Revelation 5 ~ The Roaring Lamb

What makes you cry? Do you weep at the slightest thing or do you hold your fort? For a strong character like the Apostle John to weep, it must have been a really sad matter of no small importance. In Revelation 5:4, we see that John began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look into it. Also, this scroll is miraculously written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals (verse 1) - seven once again being the number of completeness. Clearly this is no ordinary scroll!

So what exactly is this scroll all about? Ezekiel 2:9-10 talks about a scroll of a book that similarly had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. Further on in Daniel 12:1-4, the time of the end is described as a time of trouble, and everyone whose name shall be found written in the book (which Daniel is instructed to seal) shall be delivered. This is a scroll of destiny, an outworking of human history resulting in a sad end of the world including the present times: war, famine, death - a sad reality of life itself. And it is jammed in the reality of the times now - no one can open it. Grim unyielding despair lies ahead...

But wait! There is someone, after all, who IS worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals - here is a list of His characteristics:

1. v5: Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered
2. v6: a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain
3. v9: by your blood you ransomed people for God

From these 3 verses and Old Testament references like Genesis 49:9-10, Isaiah 11 and Isaiah 53, as well as various New Testament passages, we know that this "someone" is none other than Jesus Christ! He is the one to whom they sang a new song in worship and who is considered worthy for you were slain (verse 9).

This is the turning point of all histories: Christ's death on the cross provides us salvation and redemption from our sins.

It then becomes a matter of inclusive exclusiveness. Inclusive as His blood has ransomed all. Exclusive as He is the only one worthy to open the scroll and hence, the only way by which we can be saved. It calls for our repentance as we turn to be a kingdom and priests to our God (verse 10) that others too may hear of His gospel as we share it with them, and if it's His will, be saved as well.

The series on Revelation continues this Sunday but don't forget our James Bible Studies series in IBF continues tonight! ;)