Visit our new blog. It lists all the new things that we are doing and what new material has been added to our site. We even list new missionaries who sign up with us for technical support so you can pray for them. FCM News
1 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.
2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who
is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?"
3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open
the scroll or even look inside it.
4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open
the scroll or look inside.
5 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."
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in
the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures
and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the
seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Revelation 5:1-6
Explanation:
In John's day, books were written on scrolls--pieces of pyrus or
vellum up to 30 feet long, and sealed with clay or wax. The scroll
that John sees contains the full account of what God has in store
for the world. The seven seals indicate the importance of its contents.
The seals are located throughout the scroll so that as each one
is broken, more of the scroll can be read to reveal another phase
of God's plan for the end of the world. Only Christ is worthy to
break the seals and open the scroll. The Lion, Jesus, proved himself
worthy to break the seals and open the scroll by living a perfect
life of obedience to God, dying on the cross for the sins of the
world, and rising from the dead to show his power and authority
over evil and death. Only Christ conquered sin, death, hell, and
Satan himself; so only he can be trusted with the world's future.
The Root of David refers to Jesus being from David's family line,
thus fulfilling the promise of the Messiah in the Old Testament.
Jesus Christ is pictured as both a Lion and a Lamb. One of the elders
calls John to look at the Lion, but when John looks he sees a Lamb.
Christ the Lamb was the perfect sacrifice for the sins
of all mankind; therefore, only he can save us from the terrible
events revealed by the scroll. Christ the Lamb won the greatest
battle of all. He defeated all the forces of evil by dying on the
cross. The role of Christ the Lion will be to lead the battle where
Satan is finally defeated. Christ the Lion is victorious because
of what Christ the Lamb has already done. We will participate in
his victory not because of our effort or goodness, but because he
has promised eternal life to all who believe in him. John sees the
Lamb looking as if he had been slain; the wounds inflicted on Jesus'
body during his trial and crucifixion could still be seen. Jesus
was called the Lamb of God by John the Baptist. In the Old Testament,
lambs were sacrificed to atone for sins; the Lamb of God died as
the final sacrifice for all sins. The horns symbolize strength and
power. Although Christ is a sacrificial lamb, he is in no way weak.
He was killed, but now he lives in God's strength and power. In
Zechariah 4:2-10, the eyes are equated with the seven lamps and
the one Spirit.
7 He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat
on the throne.
8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four
elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were
holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the
saints.
9 And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood
you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people
and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."
Revelation 5:7-10
Explanation:
The song of God's people praises Christ's work. He (1) was slain,
(2) purchased them with his blood, (3) gathered them into a kingdom,
(4) made them priests, and (5) appointed them to reign on the earth.
Jesus has already paid the penalty for sin. He is now gathering
us into his kingdom and making us priests. In the future we will
reign with him. Worship God and praise him for what he has done,
what he is doing, and what he will do for all those who trust in
him. When we realize the glorious future that awaits us, we will
find the strength to face our present difficulties. The believers'
song praises Christ for bringing them into the kingdom and making
them priests.
While we are sometimes despised and mocked for our
faith, in the future we will reign over all the earth. Christ's
death made all believers priests of God-the channels of blessing
between God and mankind.
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands
upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled
the throne and the living creatures and the elders.
12 In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was
slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor
and glory and praise!"
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under
the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To
him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and
glory and power, for ever and ever!"
14 The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders
fell down and worshiped.
Revelation 5:11-14
Explanation:
Angels are spiritual beings created by God who help carry out his
work on earth. They bring messages, protect God's people, offer
encouragement, give guidance, bring punishment, patrol the earth,
and fight the forces of evil.
There are both good and evil angels, but because evil
angels are allied with Satan, they have considerably less power
and authority than good angels. Eventually, the main role of the
good angels will be to offer continuous praise to God. The scene
in chapter 5 shows us that only the Lamb, Jesus Christ, is worthy
to open the scroll.
Jesus, not Satan, holds the future. Jesus Christ is
in control, and he alone is worthy to set into motion the events
of the last days of history.
