ONE LIFE TO LIVE
Opening Prayer
O Lamb of God, take away my sin today.
Read Revelation 5
The Scroll and the Lamb
5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I 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. 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[a] 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. 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[b] on the earth.”
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.
Footnotes:
a Revelation 5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
b Revelation 5:10 Some manuscripts they reign
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Have you ever thought of a lamb as powerful?The sneak preview of heaven continues and now it reaches the pinnacle: Jesus is unveiled and we see him and get to know more about him. Without him, there is unutterable sadness (4), and John weeps because he realizes how critical it is for the scroll to be opened. But that is before Jesus is present.
What do we learn about Jesus—who he is and what he has done—from these descriptions of him (5,6,9,12,13)? This is what Revelation is all about—a spiritual or symbolic portrait revealing Jesus, showing him for who he really is. He’s called the Lion, but John sees a Lamb (5,6).
Notice where the Lamb is (6,7) and notice his posture—this is not a crumpled, sacrificed lamb but the powerful Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). What effect does he have on those around him (8,9,11,13,14)? Horns are a symbol of authority and seven is the number of perfection or wholeness. Perfect authority belongs to the Lamb.
Finally, everyone (13) is singing a worship song. Someone once said that we have only this life to worship of our own free will. One day there will be no choice but to worship.
Apply
Think about what it cost the Lamb to be slaughtered, for whom, with what effect (9,10). What might your response be (12,13)? Write it down.
Closing prayer
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” (13).
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