Tag: worth by shedding blood
Lion and Lamb!
Scripture reading for December 24th: Revelation 4-5
John saw a door open in heaven and heard a voice calling him to enter. It was the same voice that he had heard earlier–the voice of Jesus! He immediately saw the brilliant throne of heaven and One seated on it. This throne was encircled by an emerald rainbow and radiated flashes of lightning and rumblings of loud thunder. This throne was surrounded by 24 other thrones with elders seated dressed in white with golden crowns. There were four other living creatures that resembled animals with eyes all over them. These creatures worshiped the One on the throne constantly saying “Holy,holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is and is to come.” (Revelation 4:8)
The 24 elders responded to the worship of these strange creatures with worship of their own. They fell down before the throne and cast their golden crowns before the Lord and said: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” (Revelation 4:11)
It is interesting to note that the worship of the 24 elders is focused on God as creator of all things. Everything that has life draws it’s life from God. He is the source of life. Because of His will and pleasure we have our being. Many in our culture deny God as creator and feel that their existence is not connected to anything but time and chance. Gods of good luck and fortune move them instead of the Lord, Creator of all!
John next saw a scroll in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. A mighty angel spoke out: “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” (Revelation 5:2) No one was found and John began to weep profusely. One of the elders spoke up and told John to calm down because the Lion of the tribe of Judah had triumphed. He would open the scroll!
When John looked, this Lion was none other than a Lamb who had the marks of being slain. He also had seven horns and seven eyes! The Lamb took the scroll from the One seated on the throne and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb and began to worship with a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priest to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” Revelation 5:9-10
John looked again and he saw multitudes of angels worshiping the Lamb and then he heard every creature in heaven and earth and under the earth and on the sea singing praises to the One on the throne and to the Lamb! The Lion who is also a Lamb is the focus of all heaven and earth! Jesus Christ is His Name!