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The book of Revelation is a word-picture book which teaches two great and fundamental truths; they are: 1) The Worthy Redeemer Lives, and 2) The Redeemed gain victory through the Living Redeemer. Our devotional today will take an extremely limited look at the first of these wonderful lessons.

Revelation chapter 6 begins with a statement that may seem of little consequence unless one reads the context and the verses that precede it. Here is that statement: “Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, 'Come and see.'” (Revelation 6.1). You see it? There it is; just a straight forward statement about the Lamb opening a seal on a scroll. While there is drama associated with the seals (chapters 6 though 13), there is also a great story revealed by the fact that the Lamb opened, not just one, but all of the seven seals that were present on the scroll. This story involves the Lamb and His worthiness as Redeemer.

I implore you to read (much as you would any literary drama played out in figures of speech) the chapter that preceded the opening of the first of the seven seals. Here is that reading:

“And I saw in the right hand of Him [God the Father] who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?' And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.'

“And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He [the Living Redeemer, Jesus Christ] came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying: 'You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.' Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice: 'Worthy is the Lamb who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!' And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying: 'Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!' Then the four living creatures said, 'Amen!' And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.” (Revelation 5.1-14).

I ask you to just sit back and drink this in. Don't over analyze it or try to figure out every detail; just see the big picture which inspiration painted in this dramatic fashion. Without the Lamb, all would have been lost (the scroll could not have been opened). But, the Worthy Living Redeemer prevailed to open that which no other power in heaven or on earth could! Worship Him who lives and loves forever and ever!

Questions:

1. Why did the writer of this account say that he wept much? What does this say about the importance of the material that was locked up in the scroll which no man could open?

2. How did the Lamb obtain the scroll? Was it given to Him or did He get it in some other way?

3. The creatures and the elders sang a song which told why the Lamb was worthy to take the scroll. What was that reason?

4. As chapter five closes, who is seen giving praise and honor to the Lamb? Who else receives the praise of the multitude? What did the four living creatures say? What did the elders do?

"The Way" from Kevin Pauley

Milque-Toast Prayers