[1] 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. [2] And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” [3] But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. [4] I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. [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 triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
[6]"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth."
[11] Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. [12] In a loud voice they were saying:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
[13] Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!”
[14] The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped."
A couple of years back I was reflecting on these verses, specifically verse 11 and I had an image of this scene pop into my imagination. Doing the math 1000 x 1000 = 1,000,000 and 10,000 x 10,000 = 100,000,000 and in my imagination I saw what looked like a stadium where 100,000,000+ angels were gathered around the throne room of God which was at the very center of the stadium. As a comparison, here in Kansas City, Arrowhead stadium seats 70,000+ people, so we are talking about a space outside of our imagination! At the very center of it all is Jesus, the only one worthy to open the scroll!!
As I was reminded of these verses and that image I was thinking about how radically different the Lord is than we would imagine if we had to imagine what the God of the Universe would be like without the context of scripture. I can certainly say, I would never imagine the only one worthy of opening the scroll being one who looks like a slain lamb!!
He is so completely different than what we would imagine and yet, He is the only one worthy to open the scroll! He is Holy, set apart, sovereign over everyone and everything, and yet he reveals Himself as a sacrificed lamb! In all of Heaven, He is the only one worthy and able to open the scroll!
He is perfect in His humility!
Perfect in His obedience!
He is worthy to receive all the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise!
He is so Holy!
His ways are higher than our ways!
His thoughts are higher than our thoughts!
He is better than we can imagine!
He is the beginning and the end!
He is all of this, and yet He humbled Himself and become man, and suffered and died after His short time of ministry.
As I was reflecting on all this, I saw an image of someone giving me some additional forks (yeah it was a bit strange but that is what I saw). I was immediately aware that this means another course is coming in an awesome banquet, or feast! I can only imagine this means additional revelation, for I am feasting on this revelation of Jesus!
I was just reminded of some verses from Paul's letter to the Colossians 3:1-3 NIV:
[1] "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [2] Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. [3] For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."
If we are hidden in Him guess where we are??!!
I was also reminded of a few verses from Paul's letter to the Romans 8:16-17 NIV:
[16] "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. [17] Now if we are children, then we are heirs---heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory."
These verses just blow my mind. We are co-heirs with Christ, we are hidden in Him! And it has nothing to do with anything we have done! He truly is beyond our comprehension, beyond our ability to grasp, wholly different that us! And yet we are invited in, as the ones He was thinking about when He created the foundations of the earth!
Wow! I can only grasp the smallest bit of this reality and it is completely more than anything I could think up in my wildest imagination.
Lord, You truly are worthy of all praise and adoration! You are Holy, Holy, Holy!
Help me to grasp the width, depth, length and height of who You are and Your love for me!
Amen and Amen!
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