Imaginative, colorful, descriptive are all ways to express what we just heard from Daniel with fiery flames and the clouds of heaven and the tens of thousands in the courtroom. Ancient of Days, a slain beast and the son of man are all part of the cast of characters. This drama is another example of Apocalyptic literature that is heart of Revelation and it parallels what we will soon hear. But I think it might be a little easier to understand if you imagine I have a playbill and just like you read about the characters you will soon see at the theater I want you to listen this introduction. For we are jumping into the second act and we need to have a little background to have this all make sense- well at least try. Last week we set up the seven churches when John started to tell why he was writing. We skip over the seven letters- each one a specific admonishment or encouragement for that church. Then we are introduced to new characters, the four creatures or beasts. They are described as the lion, ox, human and eagle, these sort of remind me of the animals in the Lion King- grand and glorious on stage. Next we meet the 24 elders attending God’s court, and of course God is referred to as the one seated on the throne. But just before we start reading the conflict emerges- for like any good story or drama they run into a problem and resolving it is what moves the story along. So the scene opens with God, the one seated on the throne, holding a scroll with seven seals. A strong angel with a booming voice questions “Who is worthy of open the scroll and break the seals?” They search everywhere, but no one in heaven or earth is worthy and John begins to cry. Then one of the elders turns to John and introduces a new character the Lion of Judah who of course is Jesus Christ. The strong and powerful one who is worthy to open the scrolls is then transformed into the Lamb, because while Jesus walked the earth he was the Lion of Judah, but once he died for our sins became the Lamb sacrificed to God.
Now we are ready to hear the revealing words of God as they come to us from Rev. 5:6-14.
The acting was suburb, the music transformative, the sets take your breath away and for the past two and a half hours you have been transported to another place. You have laughed and cried, you have been drawn in and maybe even angered, but with an evocative drama at the final scene you are on your feet cheering. Your hands generate resounding claps, and your lips declare bravo! You wish you could do more to show your appreciation, but a standing ovation is the pinnacle of praise it is what every actor desires and every observer wants to give. Everyone in that room shares a deep satisfaction for a job well done and for being truly moved beyond measure. The clapping continues and at a concert you continue to clap in hopes of an encore, one more morsel of delight.
Everyone is standing in heaven and on earth, every creature of the sea and myriads of angels are giving a standing ovation to God and Christ. But I am getting ahead of myself. We need to unpack what we have just read so we too can be on our feet. For this story is not a dry account, but rather a powerful drama which is drawing us into praising our God. Praising God is what the beasts and elders do. The four creatures, you recall the human, the lion, the ox and the eagle, represent humanity and all the creatures of the earth who never cease to sing: “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty who was and is and is to come.” As they are giving glory to God the 24 elders who are angelic beings representing the 12 tribes of Israel and 12 apostles bow down before God. They bow down because God is worthy. Then the elders cast their crowns at the feet of God’s throne, much like we throw flowers on stage. But their gesture is to give glory and honor to God- the only one worthy to be praised. But all of this has happened in the first act, and now Christ, the Lamb has entered stage right. He has come to open the scroll. But why is he described as a slain Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes. The horns declare his power; think of the horns on a ram and the eyes his insight which perceives all. Of course the fact that he is slain reminds us of what he has done for our sins.
During our Bible study class on forgiveness, we discussed not liking “debts and debtor” in the Lord’s Prayer. So we talked about what that meant. We liked sin, sin against. Debt feels simple financial, while transgressions seem broader. But I want us to think about debt like a ransom. Let’s say for the sake of argument, you have been kidnapped, you are being held by hostile thugs and you are afraid for your life. I know this is hard to imagine, think of those movies with hostages- we just have to forget that they always say they never negotiate because it just makes them do it again. I don’t know about you, but if I was being held hostage I would be praying with all my might that someone loved and cared for me enough to pay the ransom, to buy my freedom, to pay whatever the cost. I would hope the person receiving the ransom note would say, “Of course I will pay it because she is worth it.” Just typing that word, I realized worthy and worth are only one letter off. You see Jesus is worthy to open the scrolls, because he has paid the price, because he has become the Lamb who bore our sins on the cross. Jesus knows your value, and Jesus paid the price saying you are worth saving! You are worth any price, I died to pay that price for you. That sure makes me want to praise God!!!!
You see when we think of what Christ has done then praise springs forth. We see that in the text. First the beasts and the elders praise, reminding us of the ransom paid but it also promises to have done the same for every tribe, and tongue, people and nation. The Lamb is worthy to open the seals and to redeem all people. Then the praising expands- now all the angels, myriads and myriads, thousands and thousands are praising the Lamb. But the drama builds as more are added to the song. Now every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea are singing, “To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” It is like a coming of age story- Jesus has always been worthy, it is just through these hymns more and more people are realizing it- so that now the one who sits on the throne and the Lamb, AKA God and Jesus are to be counted as equal to be giving blessing honor, glory and might forever and ever. With every song, more know how worthy Christ is.
This reminds me of a Greek chorus that runs through a play building with intensity as we move to the conclusion. When my boys were in 6th grade their school had Hellenic Happenings- a time the students show all they have learned about ancient Greece. Baklava and hummus are shared, pottery displayed and then four Greek dramas are presented. Parker was part of the Greek Chorus chiming in with info and moving the story along. That is what is happening here. The elders and beasts sing one chorus praising God’s reign on earth and then the multitudes join in with their own song, their own hymn. This is another of the similarities between Daniel and Revelation, in addition to the imagery, beasts and symbols they both share this forming of the multitude of the court. In Daniel the thousands stood in judgment and in Revelation they sang in praise. But Daniel gives us a wonderful prophetic vision of Christ. For in that court of judgment, there came one like the son of man and he came to the Ancient of Days. In other words, Christ came to God and God gave him dominion and glory so that all peoples and all nations and all languages would serve Christ. Revelation is the fulfillment of that prophesy; consummating all of what God promised to unveil.
Another play at Hellenic Happenings was about Persephone, a beautiful maiden who King Hades kidnaps and takes to the underworld to be his bride. But her mother pleads her case before Zeus and asks that he save her from his brother Hades. Unfortunately, Persephone eats 6 pomegranate seeds while she is there. So King Zeus ransoms her partial freedom. Because she ate 6 seeds she must remain in the underworld for six months, but she returns to earth the other six, to bring spring and new life to earth, much like we are experiencing now. It is a wonderful story trying to explain the seasons and the Greek god’s need to be praised, but I am so grateful that we do not worship a God that can only give a partial ransom, one who makes a partial deal for our freedom. For Christ paid that debt in full, Christ became the slain Lamb so that you and I would be forever free.
Now if that does not motivate you to give a standing ovation then nothing will. For in the drama of your life- you will laugh and cry, you will be drawn in to mission and dysfunction, you will get angry and make mistakes, but in the end the one who will make it all right, who will give you blessings and forgiveness, who will love you no matter what and walk with you through every journey- that one is Jesus Christ, the slain Lamb who is so abundantly worthy to be praised.
Our job is to be like the four creatures, not the winged and crazy, but rather we are to say Amen- So be it to praising God and Christ. So that as we stand for the Affirmation of Faith what we are really doing is giving a standing ovation to God and praising Christ for the ransom he paid and the grace we all live. Alleluia Amen. So Be It!
