Open the Scroll

Open the Scroll

“And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”

Jesus’ death is a mystery of faith. We are to hold the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. 1 Tim. 3:9. It is not sufficient to know about it; it must also work in our life as the light shines; otherwise you cannot have a pure conscience, which results in you suffering shipwreck of your faith. 1 Tim. 1:19.

In the old covenant they were required to bring a lot of offerings for which they received forgiveness for their sins, but they were not transformed as a result. They remained the same person. They did not experience growth. They brought the same offerings which could not take away sins. Heb. 10:11. All of it was just a shadow of the good things to come. V. 1. All of it pointed to that which is perfect.

Jesus came with the new covenant—He came with perfection. Heb. 9:9-14. Instead of bringing all kinds of offerings, He offered up Himself in the power of an eternal Spirit and learned obedience by the things which He suffered. Heb. 5:7-9. This offering of Himself instead of offering various things was something completely new.

The offering of assorted things was for the satisfaction of the conscience according to the law that they were obligated to keep; they were dead works that did not result in the transformation of those who brought these offerings. Jesus offered Himself in obedience to the promptings of the Father. This resulted in a way—a development that ended in perfection. “And having been perfected . . . .” “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith . . . .” Heb. 5:9, 12:2.

This offering of Himself did not just include Jesus’ death on Calvary. Not at all! It was Jesus’ offering as the Son of Man; He was the author and finisher. What transpired on Calvary was the completion. “For it was God’s will that in Him all the fullness should dwell.” Col. 1:19. This was the completion. This completion was accomplished through obedience to the Father’s will and the offering of His own will as the Son of Man throughout His life. “Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours, be done.” Luke 22:42. This was Jesus’ prayer. John 6:38.

The shadow testifies to the body; but when the body comes, the shadow disappears. In this manner Jesus fulfilled the law and the prophets. Therefore He was also worthy to open the scroll. One of the elders said to 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.” Rev. 5:5. John saw this Lion of the tribe of Judah as a Lamb as though it had been slain. V. 6.

We are called to follow Jesus. “Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp . . . .” Heb. 13:13. “For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.” 2 Tim. 2:11. Only if we die this death with Him can Jesus’ life be revealed in and through us. “Always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus . . . . For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.” 2 Cor. 4:10-11.

This is a mystery of faith, the mystery of Christ. Eph. 3:4-6; Col. 4:3. “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: He who was manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit . . . .” 1 Tim. 3:16.

Many people sit with their Bibles and weep. It is a closed book to them. A romance novel is more interesting to them than God’s Word. They go and listen to one preacher after another who is a capable speaker, but they can’t find anyone who can open the scroll. The reason is they do not understand the mystery of the death of Christ. Without understanding this mystery, they are left standing in the shadow. Only those who enter into the death of Christ and offer themselves in the power of the Holy Spirit can open the scroll.

There may be assemblies of friends who have the knowledge and the doctrine; nevertheless, they are sitting with a sealed scroll. They can preach, the one more capable than the next, but it is not food, and there is strife and sin in their midst. The reason is that no one among them is willing to be slain in obedience to the promptings of the Spirit in his daily life. Therefore none of them can open the scroll. However, as soon as one of them begins to live the hidden life with Christ in God, the seals are opened, and God’s Word becomes food for him and for those who hear him.