Sunday 2021.09.19
In the NT today, I continue with reading chapters 4 and 5 of Revelation. This portion of scripture records the Apostle John's vision of the throne of God in Heaven, of God seated on the throne holding in His right hand a scroll sealed with seven seals. The Apostle John wept uncontrollably when no one was found worthy to open the scroll and look inside it. However, one of the twenty-four elders who sat on thrones surrounding the throne of God said to John in Rev 5:5
Revelation 5:5 NIV
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.’
Upon hearing the elder say that, the Apostle John saw a slain Lamb standing in the midst of the throne surrounded by the four living creatures and twenty-four elders. The Lamb took the scroll from the right hand of God. Immediately, the four living creatures and twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb with harps and golden bowls containing the incense of the prayers of God's people, singing:
Revelation 5:9 - 10 NIV
. . . ‘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.
10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.’
After that, John heard the voices of thousands upon thousands of angels, encircling the throne saying:
Revelation 5:12 NIV
. . . ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honour and glory and praise!’
This was followed by the voices of every creature "in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and all that is in them:
Revelation 5:13 NIV
. . . ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honour and glory and power,
for ever and ever!’
Finally, the four living creatures said, "Amen" and the twenty-four elders fell down and worshipped (Rev 5:14).
