Soon

Here is a link to last week’s study of Revelation.

 “Then I saw a Lamb…”

Revelation 5:6

One day life on earth will be a terrifying ordeal. The future events should not frighten true believers. But we must not waste time on selfishness and neglecting God’s commands to share the Gospel of Jesus.

Let’s take a look at Revelation 5.

Chapter 5 is presented to us as if it is actually happening now. Remember, John is receiving the Revelation as in a vision, not a dream.

In this vision, John sees that God is about to release judgements upon the wicked world that will remain after the Rapture. Except for those who are saved following the Rapture, people left will have rejected Christ. People who give their hearts to Christ will face unimaginable suffering and martyrdom.

“Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals.” Revelation 5:1 (NLT)

The scroll in this passage is held closed by seven seals. Once these are broken, later in Revelation, they will release a series of judgements upon the world.

John sees the scroll being held by Jesus seated next to God in Heaven.

The fact that the scroll had writing on both sides indicates the extensiveness of God’s judgement.

But at first it appears that there is no angel nor any of the saints or other heavenly creatures that are able to break the seals and open the scroll in Christs’ right hand. This makes John weep

“And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?”  But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.”

Revelation 5:2-3 (NLT)

To me, this was mystifying until I heard Dr. Michael Youseff explain that when Adam and Eve sinned, Adam handed the deed to the earth to Satan, who gained dominion over it. That’s why sin and rebellion against God run rampant today, leading to hatred, murder, and all evil.

“Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. “

Revelation 5:4 (NLT)

The reason John weeps is because he realizes that if no one can open the scroll to read the judgements then Satan and sin will continue to be loose on earth.

But look at verse 5!

“But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Revelation 5:5 (NLT)

Jesus is the Lamb of God, gentle and loving. But Jesus is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah! The Mighty Victor over Satan, death and Hell.

“Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth.”

Revelation 5:6

You see, Christ is our mediator between God, angels, and men, and as the eternal Word of God, He is our Redeemer, the Lamb of God. In this verse, He appears as the slain Savior, making intercession for us through His everlasting sacrifice. He is filled with the Spirit of God, possessing divine power and wisdom over the world. He is the Lion of Judah. This is why He alone is worthy to break the seals of the scroll.

The second part of this passage sounds mysterious doesn’t it. Here is what I learned.

The seven horns speak of Jesus’ perfect power. The seven eyes describe the perfect wisdom and knowledge of Jesus. And we have already learned about the seven-fold Spirit of God.

Here is a reminder about the seven-fold Spirit of God:

1)The Spirit of the LORD
2) The Spirit of wisdom
3) The Spirit of understanding
4) The Spirit of counsel
5) The Spirit of power
6) The Spirit of knowledge
7) The Spirit of the fear of the Lord

This is the one Holy Spirit of God but described by seven different attributes. Isaiah 11:2

Below are the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John. These words are a reminder that we should not be afraid. Our Savior will keep every promise.

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.  He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not abandon you as orphans—I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you also will live. When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them.And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

John 14:15-21 (NLT)

New Living Translation (NLT)

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.