THE ONLY ONE

Can I pray for you in any way?

Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.

In Christ, Mark

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

** Like posts and send friend requests to the author of The Christian Walk, Mark Cummings on Facebook at

https://www.facebook.com/mark.cummings.733?ref=tn_tnmn

** Become a Follower of The Christian Walk at http://the-christian-walk.blogspot.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

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.”

Revelation 5:1-5

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

There has been no other person ever like Jesus, who existed before creation began, would come down from Heaven to earth and although perfectly sinless would live alongside sinners who needed saved, who would fully die and then fully live again before ascending back into the heavens to sit in authority over Heaven and earth at His Father’s right hand, destined to come back to earth to rescue His disciples and bring judgment on those who rejected Him.

Jesus was one of a kind and as chapter five of the Book of Revelation opens, we find this reaffirmed as John continues to share his incredible experience in the throne room of God. Look again at verses one through five:

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.”

After sharing his initial survey of the throne room and its incredible majesty, John fixes his gaze on God and sees Him holding a divine scroll in His right hand. From his vantage point, he could see some details of the scroll, writing that it had “writing on both sides” and was “sealed with seven seals”.

Now, you’ll remember that the number seven has been a dominant, symbolic number through this book up to this chapter, carrying with it a meaning of completeness and perfection.

There were seven churches that Jesus wrote to (Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea), each represented by one of the seven lamp stands (1:11, 20).

Seven spirits of God were represented by seven blazing lamps in front of God’s throne. You’ll recall that these seven Spirits were actually seven qualities found in the Holy Spirit which were:

1. The Spirit of the Lord.

2. The Spirit of wisdom.

3. The Spirit of understanding.

4. The Spirit of counsel.

5. The Spirit of might.

6. The Spirit of knowledge.

7. The fear of the Lord which Jesus would delight in.

In chapter 1, Jesus held seven stars in His right hand and these stars represented the “angels (or messengers) of the seven churches” (v.20). At the start of each of His seven letters, Jesus leads with the words “To the angel of the church of” and then the church’s location.

We’ll see this number continue to pop up through our continued study like in today’s passage where we read of the seven seals on the scroll. More on the significance of each seal and what it would result in once it was broken but for now, there was a dilemma arising within the throne room of God for we find “a mighty angel” pose a very important question “in a loud voice”:

“Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”

If you’ve ever heard the expression “crickets” after a question was asked, that’s what I am feeling here. No one responded because there wasn’t anyone present “in Heaven or on earth” or even “under the earth” who was able to “open the scroll or even look inside it”. We read where this brought great distress to John who “wept and wept” before an intervention happened.

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.”

There was One who could do what no one else could do, One who had the power and authority to take the scroll from God’s right hand, break the seals, open it, and reveal its contents.

That One was none other than Jesus, “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” and “the Root of David” who had triumphed. And as we’re going to see, He will indeed break each seal and then open the scroll but before we get there, I wanted to close with more on this matter of Jesus being the One when it comes to bringing salvation to a sinner. Let’s use the throne room scene as a template for a circumstance that happens on earth each and every day.

For consider a sinner who learns they are destined for an eternity of torment, suffering, and damnation in the dark recesses of Hell. Fearful for what their future holds, they try to find someone on earth who could possibly alter their outcome and deliver them from the misery and agony to come. They break down weeping when they learn that there is no one who can come to their aid and give them what they need.

In the midst of their anguish and sorrow, bowed low to the ground and doubled over in emotional pain, they feel the hand of someone on their back. The person says to them:

“Don’t cry. There is a way to be saved. Just believe in Jesus, the Savior of the world. He is the only One who can help you escape the penalty of Hell and lead you into Heaven.

Imagine the joy and relief that person would feel, a joy and relief that surely was like what John felt after receiving the news from the elder.

Friends, Jesus Christ is the only One who can do all things, both now and for all eternity.

He is the only One through which anyone can be saved.

He is the only One who can bring someone to God the Father.

He was the only One able to open the scroll of God and its seven seals, advancing the plan of salvation forward to its eternal conclusion.

And He, Jesus, is the only One who will one day come and judge all creation.

Today and every day, let us rejoice and be glad for Jesus, God’s indescribable gift to all mankind (2 Corinthians 9:15).

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Feel free to leave a comment and please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it. Send any prayer requests to TheChristianWalkPrayers@gmail.com.