In Revelation 5, an event unfolds that revolves around Christ, and what He is going
to do concerns all of creation, nothing and no one excepted. But it is first about
God, the Father. He, to whom belongs all glory, the Creator of heaven and earth,
'sits' on the throne. He is the One who has all power in heaven and on earth. And
that reign of His goes in peace. Everything is fixed in His hands, nothing escapes
Him, and nothing is beyond Him and His will. In perfect peace, He rules.
John sees a book 'in His right hand'. The right hand is the hand by which God
performs His mighty acts. It is the hand He extends to wrath and to salvation. The
right hand is the hand in which a king holds his scepter. When that right hand is
extended, decisions are made, words are spoken, and deeds are set in motion.
However, the wonderful thing is that in God's right hand is not a scepter but a
scroll. That makes it clear what that scroll refers to. It contains God's decrees and
His royal plan for the salvation of the world.
In Revelation 4:1, we read: “After this, I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in
heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with
me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be
hereafter.” Well, the moment that will be shown is what will happen after this gets
closer. It is almost here! This scroll includes all that is about to happen in the end
times.
Also, in Ezekiel 2:9-10, we read of a scroll given by God to the prophet, Ezekiel.
That scroll includes, we read, “lamentations, and mourning, and woe.” That scroll
contains God's actions in divine justice, which embrace punishments first and
foremost! But let us not forget that where God punishes, salvation and redemption
are always there. Those two are, as it were, the two sides of God's action. Now, so
it is with the scroll in Revelation. It includes God's plan for salvation and
redemption and God's judgments and punishments. Not for nothing will the scroll
soon be handed over to Christ, for He bears God's punishment, yes bears it away,
and God is saving and redeeming in Him!
The 'book' spoken of here is a scroll written from both the inside and the outside.
Around the scroll are seven cords whose ends are knotted together. On the knot are
seven seals. In other words, the scroll is closed. God's plan for the future is fixed. It
is also not locked up in a vault but is closed for now.
What a comfort this picture is. God the Father made his plan for this world. God
determines the course of this world and our personal lives. Let us worship Him in
Christ.