WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An
international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday April 29, 2018
Over
159,000 readers worldwide
larrydalexander.blogspot.com
THE
LAMB OPENS THE SCROLL
(Blessing,
glory, and honor to the LORD forever)
(Revelation
5)
It is the strong conviction of every New Testament writer that
all of human history will continue to hold as its meaning, the life, death, and
resurrection of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST. JESUS is “the axis” around which
all of human history hinges, and indeed, all that we see now began in HIM, and
through HIM. All things find their origin and meaning in JESUS, and without HIS
work of redemption, history would remain an enigma at best, and we would have a
future without hope, at worst.
In Revelation 5:1-10, through his vividly
detailed writings, the Apostle John allows us to look in on his vision just as
CHRIST is about to prove HIMSELF as being the only one worthy to take the
scroll from the hand of GOD, and unseal it’s secret contents. John tells us
that the scroll had writings on both, the inner and outer surfaces, and was
sealed with “seven seals”. The scroll must have been rolled in such a way that
the seals would have to be broken one seal at a time.
In the Greek, the word used here for
“scroll” is “biblion” (bib-lee-on), and it is from that word that we derive our
English word “bible”. A scroll that was sealed could only be read when all of
the seals were opened. The symbolism here, in Revelation 5:1, is that, only
when judgment has been fully executed, will the ultimate intent of GOD be
revealed.
In Revelation 5:5-6, John’s vision serves
to remind us that JESUS conquered all by giving HIS life for us. Here we see
the Apostle raising his tear-filled eyes, expecting to see what the Elder had
described as “a LION”, opening the seals, and instead, seeing a bloodstained “LAMB”,
WHO is still bearing the marks of HIS execution, about to be revealed as the
executor of GOD’s final judgment. Soon there will be a new song, never heard
before, and all will be forced to acknowledge that JESUS truly is worthy to
rule, and, to be praised.
Ultimately, the idea here is that GOD has a
book in which “the history of time to come” is already written. When we are
seeking to interpret this idea, it will serve us well to remember that this is
a vision, full of symbolisms, shown to John, by GOD. It would not be wise to
take this great vision too literally, and to think it means that everything was
settled long ago, or, that we are in this “inescapable grip of fate”. What it
is saying is that, GOD has a plan for the world, and that, the purpose of GOD,
will, in the end, come to pass, or, be worked out.
In this chapter of Revelation both “the
LION” and “the LAMB” are mentioned in reference to JESUS CHRIST. The lamb
refers to HIS “first advent”, where HE came “to bring salvation” to the world
through HIS vicarious sacrifice for the sins of man on the cross. JESUS, the
LION, refers to our LORD and SAVIOR’s “second advent”, which will be “a time of
judgment” on those who have rejected HIS salvation.
The “seven horns” of the LAMB in this
chapter symbolize “great and complete authority and strength” of the ONE who is
“a RULER over all kings”. The “seven eyes” symbolizes “complete awareness and
knowledge of all things”, and is, in fact, “the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD”, the “seven
spirits” that are sent into every part of the earth (v.6).
In verse 7 the “resurrected lamb” steps
forward, and takes the scroll from the right hand of GOD WHO was seated on the
throne, and as HE took it, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders
fell prostrate to their knees before the LAMB and began to worship HIM. Each one
had a harp in his hand, and they each also held “golden incense bowls” that
contained the many prayers of the saints of GOD over the years.
The four living beings and the elders here
were not serving as priests or mediators, for only the LAMB is qualified to
deliver HIS OWN sacrificial blood up to the altar of GOD in Heaven. JESUS delivered
the ransom for GOD’s people personally, as only HE could. And by doing so, HE
caused us to become priests in GOD’s Millennial Kingdom, where “saved people”
will serve in that capacity, here on earth for a thousand years (v.10).
Before JESUS came along, we had been living
in a world, so far from GOD, that, there was no one worthy enough to even receive
HIS message. JESUS solved this problem by way of HIS earthly ministry and
subsequent vicarious sacrifice. HE revealed to us, the great and challenging
truth that GOD cannot deliver a message to men, unless there first be a man fit
and ready to receive it, and then, deliver it to others.
And so, we see in our world, the very
essence of “a communications problem”, as we have alienated ourselves from the
Word of GOD. There is a definite need in this world for us to keep ourselves
sensitive to GOD’s communications, so that we will be able to receive HIM in
SPIRIT, and in Truth. He has a message for the world in each and every
generation, but it couldn’t be delivered until there was SOMEONE found, WHO was
able and willing to receive it, and then, begin the process of “correctly” delivering
that Word to others, here on earth.
A
Sunday school lesson by,
Larry
D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
No comments:
Post a Comment