Answering the "Worthy" Question

If you were transplanted to Heaven this very night, what would you see? What would occupy your attention the most? We would be occupied and mesmerized by the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, for in the heart of that City there is a throne, and in the heart of the throne there is the Son of God. Imagine all of eternity encircling Jesus!

In Revelation 1-3, Jesus is in the midst of the church, but, oh, how the tables have turned; for now in chapters 4-5, the church is in the midst of Jesus.

God’s throne is a place of power and authority (2 Chronicles 18:18) Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven standing on his right hand and on his left.

God’s throne is a place of majesty and honor (Hebrews 12:2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

God’s throne is a place of perfect justice (Psalm 9:7; Revelation 21) But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.

God’s throne is a place of sovereignty and holiness (Psalm 47:8) God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

God’s throne is a place of praise (Revelation 14:3 Psalm 66:2) And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

God’s throne is a place of purity (Revelation 14:5) And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.

God’s throne is a place of eternal life (Revelation 22:1) And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

God’s throne is a place of grace (Hebrews 4:16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

In the British and Canadian system of Parliament there is a tradition that is observed every time a new session of government begins.  It may be after an election when the newly elected party calls the Parliament to meet for the first time, or it may be after a summer recess when Parliament again takes up its work.

At such time, the government prepares, and the Queen, in England, or the Governor General, in Canada, reads what is called The Throne Speech.  It is a speech outlining the plans that this government is determined to carry forward during the coming session.  It doesn’t give the final details of all the bills that will be dealt with, but in broad sweeps and in outline form it exposes the direction that this government wants to set for the country in the months and years to come.

The book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ is God’s “throne speech.”  From point forward, this speech outlines the plans that God’s government is determined to carry forward during the coming ions of time. What, then, may we learn about He who sits upon this throne?

In chapter four we were captivated by the Lord Jesus upon the throne in Heaven; in chapter five, all in Heaven are captivated by the book in the hand of He who sits upon the throne.

The Book

What is this book? What other books are mentioned in Revelation? -the Bible This is the book in which God has chosen to reveal His person, His work, and His will for mankind John 12:48 says, “He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.” -the book of man’s works Of this book, Wiersbe notes, is “…insufficient to save anyone but necessary for determining the unbeliever’s degree of punishment in hell.” Revelation 20:12 says, “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works." “My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” (Psalm 139:15-16) -the book of life This is the record of those who have placed their faith and trust in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ; and the promise of eternal life is secured in the person of Jesus, who said, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.” (Revelation 3:5) “And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.” (Philippians 4:3) “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8) -the book of judgments In this book is contained the future of the world— Christ’s judgment and redemption of the world. When this book is opened in chapter six, God’s righteous judgment is poured out upon the earth, and when the seventh seal is broken, another trumpet sounds (8:1). Thus, when this seventh trumpet blows, Revelation 11:15 states: “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.” Lehman Strauss: Thus the scroll seems to contain the story of humanity’s losing its worship over creation and the regaining of that authority by the man Christ Jesus. The scroll might be titled the “Book of Redemption” since it contains the story of redemption to its final consummation, not only in relation to humanity but also in relation to the world. Satan had usurped what God originally gave to humanity in Adam, and Christ the Redeemer reclaimed cursed humanity and the cursed earth.” (Hebrews 2:5-9)

Why is it sealed?

FB Meyer: “This ‘book’ is a roll of papyrus or parchment, written on each side to prevent unauthorized additions. Probably it contains the history of the successive steps to be taken to win the empire of the world for Christ. In other words, it tells of the successive stages of the coming of the kingdom of God. As the seals are opened, certain phenomena occur which in part reveal the mysteries hidden in the book, but the whole is in the hand of the Lamb of God. He alone knows the contents; He alone presides over their development. We must not weep because the future is unknown. ‘Jesus we know, and He is on the throne’.”

Who was not worthy?

-no man in Heaven- no created being is worthy to open the book; signifying that “no angel can penetrate the future and disclose what is to come.” -no man in earth- “Among all classes of people - sages, divines, prophets, philosophers - who among those have ever been able to penetrate the future, and disclose what is to come?" -no man under the earth- "May there not be an allusion here to the supposed science of necromancy, and an assertion that even the dead cannot penetrate the future, and disclose what is to come?” Galatians 1:8: “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” This same formulation is used later in the chapter (13), as well as in Philippians 2:10-11: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” No man was found worthy who could loose the seals, open the book, and look thereon. Having now this great conflict, John wept. The tense of the verb indicates that John kept on weeping and his weeping was loud. Up to this point, all of the revelation had been transcendent and glorious, yet weeping now fills the pages the apocalypse, but, praise His name, until. Jesus told His disciples, "Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.” (Luke 6:21) Your tears will be turned into unmitigated and never-ending joy!

The Lamb

power to reveal the Word- 5

power to redeem— 6, 9

power to reckon- 5, 9

conclusion of it ll- He is worthy

He is not one of the worthy ones. He is not among the worthy ones. He is not the titular head of the worthiest of the universe. HE IS ALONE WORTHY!

CS Lewis: “A man can no more diminish God’s glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word ‘darkness’ on the walls of his cell.”

WORTHY- 13

blessing- to speak well of

honour- to honor with value and esteem

glory- splendor; brightness; amazing might

power-

a display of might; FORCE

Rev 1:6 “And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Eph 6:10: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.”

Acts 19:20: “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

The Unworthy

This book, sealed and mysterious, was unopened, yet it was in the right hand of him that sat on the throne. It might be mentioned here that when John looked at angels, men, and powers, he fell into despair, for no one was worthy to open the book and to look thereupon; but just one glimpse of the Almighty God…He who alone is worthy…dissipated all of his tears and all of his fears and all of his disillusionment.

3, 13- the unworthy proclaim that Jesus is worthy

THE WORD WORTHY MEANS, “FITTING; APPROPRIATE.” WE MUST LIVE LIVES THAT ARE FITTING TO THAT WHICH HAS BEEN DONE FOR US.

How do we acknowledge this worthy lamb?

our lips

Notice how contagious this praise is. In verse 7, the beasts and the representatives from the church begin to sing. Then, in verse 11, the angels and the beasts and the angels begin to sing. Then, in verse 13, every creature in heaven and in earth and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, sing praises to God. WORTHY IS THE LAMB!!!

we bless Him

Psalm 34:1 “I will bless the Lord at all times: His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”

Psalm 71:6: “By thee have I been holden up from the womb: Thou art he that took me out of my mother’s bowels: My praise shall be continually of thee.”

Hebrews 13:15: “By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”

we confess to Him

1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

prayer

John 14:13: “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

preaching

2 Thessalonians 3:1: “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you:”

soulwinning

2 Corinthians 4:15: “For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.”

our life- worthy- in a manner fitting to

labor in the word

I Timothy 5:18: “For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward.”

suffering

Acts 5:41: “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”

serve the Lord

Ephesians 4:1: “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,”

Colossians 1:10: “That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;”

I Thessalonians 2:12: “That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.”

our love/stillness/

Philippians 3:3: “For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.”

“The fact that our works are done in the service of God is not enough, by itself, to prevent us from losing our interior life if we let them devour all our time and all our strength. Work is good and necessary, but too much of it renders the soul insensitive to spiritual values, hardens the heart against prayer and divine things. It requires serious effort and courageous sacrifice to resist this hardening of heart.” -Thomas Merton