6 Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

7 And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.

8 When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

9 And they sang a new song: “Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”

— Revelation 5:6-10

1 Then I watched as the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!”

16 And they said to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of the One seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb.

17 For the great day of Their wrath has come, and who is able to withstand it?”

— Revelation 6:1, 16-17

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy, and salvation from the Lord Jesus to you.

In Revelation 4 and 5, John described only the slain Lamb was found worthy to open the sealed scroll. In Revelation 6, this perfect One, having triumphed over sin and death, proceeds to execute justice. The Lamb begins to open the seven seals to reveal God’s unfolding plan for the world. Throughout the rest of Revelation, God’s redemptive purposes advance toward history’s end. We will see the exaltation of Christ and the execution of His perfect justice. While reading about God’s catastrophic judgment can unsettle us, we nevertheless remember that our Redeemer holds everything together. He rules with love in the midst of catastrophe as well as in times of peace.

As the Lamb opens each seal, one of the
four living creatures surrounding the throne calls out, “Come!” The four living creatures are poised for God’s preliminary judgment before the coming day of Jesus’ wrath on a world of unbending sin and evil. God rules the world, and He will bring devastating judgment on those who defy Him. His judgment is coming. God has not abdicated His sovereign control of the world. Therefore let’s take courage. When catastrophe strikes, Jesus the King reigns on His throne. The Lamb who shed His blood to redeem us remains in control. Hallelujah!