FRIDAY
Yesterday we saw that John heard of the Lion as the one who could open the scroll. Then when he turned he saw a slain Lamb. The power of Christ is in his sacrifice and surrender. Today let’s read the rest of chapter 5 and see what happens when the lamb takes the scroll.
Revelation 5:6-14
6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
The elders hold a harp signifying their praise for the lamb. And the incense, John explains, represents the prayers of the saints. This is one of the texts that emphasizes the prayers of God’s people. God hears. They are brought before the throne by the elders.
Revelation 5:9-14 9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
At the presentation of the Lamb as the one who can open the scroll, a cascade of worship breaks out. Some commentators view this as Christ’s heavenly coronation. Everyone gets in on the worship. It starts with the four living creatures and the elders falling down before the Lamb and worshipping. Tons of angels get in on the worship. Then every creature in all creation acknowledges the authority of both the Father and the Lamb and ascribes to them blessing, honor, glory and might forever. Jesus is clearly revealed to be divine. He accepts worship. If he were not God, worship of him would violate the first commandment.
Interestingly, we find the phrase “under the earth.” This broadly refers to those in the realm of the dead and could be either those who have died and/or demons. Regardless, the idea is the universality of creation recognizing the authority of the Father and the Lamb. The idea is similar to what Paul says in Philippians 2:9-11
Philippians 2:9–11 (ESV)
9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
I feel like I’m starting to sound like a broken record—perhaps you’re tired of me belaboring this point. I’m sure John felt like a broken record too, as he was writing this. His original audience was probably feeling as you do. This is the point. Worship is vitally important in resisting the influence of the Satan operating through political powers of our day as much as it was in John’s day. Our lives then must be saturated in worship, not just in singing but not without singing. We must declare the supremacies of the exalted Christ and God Almighty. All creation will acknowledge that God is God. It is only right that we should acknowledge this as well and worship.
Reflection
Spend some time in worship today.