Revelation 6:1 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!”
What we see and hear are often in agreement with each other. We hear something fall and crash, and then we see the glass on the floor. We hear the screeching of the tires and then we see the car spinning out of control. We hear the whimper of a baby in a restaurant and then we see the carseat on the floor next to a mother.
These two sense of seeing and hearing are the most prominent of our senses. They detect objects further afield than touch, taste or smell. We can often see things and hear things long before we touch, taste or smell them.
Unless of course you live downwind from the manure spreader in the Fall or the city landfill. You might never see or hear them, but the smell can travel!
Starting in the previous chapter of Revelation, there has been a series of things that have been seen and then heard by the author. This seeing and hearing continues into this chapter. As the scene opens, the Lamb, Jesus, begins to open the seven-sealed scroll, one seal at a time. And as the seals are opened, the author hears and sees different things.
The first thing that is heard is revealed in our verse. There is an invitation given to the author. But it is more than an invitation; it is a command. We know this by the way it is stated in the original language and in the emphatic “Come!” of the text.
There isn’t a soft invitation like, “It would be helpful if you would move this direction, please.” The text tells us that the creature “thunders” his command. Think about thunder for a moment. BANG! CRASH! RUMBLE! This is how the creature spoke.
There was no way to ignore this creature’s voice. It invaded the hearers space. It took charge of the moment. Front and center! Listen or else.
And what does this creature want? He wants the hearer to move in closer! Do you want to have the thunder strike even closer to where you are standing? I love thunder and lightning, and even I jump when it strikes really close to where I am. I don’t want it to be even closer!
Four times in the chapter the creature commands “Come!”, each time the first four of seven seals is opened. The creature wants the author to see what is happening. The “Come!” is an invitation to get a glimpse of heavenly activities, activities that give a picture of the future, a future that is triumphant.
Too often we get a picture of despair and gloom when we listen to the propaganda of the world. But there is good news, news of triumph and glory. This is the news the author had the privilege to see and hear. And we get to ride along with him as we read.
But sometimes we focus so much on the judgement that we miss the triumph. This whole book is a projection of the glory of Jesus and of His place in the Universe. The reality of Heaven and its occupants and activities escapes our Earthly sight and sound, so we dismiss it as unknowable.
But God opened a window into that reality and the author has recorded what he heard and saw for us to read and believe. We can have hope because of what He heard and saw. We will become part of this story. We will join with the voices already occupied in giving glory to God.
The Arnold Journey 