Worthy Is The Lamb!

by Jim Reynolds⁽¹⁴⁾

Scientists predict in this month’s Popular Science that a solar event called a CME could darken nearly 1/3 of America sometime in 2013. Before you dismiss the idea as another panicky doomsday scenario and kick it to the back of your mind with the killer bees and the planetary alignment from 1982, understand that the likely effects closely correlate with events predicted in John’s Revelation. “Imagine 30 Chernobyls across the U.S.,” one scientist says. If the entire planet’s power grid spikes, hundreds of thousands of transformers would explode. Without power, gas pumps would not work. With transportation systems down, generators would run out of fuel in mere weeks. Drugs and perishable foods that need refrigeration would spoil. Municipal water pumps would fail, causing backflow that would contaminate entire city’s water supplies. The water pumps in nuclear reactors would also quit, leading the spent fuel rods to melt down, causing radiation to leak into our atmosphere.

Their warning serves to freshly remind us that our time is short. Even if Harold Camping’s latest prediction or 2012 or 2013 does not signal the end, a car accident or a cardiac event might. Even the youngest of us is running out of time. None of us are promised our next breath; our opportunity to serve our Lord is waning. An accurate picture of Jesus is vital in our times.

In Revelation 4, John described the magnificence of the One on the throne. But Revelation 5 reveals some new information. Awed by the colors and sounds and sensory overload, John missed a detail. “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.”

While we do not know for certain what the scroll is, we know it is important. It is in God’s Hand. His right hand! The hand of action, judgment, authority, and favor. We also know, from Revelation 6, that when these seals are opened, it is the beginning of the end. In John’s vision, history is about to come to a close. The finality of God’s wrath is going to descend with the power and certainty of a guillotine. The fulfillment and consummation of God’s Kingdom is at hand.

“And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” As the echo of the angel’s cry recedes, there is only silence. “But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.”

This “mighty angel” is powerless. Gabriel and Michael do not answer the call. The elders, despite their proximity to the throne, are not worthy. Not one of the departed saints, such as Moses or Paul, raise their hands to volunteer with a hearty, “Here I am; send me!” Every creature, in every corner of the universe, stared dumbly.

John’s response was immediate and strong. “I wept and wept (greatly) because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.” John sobbed. This was not a quiet cry. This was anguish.

Why such a strong reaction? Why is John so grief-stricken and despondent? If history never ends and God’s Kingdom never comes into its fullness, then the sin-soaked mess we currently live in is permanent. None of the evil that scars our lives will ever be dealt with and would never stop. Heaven is the promise of “no more tears, no more death, no more pain,” not only for us but for all who call on the name of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Without an end, without Someone to take the scroll, sin continues to reign and wield its cruel weapons. Forever. That defines hell, not heaven.

W.A. Criswell explains, “Those tears are the tears of Adam and Eve, driven out of the Garden of Eden, and as they bowed over the first grave. Those are the tears of the children of Israel in bondage, in affliction and slavery. They are the sobs that have been wrung from the heart of God’s people as they experience trials, sufferings, heartaches, and disappointment, all indescribable. Such is the curse that sin has laid upon God’s beautiful creation.”

John is destroyed. He is undone by the idea that this disaster will never end. This sewage that we breathe every day would never end. “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.”

There is One – ONLY One – who has triumphed and is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. That One is Jesus Christ. The scene recalls Daniels’ vision. "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” – Daniel 7:13-14.

There is only One with the authority, mercy, wrath, and grace to bring all of this to a fitting close. No wonder history’s most all-encompassing worship detonates in heaven.

Revelation 5:9-10, 12, 13 -- 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… 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!" Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!"

The object of this universal worship is the same One we either ignore with our waning days or we embrace and serve Him.

Walk WITH Jesus,

Jim

Article submitted Friday, June 17, 2011 & read 242 times.

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» left by Bart⁽²²⁾ (333 days 18 hours ago.)

Amen Jim! Thanks for sharing this. We all need to be reminded from time to time of the Lamb, who is worthy...worthy to receive all praise, all honour, all glory, all power. I know there are some rough days ahead for this world, and if the Lord delays His coming, we may experience some of these things, but it is encouraging to think about the day we will be with the Lord of glory in the world to come. Can't wait! Every blessing! Bart

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