Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the above theme from Rev 5.1 and following. Indeed, a powerful angel proclaims aloud, “Who is worthy to open the book and break its seals?” No creature, in any place, can answer. But in the end, after enough time to show the helplessness of everyone else, the Lord Jesus comes forward and takes up the challenge. The consolation given to John by one of the old men is thus justified, for they always have the intelligence of things. And John sees the lion of the tribe of Judah, who is none other than the Lamb, despised on earth, but exalted in heaven; he sees him come forward and take the book. At this moment all living beings and old men together, prostrate themselves before the Lamb and make a new hymn heard.
It is very striking to read after this: “I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and living beings and old men, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying aloud: Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise.” For God, in all his ways, whom Scripture makes known to us, always acts according to the wisest reasons, and the Spirit encourages us to inquire humbly, but with confidence. Here is what seems to motivate this difference: the fact that the Lamb takes the book and prepares to open its seals, marks a change of administration. For then, the angels had been the ministers of God’s power. When it came to judgment to be carried out, or some other extraordinary intervention on His part, God used them as instruments; but the Spirit of God shows that from this moment an immense change takes place: The angels may well be employed again during the interval marked by the last of the seventy weeks of Daniel, because it is still the time of providence, and not of the glory manifested; but the title of the glorified saints is affirmed here.
Let us recall that Hebrews 2 positively teaches us that the world to come is not subject to angels but to the redeemed; and here the seer is allowed to take a prophetic look at a scene that agrees with Paul’s doctrine. In other words, when the Lamb is introduced to the stage, then the elders, that is, the glorified saints, and the living beings, who symbolize the attributes necessary for the execution of the judicial power, unite as a whole to celebrate, in a new hymn, the praises of the Lamb who has been slain. They are therefore associated in an intimate and brand new way; and at the same time, to confirm the change, angels appear in a distinct and defined way.
For if previously the administration of judgment was in the hands of angels, it would be understandable that they were not distinguished from living beings, because in fact, the latter generally represent the agents who carry out God’s judgments. While if there is a change in the administration here, and the angels, hitherto executors of these judgments, are no longer recognized as such for the sake of the kingdom, but the power is entrusted to the glorified saints, it is only natural that the angels, being replaced and as eclipsed by the heirs of the kingdom, retreat to the background. Because if previously they could be considered as understood under the symbol of living beings, they now simply take their place as angels. This seems to be the true interpretation of this passage.
According to this, the Church is still in the process of formation; but when it is complete, when the glorified saints are removed from the earth, and the title of Firstborn is recognized, then so will their title. And we can easily understand that when the Lord comes to take the kingdom in a visible way, this change of administration must first be made manifest in heaven, before unfolding on earth. The change that is going to take place is shown in advance here. Finally, we see when once the signal of worship due to the Lamb has been given, all creatures unite to celebrate the blessing that results from his work.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
The sealed book of the Lamb:
- Divine, immutable purposes
Ps 33:11 The purposes of jehovah endure forever, and the plans of his heart, from generation to generation. Isaiah 14:27 The Lord of hosts has made this resolution: Who will oppose it? Her hand is extended: who will turn her away? Acts 5:39, but if it comes from God, you cannot destroy it. Do not run the risk of having fought against God. Eph 1:11 In him we have also become heirs, having been predestined according to the resolution of one who operates all things according to the counsel of his will,
- Love of truth, examples
-A rich young man Mk 10:17 As Jesus set out on his way, a man ran over, and threw himself on his knees before him: Good master,” he asked him, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?
The crowd Mk 12:37 David himself calls him Lord; how then is he his son? And a large crowd listened to him with pleasure.
The people in temple Lk 21:38 And all the people, from the morning, went to him in the temple to listen to him.
-The Samaritans Jn 4:40 So when the Samaritans came to find him, they begged him to stay with them. And he stayed there for two days.
-Cornelius and his family Acts 10:33 Immediately I sent to you, and you did well to come. Now we are all before God, to hear all that the Lord has commanded you to tell us.
