God Speaks
And I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne, a scroll with writing on the inside and on the back, and sealed with seven seals. 2 A mighty angel with a loud voice was shouting out this question: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and to unroll it?” 3 But no one in all heaven or earth or from among the dead was permitted to open and read it.
4 Then I wept with disappointment because no one anywhere was worthy; no one could tell us what it said.
5 But one of the twenty-four Elders said to me, “Stop crying, for look! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, and proved himself worthy to open the scroll and to break its seven seals.”
6 I looked and saw a Lamb standing there before the twenty-four Elders, in front of the throne and the Living Beings, and on the Lamb were wounds that once had caused his death. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God, sent out into every part of the world. 7 He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting upon the throne. 8 And as he took the scroll, the twenty-four Elders fell down before the Lamb, each with a harp and golden vials filled with incense—the prayers of God’s people!
9 They were singing him a new song with these words: “You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it; for you were slain, and your blood has bought people from every nation as gifts for God. 10 And you have gathered them into a kingdom and made them priests of our God; they shall reign upon the earth.”
11 Then in my vision I heard the singing of millions of angels surrounding the throne and the Living Beings and the Elders: 12 “The Lamb is worthy (loudly they sang it!), the Lamb who was slain. He is worthy to receive the power, and the riches, and the wisdom, and the strength, and the honor, and the glory, and the blessing.”
13 And then I heard everyone in heaven and earth, and from the dead beneath the earth and in the sea, exclaiming, “The blessing and the honor and the glory and the power belong to the one sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever.” 14 And the four Living Beings kept saying, “Amen!” And the twenty-four Elders fell down and worshiped him.
Source: The Living Bible: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: John’s visit to Heaven is continued in Revelation chapter five. The Apostle John was given an awe-evoking tour of the workings of Heaven and a glimpse of God’s plans for the future of mankind. He was amazed by what he saw and heard. John grieved deeply when at first there appeared to be no one worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. But then, the One who is both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb who was slain stepped forward. That was Jesus, our Savior and Lord. Grief likely turned to great gratitude in John’s heart for all that Jesus, the Messiah, had done for him and for the whole human race. He may have fallen to his knees and declared along with the vast multitude of angels, the twenty-four elders, the four living creatures, and every being on earth (living or dead), “The Lamb is worthy–the Lamb who was slain. He is worthy to receive the power, and the riches, and the wisdom, and the strength, and the honor, and the glory, and the blessing.”*. . . The blessing and the honor and the glory and the power belong to the one sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever. Amen!”**
* Revelation 5:12 TLB **Revelation 5:13-14 TLB
Prayer: Dear magnificent Father God, how awesome You are. Thank You for giving the Apostle John this awe-evoking tour of the workings of Heaven, Your dwelling place, as well as a glimpse of Your plans for the future of mankind. Again, I stand in awe of You. I grieve along with John when, at first, there appears to be no one worthy to break the seals and open the scroll. But then, the One who is both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb who was slain stepped forward. That was You, Jesus, my Savior and Lord. The mere words “Thank You” are not big enough to contain the gratitude in my heart for all that You have done for me and for the whole human race. I fall to my knees and declare along with the vast multitude of angels, the twenty-four elders, the four living creatures, and every being on earth (living or dead), “The Lamb is worthy–the Lamb who was slain. He is worthy to receive the power, and the riches, and the wisdom, and the strength, and the honor, and the glory, and the blessing. . . The blessing and the honor and the glory and the power belong to the one sitting on the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever.” AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, which one of these He wants you to work on or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will take some significant time alone and quiet to read aloud, contemplate, and offer the praises in this chapter to the Lord in prayer.
- I will recruit one or more people to join me.
- I will start my day reading these verses aloud every day for at least one week, beginning tomorrow morning.
- Because of all Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, has done for me, I will make it a point each day to do something for someone else that makes their life better in some way, however small that may be. My aim is to point them to Him.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.