The Lamb Who is Worthy – Revelation 5

Joy: You’re listening to the Lifting Her Voice podcast, Episode #243.  Today we’ll read Revelation chapter 5 together: The Lamb – the Lamb Who is worthy – takes the scroll.

Welcome to the Lifting Her Voice podcast.  I’m your host, Joy Miller, and I invite you to grab your Bible and join me as we simply read God’s word together.  Some things require discipline and sometimes that’s just not easy to muster by yourself, no matter how badly you want to do it or how much you know you should.  It’s just easier to do it with a friend.  So refill your coffee or tea, get comfortable in your favorite chair and follow along as I read aloud.  I’m so glad you’re here!

Welcome

I’m packing a small suitcase full of sweatshirts and other warmies appropriate for cold days at the California coast.  My youngest daughter and I are overdue for some get-away time and somehow the roar of the Pacific Ocean has an uncanny way of calming the roar inside of me.  And if that weren’t enough, my sure-fire antedote to the day-to-day grind is Megan.  

She is truly one of my favorite people in the whole world.  It makes me happy to know that she is not only my daughter, but my friend.  She energizes me and challenges me.  She makes me slap my hand over my mouth in shock sometimes. I think of her as a wild stallion while at the same time so sensible; so down-to-earth. 

It became apparent to me early on that I would out-live Jessica and I decided not to have any more children.  I had determined that I just wasn’t that nurturing.  Well, as He often does, God had another plan.  Jeremiah 29:11 in the NIV says, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you  a hope and a future.”  Enter Megan.  She was my immediate good future and gave me hope, and I can’t imagine my life without her.  God is good, all the time.

I promise I will have a story or two when we get back.  Has God ever made Jeremiah 29:11 real for you?  I would love to hear that story at Lifting Her Voice.com, Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

Revelation Chapter 5

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, sealed with seven seals. I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it. I wept and wept because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw one like a slaughtered lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. He went and took the scroll out of the right hand of the one seated on the throne.

The Lamb Is Worthy

When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:

You are worthy to take the scroll

and to open its seals,

because you were slaughtered,

and you purchased people

for God by your blood

from every tribe and language

and people and nation.

You made them a kingdom

and priests to our God,

and they will reign on the earth.

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. They said with a loud voice,

Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered

to receive power and riches

and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and blessing!

I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say,

Blessing and honor and glory and power

be to the one seated on the throne,

and to the Lamb, forever and ever!

The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Closing Thoughts

Whatever was on that scroll, only Jesus was worthy to read.  And for a scroll to have seven seals also lent to its importance.  It was sealed so that no unauthorized person could peek.  

Oooh, strong angel…my guess is Gabriel.  Actually, the name means, strength of God.  We’ve also heard the Lion from the tribe of Judah before.  Lions are fierce and strong and up ’til now, we have not really seen that side of Jesus.  But we cannot underestimate Him.  Also, his genealogy on Joseph’s side goes back to the tribe of Judah.  But on his mother’s side?  Strictly the line of David, hence, the Root of David.

I literally cannot wait until January/February when we read the story of the Passover.  It was the night when the Israelites were preparing to exit Egypt after 400 years of oppression.  God gave Moses some very clear instructions about cooking a lamb in each family that night and how it should be eaten.  God knew that He would kill the firstborn of every household in Egypt.  The Jews were instructed to smear blood from the spotless lamb on the doorposts and across the mantel, thus causing the Death Angel to pass over that household.  Jesus is our Passover Lamb.  His scars are still visible, but He is still standing.

Every Knee Will Bow

Horns always signify power; seven horns signify complete or perfect power.  Christ is our new song and this final, glorious redemption.  And when the elders fall down and worship, Philippians 2:9-11 takes on a whole new meaning when Paul writes, For this reason God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow  — in heaven and on earth and under the earth  — and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  We will all do that.  Let’s pray.

Prayer

Oh, Jesus, You are the Lamb who is worthy to be praised.  You accomplished what no one else would or could.  Thank You for Your sacrifice; thank You that You loved us so much.  You are worthy to be praised.  Amen and amen.

Thank you for joining me here today.  I pray God will grow in you what has been planted and watered here.  In this time of unprecedented struggle worldwide, we can look to God for guidance and comfort.  Be sensitive to those in your circle of influence who need a word of encouragement and invite them to join us.  If you like this show, it would be great if you give it a five-star review.  Don’t forget to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.  See you right here tomorrow.  Be well!

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Christian Standard Bible(r), Copyright (c) 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible(r) and CSB(r) are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.