The Scroll

The Scroll

7:01

“Then I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" But no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth could open the scroll or look inside it. And I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” 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,” Revelation 5:1-7, NIV.

What was written on this scroll that made John so heart sick that he wept?

What was written on the scroll that only the Son of Man, Jesus, was able to receive?

What if this scroll was the contract between God and Satan? The one that called for a perfect sacrifice for God’s precious people, since they broke God’s law and violated His precepts.

Jesus, and Jesus alone, was able to satisfy that payment. It was paid in full.

What if on the scroll were the names of all who had broken God’s covenant? The same broken covenant that gave Satan dominion over the earth; where "Death" was unleashed and bonded every person who disobeys God to be his prisoners and slaves.

This would have caused John great woe.

Yet, The Lamb of God took the scroll. He had paid the price when He rose from the grave, and the scroll was now His. What comes next is God’s plan to finish what Jesus completed, like a relay race. Jesus saved mankind, and God’s job is to get rid of evil.

Can you understand the importance of Jesus being raised from the dead? It was His final lap. Jesus finished His race well and defeated death! That’s why we join with the Apostle Paul with shouts of:

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

I Corinthians 15:55, NIV.

As a result, the creatures and the 24 elders in heaven sang:

“And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll 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,” Revelation 5:9, NIV.

We were literally purchased from captivity, by Jesus’ perfect blood. Blood that never knew sin. Allowing for that contract to be null and void.

Death lost, and heaven rejoiced.

We now have a unique opportunity to accept God’s offering of forgiveness and eternal life. To be part of God’s family. We get a do over, another chance to obey Him.

How about you? Are you rejoicing as you visualize Jesus holding the contract of sin and suffering?

Father,

Paid in full! You did it! King Jesus did it! Victory for all mankind! Hallelujah!

I stand in awe of the magnitude of what this moment in history means. Seeing Jesus hold the scroll has had a profound effect upon my heart. It has saturated my soul—scroll in hand. Wow.

I praise You King Jesus and thank You for Your successful endeavor to save us all.

Help us all see, understand and appreciate the depth of this victory and to celebrate it as creation has:

“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!” Revelation 5:11-13, NIV.

Amen.