Bad Dreams And Broken Seals

One night, I had a detailed dream about running from intruders in my house.

I was sprinting around, dodging robbers who were out to get me. Every aspect of the dream felt absolutely real. I was certain this was it, the end was near, and I would be defeated in a “Home Alone” gone wrong situation. Much to my surprise, as one of the robbers grabbed me, my body jolted awake.

I rolled over frantically and realized I was curled up in bed, safe and sound. Relief instantly washed over me as I whispered aloud, “It was a dream!” I was safe, my greatest fears hadn’t been realized, and everything was going to be okay.

While stress dreams aren’t fun, if you’ve had one I know you know that feeling. The moment reality is made known to you and you’ve escaped the worst case scenario you fully believed was around the corner. But the funniest part is - it was never real anyways.

The nightmare we dreamed up in our head was never going to be the end of us. We were safe all along.

In Revelation 5, John is prophesying about the end times and shares a powerful vision of God holding a scroll sealed with seven seals. Under Roman Law, wills were customarily sealed with seven seals. While we can’t for sure determine what this scroll was, theologian William Barclay suggests that it was, “God’s will, his final settlement of the affairs of the universe.”

Let’s read together. Revelation 5:1-4 says,

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

- Revelation 5:1-4

The outcome of the world held in the hand of the Father.

Will the wrongs be righted? Will redemption come? Will there be peace at last? Every great question was held within His hands, but no one was worthy to open the scroll. John, understandably so, weeps - afraid that the worst case scenario for humanity might be realized. Will anyone be able to break the seal? Will this be the end?

It isn’t. Verse 5 reminds us that the nightmare is over:

Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

- Revelation 5:5

John fears that this bad dream will come true, that perhaps no one will be able to bring redemption to this fallen world. But verse 5 shakes him awake. An elder reminds him, the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, Jesus Christ has triumphed. I imagine relief washed over John’s body just as it did when I woke up from my dream.

He thought this was the end, that maybe sin would win, the scroll wouldn’t be opened, and the story would be over. But Jesus woke him up.

And the funny part is, just like in bad dreams, he was safe all along. Despite the hurt and pain of this world, God always knew how the story would end, and He’s been telling that ending to His people from the beginning of Creation. Jesus is called the “Lion of Judah” and the “Root of David” in Revelation 5:5 , the very last book of the Bible. But those names are first mentioned in Genesis 49 and Isaiah 11. From the beginning of Scripture, God was writing His story of redemption. He knew His Son would be the Savior of the world.

Advent is a time of preparation.

We engage in the waiting with expectant hearts, open to what God might have for us. Maybe this advent your heart needs to be encouraged - it’s not just about waiting for the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. It’s also about looking towards the return of a man named Jesus, who is going to break the seals and open the scroll.

Jesus is going to bring about the re-creation of a perfect world, with full unity, harmony, and connection to our Creator.

All the wrongs will be made right, all of the tears will be wiped away, and relief will wash over our bodies. We will whisper, “Oh, it was just a dream.” The pain of this world is real certainly, but compared to the glory of eternity, it isn’t more than a nightmare.

Take heart, friend, prepare your soul. He’s coming back. This Christmas, remind yourself, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has already triumphed.

Your story isn’t over yet.

Cristina Schmitter

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