SCRIPTURE: Revelation 5
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. [Revelation 5:6]
Once again the mystery of Jesus – God incarnate – is shown, this time by the Lamb that stands at the center of the throne, encircled by the worshipping creatures, endued with the sevenfold Spirit of God.
NOTE: the seven spirits [Revelation 1:4, 3:1, 4:5, 5:6] probably refers to the Holy Spirit in His sevenfold fullness – the Spirit of the Lord, of wisdom, of understanding, of counsel, of might, of the knowledge of the LORD, of the fear of the Lord [see Isaiah 11:1-3]
In His vision, John sees God and Jesus together as one on the throne, together receiving the praise of all creation.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” [John 10:27-30]
Jesus is the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world [John 1:29], but He is also the Good Shepherd [John 10:14], a fulfillment of Ezekiel’s prophecy that God Himself would come and care for His sheep as the Good Shepherd [Ezekiel 34:11-16].
Jesus describes Himself as one with the Father, His hand and the Father’s hand working together to hold the sheep secure.
The two hands of God – the Father and the Son – rule the Universe from the throne.
And no one can overcome their authority and power, no one can snatch their sheep from the hands!

This is a vision of the world from God’s point of view: He is on the throne, His purpose for creation is accomplished through His anointed Messiah (the Lamb that is the Lion), and all creation worships (or one day will worship) God – Father, Son and Spirit.
See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. [Revelation 5:5]
The victory is accomplished, the scrolls (God’s plan for restoring creation) can now be set in motion, things are all unfolding according to plan!
This vision is intended to inspire persecuted believers, to give hope to those for whom life in this world seems hopeless.
No matter what happens, no matter what they do to us, no matter how bad things get (and they were bad when John had this vision), the Lion Who is a Lamb has triumphed and is opening the scrolls of God’s plan.
As we will see, the scrolls depict violence, persecution, bloodshed, martyrdom, hardship, etc… but it’s all part of the plan.

As we consider world events today, we need to see them also as part of the plan, as part of God’s triumph.
Through all that happens, no one and nothing can snatch us from His hands.
We are secure, the victory is assured, it’s only a matter of time.

PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for this vision, which is still true today! You are still at the center of the universe, You are still holding Your sheep secure.