The Slain Lamb standing at the centre of the throne is the only one to open the seven-seal scroll
Andrew Angupale
PASTOR - St. Paul's Pilgrim Church of Uganda
PASTOR - St. Paul's Pilgrim Church of Uganda
What is the scroll with seven seals?
The Scroll with the Seven Seals originates from The Throne of God in heaven (Revelation 5:1), they are given in heaven to Jesus Christ for Him to open (Revelation 5:5-10), but they happen on earth (e.g. Revelation 5:10, 6:4).
So the scroll with seven seals contained secret information known only to God until the Slain Lamb standing at the centre of the throne was found worthy to open them and to look on the contents. What is contained therein was only for the eyes of the Lamb. However, through his kindness and willingness to share this information with the saints, we find the conditions and circumstances that would take place in the time frame of each seal. Most of the seals tell of the antichrist's activities and lend encouragement to the saints of each period. Just like the Romans during those early days, they would seal their Wills seven times to guarantee its authenticity and to keep its contents secret.
Revelation chapter 5 is a pivotal chapter that introduces us to scenes and characters in heaven. Contrary to what we might expect after the majestic introduction, a weak creature with no mark of victorious triumph, but only the marks of its own slaughter is the agent of God’s purpose.
The chapter starts with John seeing a scroll in the hand of God. The scroll is sealed to guarantee its authenticity and to keep its contents secret. It contains the destiny of the world, the purpose of God for all creation.
Who is able to open the Scroll with seven seals
The Lamb
Who is this Lamb according to Rev. 5:5? “‘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.’”
A) He is the Lion of Judah
B) He is the Root of David
C) He is Lamb who was Slain
There are four things about the Lamb that John is talking about here.
1. The Lamb is standing in the centre of the throne: slain but standing. (Be ready because the slain lamb is standing. this is a taboo).
2. The Lamb is slain. He is standing not lying slain.
3. The Lamb is strong. In the picture that John saw the Lamb is given seven horns which symbolize strength.
4. The Lamb is searching. It has seven eyes that see everywhere.
The slain Lamb is the crucified Christ who was raised to life. This Lamb is more than a victim; he is also powerful and conquering. The Lamb has SEVEN HORNS.
In the OT, a horn is a symbol of strength. “In majesty he is like a firstborn bull; his horns are the horns of a wild ox. With them he will gore (stab, spear, pierce, run through) the nations, even those at the ends of the earth. Such are the ten thousands of Ephraim; such are the thousands of Manasseh.” (Deut. 33:17) and SEVEN is the number of perfection. Thus the seven horns indicate the perfect or absolute power of the Lamb. He is completely adequate for any situation. He also has seven eyes, which are explained as the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. The seven eyes denoted perfection of seeing: nothing escapes his eyes “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish thing, and from now on you will be at war.” (2 Chro:16:9) and “Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. ‘(These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range throughout the earth.)’” (Zech. 4:10)
John uses all these symbols to tell us that Christ (Lion) of the tribe of Judah and the line (Root) of David, is supremely powerful and all-knowing and that he has won his victory by his atoning and sacrificial death on the cross. As Revelation emphasizes, martyrdom is the means of conquering for both Christ and his followers.
The Lamb’s act calls forth a hymn of praise
The 1st group: The 24 elders (us the believers)
The Lamb’s act calls forth a hymn of praise from the living creatures and elders. (Rev. 5:8-11) “And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang 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 priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”
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 sang:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
Previously the living creatures and the elders sand a hymn to God in Rev. 4:11:
“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.”
But now they sing a new song unlike anything sung before in heaven. Jesus Christ has introduced the new era of the Kingdom of God and the hosts of heaven sing his praise. His sacrifice on the cross shows that he is worthy of such honour. Through his death, he purchased men for God. The image here is of freeing slaves, as when God liberated Israel from Egypt to become the free people of God in the land of promise.
Let me tell you a story that someone sent me by email:
With all the new fertility technology, a 66 year old woman was recently able to give birth to a baby. When she was discharged from the hospital and went home, her relatives came to visit.
"May we see the new baby?" one asked.
"Not yet," said the mother, who decided to have a little of her own fun with the relatives. "I'll make coffee and we can visit for awhile first."
Thirty minutes had passed, and another relative asked, "May we see the new baby now?"
"No, not yet," said the mother.
After a few minutes had elapsed, they asked again, "May we see the baby now?"
"No, not yet," replied the mother.
Growing very impatient, they asked, "Well, when can we see the baby?"
"When it cries!" she told them.
"When it cries??" they demanded. "Why do we have to wait until it CRIES?"
"Because I forgot where I put it..."
Church, we should not forget to praise the Lamb that was slain but is standing.
The 2nd group: The angels
The next that John saw and heard that he wrote in this chapter 5 of Revelation is, the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand … surrounding the throne. (Rev. 5:11-12)
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 sang:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”
This vision is similar to Daniel’s vision of the countless multitudes before ‘the ancient of Days.’ (Dan. 7:9-10)
As I looked,
“thrones were set in place,
and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
and its wheels were all ablaze.
A river of fire was flowing,
coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
and the books were opened.
The first hymn in this scene is sung only to God (4:10-11) and the next two are songs of praise to the Lamb (5:9-10, 12), and the last hymn in 5:13-14 is a majestic finish in which all of God’s creatures in heaven and earth and in the sea unite in praise to God the Father and God the Son (5:13; 7:12; Phil. 2:6-11).
The number of singers has increased from twenty-eight in 5:8 to “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea,” in 5:13.
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
Conclusion
Believers, as Jesus’ disciples, we are called to imitate our master. We need to learn humility from how Christ is introduced to the human race as the slain Lamb and must learn to die to ourselves and take up our cross and follow him in all aspects of our life. “Then he said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.’” (Luke 9:23). This includes such small details as how we wish to be introduced as conference speakers, Honorable, or how we expect members of our congregations to address us; Reverend, Pastor etc.
We should not be sad about the death of our Master Jesus Christ. He died and rose from the grave to give us a total and complete Salvation which is denoted here in this chapter of Revelation by the number SEVEN which is the number of PERFECTION.
Let me tell you another story
Little Johnny, after being expelled from his latest school, was enrolled in a Catholic School. On his first day in the new school, he went to the cafeteria for lunch. The children were lined up patiently getting their lunches.
At the head of the serving line was a large pile of apples. One of the nuns made a note that said: "Take only one, God is watching."
Seeing this Little Johnny made a note of his own and placed it at the other end of the serving line, in front of a large pile of chocolate chip cookies.
Little Johnny's note said: "Take all you want, God is watching the apples."
For Jonny, God was only watching the apples not everything around. We should know that Christ has power over every little thing in us and that is why “He had Seven Horns.” He knows every thing that we do and would do because He has “Seven Eyes.” (Rev. 5:6)
He was slain but standing at the centre of His Father’s throne meaning that those whose plans were to kill him, did not succeed in what they planed. Since the Lamb that was slain is standing, we should be ready to face His judgment.
The believers will say, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power for ever and ever!” and to be answered by the four living creatures “Amen.”
May the good Lord our Father bless you.
If you have any comments and/or questions
Contact
Andrew Angupale
P.O. Box 176, Yumbe - UGANDA
Tel: +256-772-923084; +256-718-455109; +256-756-282892
Email: andrew.angupale@gmail.com
Website: http://www.paulspcu.blogspot.com/
Skype: andys7012
