(Revelation 5)
In ancient times people didn’t write in books but wrote on scrolls made of parchment. Old Testament prophets like Isaiah and Daniel were told to record some of the messages God gave them on scrolls. The Magi who came looking for the infant Jesus would have read Daniel’s prophecies on a scroll.
In some of their visions prophets Ezekiel and Zechariah were given scrolls revealing the ‘Word of the Lord’. There were messages of promise that were sweet to the trusting and obedient, but also words of bitter lament, warning of curse and the judgement of God on wickedness and corruption.
The last book of the Bible is Revelation, a vision given to the Apostle John near the end of the first century AD. John was inspired to revisit some familiar pictures from the Old Testament prophets only now they were infused with new meaning and significance because the promised Messiah had come. This was the ‘New Testament’. The Kingdom of God, inviting subjects from every language and nation, had begun!
John was an eyewitness. While he hadn’t been there at the birth in Bethlehem, he knew Mary Jesus’ mother, he had been with Jesus throughout His ministry, heard the Sermon on the Mount, seen Him calm the storm and feed the 5000, heal the sick and raise the dead. He’d been there on the Mount of Transfiguration, near also to the cross and in that upper room when Jesus appeared after rising from the dead. And in this vision he sees his Master ascended and reigning from heaven. This man knows what he’s talking about when he says, ‘We beheld His glory.’
In Revelation 4 John tries to describe his rare, privileged glimpse into heaven. It is reminiscent of the opening paragraphs of Ezekiel where the eternal Creator is shown to be enthroned and constantly worshipped and served by awesome angelic beings. And in ch 5, like prophets from centuries before, John is shown a scroll.
At first its contents seem sealed, hidden, a mystery, we might say ‘Classified’ or ‘Top Secret’. Who could know the mind of the Almighty?
Yet the Bible teaches that God does reveal something of His character, His heart, His plan and purpose by His Spirit inspiring His servants the prophets to declare His Word and, in particular instances, write Scripture. God is not hiding or making things difficult, He speaks, He reaches out to His creation. ‘Seek and you will find’ invites Jesus!
The scroll in Revelation 5 will reveal from heaven’s perspective what is happening and will happen on earth. There are parallels between then and now. In our day, as in John’s, while the visible Church can seem lukewarm or even dead, the Gospel continues to win hearts and souls worldwide. The Church is growing but opposition is fierce and the wickedness of human beings often extreme. John saw it in ancient Rome, we see it every night on the news.
The ‘Revelation’ is given to reassure believers that the Lord knows, ‘seals’ and will preserve and reward those who stay faithful to Him. All evil will be punished, both currently and finally. Consider something else Jesus said, ‘Don’t fear those who can only kill the body and then do no more. Fear Him Who can destroy both body and soul in Hell!’ (Matthew 10 v 28)
But as we enter a new year let’s focus on the One Who opens the scroll, Who reveals and initiates God’s plan of grace and judgement on earth.
John is invited to look and see ‘the Lion of Judah’. Judah was one of the sons of Jacob and an ancestor of King David. Come and see the royal descendant of David for He has triumphed and is the only one deemed worthy to open the scroll and carry forward God’s plan! John looks but instead of seeing a majestic predator, a king of beasts he is presented with a sacrificial ‘Lamb’ Who was slain for the sins of the world.
It’s not a mistake, they are one and the same. It is Jesus, God the Son eternal, Messiah of Israel but more, King of kings and Lord of lords, the One to Whom ‘all authority in heaven and on earth’ has been given, sharing the throne and the worship given to Almighty God. Heaven and earth unite in declaring Him ‘worthy’ of honour and praise. Why?
Because He was slain! Because He humbled Himself to serve and became obedient even to death on the cross. He alone has triumphed in this sense, defeating evil, redeeming people globally from sin and its consequences, making us holy and acceptable before God.
John saw and understood this unique, double-sided ‘glory’ of his Master. Divine yet become incarnate, worthy of worship yet born humbly in a stableyard, holy yet crucified for the misdeeds of others. Now risen, ascended and enthroned and coming soon to gather His beloved to Himself, Jesus is utterly, absolutely worthy of all our thanks and praise and submission!
Why would we run after the broken idols of this world? Christ is without equal! In Him we find everything.
The Magi were ‘wise’ to bow and worship. So should we. And give our lives to serve the One Who first loved us and graciously came down to save us!
