◄ What Does Revelation 5:9 Mean? ►

What an astonishing sight met the apostle's eyes after his supernatural rapture into heaven... as he saw a scroll, sealed with seven seals, being held in the hand of the Ancient of Days. He sat upon His heavenly throne in power and great glory - encompassed about by a magnificent emerald rainbow and a sea of glass before His feet.

John understood that this sealed document was the one and only way for mankind to be redeemed. But to his horror and deep despair, there was no-one in heaven or on earth, who was worthy to open the scroll and to redeem the world from Satan's clutches - not even one.

No wonder John wept bitterly at this tragic situation. But what comfort must have flooded his heart to hear the reassuring words of one of the 24 elders who were seated on those 24 thrones surrounding the sovereign throne of Almighty God: "Stop weeping," he ordered, "for behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of king David, has overcome. HE is able open the book and its seven seals." HE is the One Who is able to redeem the world from the corruption brought about by man's sin.

John understood that the Lord Jesus had come to earth through the tribe of Judah and from the root and the lineage of David. He had to be born into the Jewish race as their Messiah-King, for He was the Lion of the tribe of Judah.

But we who are Gentiles, rejoice that He also came to earth as Saviour of the world. He is our Saviour too and the Redeemer of both Jews and Gentiles, in a world that has been corrupted by sin. It was for ALL our sakes that Christ Jesus came into the world as the LAMB of GOD Who has taken away the sin of the world and He is seated in heavenly places, waiting to break the seal on that supernatural scroll which He holds in His glorified, nail-pierced hands, for your sake and for mine.

Imagine what thoughts must have spun through John's head as he suddenly beheld those four living creatures surrounding the throne of God, together with those 24 elders... for there, standing in the centre of the throne was a Lamb appearing to have been slain and having seven horns which represent His almighty power, and seven eyes which symbolise the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent Holy Spirit of God.

Imagine the overwhelming joy and reverential fear that overtook this disciple of Christ as he began to comprehend that the death, burial, and Resurrection of the Man, Christ Jesus, whom he had loved so dearly in His earthly ministry was in fact that almighty LION of the tribe of Judah Who stood before him. JESUS was the sacrificial LAMB of God, slain from the foundation of the world Who was willingly sacrificed, on our behalf, to take away the sin of the world.

NO SURPRISE that as the Lamb took hold of the scroll, the 24 elders were finally able to sing a wonderful new song: "Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals. Worthy are You, for You were slain... and purchased for God, with Your precious blood, men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation."

The heavenly chorus of voices swelled with the glorious news that Christ had been sacrificed for US. It was for US that He paid the price for sin and for US He rose again so that OUR sin could be forgiven and OUR BODIES be resurrected, to be like unto His glorious, eternal Body.

And so it was, at this point in God's plan of salvation, that Christ... the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world, could step forward and carry out the final act which would irrevocably set in motion the full and final redemption of the world.

May we lift up our voices in thanksgiving and praise, and join with that magnificent truth: "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed US to God by thy blood - out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."

Hallelujah, AMEN.

Heavenly Father, what a blessing to know that as a member of the Bride of Christ, I will be uniting my voice to sing this glorious new song with the 24 elders. Thank You that I have been redeemed by Your blood, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ my Saviour. He alone is worthy of all praise, honour, and glory, AMEN.