WEDNESDAY
Next we continue on in our throne room scene into chapter 5. This begins the dramatic story that John is going to share through the lens of his visions. Scot McKnight describes this as “the story of everything.”
The story that unfolds is the story of God’s redemptive plan operating in the midst of human history. It includes Christ’s redemptive work on the cross. It includes God’s ultimate triumph and judgement over evil. He will destroy the dragon (Satan) and Babylon (empires that set themselves up against the plans of God). He will judge those who don’t repent and give eternal life to his people. He will, in the end, make all things new. Until then, the church worships. The church perseveres in faithfulness to the way of Jesus, even unto death. If they do (conquer) they will reign under God in the new creation.
Revelation 5:1-5 1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
The scroll is most likely God’s story of redemption. No one is worthy to open the scroll, to enact God’s great plan of redemption. At this, John weeps. Creation is left in its state of decay, enslaved to sin and the dragon, powerless under imperial rule.
One of the elders then approaches John to tell him there is one who can enact God’s plan of redemption. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David. These are familiar Old Testament references to the promised Messiah. The people of Israel thought that the Messiah would be a king wielding worldly power, exercising dominance over the nations by military might and power. King David kept the kingdom of Israel with war and military might. This is what a lion does. It’s fierce. It’s the king of the jungle. Nothing messes with a lion.
The Messiah, he says, has conquered. How he has conquered, we will see tomorrow. Sorry to leave you with a cliffhanger but this next part is really good and we need to spend a full day on it.
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Reflection
Thank Jesus that he has enacted God’s great plan of salvation. He is the only one who is worthy to do so. We can weep no more for he has conquered.