He Reigns
Bible reading
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:
– Revelation 5:6-14 (NIVUK)
‘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.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.’
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:
‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honour and glory and praise!’
13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honour and glory and power,
for ever and ever!’
14 The four living creatures said, ‘Amen’, and the elders fell down and worshipped.
Devocional
“Say something,… anything! Answer me!” I call out. I cry, I beg, and I even demand an answer. But all is silent. I hear no voice and I see no movement. I wonder if I have just prayed to the wall, as it doesn’t seem to make any difference! What happens to all our prayers anyway… are they just floating “out there” somewhere, lost in eternity?
John turned around looking for a lion and found a Lamb. And now that Lamb is centre stage, surrounded by the heavenly hosts. The Lamb has the scroll in his hand ready and willing to open it and share its message. But before he does, we move into another moment of praise and worship. This Lamb has inspired a new song. It’s a song dripping with Scripture and fulfilled prophecy. It’s a song of victory, and of celebration. It’s a song uniting the Nations and indeed there is someone from every nation, every tribe, every language and every people.
Again, the praise that reverberates from this choir moves not only the soul but the body. True worship involves our whole being because our whole being was created and redeemed by the Lamb. It is through His sacrifice that we have life!
But what about our prayers? If the Lamb is so amazing and powerful, why couldn’t He answer our prayer? The answer is in verse 8. Our prayers are not lost or forgotten, they are stored in golden bowls until the exact moment the Lamb is ready to receive them and respond to them. They haven’t been ignored or misplaced and they aren’t floating “out there” somewhere. They are collected, prepared and protected.
And when the time is right, those unanswered prayers are held up to the Lamb as an offering and He will answer them according to His will and purpose. Not one of our prayers goes astray, not one is lost.“Say something, anything! Answer me!”, I call out. And He answers, “I AM”.
– Connie Main Duarte
This devotional is part of a series that helps us navigate the texts of the book of Revelation with fresh eyes. A new devotional every Saturday.
These devotionals are available in Portuguese and in English.