In ancient times people didn’t write in books but wrote on scrolls made of parchment. Old Testament prophets like Isaiah and Daniel were told to record some of the messages God gave them on scrolls. The Magi who came looking for the infant Jesus would have read Daniel’s prophecies on a scroll.
In some of their visions prophets Ezekiel and Zechariah were given scrolls revealing the ‘Word of the Lord’. There were messages of promise that were sweet to the trusting and obedient, but also words of bitter lament, warning of curse and the judgement of God on wickedness and corruption.
The last book of the Bible is Revelation, a vision given to the Apostle John near the end of the first century AD. John was inspired to revisit some familiar pictures from the Old Testament prophets only now they were infused with new meaning and significance because the promised Messiah had come. This was the ‘New Testament’. The Kingdom of God, inviting subjects from every language and nation, had begun!
John was an eyewitness. While he hadn’t been there at the birth in Bethlehem, he knew Mary Jesus’ mother, he had been with Jesus throughout His ministry, heard the Sermon on the Mount, seen Him calm the storm and feed the 5000, heal the sick and raise the dead. He’d been there on the Mount of Transfiguration, near also to the cross and in that upper room when Jesus appeared after rising from the dead. And in this vision he sees his Master ascended and reigning from heaven. This man knows what he’s talking about when he says, ‘We beheld His glory.’
In Revelation 4 John tries to describe his rare, privileged glimpse into heaven. It is reminiscent of the opening paragraphs of Ezekiel where the eternal Creator is shown to be enthroned and constantly worshipped and served by awesome angelic beings. And in ch 5, like prophets from centuries before, John is shown a scroll.
At first its contents seem sealed, hidden, a mystery, we might say ‘Classified’ or ‘Top Secret’. Who could know the mind of the Almighty?
Yet the Bible teaches that God does reveal something of His character, His heart, His plan and purpose by His Spirit inspiring His servants the prophets to declare His Word and, in particular instances, write Scripture. God is not hiding or making things difficult, He speaks, He reaches out to His creation. ‘Seek and you will find’ invites Jesus!
The scroll in Revelation 5 will reveal from heaven’s perspective what is happening and will happen on earth. There are parallels between then and now. In our day, as in John’s, while the visible Church can seem lukewarm or even dead, the Gospel continues to win hearts and souls worldwide. The Church is growing but opposition is fierce and the wickedness of human beings often extreme. John saw it in ancient Rome, we see it every night on the news.
The ‘Revelation’ is given to reassure believers that the Lord knows, ‘seals’ and will preserve and reward those who stay faithful to Him. All evil will be punished, both currently and finally. Consider something else Jesus said, ‘Don’t fear those who can only kill the body and then do no more. Fear Him Who can destroy both body and soul in Hell!’ (Matthew 10 v 28)
But as we enter a new year let’s focus on the One Who opens the scroll, Who reveals and initiates God’s plan of grace and judgement on earth.
John is invited to look and see ‘the Lion of Judah’. Judah was one of the sons of Jacob and an ancestor of King David. Come and see the royal descendant of David for He has triumphed and is the only one deemed worthy to open the scroll and carry forward God’s plan! John looks but instead of seeing a majestic predator, a king of beasts he is presented with a sacrificial ‘Lamb’ Who was slain for the sins of the world.
It’s not a mistake, they are one and the same. It is Jesus, God the Son eternal, Messiah of Israel but more, King of kings and Lord of lords, the One to Whom ‘all authority in heaven and on earth’ has been given, sharing the throne and the worship given to Almighty God. Heaven and earth unite in declaring Him ‘worthy’ of honour and praise. Why?
Because He was slain! Because He humbled Himself to serve and became obedient even to death on the cross. He alone has triumphed in this sense, defeating evil, redeeming people globally from sin and its consequences, making us holy and acceptable before God.
John saw and understood this unique, double-sided ‘glory’ of his Master. Divine yet become incarnate, worthy of worship yet born humbly in a stableyard, holy yet crucified for the misdeeds of others. Now risen, ascended and enthroned and coming soon to gather His beloved to Himself, Jesus is utterly, absolutely worthy of all our thanks and praise and submission!
Why would we run after the broken idols of this world? Christ is without equal! In Him we find everything.
The Magi were ‘wise’ to bow and worship. So should we. And give our lives to serve the One Who first loved us and graciously came down to save us!
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