Corona Chronicles - Crown of Gold

Welcome to the corona chronicles. As you probably know by now, this is our daily walk through the book of revelation. And but something has changed in this episode. There is 1 less member in the corona chronicles which we're very sad about, but we're pleased that he is able to join us in another form. So Dean has mysteriously turned into an owl by means of some kind of Harry Potter spell.

And we thought an owl would be appropriate for him because he is a very wise. Chap, isn't he? So here we go. But we are now in Revelation chapter 5. So maybe you'd like to get that open in front of you.

And we are going to read the first 8 verses together. Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with 7 seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll? But no 1 in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no 1 was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

Then 1 of the elders said to me Do not weep. See the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David has trived. He is able to open the scroll in its 7 seals. Then I saw a lamb looking as if it had been slain standing at the center of the throne encircled by the 4 living creatures and the elders. The lamb had 7 horns and 7 eyes which are the 7 spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. When he had taken it, the 4 living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the land. Each 1 had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense. Which are the prayers of God's people. Actually, this is 1 of my favorite passages in the whole bible.

It's it's full of pathos really, isn't it? You've got you start off with this this Throne. We've come from chapter 4, and we've seen almighty God, the holy, holy, holy god, the creator of the world on the throne. And in chapter 5, we've come a little bit closer if you like to the throne to just see exactly who who is on the throne. And we see not just the creator God but actually gonna see a redeemer God.

But it start it starts with this scroll. I think the thing to notice is it's written on both sides that there's no space, no margin that no 1 The devil can't write anymore. An angel can't write anymore. Humans can't write anymore. Mhmm.

Because this scroll is the very plan of God. And it's completely written. God has written out his purposes and his plan and no 1 can add or take away from that. Yeah. And I think it's something we learn about God all throughout the bible, isn't it?

That because he is the ancient of days, he is the eternal God. He knows the end from beginning. And so nothing that can happen in this life can ever take God by surprise. As you say it's written on both scrolls that plan and the will of on both sides. The plan and the will of God is is complete.

But then you've got this mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice. Who is worthy to break seals and open the scroll. And it's almost as if there's a silence. You know, he puts this question out to the heavenly throne room What he ate? It's to everywhere.

Yeah. He's shouting out. Again, everything's in a loud voice in the revelation. Yeah. But he's shouting out to the heavens and the earth and under this.

Yes. It's like anywhere in the universe. Yeah. Like when you say it's a big crowd. Does anyone wanna volunteer for this job?

And every hand stays down. You know, a question has been put to the universe, who is worthy? No 1 is worthy. And you can see in verse 4, John, who is writing this and seeing this. He wept and he wept.

It's a very forceful way of communicating his distress, isn't it? You know, we've got this total plan of God, which can make known what's happening and make sense of our age. But no 1 can look inside it and no 1 can open it. It's devastating in some sense. Yeah.

And and and that is how lots of people feel. Mhmm. You know, what is going on in our world? Is there any explanation? Is there any grand plan?

Is there any meaning? Or do we just live in the meaningless now? Is there anything bigger than the now? And of course, you know, we've sort of lost this idea that there's a script There's a beginning, there's a middle, and there's an end. And we have been living our life, haven't we?

For the now, I must have everything now. I want everything now because we've lost this idea of a plan. Mhmm. And that and now we've seen that the now has brought a virus that seems to be destroying people. And causing isolation, there's a lot of weeping going on.

Yeah. What's what's it all about? Yeah. Yeah. And and I think know, it's interesting we want a window into the future, don't we?

So every day when we tune in for the news broadcast, the scientists and the politicians can tell us a little bit about what life might be like tomorrow, but they can't disclose the whole of the future for us and tell us everything we need to know. And that's really important because without knowing the destination, it's impossible to travel correctly on the journey, isn't it? Mhmm. You know, if I was to try to make it somewhere without my satnav telling me where to go or without a Mac to inform me which roads I need to took. I'd be confused and lost all the time.

So we need to know the fullness of God's plan in order to live well in the present. Yeah. Well, it's alright when the now is going good. Yeah. But suddenly when the now is going bad, then you think there isn't what is the future?

There isn't the future, as you said. Yeah. So he's weeping and weeping foundly because no 1 seems to be able to put into action a plan, the plan of God. And then we see A love verse 5 is sort of the tension. Then 1 of the elders said to me do not weep.

Why? And he's got an explanation. Do not weep. He's not just it's not just a stoic thing. Stop weeping, grow up, get on with life.

No. Do not weep. See. Look at this. The lion of tribe of Judah at the root of David has triumphed and he is able to open the throat at the scroll and it's 7 at 7 seals.

Mhmm. And as we've seen in Revelation, there's loads of old testament imagery isn't there that's constantly being picked up on. And both of these terms line of the tribe of Judah Root of David. They're all they're all about the kingship of Jesus aren't they. So he is the 1 from Judah and the scepter would never apart from his hand.

You know, he is the ruler, the strong ruler who has come and he is also David's greater king. This is the strong triumphant king. No need to weep anymore because he has put his hand up so to speak. He can do it and he's qualified to do it. And and he is the plan.

Mhmm. He is the plan. Because all of the old testament is all about this 1 that would come. Yeah. The the the son of David and the root of of Jesse, you know, who was David's father and so forth.

Yeah. And he he in fact is not only able to open the plan. He is the plan. It's that sort of thing. Yeah.

Yeah. It's great. But then you got this and I thought this is classic revelation, isn't it? So hand on the shoulder. Don't weep.

There's this promised 1 who's all part of the plan himself. So don't weep. He's the lion see a lion and then verse 6. Why I saw a lamb? I saw a lamb.

So either the elder is light or the lion is the lamb. Yeah. And of course it's symbolism but the lion is the lamb. Yeah. And as well as the kind of animal imagery there.

It's also a confusing picture of strength, isn't it? Because we've got this triumphant ruling king. Looking as if it had been slain. You know? And yet actually that's the amazing thing about the Lord Jesus, isn't it?

The way he conquers death and becomes king. Is through his sacrificial death on the cross. So as you say, he doesn't just give the plan, he is the plan and his plan for his ruling is his death and resurrection. He he's on the throne. And you get that imagery again.

You've got this lamb which is sort of sign of weakness in many many ways, the sacrificial lamb obviously. But the lamb has 7 horns. 7 is the perfect number, horns, his strength, and he has 7 eyes. He's all knowing, all seeing. You know, which are the 7 spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

He knows everything that's going on in the whole world. So we've got this plan of God is gonna be set into action by the very 1 who is the plan of God, the promised 1. Who is a lion but a lamb and because of him clearly Jesus. We've got hope we don't need to to weep. I reckon we'll leave it there and come back tomorrow.

Great stuff.