Revelation: Chapter 7 to 8

1. The Glory of God.

Apostle John's prophetic vision continues in Revelation chapter 4. He now sees worshippers giving glory to God as the everlasting creator of all. The four creatures, in likeness of a lion, an ox, a man, and an eagle, praised him day and night as the "Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come." (Rev 4:8) The twenty four elders surrounding God fell face down and praised Him.

This image speaks to me of the type of relationship we are designed to have with God: to worship him because He is worthy. Note that none of the creatures or elders said monotonously: I worship, I worship, I worship ... They clearly proclaimed why they worshiped God: for what He is and what He has done. He is everlasting and created all things. God is worthy to receive praise from the very beings He created.

2. The rescue through Christ: The Lion and the Lamb.

Then there was the scroll with seven seals in the right hand of God which had to be opened. A mighty angel proclaimed: "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" (Rev 5:2) We sense that this scroll is of great importance. Yesterday in church pastor spoke about this very passage and said that John wept at the question of the angel because if the scroll would not be opened that would mean that Satan wins, that evil wins, justice will never prevail and God's plan for saving the world will not come to be. That plan includes God reconciling to himself His fallen free-willed creation. However none of us is found blames to deserve this reconciliation. No one in the vision was found worthy to stand before the Holy God and to break the seals of the scroll (as pastor Taylor said to legally enact the document.) Yet, then comes in the vision The Lion of Judah, who also had been a slain Lamb, and he is indeed worthy and opens the scroll. Only He is blameless. I love this representation of Christ here: He is a Lion but He is also a Lamb: showing that He is The King and yet The Sacrifice, the most powerful and yet the one who relinquished His power in order to become a ransom sacrifice for our sins, so that we could be reconciled to God. Only Christ could open the seals of the scroll. At this, the multitudes in this vision sang, praising Both God the Father and the Son.

3. Have faith and persevere.

Today’s reading left me with this verse, Revelation 7:15-17, as a comfort for those who turn to God:

"These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Therefore, “they are before the throne of God

and serve him day and night in his temple;

and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.

Never again will they hunger;

never again will they thirst.

The sun will not beat upon them,

nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;

he will lead them to springs of living water.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

How about for you and me? Can we proclaim why we worship God? Are our hearts inscribed with all the reasons for which our Creator is praiseworthy?