By Apostle André Pelser.
There is a book in heaven that no one was worthy to open, no one was worthy to break its seals. There was silence in heaven. This book contains all the blessings of God as well as God’s final plans for the earth. These blessings and plans could not be revealed unless someone broke the seals of the book.
None of the angels stepped forward to break the seals. None of the elders were able to do it. The angels that normally worship before the throne saying, ‘holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,’ became silent and folded their wings. The elders that cast their crowns before the throne, bowed their heads.
Heaven was quiet for a long time.
And then John that saw this revelation bowed his head and wept. But one of the elders spoke to him and said, ‘do not weep, look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah will break the seals.’ Jacob prophesied in Genesis 49 already about the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Judah means ‘praise’.
The reason why no one stepped forward to break the seals is because no one was worthy to do it. No one in heaven was worthy enough to break the seals of that book. Why not? Because the one who breaks the seals must also be willing to die for mankind, give his life as a ransom for the sins of the world. There was a sacrifice involved. Only the one that was willing to give his life for the sake of the salvation of souls would be worthy enough to break the seals. In all of heaven no one was found.
But then, one stepped forward, the Son of God, who is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, stepped forward and volunteered to break the seals of that book. He became worthy to break the seals. The one that is willing to pay the price and go on behalf of heaven for the sake of the salvation of mankind is worthy to open the book and release the blessings and the plans of God in the earth.
Then the picture changed. The Lion, the most powerful animal, changed into a Lamb that was slain…you cannot crucify a lion. He is too powerful. He will bite and scratch and hurt you. But a Lamb submits to its shearers without making a sound. Can you see the picture changing? A Lion becomes a Lamb. The Lamb looks like it has been slain already.
Then the angels and elders worshiped the Lamb of God. Someone was found worthy enough to break the seals of the book. Someone was willing to go and pay the price. Someone was willing to die on behalf of all mankind so that we could live forever. Can you see the slain Lamb moving forward, taking the book and breaking its seals? As He broke the seals the blessings poured out! As he broke the seals the plan of God for the final drama on earth was released. The book was open!
Then God sent His only begotten Son and gave Him as a sacrifice for mankind, so that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) But the Son first volunteered to go. Then the Father sent Him. God will not force anyone to go against their will. They must first become submissive. The lamb nature submits to its shearers. The lion nature fights them.
There is a time to roar like a lion; but there is a time to submit like a lamb.
God therefore made Jesus worthy to be the Christ, the anointed One. He made Him worthy of all honor, glory and praise and worthy to be worshiped. He made Him worthy of all knowledge and wisdom, power and strength. And because He died, He made those who believe in Him worthy of salvation, worthy of all provision, worthy of healing, worthy to receive His Holy Spirit, worthy of guidance, of sharing in His wisdom and knowledge, worthy to be loved and worthy to suffer with Him also.
Because He is worthy, because He broke the seals of that book to release the blessings of the plan of God, because He suffered and died and paid the ransom for our redemption, we worship Him, we praise Him, we honor Him, and we call Him Lord. He is the Lord of lords and the King of kings.
When John the Baptist saw Him, he announced: ‘behold the Lamb of God that comes to take away the sins of the world!’ and the Spirit of the God descended in the bodily form of a dove and sat upon Him and God spoke with an audible voice: ‘this is My beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased. Hear Him!’
The one that is willing to go, become worthy to open new dimensions of the plan of God to fulfill it. The one that is willing to lay down his life for others is worthy and God will honor him. No one has greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for his friends – just like Jesus did for us.
Amen.