Daily Bread 2011 - Revelation 5

The Scroll and the Lamb
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

What Does This Mean?
As the vision of John continues, notice the break from ch. 4 where there was endless worship and praise of the One who sits on the Throne. And then, in ch. 5, we are introduced to the Scroll and the Lamb. At first John wept and wept because no one was able to open the scroll, but then the elders directed Him to the Lamb, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the root of David. These were key words for the Jewish Messiah.

But the image changes from a Lion to a Lamb, who looks as if he had been slain, which stands in the center of the throne. Notice it takes a similar position and receives similar worship to the One who sits on the Throne. This is imagery and positioning of both the Father (the Creator) and the Son (the Lamb who redeems!) is helpful in defining the Trinity as God in Three Persons. And this Lamb had power and authority to open up the scroll. Finally, we see the prayers of the saints in golden bowls full of incense. This reminds us of the prayers of the all the saints which rise up as incense before God. (Cf. Psalm 141:2)

What Does This Mean For Us?
This is a reminder that though Jesus came in a human form and died on a cross, He is raised in glory and to be worship as God. We see the One on the Throne as the Transcendent Creator and in the center of the Throne is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is also where we get some of the language in our Creed of: “Who sits at the right hand of the Father and will come to judge the living and dead.” Part of what we will learn is that the scrolls contain the judgment that had been reserved for the last day.

Finally, we see that the prayers of the saints come to the throne and are a part of what goes on in heaven. Sometimes we pray and wonder if our prayers are heard, but this gives us a sense of the magnitude of every prayer offered in the name of the Lamb sent to the Heavenly Father through the power of the Spirit. Along with that we see this language, “Because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,and they will reign on the earth.”

This is the part of where Martin Luther got his language of the “priesthood of all believers”. Meaning once we have been saved and purchased by Christ, we are little priests and part of God’s plan to bring in His kingdom by helping others come to Christ and become right with God!

Jesus we recognize you as both the Lion and the Lamb. You were the Lamb of God who was slain and took away the sins of the world, and you are the roaring Lion who has been given power and authority and sits at the right hand of the Father. You will come again in great and promised glory. Amen.