The Reigning Lamb (Revelation 5:1-14)                                                                             2010. 01. 24                                  Pastor Richard Yu  

        John’s second vision (Rev. Chapters 4 & 5) serves to encourage believers living in the shadow of hardship and impending severe persecution that an omnipotent and omniscient God is always in control. Chapter 4 describes the throne and the one sitting on it, it proclaims God as a creator and sovereign ruler of the world. Chapter 5 describes God as redeemer; it tells us that the one who reign from the throne is none other than the slain Lamb – Jesus Christ our Lord.

        John now sees in the right hand of the One who sits on the throne a scroll written on both sides and sealed with seven seals. What is the significance of this scroll?

        First, the symbolism of this scroll written on both sides and is sealed with a seal (or multiple seals) speaks of the fact that the contents of this scroll is extremely important, such as a legal document or laws or someone’s last will and testament. And the opening of the scroll by breaking the seals signifying the enactment of what’s written in it; and it can be opened only by someone authorized to break its seals so as to bring to pass what is written. So this scroll, written on both sides and sealed with seven seals is clearly a document of unparalleled importance.

        Second, what’s the content of the scroll that makes it so important?  God’s right hand is symbolic of his power. Right hand is a metaphor for God’s saving deliverance and just judgment (cf. Ex. 15:6). Since the scroll is in the hand of deliverance and judgment, it appears to contain God’s plan of salvation and judgment. Also, from what is about to take place in the chapters immediately following, we know that the contents in this scroll is God’s purpose of redemption and justice.

        Therefore the opening of the scroll tells the hearers that God’s purpose and plan for the destiny of the creation can be fully accomplished. The person who opens the scroll not only reveals its contents but also bring God’s plan to pass.

        At this point, John saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” In other words, who is worthy to reveal God’s plan of salvation and then execute judgments on the stage of human history? “No one,” says John. No wonder John weeps. Because this would mean all God’s purposes for mankind’s redemption and justice would go unfulfilled.

        What happens next brings us to the heart of the vision, and of the book. One of the elders who surround the throne speaks, “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.” The titles – the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David – are messianic and foretell of a mighty deliverer sent from God to drive out the enemies of God’s people and establish his reign on earth (cf. Gen. 49-9-10; Is. 11:1, 10).

        John then says, “And I turned and I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne.” The triumphant Lion he sees turns out to be a Lamb, a slain Lamb; but with seven horns and seven eyes. Horns are the symbol of strength and kingly power. Eyes are the symbol of wisdom. This seemingly helpless Lamb is absolutely powerful and completely wise.

        But how did the Lamb overcome? The Lamb wins by being slaughtered. The Lamb conquers by being sacrificed, by sacrificing himself! And from the two titles and what John tells about this Lamb in the later chapters, we know this Lamb is none other than Jesus Christ our Lord. He is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals because he was slain. He won the victory for God’s people when he willingly offered up himself to be crucified to death. What the vision is telling us is that the power that overcomes is the “weakness” of sacrificial love. The wisdom that overcomes is the “foolishness” of sacrificial love.

        A Bible scholar puts it this way: “Instead of a ferocious lion that hurts others, the Messiah is a sacrificial Lamb that takes into himself the hurts of others.” If our reaction to the hearing of the songs sang by the angels, the elders and all the creatures on earth, is not a personal confession that the chief end of man is to worship God and enjoy him forever, then we are missing something, we are still not getting it. Yes, the only genuine and worthy reaction to this vision is to worship the Lamb who was slain and who reigns today.