O Come Let Us Adore Him

Read Revelation 5.

The stage is set.  God, the Father is on the throne in heaven.  Jesus, the one and only Son of God is at His right hand.  In addition, John saw a scroll.  The document had been written on both sides and rolled up in seven sections.  Each was sealed for the recipient or the one with proper authority to open the sealed document.

An angel cried out, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?"  The search throughout heaven and earth proved to be in vain.  Since the Apostle John was being given information to write down "the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this" (1:19), the news broke his heart.  But then, one of the 24 elders spoke up and pointed to Jesus.

The book of Revelation reveals who Jesus is and what He has planned for the future.  The unnamed elder, provided several descriptions of the identity of the One seated at the right hand.
1. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. (Genesis 49:9-10)  Jacob promised that such a powerful ruler would come from Judah's family tribe.
2. He is the Root of David.  (Matthew 1:1)  Jesus was born into the family of Joseph who "was of the house and lineage of David" (Luke 2:4).  
These are the human credentials for Jesus' right to the throne of Israel and to one day rule as the King of Kings over all the earth (Revelation 19).
3. He is the Conqueror.  What did He conquer at this point in history?   First came the eternal spiritual victory "by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands.  This he set aside, nailing it to his cross.  He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him." (Colossians 2:14-15)

At the mention of those declarations of identity, something else was revealed about Jesus.
4. He is the Lamb of God.  That was how Isaiah prophesied the Messiah in Isaiah 53:7.  John, the Baptist, identified Jesus as God's Lamb in John 1:29.  This Lamb was slain on the cross and "the precious blood of Christ" paid our sin debt (1 Peter 18-19).  But there is more.  This is not the meek and mild Jesus, as some would have Him to be.  In preparation for His second coming, Jesus is pictured here as the most unusually powerful ram that anyone has ever seen.  With seven horns, the Lamb of God has perfect strength to put down any and every foe.

5. He is the Judge of the Universe.  Only Jesus is worthy to open the multi-part document containing the predetermined judgments to come.  ''The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father." (John 5:22-23).

The response to these declarations overwhelmed everyone.  With an attitude of prayer and the representation of the prayers of believers in Jesus (v.8), spontaneous and humble worship broke out.  It is good for us to read verses 9-14 aloud, while picturing this scene.  In doing so, we may join them in this worship experience.  To Jesus be the glory!  "O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord."