In John's day, books were written on scrolls—pieces of papyrus or vellum up to 30 feet long, rolled up and sealed with clay or wax. The scroll that John sees is a record of what God has in store for the world. The seals are located throughout the scroll so that as each one is broken, more of the scroll can be read to reveal another phase of God's plan.

1. One of the elders calls John to look at a lion (vv. 5-6), but when John looks, he sees a lamb. Why is Jesus Christ pictured as both, and what do they symbolize?



2. In what sense has the Lion/Lamb already conquered?



3. What, in light of the Old Testament sacrificial system, is the significance of "a Lamb that had been killed"? (See Leviticus 5:5-6, Genesis 22:6-8)



4. What was it (v. 9) that made the Lion/Lamb worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?



5. What were the "lamb" aspects of Christ's work (vv. 9-10)?



6. What will be the "lion" aspects of his work (v. 10 and 19:11-21)?

Join the angels, elders, and living creatures in worshiping God and praising Him for what He has done, is doing, and will do for all who trust in Him.

¹And I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. ²And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: "Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and unroll it?" ³But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

⁴Then I wept because no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll and read it. ⁵But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, "Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne, has conquered. He is worthy to open the scroll and break its seven seals." ⁶I looked and I saw a Lamb that had been killed but was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that are sent out into every part of the earth.

⁷He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. ⁸And as he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense-the prayers of God's people! ⁹And they sang a new song with these words: "You are worthy to take the scroll and break its seals and open it. For you were killed, and your blood has ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

¹⁰And you have caused them to become God's Kingdom and his priests. And they will reign on the earth." ¹¹Then I looked again, and I heard the singing of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and the living beings and the elders. ¹²And they sang in a mighty chorus: "The Lamb is worthy-the Lamb who was killed. He is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing."

¹³And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They also sang: "Blessing and honor and glory and power belong to the one sitting on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever." ¹⁴And the four living beings said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped God and the Lamb.

Prayer for the Week

Lord, this week help me grasp the agonizing ordeal Your Son endured to pay my penalty.

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