Uncertainties and Seals

Considering all that has been going on lately in our world, from the talk of World War Three, to a possible impending Nuclear threat and on and on. I felt a need to delve albeit temporarily in to John’s vision and Revelation. My hope and prayer is that you would find some comfort in here as well.

Revelation Chapter 5 – 6

John tells his readers that he sees a sealed scroll in the hand of him who sits on the Throne, but unfortunately no one is found worthy to open said scroll. In the previous chapter we are told that all things were created by GOD,  “Worthy are you, our LORD and GOD, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things,and by your will they existed and were created.” The Scroll was created and sealed by GOD and not to be opened apparently until someone worthy is found. John Laments because no one in Heaven or on Earth was found. Then one of the elders said to John, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then John sees a lamb as though it had been slain (Jesus) standing there. Then comes Jesus (the Lamb of GOD) who is worthy to take and open the scroll. Yes GOD the man (in a newly minted resurrected body) takes the Scroll from GOD the elohim sitting on the throne. If it sounds confusing your probably not alone, but if there is one thing I have learned about GOD, I don’t try and put him in a box or confine him to my own conceptualisations of what is possible for the Maker of the stars and the Master of all time and space. We need to make one jump in the story before Jesus opens that first seal. First GOD wrote the scroll, so he already knows what’s inside. Second it’s not knowledge that Jesus needs to hear because again he wrote it. The elders, angels, living creatures, and John are the ones that needed to hear what was written and because Jesus knows John’s heart, he knows that John will pass it along to anyone willing to listen or read about it. I mentioned a jump, it takes us to John’s vision of the War in Heaven, from Revelation 12:7-12. Michael and his angels defeat the Devil (the Satan, the Dragon, the ancient serpent, he has lots of alias’s) because of what Jesus did for you and me on the cross. “And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” So the Devil and his angels are kicked out of Heaven and we take our last Jump and we are finished, Revelation Chapter 6:1, the first seal -

Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!” And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer.

This shows that GOD foreknew that the created being we know as the devil would rebel and go conquering and try to conquer. The Satan’s rebellion and the other elohim that followed him did not catch GOD by surprise (Psalm 82). He created all his imagers elohim and human with free will, we (they) can freely choose to love and obey GOD or choose to do things our (their) way. Love can’t be forced or coerced or programmed, then it’s not really love. 

So how does this help us in the here and now? Is there going to be World War 3? Is someone going to launch a nuke? Are we finally done with Covid? I’ll be honest, I don’t know the answer to any of that, but what I am 100% sure of is GOD will never be caught off guard, he has a plan and a timetable. He wants his elders, angels, living creatures, John and his readers to know that with certainty.

If your unsure of your tomorrows put them in the hands of the one who holds all of eternity, confess Jesus is LORD, repent of your sins and believe GOD raised him from the dead and be baptised. GOD’s got this, you, and all your tomorrows.

Next – Back to Samuel