24 Nov. The 'Lamb of God' reveals how mankind will be judged
"Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One [God] sitting on the throne. The scroll had writing on both sides and was kept closed with seven seals."
"And I saw a powerful angel calling in a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?' But there was no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth who could open the scroll or look inside."
"But one of the elders said to me, 'Do not cry! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, David's descendant [Jesus], has won the victory so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.'"
"Then I saw a Lamb standing in the centre of the throne and in the middle of the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb looked as if he had been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that were sent into all the world."
"The Lamb came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One sitting on the throne. When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders bowed down before the Lamb. Each one of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's holy people."
"And they all sang a new song to the Lamb:
'You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals, because you were killed, and with the blood of your death you bought people for God
from every tribe, language, people and nation.
You made them to be a kingdom of priests for our God,
and they will rule on the earth.'"
"Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne, and the four living creatures, and the elders. There were thousands and thousands of angels, saying in a loud voice:
'The Lamb who was killed is worthy
to receive power, wealth, wisdom and strength, honour, glory and praise!'"
"Then I heard all creatures in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea saying:
'To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honour and glory and power for ever and ever.'"
"The four living creatures said, 'Amen,' and the elders bowed down and worshipped."
(Revelation 5:1-14)
In John’s vision, Jesus – the ‘Lamb of God’ (see John 1:29) – takes the scroll recording the deeds by which mankind will be judged at the end of time.
Of all people, only Jesus is considered to be 'worthy' or fit enough to open the scroll recording each person's deeds because, "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were killed, and with the blood of your death you bought people for God from every tribe, language, people and nation." (Revelation 5:9)
The next 6 chapters of John's vision (Revelation chapters 6 to 11) record the ceremonial opening of the 7 seals on the scroll so that people are ready to be judged before God according to their deeds on the Day of Judgement.
The photo shows the seal of the Moravian Church - the Lamb of God carrying a 'vexillum' (a small flag carried into battle by Romans soldiers) depicted in a stained glass window at Trinity Moravian Church, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (by J Jackman).
You can read more from John's revelation to the seven churches of Asia Minor @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/johns-vision-of-gods-heav…