God gave the Book of Revelation to the apostle John, a book of insights and revelations focused on end-time events that will culminate in the second coming of Jesus for His people, the Church. The Spirit of God took John outside of regular time to a future time where he saw things that "must soon take place" on earth (Revelation 1:1). John saw the Lord Jesus Christ as a Lamb, "looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne" (Revelation 5:6). Jesus is the only one worthy to open a scroll sealed with seven seals. Scripture doesn’t tell us what the scroll represents, but theologians and scholars believe that the scroll could be the title deed to planet earth. When the Lord Jesus takes the scroll from God the Father, seated on the throne of heaven, a song of praise to the Lord Jesus is sung by those in attendance:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth” (Revelation 5:9-10 Emphasis mine).
The Scripture tells us two things: 1) The Lord Jesus Christ, represented as a Lamb, has purchased people with His blood. 2) These people are from every tribe, language, people, and nation. Let's look at the first thought. The Bible says,
“No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him—the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough—that he should live on forever and not see decay” (Psalm 49:7-9).
No man can buy another out from under the curse of sin that controls the earth. The Lord Jesus Christ was the only One who could pay the ransom price to deliver us from Satan's slave market. Eternal justice had placed a penalty on anyone who sins—the sentence is death (Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23). Not just physical death, but separation from God for eternity. Because of our sin, the whole of humanity is seen by God to be in Satan’s slave market of sin. There is only one way out—God Himself would take the guilty person’s fate upon Himself. God came in the person of His Son, the Lord Jesus, to pay the price of death as the just payment for our sin. With His blood, He has purchased a people for Himself.
Let's now look at our second thought, who are the people whom He has purchased? Are they only from the West? No! They are from every nation, tribe, and language on earth! Those of you reading this in India, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and China—you, along with all nations, are the ones that Jesus has purchased for Himself. Is there any other who would do such a thing? There is only One who would take the worst that Satan and fallen humanity can throw at Him and still love us enough to cry from the cross with His last breath—“It is finished” (John 19:30). This English phrase in the original Greek language of the New Testament is the word tetelestai. It means "paid in full." Do you realize that Jesus fully paid the debt of your sin two thousand years ago and that you are the purchased possession if you believe in your heart these beautiful truths? The God of heaven loves you so much that He came and paid the ransom price for you. Do you believe this? Believing requires you to turn from everything displeasing the One who paid the cost of buying you out from Satan's dominion (Colossians 1:13). Repent (turn from your sin to follow Christ) and believe the Good news of your deliverance from Satan. I look forward to seeing you when our Lord Jesus comes for His purchased possession! Keith Thomas
If you would like to read free studies on this passage in the Book of Revelation, click the following link: Who is Worthy to Break the Seals?
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