# 41 2021 Dev. Revelation 5:1. The Scroll! Read all of chapter five first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Revelation 5:1 “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.”
Chapter 5 is a continuation of the vision of ch.4 and describes the scroll held in the right hand of the one who sits on the throne. This vision that John sees is put into the words of men so that those who believe will understand by the power of the Holy Spirit. What is being described here is from eternity to eternity. God who is outside of time, operates in the eternal present, represents to us what is about to happen in time, as long as time lasts.
The scroll was sealed with seven seals in other words completely sealed with no possibility of access. “A mighty angel proclaimed in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’” No one was found worthy, not in heaven or an earth or under the earth. John weeps, in response it is not the mighty angel but an elder speaks, one who has experienced redemption: “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. Then I saw a Lamb”
A Lamb? Not a lion? From a mighty angel to an elder, a man and from a Lion to a Lamb. From the strong to the weak. The impression is that from the highest to the lowest are included into God’s Kingdom but the weakness of God (Jesus’ self sacrifice) is the strongest and highest in God’s creation and in the whole universe.
“The Lamb looked as if it has been slain” The Lamb of God, Jesus. He Is surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders. “The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,” complete power and complete knowledge, see Eph.1; 21,23. The seven eyes “is the sevenfold” Spirit of God. He upholds God’s creation, the whole universe. When Christ takes the scroll the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped.
The elders are holding harps; they were the instruments used to accompany singing of the Psalms. And “holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.” It is amazing and comforting that not only do the elders represent us, we are involved in the worship in heaven by our prayers.
“And they sang a new song:” A song of praise to the Lamb, “with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation, see: Rev.7:9,10. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,” as a Holy Nation.
That was God’s intention Ex.19: 5,6 from the beginning. He chose Israel to influence the world, she is the Old Testament Church that ushered in the New Testament Church in Christ Jesus, “the New is in the Old contained and the Old is in the New explained.” The scroll is of the highest importance; It contains the complete plan of God’s Salvation in Christ and His plan of predestination for all people and the universe. His plan is from everlasting to everlasting.
After Jesus takes the scroll John saw and heard “thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand” of angels gathered around the scene: singing ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise.” And John heard “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them,” joining in praising God. They are us, joining them, in our services and our daily service for God, Amen!
© cgvanwyk, all rights reserved.
Heavenhigh 