Revelation 5: What's on that scroll??

A cardinal rule of biblical interpretation is to study what the Word says, and not waste time guessing about topics on which it is silent. But in Revelation 5, I find myself standing with John really, really wondering, what does the scroll say? John wants to know so badly that he weeps and weeps because no-one is fit to open it - until along comes the Lamb with the seven horns and the "seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth." But....no word about what the scroll actually says. Will Revelation reveal more about the contents of the sealed-up scroll that only the Lamb who died for the sins of all mankind is deemed worthy to open? I suspect that like 2012, its secrets will be revealed at the proper time. Stay tuned.....

I don't get the reference to the seven spirits of God. Seven angels? A prophetic image for the perfection of the Spirit of God, the Comforter sent in the absence of the slain and risen Lamb?

Yesterday I wondered why the elders wear crowns. V. 10 says: "you have made them (the redeemed) to be a kingtdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." I think that means they will exercise kingly authority on Terra Nova, the "new earth", on which God will dwell with his people.

 

Poured any incense out of a bowl recently? (How's your prayer life?)

 

Interesting how Jesus is worthy to receive glory and honor and power in chapter four, but in chapter five he is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise. Aside from the possibly relevant use of three (number for God) and seven (number for perfection), it's as if John is learning more and more of God the longer the vision lasts, or perhaps is developing the vocabulary. In any event his descriptive praise is evolving.

 

Gotta love that heavenly choir - a SurroundSound of thousands of pure, powerful angelic voices singing in "a loud voice". What an understatement! Imagine you are standing on second base at Yankee Stadium while the best 80,000 singers in the world, all annointed with the Spirit, sing the Hallelujah Chorus. That awesome anthem would sound like a kindergarten choir next to "Worthy Is The Lamb".

And I needn't worry about getting in to see it - the Lord has already bought my ticket. It cost him a lot. But he loves me so much, it was worth it, just so my brothers and sisters and I could all be there with him to enjoy it.

And on that happy thought - Hallelujah, and to my brothers and sisters, Happy New Year!