Week 49, Day 4

​Week 49, Day 4
December 8, 2022
Scripture: Revelation 6
 
This is God’s plan for undoing all the wrong that’s been done to the world; to his creation; to his people.
Why would John weep over the sealed scroll?
 Would you weep if you or someone you knew was terminally ill and the cure was in the room next door but no one had the key or the means to open to the door to get to it?
Have you wept because of something your son or daughter or best friend is going through and you see no end to it in sight? Have you ever longed for an answer...? 
Revelation 5:5 - The LION: The Lion of Judah is the answer! He is worthy! – Isaiah 11:1-10; Genesis 49:8-10, The anticipated Messiah—a new king...not Caesar...who will conquer the nations! 
Here comes the Lion!!! Wait a minute... 
Revelation 5:6-7 The LAMB:
Instead of the ferocious, flesh-eating king of the beasts, we have a lamb...who appears to have been slaughtered...defeated... The power is in the Lamb! He is worthy!
This is the only one who is worthy to open the scroll—really? Why? This is the only one who has not compromised their life as God’s image with the world; even though not compromising meant death—a death brought on by allowing evil to run its course; to exhaust itself on him—a death that reveals how victory over evil (oppression) is really won. 
-The 7 Horns tell us that this is the one who is truly perfectly/all-powerful.
-The 7 Eyes tell us that this is the one who is perfectly/all-knowing; who really understands the will of God and his purpose in it. 
-Simply put: The Victim is the Victor! The Lamb is the Lion! 
Jesus is the Messiah...even if he doesn’t meet your criteria; even when you don’t recognize him as such, Will you follow the Lamb? Will you follow the way of the Lamb? 
The Seals that begin in Revelation 6, teach us not of what is to come so much as reveal the way the world is. That’s important. It’s not future driven so much as revealing a world ravaged by famine, wage inequality, wars and rumors of wars. Nightly news tells us as much as well. The difference between the nightly news and Revelation is hope. Christians live with the hope of the Victorious Lamb Jesus Christ.
Revelation, in particular this section, is not written for those who would like to read a newspaper over the top of it and decipher the future and predict the Lord’s Return. Rather, the book and these chapters that follow are written to those whose names and stories make up the newspapers. Revelation is for those who have been caught in the crosshairs of a world ravaged by famine, war, and death and give them hope that Jesus is victorious and the Church will never be destroyed.
The church prevails in the midst of destruction. The enemy may appear to win in the death of Christians and the church, but the church will be victorious.
 
“When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, “How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you judge the inhabitants of the earth and avenge our blood?” Then each of them was given a white robe, and they were told to wait a little longer, until the full number of their fellow servants and brothers and sisters were killed just as they had been.” (Revelation 6:9–11)
 
Though we are surrounded by death, we are encouraged to trust in God, the power of the lamb. Let us not shrink back from death or the pressures of the world around us. Hold fast, and stand firm.