Worthy is the Lamb
The Bible does not end in an argument. It ends in a throne room, a crowd from every nation, and God living with His people. Read the last pages slowly. This is where the whole journey has been heading.
Every nation, tribe, people and language
Who is worthy?
In a vision, the apostle John sees a scroll in God's right hand, sealed with seven seals, and a mighty angel calls out through heaven and earth:
"Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?" ()
No one is able, in heaven, on earth or under it. John weeps. Then one of the elders says:
"Don't weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome" ()
The Lion is a Lamb
John turns to see the Lion, and sees "a standing, as though it had been slain" (). The conqueror won by giving Himself. He takes the scroll, and heaven breaks into a new song:
"You are worthy to take the book and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood out of every tribe, language, people, and nation" ()
Worthy is the Lamb
Ten thousands of ten thousands of angels join in, and then every created thing:
"Worthy is the who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!" ()
All of creation answers, and the elders fall down and worship ().
A crowd no one can count
"A great multitude, which no man could count, out of every nation and of all tribes, peoples, and languages, standing before the throne and before the " ()
They cry out, "Salvation be to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the !" (). Every nation includes every Indian language, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Bengali, Marathi and hundreds more. This is the crowd we are inviting people into, and God will have a people from every one of these peoples.
God lives with His people
"Behold, God's dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more" ()
There is no temple in the city, because the Lord God and the are its temple. The light of the city is the glory of God, and its lamp is the ().
They will see His face
The tree of life, closed off at the beginning of the Bible, stands open by the river of the water of life, and its leaves are for "the healing of the nations" ().
"They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no night... They will reign forever and ever" ()
This is what you were made for: to know God, and to see Him, with joy that has no end.
"Yes, come, Lord Jesus." The last words of the Bible are this prayer and a blessing: "The of the Lord Jesus Christ be with all the saints. Amen." ()
And right before that prayer, an invitation to everyone who is reading: "The Spirit and the bride say, 'Come!' He who hears, let him say, 'Come!' He who is thirsty, let him come. He who desires, let him take the water of life freely" ().
If you want to respond
Maybe you have read this far and something in you says yes. The Bible says becoming a follower of Jesus is not earned by knowledge, ritual or many lives. It is a gift received:
- TurnTell God honestly that you have gone your own way, and turn from it. "Repent, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out" ().
- TrustTrust that Jesus died to forgive your sin and rose again. "If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved" ().
- FollowRead the Gospel of Luke or John, pray in your own words, and find a Christian friend or church to walk with you.
Not ready? That is all right. Keep asking honest questions, read a Gospel for yourself, and talk with the friend who shared this with you. "You shall seek me, and find me, when you search for me with all your heart" ().
Jesus Christ is worthy. At His name every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that He is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (). Come, receive the free gift of His life, and bring others with you. Glory to the forever.
The Bible ends in worship. The Lamb who was slain is worthy, and a crowd from every nation lives with God forever. This is what we were made for, and the invitation is open to you.
Which part of this scene moves you most? Who do you most long to see in that crowd, and who could you invite to come?
Which part of this scene moves you most? Would you want to be in that crowd?