Another View of the Ascension of Our Lord
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| "The Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by Jan van Eyck |
Then I saw in the
right hand of Him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on
the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a
loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one
in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look
into it,
and I began to weep loudly because no one was found
worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me,
“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.”
And between the throne
and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as
though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the
seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And He went and took the
scroll from the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne. And when He had
taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell
down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense,
which are the prayers of the saints.
And they sang a new
song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You
were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and
language and people and nation, and You have made them a
kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
Then I looked, and
I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of
many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive
power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
And I heard every
creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all
that is in them, saying, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be
blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” And the four living
creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped. (Revelation 5:1-14)
Unless otherwise
indicated, all Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, English Standard
Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good
News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
This is an adaptation of
a sermon by the Rev. James I. Lamb, former executive director of Lutheran For
Life.
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