And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see.
The Book of Revelation was written by John, one of Jesus' closest disciples, while he was exiled on the island of Patmos around 90 AD. In his vision, he sees a scroll sealed with seven seals — a document that contains God's unfolding purposes for the world. The 'Lamb' is Jesus Christ, depicted throughout Revelation as the sacrificial lamb who was killed but rose again, and who alone is found worthy to open this scroll. The 'four living creatures' are powerful angelic beings surrounding God's throne, described in Revelation 4 as full of eyes and never ceasing to worship. When the first seal is broken, one of these creatures shouts 'Come!' in a voice like thunder — summoning the first of what will become the famous Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Lord, you are both the Lamb who was slain and the one who holds all of history in your hands. When the thunder comes — in the news, in my home, in my own chest at night — remind me that you are not absent. You are purposeful. Teach me to trust the Lamb with what I cannot control. Amen.
There's something that stops you cold about this image: the gentlest figure in Scripture — a Lamb — is the one who initiates the most thunderous sequence of events in all of history. We tend to keep Jesus the tender shepherd separate from Jesus the cosmic judge, as if they're two different people. But John won't let us do that. The same hands that blessed children and washed feet are the only hands found worthy to break these seals. The thunder doesn't come from a tyrant. It comes from the Lamb. This can be genuinely unsettling — and maybe it should be. The comfort isn't that judgment is soft or that hard things won't come. The comfort is that whoever holds history in his hands has already been on the receiving end of suffering. He is not a stranger to loss. Whatever feels like it's being opened and unleashed in your life right now — whatever thunder is rolling in — it is not outside his authority. He opened it. He knows what's inside. And he is the Lamb.
What does it mean that only the Lamb — specifically because he was slain — is considered worthy to open the scroll? What kind of worthiness is being described here, and how does it differ from worldly ideas of power?
When you think about God being actively in control of history's difficult events, does that bring you comfort, anxiety, or something more complicated? What shapes your reaction?
We often want a Jesus who is gentle and approachable but feel uneasy with a Jesus who commands cosmic authority and initiates judgment. Why do you think it's hard to hold both of those together?
How does it change your relationships and your sense of justice when you genuinely believe the one in charge of history is someone who has suffered for others rather than someone who has only ever exercised power?
Is there something happening in your life right now that feels like a seal being broken — something uncertain being unleashed? How might you pray differently about it after sitting with this image of the Lamb?
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Revelation 4:5
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.
Amos 3:7
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
Revelation 5:1
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Revelation 5:5
And when he had opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour.
Revelation 8:1
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
John 1:29
And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see.
Revelation 6:7
And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.
Revelation 4:6
Then I saw as the Lamb (Christ) broke one of the seven seals [of the scroll initiating the judgments], and I heard one of the four living creatures call out as with a voice of thunder, " Come."
AMP
Now I watched when the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures say with a voice like thunder, “Come!”
ESV
Then I saw when the Lamb broke one of the seven seals, and I heard one of the four living creatures saying as with a voice of thunder, 'Come.'
NASB
The Seals I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!”
NIV
Now I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals; and I heard one of the four living creatures saying with a voice like thunder, “Come and see.”
NKJV
As I watched, the Lamb broke the first of the seven seals on the scroll. Then I heard one of the four living beings say with a voice like thunder, “Come!”
NLT
I watched while the Lamb ripped off the first of the seven seals. I heard one of the Animals roar, "Come out!"
MSG