The Lamb is Worthy

April 27, 2025 Background Scripture: Revelation 5 Lesson Passage: Revelation 5 : 1 - 10 The first four chapters of the Book of Revelation is the pretext for the Background Scripture of today's lesson. In the first three chapters, we learn that the author, John the Apostle, was given a vision by Jesus Christ while he was on the isle of Patmos. The vision promised a threefold blessing: blessed is he who reads it, blessed are they who hear it, and blessed are they who embrace and live according to it. John was commanded to write the vision. The recipients of the written vision were identified collectively as the seven churches of Asia. John saw someone who resembled the Son of man amid seven candles that represented the seven churches of Asia. The messenger of each church was addressed in John's letter according to the geographical location of the congregation. Each church was specifically described according to her relationship with the Lord. In Chapter 4, John was called up to the throne room in heaven. There he saw a figure whose attributes could only be ascribed to God. He was seated on a great throne and surrounded by twenty-four thrones occupied by elders wearing crowns. John also saw four living beings that he described and called four living creatures. Those four living creatures praised God continuously day and night. As they praised God, the twenty-four elders bowed down and worshiped God by casting their crowns before His throne. In the Background Scripture of today's lesson, John noticed that the One on the great throne held a sealed scroll in His right hand that had writing on both sides. That scroll captured the attention of the heavenly host. At that point, there was no mention as to the significance of what was written on the scroll. The significance seemed to be that the One on the throne was holding it and its contents were sealed with seven seals. By reading the remainder of the Book of Revelation, one can learn that the scroll reveals all spiritual mysteries that lead to the end of time. The sealed scroll discloses when and how time will end, and eternity will continue. However, the contents of the scroll could not be known until someone takes it and remove the seals. An angel asked who is worthy to take the scroll and break the seven seals to reveal its contents. This appeared to have been a challenge, or invitation, to any in heaven who would declare themselves worthy of such honor. John cried because it seemed that no one in heaven was found worthy to take the scroll and break the seals to reveal its contents. One of the twenty-four elders consoled John by announcing that the Lion of the tribe of Judah and a descendant of David had prevailed and is qualified to take the scroll and remove the seals. That's when John was told to look, and he saw a Lamb that appeared to have been killed and raised back to life. The elder, from a heavenly perspective, saw a conquering Lion while John, from an earthly perspective, saw a wounded Lamb. When the Lamb took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders bowed down and worshiped the Lamb. They previously worshiped God on His throne, but now they began worshiping the Lamb. They sang a hymn extolling the worthiness of the Lamb. God held the scroll in His right hand, but the Lamb had done God's will and proven Himself worthy to receive the scroll. The Lamb was declared worthy by the worshipers because He had been slain to redeem them back to God by His blood. This is a testimony that only a human believer can give. The twenty-four elders stated that they were redeemed from eve1Y tribe, language, race, and nation. They represented all believers in Christ; otherwise, it would require more than twenty-four to represent all the different classifications stated. Furthermore, they embraced what had been promised to believers, full redemption. They were a kingdom of priests who were destined to rule in God's kingdom on earth. And believers were given the assurance this will happen by the Lamb, who was found worthy to open the scroll and reveal it! Robert C. Hudson April 17, 2025