As I read through Revelation, I am continually amazed about how much the book is revealing to me. I have read through it before and I felt like I had a pretty good grasp on it but it seems that God is just trying to show me how much I don’t know through this.
I hope you guys are enjoying this as well because I feel like I am taking guys on this journey through a time of discovery in God’s word to expose His character and our response.
When I first read through Revelation 5 , I was thinking “wait a second, I just read that.” Because Revelation 4 and 5 end in very similar ways. Both begin with the one sitting on the throne and end with creation praising Him who is seated. However, both reveal very different messages from the text and show different characteristics of God.
[5:1] Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. [2] And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” [3] And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, [4] and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. [5] And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Revelation 5:1-5 ESV)
In Revelation 5 the text starts with the one who is sitting on the throne from chapter 4, this would be God the Father. And in this scene, we are also introduced to the scroll with seven seals. (verse 1) Immediately we are introduced to the proclamation of a great angel crying out “who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” with the explanation that no one is.
So at this point you may be asking yourself, what is so special about this scroll and why do we want to open it knowing what is to come when we open the seals? Because I was… 🙂
Well the scroll is God’s knowledge or the will of God. – Ever since the beginning of time we have been looking to know the will or knowledge of God. Think back to Adam and Eve in Genesis. What did the serpent tempt them with? Knowledge to be like God. Think of the debate between Calvinists and Arminianism, or any other religious debate for that matter. We are all seeking know the will of God.
So what do we learn about the scroll?
- It is written. Because it is written, it is an expression of God’s sovereignty over creation. Everything that has happened or will happen in creation is in the scroll and therefore it is ordained to happen.
- God is the only holder of the book and because of that His authority enforces the book. Think of it this way, Would you carry around a book of lies or untruth? No, we keep the things that are true and valuable. Not the things that are worthless. So let me ask you, how much more truthful is the scroll that the one that spoke creation into being worth?
- Only God knows what is in the book. No matter what knowledge we have or claim to have. It was all either revealed by God or is false hood.
- It is sealed by seven seals. Seven being the number of perfection, His scroll is sealed perfectly for those who are made perfect by the blood of the lamb.
What does this mean for us today?
- God is sovereign in our lives and He knows you and I. Whether you have a relationship with God or not, He knows you and the situation you are in.
- God holds the scroll containing His will and no one else is privileged to the information unless it is given by God.
- God knows all things and therefore is the Author and Perfecter of life. He knows what has occurred in the past and will occur in the future.
As I reflect on the revealing of the scroll and the aspects of God’s character that are revealed through it, I can’t help but be thankful for what He has done for me. To know that He has planned all creation in order to share His love for me. (John 3:16)