The Scroll
Back in chapter 4, John was invited through the open door into the throne room of God. He entered and saw the majesty of God’s presence and the reverent worship offered to The First and the Last by those around the throne.
John now looks back to the throne and in the hand of the one on the throne is a scroll. The scroll, with writing on the inside and outside, is sealed with seven seals. Imagine here a wax seal created by the writer of the scroll, only the individual worthy of opening the seals can read the scroll.
John stands disheartened and weeps because there is no one found in Heaven, on Earth, or in the grave worthy to open the scroll. But one of the twenty-four elders spoke to John, “Do not weep. the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and loose its seven seals.”
John looks and sees a Lamb standing, but it is “a Lamb as though it had been slain.” The Lamb has seven horns (perfect might) and seven eyes (perfect knowledge). The Lamb takes the scroll from the One on the throne. When he does, the four creatures and twenty-four elders fall down and sing before the Lamb. When they sing, they each have a harp and a golden bowl filled with incense–this is the prayers of the saints on Earth.
The song of the Lamb identifies this Lamb as the Redeemer of all the world who has made them kings and priests of God.
Then the angels, numbering hundreds of thousands, join in with the elders and the creatures saying, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain…”
Then all creatures in Heaven, and all in the earth, and all in the sea join in saying, “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
Next week: The Scroll is Opened.