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News and views from the German-language region of Europe

December 9, 2011

Worthy to open the first seal

Filed under Sabbath Thoughts

The centerpiece of the prophetic message of the book of Revelation is a scroll sealed with seven seals.

When the apostle John saw that there was no one found on earth who was worthy to open the seals and reveal the scroll’s message, he was discouraged: "And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it" (Revelation 5:3-4).

However, an angelic elder encouraged John: "Do not weep. Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals" (verse 6).

Yes, Jesus is worthy to open to seven seals. In the vision, John sees Jesus take the scroll, and the 24 angelic elders in heaven explain why he was worthy to open the seals: "You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth" (verses 9-10; my emphasis throughout).

Jesus is worthy, because His shed blood – His death – reconciles us to God, and His life as our high priest makes our salvation possible, so we can be kings and priests in the kingdom of God. In Romans 5:9-10, the apostle Paul confirms these two key elements in our attaining eternal life: Jesus’ death and His life. Although Paul does not mention the key event in the transition from Jesus’ death to His life as our high priest, we all understand what it was: His resurrection from the dead.

How interesting that this transition was the first occasion when Jesus symbolically removed a seal! When the high priests came to Pontius Pilate on the first day of Unleavened Bread on the day after Jesus’ death, they were concerned that Jesus’ body might be stolen in an attempt to "prove" that He had been resurrected. Pilate told them to secure the grave: "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how. So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard" (Matthew 27:65-66).

Roman soldiers stood watch after a Roman seal had been placed at the large tombstone that closed the grave. The penalty for removing a Roman seal was death. But that seal was not able to contain Jesus! He was resurrected and simply exited the grave, and an angel later opened the door to the tomb (Matthew 28:2).

The first seal Jesus symbolically opened was the one that confirmed His resurrection from the dead! He truly "redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation," and by His life at the right hand of God makes our future possible as kings and priests in the kingdom of God.

He was worthy to have opened that first seal, and in so doing is worthy to remove the seven seals from the prophetic scroll of Revelation so we can understand their meaning.

With these thoughts I wish us all a rewarding Sabbath!

Paul Kieffer's blog with personal insights and news from the German-language region in Europe.

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