Archives for June 2013

I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One Seated on the Throne. It was written on both sides, fastened with seven seals. I also saw a powerful Angel, calling out in a voice like thunder, “Is there anyone who can open the scroll, who can break its seals?”

There was no one—no one in Heaven, no one on earth, no one from the underworld—able to break open the scroll and read it.

I wept and wept and wept that no one was found able to open the scroll, able to read it. One of the Elders said, “Don’t weep. Look—the Lion from Tribe Judah, the Root of David’s Tree, has conquered. He can open the scroll, can rip through the seven seals.”

Revelation 5:1-5

I’m trying to look at this text with fresh eyes.  I am trying to remember what I thought when I read this for the first time. These stories in Revelation are as familiar to me as any other part of the Bible.  And I think that familiarity can become a stumbling block in regards to discussing the Bible with new or non-believers.

So let’s dissect this a bit.  ‘The One seated on the Throne” is God.  God the father.  Big G God.  The scroll in his hand contains a series of judgements for the inhabitants of the Earth.  The judgements can only be unleashed when the seals are broken.  They can only be broken by someone who is ‘worthy’.

No one was worthy.  And John is weeping.

Now I know what was in the scroll but I’m not sure that John had any idea what it contained.

But someone is finally found that is worthy to break the seals.  The Lion from Tribe Judah.  The Root of David’s Tree.

How long do you have to be a Christian to know those terms apply to Jesus?  I feel as if I have always known this but that cannot be possible.  I may have had a head start though.  The first Bible study I ever did was on the Names of God.  But not everybody starts out with such a good foundation.  I just got lucky.

Here’s where these name comes from.

You, Judah, your brothers will praise you:
Your fingers on your enemies’ throat,
while your brothers honor you.
You’re a lion’s cub, Judah,
home fresh from the kill, my son.
Look at him, crouched like a lion, king of beasts;
who dares mess with him?
The scepter shall not leave Judah;
he’ll keep a firm grip on the command staff
Until the ultimate ruler comes
and the nations obey him.
He’ll tie up his donkey to the grapevine,
his purebred prize to a sturdy branch.
He will wash his shirt in wine
and his cloak in the blood of grapes,
His eyes will be darker than wine,
his teeth whiter than milk.

Genesis 49:9

This passage is from a long section where Jacob is prophesying over his 12 sons.  Judah is not his oldest son.  But he is the chosen one.  And, no, I have no idea why he was chosen.  And I LOVE that I have no idea.  I love that Judah is chosen with absolutely no justification.

A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse’s stump,
from his roots a budding Branch.
The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over him,
the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding,
The Spirit that gives direction and builds strength,
the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-God.
Fear-of-God
will be all his joy and delight.
He won’t judge by appearances,
won’t decide on the basis of hearsay.
He’ll judge the needy by what is right,
render decisions on earth’s poor with justice.
His words will bring everyone to awed attention.
A mere breath from his lips will topple the wicked.
Each morning he’ll pull on sturdy work clothes and boots,
and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land.

Isaiah 11:1-5

Jesse is the father of King David.  We, as Christians, throw that around as if everyone in the history of Earth knows that fact.  In case you didn’t know…now you do.