Lamb Power: Revelation 5:1-13 - Tenth Sunday after Pentecost

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Have you ever had a dream you didn’t want to end?

Occasionally, I’ll dream that I’m with my late grandparents. We’re not doing anything specifically other than enjoying each other’s company. My soul is full of joy because they are alive and that I am with them. 

John of Revelation is in the midst of that kind of dream. He had just seen a vision of God’s heavenly throne room. There, he witnessed twenty-four elders and four living creatures worshiping God. He was told that this is what will happen at the end of the ages. And he is ready for it. After all, the Roman government has exiled him and left for dead on a tiny island as punishment for his testimony of Jesus Christ.

God's plan of salvation is written on both sides of a scroll God is holding in hand. The scroll is sealed with seven seals.

But no one In heaven or earth is worthy to break open the seals and read the scroll. So, John begins to weep bitterly. But he does not weep just for himself, he weeps for a world that is desperate for God’s redemption. He weeps for everyone who has ever been persecuted, oppressed, enslaved, and denied justice; everyone who has lost a loved one; everyone who has died without experiencing God’s deliverance. 

But there is one who is worthy to open the seals: the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David who has conquered.

To John’s surprise, however, this lion was a tiny little lamb, appearing as if it had been slaughtered. The lamb takes the scroll, and immediately, the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fall to their knees. Each one holds a harp and golden bowls of incense, containing all the prayers of the saints. All begin to worship and sing. John then sees angels numbering thousands of thousands upon thousands, joining in the worship of the lamb. 

But is this really a time to celebrate?

Do they not know what will happen when the seven seals are opened? The four horsemen of the apocalypse will be unleashed, who bring war, terror, famine, and disease upon the earth. One-fourth of the earth’s population will die. And then, a global disaster will occur which will impact every living creature on earth. And these are only the beginning. There are many more tribulations to come!

But they know that Lamb who was slain will be victorious. The reason why the lamb is worthy to open the scroll and its seals is because the lamb has been subjected to all the tribulations and persecutions that people will face. 

This is Jesus who took upon himself the fullness of human sin and suffering and died, descending into hell before rising again on the third day. 

Facing the evils of this world and the hardships of life, you are going to feel as weak and helpless as a sheep. Like a sheep, you will go astray and get into trouble. Things will happen to you that will cause you to question and doubt. The gods of this world will tempt you with empty promises of wealth, power, and pleasure. The devil will be relentless in his attempts to puff you up with pride and selflessness or drown your faith in shame and despair. 

So yes, the four horsemen of the apocalypse are riding off to wreak absolute havoc, but the Lamb is ultimately sending them off to their defeat. Since you are baptized Into Christ, the power to defeat the four horsemen is in you. You won’t conquer them with armies or swords. You conquer by forgiving sins, loving your enemies, and praying for your persecutors. You conquer by persevering in prayer and by doing good. All who remain steadfast in faith and love will emerge triumphant with the Lamb over not only the four horsemen, but also over evil empires, the antichrist, Satan, death, and hell. 

Some might ask, “how can you worship God when things are going so wrong in the world?” I would say, “how can we not worship God?” 

Christian worship is an act of defiance. It is the outright refusal to allow the gods of this world to push the living God out of your life. It is the refusal to accept defeat when prayers go unanswered, and troubles keep piling on. Think of how many Christians, past and present, have risked their (or sacrificed their lives) by gathering to worship Jesus Christ. Think of enslaved peoples who sang in the face of their oppressors. This Is what it means to worship victoriously.

Worship is where God gives you the strength to face anything and everything this world can dish out, even the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Worship is joyful confidence in the power of the Lamb, fighting for you and with you until the victory is complete and everything in the scroll comes to pass, and you take your place in the heavenly throne room, worshiping God for all eternity and singing, blessing and honor and glory and might, be to our God forever and ever!”

Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals, ² and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” ³ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. ⁴ And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 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 conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

⁶ Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.⁷ He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. ⁸ When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹ They sing a new song:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to break its seals,
for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God
    saints from every tribe and language and people and nation;
¹⁰ you have made them a kingdom and priests serving our God,
    and they will reign on earth.”

¹¹ Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, ¹² singing with full voice,

“Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

¹³ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea and all that is in them, singing,

“To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might
forever and ever!” (NRSVue)