-The Gentiles in Antioch Acts 13:42 When they went out, they were asked to speak the next Sabbath on the same things;
-The inhabitants of Berea Acts 17:11 These Jews had more noble feelings than those of Thessalonica; they received the word with great eagerness, and they examined the Scriptures every day to see if what they were told was correct.
- Lamb of God
Isaiah 53:7 He has been mistreated and oppressed, And he has not opened his mouth, Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, Like a mute sheep before those who shear it; He did not open his mouth. Jn 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him, and he said, Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. 1 Cor 5:7 Make the old leaven disappear, that you may be a new dough, since you are unleavened, for Christ, our Passover, has been slain. 1 Pet 1:19 but by the precious blood of Christ, as of a flawless and spotless lamb, Rev 7:9 After that, I looked, and behold, there was a great crowd, which no one could count, of any nation, of any tribe, of any people, and of any language. They stood before the throne and the lamb, dressed in white robes, and palms in their hands. Rev 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the lamb, saying: Your works are great and admirable, Lord God Almighty! Your ways are just and true, king of the nations! Rev 21:22 I saw no temple in the city; for the Lord God Almighty is his temple, as well as the lamb.
- Inhabitants of the heavens, a great multitude
Ne 9.6 It is you, Jehovah, you alone, who have made the heavens, the heavens of the heavens and all their army, the earth and all that is upon it, the seas and all that they contain. You give life to all these things, and the army of heaven prostrates itself before you. Dn 7:10 A river of fire flowed and came out of front of him. A thousand thousand served him, and ten thousand million stood in his presence. The judges sat down, and the books were opened. Hb 12:22 But you have approached the Mount of Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, the myriads that form the choir of angels, Rev 5:11 I looked, and heard the voices of many angels around the throne and living beings and the elderly, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. Rev 7:9 After that, I looked, and behold, there was a great crowd, which no one could count, from any nation, tribe, people, and language. They stood before the throne and the lamb, dressed in white robes, and palms in their hands. Rev 14:1 I looked, and behold, the lamb stood on the mountain of Zion, and with him one hundred and forty-four thousand people, who had his name and the name of his Father written on their foreheads. Rev 19:6 And I heard as a voice of a large crowd, as a sound of great waters, and as a sound of loud thunders, saying: Hallelujah! For the Lord our Almighty God has entered into His kingdom.
From all the above, we note that at the moment when the Lamb takes the book, the angels had the administrative power; they were the instruments by which the four animals were exercised on earth. «For it is not to the angels that he has subjugated the future inhabited world of which we speak.» That is why, as soon as the Lamb appears and takes the book, as soon as the idea of redemption is introduced, living beings and old men are seen together, and angels take their own place apart. This takes place in the sky. Thus, we are presented with the source of what will follow, that is, the throne and the people engaged in heaven before God, in all that happens. The throne from which the judgment comes out, those who surround the throne of God above, those who are in the middle of the throne, have been placed before us: we have the heavenly stage, and the choir, and the assistants. Thus, one question holds the universe unanswered: “Who is worthy to open the book and break its seals”? In other words, who will exercise judgment? Only one can: the one who is sinless (John 8:1-11), having, by his very perfection, defeated Satan and the world. Christ is that “lion of the tribe of Judah,” already referred to in Gen 49:8-12. But immediately afterwards He is seen in the guise of a Lamb as if slain. To triumph over Satan, to fill heaven with a multitude of happy and grateful creatures, Jesus’ cross was necessary. And His sacrifice is recalled to the hearts of all the saints in the most touching way: In this heaven where everything speaks of power and majesty, the permanent memory of the lowering of our dear Savior will present the most striking contrast. His humility, his gentleness, his dependence, his patience… all these moral perfections that Jesus manifested here on earth will never cease to be visible, giving us for eternity the measure of his love. Then, to the new hymn sung by the glorified saints, the universal echo of all spheres of creation will respond. “Worthy is the Lamb who has been slain, to receive power, and wealth, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.” Our prayers are with you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to react to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow “the opening of the first six seals of judgment. »
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.