Taking the Scroll

In Revelation 5:6-10 we see the Lamb taking the scroll and all of creation praising the Lamb. We also are told what the result from this action will be. People from every tribe, nation, and language are ransomed and made kings and priests who shall reign over earth.

There is a little confusion here because the 24 elders praise the Lamb for ransoming them from every tribe, nation, and language. Because we know there are far more than 24 tribes, nations, and languages we can assume the 24 is a symbolic number representing many Old and New Testament people (12 tribes & 12 apostles). I guess heaven will be a very diverse place.

What I really want to talk about is what it means to be kings and priests reigning over earth. Some have taken this to mean they will be given places of power in heaven because of the lives they have lived here on earth. I couldn’t disagree more. It seems from these verses that everyone will either be a king or priest. Who will be left to be reigned over? In Genesis 1:26 I think we find the answer to what reigning on earth means. Humans will be given power over all the animals on earth not power over other humans. These verses seem to be telling us that heaven will be a very diverse place with very content people (kings and priests) living happily in harmony with all creatures serving God. This sounds like a wonderful place to me and I hope we can be there together.

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