God Wins: The Message of the Book of Revelation
A Series by Ray Jewell
“You are worthy to take the scroll Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 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 God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:
and to open its seals, because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons 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.”
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. – Revelation 5:6-14
The Lamb. The primary point of the Bible is wrapped up in these two words, The Lamb. God Wins because of the Lamb. The Lamb brings to mind the sacrificial system of the Israelite people. The sacrificial lamb was to be without spot and blemish. The sacrifice was made once a year to take care of the sins of the people of God.
Here we have the Lamb, the One that John the Baptist proclaimed with these words, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” (John 1:29). The sacrifice of this Lamb was a once for all people, for all time sacrifice. (Romans 6:10; Hebrews 5:9; 7:27; 9:12, 26; 10:1-2, 10). Therefore the significance of the Lamb looking as if it had been slain. He looked like He had been slain because He had been slain. But now He is alive.
It is this Lamb who was found worthy to open the scroll. In fact, He is the only One who could do so because all authority had been given to Him after His resurrection (Matthew 28:18). The response of heaven, immediate worship. The twenty-four elders, holding the prayers of the saints (the biblical definition of a saint is anyone who has decided to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior, not someone officially sanctioned by a group of men somewhere) in their hands, sing a new song.
This new song retells the same gospel story seen throughout the other writings we call the New Testament. Look at the scope of the Lamb’s accomplishment. He purchased for God a people from all corners of the earth. A remnant, if you will. People who are given authority to reign as a kingdom and priests.
An alternate reading found in some early manuscripts has verse 10 read “they reign” instead of “they will reign.” That gets to the heart of the matter. Anyone who is in Christ reigns with Him here and now and here on this earth. Not sometime in the future, not somewhere beyond the blue, but here and now. How is that possible? Partly through the seven-fold Spirit who indwells the people of God. Mainly, though, because of the Lamb’s sacrifice and subsequent resurrection. The people of God are worthy because of what the Lamb did and does and will continue to do.
The knee-jerk response? To fall on your knees in worship. Yet worship is also service.
God Wins and because people choose to follow the Lamb that was slain and rose again, God’s people wins too.
Lamb of God, thank You for taking away my/our sins. You are the only One worthy of my/our praise and servitude. Amen.
Until next time,
TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND OF THE LAMB!
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