The Scroll and the Lamb of God (Day 10)

Revelation 5:1-4 ⁽¹⁾Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” ⁽³⁾But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. ⁽⁴⁾I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. (NIV)

 

The Scroll and the Lamb of God

 

John saw a scroll that was held in God’s right hand.

There was writing on both sides of this scroll and it was secured with seven seals. Whatever God writes, it is something of importance and with great detail. We can see this illustrated in the events that took place with Moses when he had received the 10 Commandments from God that were written with His own finger. Exodus 31:18 When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant law, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God. (NIV)

 

The number seven, which was the amount of seals that were on the scroll, represents completeness. In the beginning, God created the whole world within a matter of 6 days according to the account in Genesis. On the seventh day, He rested and all the work that He had done was made complete. Genesis 2:1-3 ⁽¹⁾Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. ⁽²⁾By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. ⁽³⁾Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done. (NIV)

 

 

 

 

An angel made a cry out for someone who would be worthy to break open the seals on the scroll. However, there was no one found worthy to open the seals in Heaven nor on the earth. John wept because of this. This lets us know that even in all the “good” that we think we do, we are not worthy within ourselves. We are only found worthy of anything through the Blood of the Lamb. If it had not been for Jesus coming to die for our sins, we would have been eternally lost. Isaiah 64:6-8 ⁽⁶⁾All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. ⁽⁷⁾No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and have given us over to our sins. ⁽⁸⁾Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. (NIV)

 

 

  

Revelation 5:5-7 ⁽⁵⁾Then one of the elders said to me, Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” ⁽⁶⁾Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁽⁷⁾He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. (NIV)

The Lion of Judah

 

John was told not to weep. This showed his sincere heartbreak over the things of God, but comfort was given because all was not loss. One of the elders let him know that there was someone worthy to open the seals. Jesus who became the Sacrificial Lamb was the only One worthy to

open the seals. John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (NIV)

 

 

Then John saw the Lamb that looked like He had been slain. The Bible lets us know that Jesus still has physical evidence of the ultimate sacrifice He made for us. No one will be able to deny that He died and rose again. The evidence is profoundly clear and still evident in His hands, feet and side. John 20:27 Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." (NIV) John goes on to say that Jesus was encircled by the four living creatures and the 24 elders. On him were seven horns and seven eyes. Jesus being the center of all things was surrounded by the four living creatures who are the embodiment of who He is. The 24 elders who represent the Body of Christ will one day surround Him and never again be separated when Christ come to take His children home. The seven horns and eyes represents the Holy Spirit who does a complete and perfect work throughout the earth and sees all where nothing is hidden. Jesus, being worthy to open the scroll, took it from God the Father who was seated on the throne.

 

 

 

Revelation 5:8-10 ⁽⁸⁾And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. ⁽⁹⁾And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. ⁽¹⁰⁾You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (NIV)

 

 

 

John describes the four living creatures and the 24 elders as having a harp and golden bowls with incense. God loves to hear the praises of His children. He is worthy of all praise. Psalm 100:1-5 ⁽¹⁾Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. ⁽²⁾Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. ⁽³⁾Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his and not we ourselves; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. ⁽⁴⁾Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. ⁽⁵⁾For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. (NIV) Not only did they have a harp, they also had incense in their bowls, which are the prayers that goes up before God. Psalm 141:2 May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice. (NIV) We never have to worry about our prayers not being heard. For we know that when we pray the will of the Father, He hears and sees all and will answer in accordance to His perfect will.

 

 

 

The song that they sang told of God’s Salvation through His son, Jesus, who came to save the world from sin. John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (NIV) God made us priests and all who are true to Him will serve Him with the grace of humility that He freely gives, so that we can be a witness to the world. 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (NIV)

 

 

 

Revelation 5:11-14 ⁽¹¹⁾Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. ⁽¹²⁾In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”  ⁽¹³⁾Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” ⁽¹⁴⁾The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (NIV)

John described all of the Heavenly host proclaiming the worthiness of the Lamb of God who was slain. Within this tribute is six highlights about what the Son of God, Jesus, received as a result of His sacrifice.

 

a.)  Power—1 Corinthians 6:14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. (NIV) All power belongs to God. Therefore, what belongs to God also belongs to His Son.

 

b.)  Wealth—Psalm 50:10-12 ⁽¹⁰⁾For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. ⁽¹¹⁾I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. ⁽¹²⁾If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it. (NIV) God created everything that exist. All riches belong to Him and therefore, He gave it to His Son.

 

c.)  Strength—Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him. (NIV) Jesus did what no other man on earth could do. He bore the sins of the world upon His shoulder. This required strength that could only come from God the Father.

 

d.)  Honor—1 Chronicles 29:11 ⁽¹¹⁾Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all. (NIV) No other being in Heaven above or earth below deserves more honor than God. He gave this honor to His Son as a gift for all that He had done.

 

e.) Glory—Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of

 

God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (NIV) Because God is glory and there is no one above Him, Jesus is Glory for He and the Father are One.

 

f.)  Praise—Psalm 145:3 Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. (NIV) There is no other name that deserves more praise than Jesus. For without Christ, we would be loss.

John described everyone in Heaven, on earth, below the earth, and sea worshipping Jesus and proclaiming the greatness of who He is. The Bible tells us that all will bow before Him as the Mighty King that He is. Philippians 2:6-11 ⁽⁶⁾Who, being in very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; ⁽⁷⁾rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. ⁽⁸⁾And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! ⁽⁹⁾Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ⁽¹⁰⁾that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ⁽¹¹⁾and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (NIV)

 

We will continue our lesson study in the book of Revelation on tomorrow. If you would like this lesson series in print, you can purchase the series, "Revelation: Removing the Prophetic Veil Bible Lesson Series 1-10 by K L Rich" is available on Amazon.com. Lesson 11 will be available December 30, 2015.