Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 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.”
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.
Revelation 5:1-6
John has a vision very similar to what Ezekiel has in Ezekiel 1 and what Isaiah has in Isaiah 6. And in this powerful experience of the throne room of God, we learn some things.
First, only Jesus is worthy. This reiterates what all of the New Testament declares. There are not many ways to God. There is only Jesus. He is the only way to the Father (John 14:6). “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to humanity by which we must be saved”(Acts 4:12). Jesus alone is worthy!
Secondly, Jesus has triumphed. This is a past tense reality that happened at the cross and resurrection. This is not something we are waiting to happen in the future. This is the reality that we as followers of Jesus live in today. Right now!
This means that we are not supposed to live defeated as if we are poor, wretched souls just waiting for someone to come and rescue us by vacuuming us up to heaven. We don’t live in defeat; we live in victory. The victory has already been won. Our job is to now enforce that victory everywhere we go–in every hard situation we face.
We are to bring the Kingdom of God and the victory of God into every place in the world that doesn’t look or operate like the Kingdom of God. We are to invade the kingdom of darkness and take ground back for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is worthy and He alone is able!
Fire and Light 