glorious in power; Your right hand, O LORD, has dashed the enemy in pieces.
Exodus 15:12-You stretched out Your right hand; The earth swallowed them.
Deuteronomy 33:2-And he said: “The LORD came from Sinai, And dawned on them from Seir; He shone forth from Mount Paran, And He came with ten thousands of saints; From His right hand Came a fiery law for them.
Psalm 16:8-I have set the LORD always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.
Psalm 16:11-You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 17:7-Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them.
Psalm 18:35-You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.
Psalm 20:6-Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; He will answer him from His holy heaven With the saving strength of His right hand.
Psalm 44:3-For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, Nor did their own arm save them; But it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because You favored them.
Psalm 45:9-Kings’ daughters are among Your honorable women; At Your right hand stands the queen in gold from Ophir.:
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Psalm 63:8-My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.
Psalm 80:15-And the vineyard which Your right hand has planted, And the branch that You made strong for Yourself.
Psalm 98:1-Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! For He has done marvelous things; His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.
Psalm 108:6-That Your beloved may be delivered, Save with Your right hand, and hear me.
Psalm 138:7-Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch out Your hand Against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.
Isaiah 41:10-Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’
The One on the throne has the full authority of Heaven.
Second, notice that another Person is then described for us. This figure is described as being in the “midst” of the throne, and yet coming to the One sitting on the throne and removing the scroll from His hand. Clearly, John is describing two separate Persons here, yet both are in the midst of the throne!
Speaking of the Greek of this passage, one author has written:
“The Lamb is situated “in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders.” Aune (1997: 351–52) notes three possible interpretations of ἐν μέσῳ ( en mesō , in the midst of): (1) It can mean “in the middle of” or “in the center of” the throne, so that the Lamb is at the center of the action; but the problem is 5:7, where the Lamb “came and took” the scroll from God, suggesting he was some distance away. (2) It can refer to an interval between the participants, so that the Lamb is “between” the throne and the others. (3) It can signify a position “among” or “with” the other characters. Probably the last two describe the scene. The Lamb is near the throne in the area inhabited by the living creatures and elders (contra Hall 1990: 613). Most likely the Lamb stood beside the throne, encircled by the celestial beings (in 22:1 he is on the throne with God), [12] though we will see that in 7:17 the Lamb is “at the center of the throne.” As J. Charles (1993: 85–97) points out, in the throne imagery of chapter 5 we have another contrast with the imperial court. The “pretensions” of Rome to universal rule are shown to pale in comparison with the universal reign of God and the Lamb.” (Grant R. Osborne, Revelation (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament), 5890-5901 (Kindle Edition); Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Academic)
Throughout the Bible, we are reminded how Jesus is at the right hand of God. One powerful Messianic prophecy had declared:
Psalm 110:1-The LORD said to my Lord,”Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
We are told in the New Testament:
Mark 16:19-So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
Acts 7:55-56-But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
Colossians 3:1-If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Hebrews 1:3-who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
1 Peter 3:22-who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.
Clearly, Jesus and His Father are shown to be two separate Persons. Those who hold to the teaching that Jesus and His Father are the same Person are unable to explain these facts.
Third, notice the reference to the Holy Spirit. The “seven Spirits” is an Old Testament reference to the Holy Spirit of God (cf. Isaiah 11:2). The Holy Spirit is thus identified here as God, and yet separate from the Father and the Son. We see the same throughout Revelation (cf. Revelation 1:4; 3:1; 4:5) Clearly, a powerful reference to the Trinity!
Finally, notice that even though the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are shown to be separate Persons, they are still identified as being “God” by being on the throne of Heaven!
The Gnostic doctrine of modalism arose in the second century when some tried to combine Christianity with pagan Greek philosophy. Thankfully, faithful Christians were able to refute such teaching with the Word of God.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. Amen.
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