The Book and the Lamb pt. 4
What in the World is Going on? • Sermon • Submitted
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The last few Sundays we have looked at Revelation 5, and today we are there one final time. There are three subjects that grab our attention, or I should say, grab John’s attention. There is the scroll, the Savior, and lastly we will see today, the scene which follows.
One thing that we notice instantly in chapter five is that its ending closely resembles that of Chapter 4, read Revelation 4:10-11
10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, 11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Now read Revelation 5:11-12
11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
Notice that each chapter ends with a scene of praise and worship to God, yet each has a unique focus. In chapter 4 we notice that the creatures and elders declare God to be worthy because He is their Creator. In chapter 5 they declare Jesus to be worthy because He is their Savior!
His creation is groaning in anguish because of sin, and is waiting for the day of its redemption. Christ’s work of redemption does not affect humanity alone, it affects the entire earth as well. When Jesus takes the scroll from the hand of God He is announcing that the time for complete redemption has come. The Title deed to the earth is His for the taking because He paid the price with His blood.
This is the final scene before the tribulation begins is significant as it shows us what all of heaven will be doing as the tribulation is unfolding on earth.
Here are three significant parts of this final scene before the tribulation. Notice first the...
Reception v. 8a
Reception v. 8a
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
The word “took” in verse 7 and “taken” in verse 8 are the exact same word. The word in the Greek means “to receive”. In this case He received the book for Himself, taking it from the Father’s hand because He had bought and paid for this book with His life and His death!
Let it be understood that in verse 8, “When He had taken the book” is in the aorist tense, meaning this is a completed action, not a process.
I am glad today that the transaction has been paid. I am glad today that title deed to the earth is in the right hand. I am glad today that the One who is worthy is about to take the book. But I want to remind you that, what we are reading today is simply history that has not happened yet.
While the events in these chapters are in our future, they are in God’s past. While we are waiting for these events to unfold, in God’s mind, they are already completed.
I’m glad I don’t have to go to bed at night and worry about eternity. I’m glad I don’t have to concern myself with how everything is going to turn out. I am glad I know that one day soon, Jesus is going to receive this book.
Notice with me too that when Jesus receives this book, the atmosphere in heaven changes. We’ve looked at the reception, now let’s look at the...
Response v. 8b-12
Response v. 8b-12
I want you to draw your attention to the way in which all heaven responds to Jesus when He receives the scroll. Notice there is...
Prostration
The Bible tells us that when Jesus takes the scroll, the four beasts and the 24 elders “fell down before Him”
Literally, they fell down in His presence
This denotes worship!
Church, this life is practice for eternity
If in this life you find it difficult to say amen, to raise your hand, to get excited when you hear a song that stirs your heart or hear a message that speaks right to your spirit, you are going to be uncomfortable in heaven!
When we get to heaven, when we see Jesus, we are going to fall down before Him, prostrated at His holy feet. But that is not the only response we see here, next we notice the…
Prayers
John tells us each one of them had a golden vial full of “odours”
odours = incense
Remember the OT tabernacle there was an altar of incense
The incense represented the prayers of God’s people
In heaven, however, your prayers are literally the incense of heaven!
Do not think that your prayers on earth are useless
God in heaven loves when you pray
He collects your prayers and uses them as a sweet scent in heaven!
This is an awesome reminder of the need to keep on praying!
How many of your payers are stored in heaven?
You have lost loved ones? Keep praying.
You have needs that only God can meet? Keep praying
You have a desire to see our church grow and make an impact in these last days? Keep praying?
You want revival? Keep praying
When we stop praying, we are saying that we do not trust God. Church, keep praying! Why? Because heaven is scented today with the prayers of God’s saints on earth. Heaven is a place of prostration, a place of prayer, and it is a place of...
Praise
The harps mentioned in verse 9 are instruments of praise
The new song that will be sung is a song of praise, Revelation 5:9 “9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”
This indicates that we are going to praise God with both our voices and with music
Heaven will not be a quiet place, but it will also not resemble a rock concert!
True praise is not determined by how new your song is, or loud you can sing, or how well you can play, but your honest response to how great God is!
I like how this section closes out, the chorus of this new song of redemption speaks of Christ who, because of His Calvary work, is worthy to receive:
Power - Great power, with which He is able to seize control of the earth from Satan.
Riches - All the wealth of the earth belong to Him!
Wisdom - Necessary to rule and reign in His coming Kingdom
Strength - Mighty ability to defeat Satan at Armageddon
Honour and Glory - go hand in hand and refer to the majesty of His throne as He sits as King
Blessing - simply put, praise.
My friends, Jesus is worthy of these because oaf all that He has done, and because of all that He is yet to do! What a response! Worship, prayer, and praise, but we’re not finished here yet! We’ve seen the reception of the scroll, the response of the saints and finally, we cannot leave this passage until we see the...
Recognition v. 13-14
Recognition v. 13-14
13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
Look at that phrase in verse 13, “Every creature”
Listen to some of the various ways the word “every” is translated in other passages:
All
All things
Every
All men
Whosoever
Everyone
Whole
All manner
Every man
Every thing
I wonder if God is trying to tell us something? Look back at Revelation 5:3-4
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
No man may have been found worthy in all of creation to open the book, but let me tell you friend, ALL MEN WILL ONE DAY BOW THEIR KNEE TO JESUS AND BLESS HIS HOLY NAME! Philippians 2:5-11
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
When Jesus takes the scroll there will be universal worship and adoration of the Lion-Lamb of God!
Conclusion:
Listen to me, Jesus is coming soon. No one knows when, and anyone who tells you they do is a liar. But look around. His return is closer today that it was yesterday, and if He gives another day tomorrow we will be one day closer still. Jesus is coming soon.
I believe right now Jesus is seated by His Father’s right hand and soon God is going to give Him the signal to call us home. When that happens He will take the book and open the seals, then two things will happen at once:
Worship will be poured out in heaven, and
The wrath of God will be poured out on earth.
Church, I can’t speak for you, but when Jesus comes, I want to be found faithfully serving Him. How about you? In light of the imminent return of Christ, what should we be doing?
We should be busy telling as many people as we possibly can about the Savior.
We should pray for our missionaries: Why is missions emphasis month so important? Revelation 5:9 “9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”
We should make sure that we are ready to meet Him. I cannot in good conscience believe that everyone listening to me today knows Jesus as their Savior. If today you are not sure about where you will spend eternity, then I beg you to settle that before you leave.
Let’s bow our heads. Every head bowed, every eye closed, is there one today that would say “Pastor, I know I’m saved, but I’ve been slack in sharing the gospel.” Would you be honest with yourself and honest with God. If that is you today would you raise your hand?
What are you going to do with that knowledge? Are you going to keep on being slack, or are you going to do something about it? Will you confess the sin of not sharing the gospel and purpose that beginning today you will be a solider of the gospel of Christ?
I wonder today is there one here who would be honest and say I don’t know for sure if I died today that I’d go to heaven, but I know I do not want to go to hell. If that is you today would you raise your hand?
Right here, right now, right where you are, you can know for sure you are saved and on your way to heaven. All you must do is admit to God you are a sinner, believe that what He says is true - Jesus died in your place for your sin and rose again, the call on Him to save you and He will. Today if you want to be saved will you raise your hand?