Worthy is the Lamb

I need to head out to the store to pick up some fruit for the 4th of July we're going to later but, instead, I'm here at my desk with books piled up. I woke up with the song "Worthy is the Lamb" in my head (check out the post from last night). To get the full impact of the song you need to go to Revelation 5. Go ahead....get your Bible, I'll wait. Think about the Apostle John, the author of the book. By the time he wrote the Revelation he was old. He outlived all the other disciples which had long since been martyred for their life of service to the King. He was exiled on the island of Patmos, separated from his beloved church at Ephesus by the Aegean Sea. He was worshiping (Rev. 1:10) when he heard a loud voice. The rest of the book of Revelation is the message he received, what he both saw and heard.

Revelation 4 is a description of what John saw in the throne room of heaven. In Rev. 5:1 John looks to see a book in the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. The strong angel asks, "Who is worthy to open the book?" (my paraphrase from 5:2-3)

Who is worthy?

John was crying because he thought there was no one who was worthy to open the book. An elder tells him to stop -- there is One that is worthy. Only One. The One who had overcome.

Then John sees Him and He is magnificent. He came and took the book. As soon as He did, the heavenly beings fell down. Then they sang:

"Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation." (5:9)

Then the worship really gets started:

"Worthy is the Lamb that was salin to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." (5:12)

Ok, you've got your Bible there, read it for yourself.

Worthy are You, Lord. Only You are worthy of my praise and adoration.

Jeanette