A Blast from the Past - Part 2

      In Rev. 4 we see God’s throne room. The scene continues in Rev. 5. At first John sees God holding the scroll of inheritance over the earth as described in Psalm 2. Then John hears a voice proclaiming, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loosen its seals?” No one in heaven or on earth or under the earth is able to open the scroll or to look at it. No wonder John begins to weep. This tells us that Jesus has not yet ascended.
        The next thing John sees is a Lamb standing before the throne. It looks as if it has been slain. It is the Lamb of God entering the heavenly tabernacle not made with hands. It is Jesus bringing the sin offering of His own blood on behalf of all mankind. This is Jesus’ ascension. Note, however, that He has not yet been seated.
         The scroll is offered to the firstborn Son. Jesus takes the scroll out of the right hand of the Father—the hand of authority—who is sitting on the throne. God declares the decree to the Son, giving Him the nations as His inheritance and the ends of the earth for His possession (Ps. 2).
         Once Jesus takes the scroll, officially marking Him as the Heir of God’s Mountain (the heavenly Mount Zion and Kingdom of Light), the four living beings and 24 elders break out in praise, singing a new song. It is the song of victory, of overcoming death, through the New Covenant of grace. Take note  of the words of the song, too. We will hear other songs on this Revelation journey.
        END-TIME LESSON: However beautiful this scene is, we must take note that it is not yet time to possess the earth. There is an appointed time. What must happen first? The Gospel must go forth to all the nations, compliments of the Lord’s Body, also known as His Church and His Bride. That is our earthly calling and great commission (Mt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:14-18; Lk. 2447-48; Jn. 20:21; Acts 1:8).
         Here we need to stop and dig out a root poking through the well-packed earth in our end-time pathway. It is a common misconception that the rest of  the Book of Revelation comes from the contents of this scroll as the seals are removed. Instead, the scroll was given and opened on the day Jesus ascended. As the seven seals are broken open in the next few chapters, the decree is being declared in order to release the prophetic contents.
           In the next few chapters of the overview, God reveals the events of these last Days, specifically the two great Days or 2,000 years of what we call the Church Age or Messianic Age. In effect, God is declaring the mystery of the fullness of time, the mystery of God’s will. “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein” (Ps. 24:1). It is marked by the outpouring of God’s Spirit. Paul described this mystery in Ephesians 1:10-12. Be sure to take a moment and read that timely, pivotal passage.
        Jesus referred to these two Days or 2,000 years in a unique prophecy. On His last journey into Jerusalem, some Pharisees came to warn Him that Herod was planning to kill Him. Our Lord’s prophetic response: “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third Day I shall be perfected.’ Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem” (Lk. 13:32).
           His statement doesn’t make any sense in the natural. It can only be understood in terms of what we call God’s Day Code. The Code shows us how God counts prophetic time.  That is, a great “Week” of seven 1,000-year Days. It was foreshadowed in the seven days of creation.