Weekly Devotional 3-4-24 / Revelation 4 & 5 God’s Purpose of Creation; His Glory
As we consider Revelation 4 & 5, we see that the apostle John was given a vision of heaven, into the throne room of God. What John saw was a precursor of what was to follow, God’s wrath being poured out on the earth (Chapter 6-18). In chapters 4 & 5 God revealed to John and us that no matter what would be occurring in chapters 6-18 He would be in control and His purposes would be brought to fruition. John saw in the right hand of He who sat on the throne, a scroll sealed with seven seals. As John considered the scroll, he heard a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice “who is worthy to open the seal, or to look at it?” John was saddened because seemingly no one could be found. But one of the elders (introduced in chapter 4) said, “do not weep John, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” In response John looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
The names, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David and the Lamb are titles ascribed to Jesus Christ. The name “the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David” signifies His authority and the name “the Lamb” signifies His substitutional sacrifice for man’s redemption. Thus, He was qualified to take the scroll from He who sat on the throne.
As John continued with his description of what he saw and heard he wrote; “7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
Now we come to it. Verses 12b -13 reveal to us God’s reason of creation. The glorification of His being; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Moving head to Revelation 13:8b we read that the Lamb (Jesus) was slain from the foundation of the world. Verse 14 informs us that God’s glory will known and eternally proclaimed by all those who will be part of the new heaven and the new earth. What a wonder.
Steve
stevelampman.com
Transforming Power; the Work of God on Behalf of Man