Year of the Bible: Part Twelve of TwelveSample

Perfection Can Open the Seal

A scroll needs to be opened during the heavenly celebration John is witnessing. No one is worthy to open it or fulfill the contents. The Baker Illustrated Bible gives a commentary on this passage. “When legal documents were sealed in the ancient world, though the internal contents were hidden, often a shorter summary was given on the back of a rolled-up scroll. Only the executor of the will, that is, the one who could accomplish the instructions of the author, was eligible to break open the scroll and read from it. It is possible then that on the inside of God’s scroll is written his full plan of redemption, and on the back is a description of God’s plan as it was revealed partially over time in the history of Israel.”

The legality of the document prevented it from being opened by commoners. Then appeared the lamb that was slain. David Pawson says that he wishes the word used was “Ram” rather than “Lamb” because, in our English language, we would have a better understanding of the power this slain lamb carried. The picture is not a cuddly lamb that Christian art portrays but a powerful ram sacrificed for us. The seven horns and seven eyes of the lamb represent perfect power and perfect omniscience through the Spirit. Perfection was the qualification for opening the scroll, and Jesus is just that: perfect.

The court’s response to being in the presence of perfection was to fall on their faces in worship. Try to imagine standing in the awesome realization that Jesus, in His perfection, was welcoming you into such a moment!

We have not seen Jesus in the fullness described in this passage. John must have been stunned, and everyone worshipped. We will have a similar posture when we see Jesus face to face. The full realization of who Jesus is will probably hit us over and over with such overwhelming awe that we cannot help worshipping.

Let our takeaway be this: Jesus is perfect and, thus, can be trusted. The One who gives the revelation will also fulfill it and bring us to its perfection, so keep your eyes on the perfect One.

Question: What usually causes you to take your eyes off the perfect One?

Prayer: Ask God to remind you of His perfection and to renew your confidence in Him that in His perfection, He will accomplish all we need. Offer worship to the perfect One who chooses you to be part of His heavenly court.