Journey Through The Bible
  Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 20-22
 New Testament Reading: Revelation 5

Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. He went and took the scroll out of the right hand of the one seated on the throne (Revelation 5:6-7)

The scene in the throne room changes as God the Father produces a scroll with seven seals. No one in all the universe could be found who was worthy of breaking the seals and open the scroll. John, an apostle of Jesus Christ, privileged beyond measure to be given this revelation and see the kingdom of God, was not worthy of opening the scroll.

No wonder John wept, for he realized that God’s glorious redemption plan for humanity could never be completed until the scroll was opened. The sinful state of humanity ought to make us all weep as John did. A world without Jesus and His sacrificial life would be a world without hope.

The focus shifts from God the Creator in chapter four to God the Redeemer in chapter five. Jesus, the Lamb of God, has conquered death and He alone is worthy to open the scroll. Jesus is now standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He is no longer the man among the lampstands in chapter one. The church is raptured and there are no longer any lampstands to watch over. He is God the Redeemer, the Savior of the world.

Jesus is now exalted in heaven as He takes his rightful place standing by the throne. What an encouragement this is to suffering Christians, to know that their Savior has defeated every enemy and is now controlling events from glory! He too suffered, but God turned His suffering into glory.

As He took the scroll from the hand of God the Father, the weeping ended and the praise began. The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down in worship before the Lamb. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands (v11). John heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them (v13) as they sang their praise to the One seated on the throne, and to the Lamb.

We do not worship a babe in the manger or a corpse on the cross. We do not worship a humble carpenter or a gentle teacher. We worship the living, reigning Lamb of God who is among all in heaven. God’s great eternal plan will now be fulfilled, and creation will be set free from the bondage of sin and death.