Holy Lamb is worshiped
Key Verses: 1, 3, 9, 12, 13
Double sealed scrolls were used in
the ancient world to protect the most important documents. It was like an
ancient firewall for the information contained in the scroll. So I want to
paint a brief picture of how this was done to give you a better insight into the scrolls of
Revelation.
Imagine a long roll of paper about 24
inches high and 50 feet long. If you are going to roll up the scroll so that
the last thing they read is the last thing revealed, then you have to write
that last thing first. So you write it. Then you roll that portion up and place
some hot wax right on the intersection of the new rolled portion and the
unrolled portion, and then roll just a bit more to spread out the wax a little
bit. Now that portion is sealed. So you write the second to last thing you want
them to read, roll, and seal it. You continue until you write the first thing
you want them to read. You write it, roll it and place a seal in the usual way
on the outside edge against the roll. So as you break each wax seal and unroll
you get a little bit more of the message of the scroll in a certain sequence
determined by the one who wrote the scroll and placed the seals.
Think about your online bill paying.
You set up bills to be paid on certain dates. As the dates approach they move
up the list, until the date of payment, then the funds are released. As time
moves forward, more payments are dispersed in the order you determine. So in
the ancient world, as the scroll is unrolled, a seal is broken and more of the
scroll's contents are revealed.
But in John's case, there is no one
worthy to open the scroll's seals. The qualification for opening the contents
of this scroll is worthiness. Jesus is the only one worthy of this honor.
Notice all the names for Jesus here in this chapter. Lion of the tribe of Judah
and Root of David both point to his royal lineage in Israel. But even more
important than being of royal blood, he is the One who was destined to sit on
David's throne and rule again. This fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies.
He is also called the Lamb, the
spotless One who would die a sacrificial death on behalf of His people. And
when He appears, He takes the scroll and everyone begins to worship Him. And in
these songs His identity and qualifications for taking the Scroll are
pronounced.
The human representatives and the
four creatures speak about Jesus' redemptive work. He paid for the salvation of
people across the globe, and across time. No barriers stop His redemption from
accomplishing its work.
Then the innumerable angels speak
about the result of Jesus death. He returned to His place in heaven, a place of
power, and authority. They don't receive benefit from Jesus' redemptive work so
they give to Him what they give to God. He gets what He had before His
incarnation. He will return to that place that only He can occupy as the second
person in the Trinity.
And finally the every living creature
give worship to Him. It will be an awesome thing to hear when all creatures get
a voice that renders praise to God. Maybe they are doing it already, but we
just don't have a translation program that works. They certainly declare the
glories of God now in their declaration of design and purpose. They show God's
creativity and power. But in that day, their praise will be clear and
distinctive. There will be no doubt about what their message is declaring.
As we live our lives now, do we
declare a clear message about Jesus' redemptive work, His worthiness to receive
all praise, and His eternal purposes for our lives? Perhaps we need to take a
cue from these heavenly voices. Jesus is worthy! Let's declare it so.