The Future According to GodSample

REVELATION 5: Worthy Is the Lamb

In Revelation 5, we will be introduced to the Lamb of God. Why is Jesus the only way to heaven? Please read or listen to Revelation 5.

COMMENTS

In 1995, at forty years old, after reading Revelation 5, I wrote in my personal Bible reading journal, "Revelation 1, Jesus is in the lampstands. He is the speaker of chapters 2 and 3 about the seven churches. Chapter 4:2, ‘One sitting on the throne’ being worshiped must be God, not Jesus, because He holds the book referred to in verse 1, which the Lamb, in verses 6-7, comes and takes from Him. Then those around the throne worship the Lamb. Verse 13 clarifies it, ‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever’” (Rev 5:13 NASB).

In 2008, at fifty-three years old, after Revelation 5, I wrote, “John weeps greatly because no one in heaven or on earth was worthy enough to open the scroll in God’s hand. Jesus, John’s friend, is introduced as the Lion from the tribe of Judah. But John sees a Lamb, not a Lion. Jesus is worthy because He was ‘slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation’ (Rev 5:9 NASB). Everybody and every creature then bows to the Lamb.”

In 2013, at fifty-eight years old, I wrote after Revelation 5, “In God’s hand is a scroll, but ‘no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth’ (Rev 5:3 ESV) is worthy to open it, and John weeps. But the Lamb, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, opens the scroll. The seven spirits of God are mentioned again in Revelation 5:6 ESV and also in Revelation 4:5 ESV. Does God have seven spirits? What are they?" I continued to write, “The four living creatures and twenty-four elders shift their worship to the Lamb, not to Mohammed or Buddha, or any other man-god. Jesus is the only one worthy of worship by all.”

DIGGING DEEPER

Those were some pretty interesting and somewhat profound journal entries. Let’s look at the key points from those journal entries.

In 1995, I was making a distinction between God and Jesus. God Almighty is on the throne. Jesus is not, because Jesus then comes in and takes the scroll from His hand. I mentioned verse 13 clarifies it, “‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever’ (Rev 5:13 NASB). There is a Trinity. There is a triune God.

"God is one, but God the Father is one of three persons. Here it is clear, Jesus is in the heavenly throne room of God with God the Father, but He is not the same as God the Father. In this chapter, God the Father is on the throne and Jesus, the Lamb of God, comes and takes the scroll from His hand.”

In 2008, I was making the point of who is worthy. John wept greatly because no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was worthy to take the scroll out of the hand of God. But then, Jesus shows up. The Lion from the tribe of Judah. The Lamb for sinners slain. Verse 7 says, “And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne” (Rev 5:7 ESV). Verse 9 tells us why He was worthy, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev 5:9 ESV). There is only one I know of who was slain and shed His blood to ransom people for God; thus, Jesus is worthy.

I wrote a prayer after reading that passage in 2008. "To the Lion of Judah, the Lamb of God, worthy. Jesus controls the end times, not Satan. He unfolds the future."

I continue the point from 2008 in 2013, when I said, “The four living creatures and twenty-four elders shift their worship to the Lamb, not to Mohammed or Buddha, or any other man-god. Jesus is the only one worthy of worship by all.” We can be thankful that Revelation 5 clearly states the scroll was in God's hand on His throne, and Jesus, the Lamb of God, was the only one worthy to go and receive it from the Father.

If you are a Christian today, are you glad? Are you glad Jesus is your Savior? If you are not a Christian, if you have not yet given your life to Jesus, maybe you will after reading or listening to Revelation 5, because Jesus is the only one worthy in heaven, on earth, or under the earth, to stand at the throne room of God and take the scroll from the Father’s hand and open it on our behalf. That is why in John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6 ESV). Yes, there is only one way: Jesus.

PRAYER

Almighty God, we thank You that You sit on the throne, and we thank You, Jesus, the Lion of Judah, the Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the earth, is worthy to stand with You. We thank you He stands there and intercedes on our behalf before You. Worthy is the Lamb. Jesus, we bow our hearts humbly toward You, and we thank You that You are the one and only worthy Lamb of God. Amen.