March 4, 2008
Rev. 5:1-14
We choose not so often to read the book of Revelation. Our hearts faint when we read of the woes coming upon mankind and the impending terrestrial and celestial disasters. Some are even afraid that they might incur God’s curse if they do not understand the book! This was so for me until I realized that the book is actually the panorama of God’s revelation of our redemption through the loving sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ on the Cross and the total restoration of the universe under His sovereign rule, defeating satan and his evil cohorts and sending them to hell. God loves us and He wants us to reign with Him in eternity. He will crush satan under our feet!!!
After the messages to the 7 churches, we read in Revelation 4:1,2 the John was in the Spirit. He saw a Throne in heaven and God seated on it. It was God’s revelation to him and to us that He being on the Throne, everything is subject to Him under His control.
In Revelation 5, John saw in the Right Hand of God a scroll written both inside and on the back sealed with seven seals. The Right Hand of God signifies His favour and strength. John wept much as there was no one in the entire universe found worthy to open and read the scroll.
The scroll is a Title deed. It is God’s Will for our redemption and final settlement for our restoration. It is His will for our inheritance as heirs and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.
In those days when a property was purchased the Title deed was written in the name of the purchaser on the inside with the witnesses inscribing their names on the outside and sealed. No one has the right to open the seal and change or alter what is written inside the deed. God has written His Will for us and no one can open the seal and change what is written inside. The Title deed is sealed with the signet of God, the Holy Spirit.
What does the scroll contain? Our redemption, peace with God, our sonship, all the blessings of Abraham through Jesus Christ, our healing, our blessing, our joy, our peace, our fellowship with God.
When John wept he heard a voice behind him saying, weep not for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah has prevailed to open all the 7 seals of the scroll! When he turned back he saw a Lamb standing as if it had been slain. The Lamb came and took the scroll from the Hand of God! Only the owner, the purchaser has the right to take the scroll and open the seals. When did the Lamb purchase the inheritance? At the Cross!!! He paid for it at a great cost with His own blood!!! He purchased our redemption. He is the rightful owner.
The term used for a Lamb is a word of endearment. A little Lamb or a ‘pet Lamb’. It is similar to what is mentioned in Ex.12:3,6 for the Pass Over Lamb. It was the darling Lamb loved by everyone in the family; to be kept, fed and cared for in a special way from the tenth day to be killed as a sacrifice on the fourteenth day as the Paschal Lamb. This is exactly what God did for us.
How much God would have loved His Son, Jesus Christ! As a beloved Son, He was His daily delight!! (Pro.8:30) Yet, God loved us so much that He offered His Son as the sacrificial Lamb that we might have eternal Life!!!
If Jesus was not slain for our sins our sins would still remain. The scroll would still be a closed book. There would be no redemption, no salvation, no healing, no blessing of God, no hope of resurrection, no eternal life, no fellowship with God, no joy of worshipping Him and serving Him; the world would still be in darkness, under the bondage of satan, no victory; no peace, no inheritance; no joy in the Holy Spirit; no church, no fellowship, no worship; Nothing at all!!!
But praise God, the Lamb of God took the scroll from the Father’s Hand and opened the seals. He has redeemed us out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation and has made us kings and priests before God and we shall reign on the earth.
The woes mentioned are not for God’s children who love Him and serve Him. They are for those who reject Him and do not obey Him and His Word.
We shall join with the heavenly host to bow down and worship the Lamb of God saying;
“Blessing and honour and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Amen.
“At the Cross, at the Cross where I first saw the Light and the burden of my heart rolled away. It was thereby faith I received my sight and now I am happy all the day.”
