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Revd Sara's Reflections - w/c 11th June 2023

Lisa Wenmouth

The Worthy Lamb - Revelation 5 Revd Sara’s Reflection

We continue with John’s vision of the throne in heaven. Revelation chapters 4 and 5 are one scene. Revelation 4 gloriously pictures God sitting on his throne in all his glorious splendour surrounded by glorious heavenly beings who worship him by casting down their crowns saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” (Revelation 4:11)


As the scene continues, Johns moves us through the vision by telling the reader what he sees. He uses the word, saw or looked 4 times in this chapter to draw our attention to key aspects of the vision.

John begins by introducing a scroll that was held in God’s right hand. Revelation 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.” First, notice that the scroll is sealed with seven seals. The number seven is used throughout revelation to communicate wholeness and completeness. The scroll being sealed with seven seals shows how completely and totally secure the scroll was from all who desired to see its contents. Second, we notice that this scroll was in the right hand of God. It was secure with seals as it was secure in the right hand of God’s strong hand. Lastly, we must consider what is written on this scroll. There have been several ideas put forward on what are the scrolls contents: the book of life, the last will and testament containing the inheritance of the saints, a contract deed or a book containing God’s redemptive plan. Based on the context of Revelation and the prophetic material (Isaiah 29:11, Daniel 8:26, Ezekiel 2:9-10), it is most logically a divine contract that details God’s redemptive plan. Remember in the beginning of chapter 4, John is told that he will be shown what must take place after this (Rev. 4:1).

Jesus is identified as the lion of the tribe of Judah and the root of David. These are both messianic terms. The first, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, is taken from Genesis 49:8-10,

The Jewish people were expecting the messianic warrior king to come from the tribe of Judah. Notice the military prowess in the description. The lion itself is known for power and ferocity in battle is a good picture how Judah will have its hand on the neck of its enemies. The Lion of the Tribe of Judah has conquered, just not in the way the Jewish people were expecting.

Christianity is a paradox. We conquer, not by sword, but sacrifice. We win through defeat. We have peace through the blood of the Lamb who was slain. Revelation 5:6-8, The Lamb is worshipped. He is worthy. He is worthy not merely because of virtue but because of authority. Only God is worthy. The Lamb is one with the Father. And as we shall see, he praised along with the Father as being worthy. The 24 elders and the 4 living creatures fall before the lamb and sing a song of praise.

The beauty of God’s salvation is that it is never merely individual. God saves us individually to be part of his ransomed people. The Bible is God’s plan to make a people for himself who are zealous for good works. The reconciliation that God brings it far more than a personal reconciliation. We are reconciled to God and we are reconciled to brothers and sisters from every tribe and language and people and nation. We are a multi-ethnic, multi-generational family. God will save people from every nation, every language, and every tribe for his namesake. God is on a worldwide mission of redemption and He invites us to join. We are called to go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and teaching them to observe all that Jesus has commanded.

Keep going with Revelation ! love and prayers Sara




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