Mike,

I have a relative that I am trying to win over to the truth into the revelation of there being only one God. And they are trying to debunk the oneness of God by asking me who is giving Jesus the scrolls in Rev 5. Could you help shed some light on this?

Thanks,
P____

Hi P____,

Thank you for your question. You say your relative is asking you who is giving Jesus the scrolls in Rev 5:

Rev 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Rev 5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
Rev 5:3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Rev 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
Rev 5:7 And he [ Christ] came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

It is clear God the Father is handing the scrolls to Christ. I fail to see how this scenario in any way conflicts with the doctrine of but one God the Father of whom are all things.

1Co 8:6 But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and [ Besides this “one God the Father” there is also] one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

Christ is ‘God’ only inasmuch as we are all “gods.”

Joh 10:30 I and [ my] Father are one.
Joh 10:31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him.
Joh 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
Joh 10:33 The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
Joh 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
Joh 10:35 If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;
Joh 10:36 Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?

There it is; there is Christ’s justification for saying He is the Son of God. “Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?”
Joseph is generally understood, even in Babylon, as being a type of Christ, who was “hated of his brothers.” Now here is what the Pharaoh, who typifies the Father at this point, tells Joseph:

Gen 41:40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

That scripture is in complete accord with what we are told is, was and will be Christ’s relationship with His Father:

1Co 15:21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then cometh the end, when he [ Christ] shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he [ Christ] shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he [ Christ] must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed [ is] death.
1Co 15:27 For he [ the Father] hath put all things under his [ Christ’s] feet. But when he [ the Father] saith all things are put under him [ Christ], it is manifest that he [ the Father] is excepted, which did put all things under him [ Christ].
1Co 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him [ the Father] that put all things under him [ Christ], that God may be all in all.

When God’s work with mankind is all said and done, “then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him.” The Father retains the power of the throne, and Christ is “subject unto Him that put all thing under Him.”
This is all dealt with in depth in the article on the trinity in the Essential Reading section of iswasandwillbe. com, in the upper left corner of the home page. Read that article and get back to me if you still have questions.
I will take this opportunity to remind you of the truth of this verse:

Joh 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Joh 6:45  It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

We have to be given eyes that see and ears that hear, before we will ever be able to receive “the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven.”

Mat 13:10  And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why speakest thou unto them in parables?
Mat 13:11  He answered and said unto them, Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.

Now we know what Christ means in Joh 6:45 And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
If God is blinding your relative while you are trying to unblind him, you will find yourself in a losing position. Christ actually came so that those who think they see might be made blind.

Joh 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Joh 9:40  And [ some] of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

So be patient. He is exactly where God has him, and you and I were in that same position only ‘yesterday’. When the Lord opens his eyes and ears, then He will come to you and seek your advice. In the meantime, prepare yourself to be ready to ‘give an answer to any who ask you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.’

1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Your brother in Christ,
Mike