Revelation 5 - Worthy is the Lamb

Opening Remarks:

Revelation - 3 things:

Apocalypse (unveiling) - not a book of secret codes - a book of showing - pulling the curtain

Prophecy - steeped in OT prophecy and imagery, fulfillment of the prophecies as well as foretelling things to come

Letter - Often overlooked; it was a letter that John wrote to the seven churches - perhaps an elder read these

Methaphors, symbols and imagery was familiar to the early church.

This book like any other was written to a particular audience - so it has a specific historical context which we can’t negate

So what this all means is this:

the one who told Michael Jackson was THE anti-Christ was probably wrong

But on a serious note - we can’t assume that this is primarily talking about us (as if we were the original recepients)

(ch 2-3 - letters written to the 7 churches by Jesus)

Intro:

In the closing chapters of the epic-high fantasy novel - the Lord of the Rings, Tolkein decribes how evil has been conquered and all things are set right.

This sentiment is best captured by one of the hobbits - Samwise Gamgee’s statements.  After the ring of power is destroyed at Mount Doom, the worn out Sam wakes up from his unconsciousness surprised he is alive and surprised to see Gandalf.   In his exchange with Gandalf he says this, “Is everything sad going to come untrue? What’s happened to the world?”

This statement is quite profound because it is different - it is not asking whether good things are going to come true

It is asking whether sad things are going to come untrue

This statement recognizes that there is currently something very wrong with the world.  It is a place that is filled with sadness.  Cursed by sin.  Groaning as it awaits its redemption.

John and the early church fully understood that there was something wrong with the world. Christians living in these cities faced all kinds of temptations and pressures to turn from the true Christian faith. Like many Christians in every age, they felt pressured to compromise their faith. But these chrisitans - these persecuted churches - through the revelation that John recieved were assured of hope - and that was this

Nike - Greek word victory (the noun form occurs only in 1 John 5:4) - And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”

Nikao (verb form - conquering, overcoming) - 28 times in the NT but 17 times in the Revelation

Revelation is the story of the devil trying his best trying to overcome the church but the church overcomes the devil and the world - because the church belongs to the Lord who has secured our victory.

Book of revelation gives us instruction for how the church is to conquer instead of being conquered. How to overcome instead of being overcome.

Big question - How do we overcome? and what significance does it hold for us today?

Outline:

Our Struggle

Our Saviour

Our Song

Our Service

1. Our Struggle

Here’s the scene - John is lifted (figuratively) into the heavenly to see the throne room of the Triune God

God lifts him to show the perspective of what is to come from the Throne room

Our text for this morning begins with a scroll, a scroll in the right of God who is seated on the throne

In the right hand – shows power, authority, sovereignty

Fascinatingly this scroll is written on both sides. Normally scrolls were written only on one side

Also unique – instead of one seal

In that context, important scrolls – would have two seals but here there are 7 seals (the number signifies perfrection - thus perfectly sealed)

A perfectly written and sealed scroll

Which begs the question - what was written on that scroll?

There are different theories about this scroll which time limits us to get into it but the most reasonable explanation based on the chapters to follow indicate the the scroll tells us God’s plans and purposes for the entire universe.

It contains the eternal decress of God both in judging the wicked and in redeeming his people. To put it simply it contains the entire story of God’s will. Think of it:

Every hair that falls from your head, every human decision you make to shocking events around the world, the political future of every nation, every atom, - everything fits into God’s plan

No surprises, no omissions

God knows – He knows all our past, present and future – everything is in this book and He holds it in his right hand - and it sealed with 7 seals

What a comfort that we are not the captain of our own ship, we are not the masters of our own future - but our Lord who sits on the throne is in charge

He doesn’t just look down the corridors of time and then write in his plans - No! he holds everything - just like we used to sing at Sunday School - He’s got the whole world in his hands!!

John is being reminded that everything is held in the right hand of God - nothing can thwart the plan of God

But the appearing of the scroll raises an immediate problem - if all the eternal decrees, all the plans that need to be executed are held tightly in God’s hand then who can open it, who can see it. And more than just opening and seeing it - who can actually execute it!!

In fact that’s the resounding question being asked in verse 2. Interestingly the one asking the question is no mere human, this is an angelic being - infact as John tells us it is a mighty angel, demanding with a loud voice - “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” “WHO IS WORTHY?”

[Rev 5:2 “And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”” ]

The question has eternal consequences because unless the scroll is opened - what’s written would be never be revealed but more importantly - the will of God for history would not be performed. As one author, Vern Poythress puts it:

“The destiny of John, of the church, and of the universe itself hangs in the balance over the question of whether someone can open the scroll.”

Who is worthy? Anyone??? The answer is a deafening no! That’s John’s lament in verse 3 ->

[Rev 5:3 “And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it,” ]

This shattered him and he breaks down as you see in v4 - “and I began to weep loudly!” A more literal reading of the Greek would say “I wept much” - And the way Greek is constructed - the emphasis is on the continuation of the weeping - it indicates the loud wailing of profound bitterness.

[Rev 5:4 “and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.” ]

Remember, John doesn't weep because he's sad that he won't find out how history will end. No! He weeps because, if the seals aren't broken, the things to come will never be executed - the end will be indefinitely postponed.

Will everything sad come untrue?

John knows that if the scroll is not opened - Everything sad will simply remain true!

But part of John’s weeping also arises from the realization that there is none worthy - it is an awareness of his own and the rest of the human race’s unworthiness

In a way that is so similar to John’s weeping, we are so often grieved when God’s will seems frustrated in our experience, isn’t it? We see the state of affairs around us, we experience injustice in our lands, our communities, our churches and even homes. And we go through days and seasons of weeping - why does this have to happen O Lord! And the more we lament - we see the weightiness of sin and disobedience, the wages of which brings us to tears

We must constantly remember - No leader, no man or woman can give what this world needs - the future lies in no man’s hands!

Article in the Wire: Why Don't We Hold Our Leaders to a Higher Standard of Morality? The main theme of the article was this - There is a moral indignation in India where our leaders are not held accountable for the acts of injustice committed.

My friends - if the most powerful leaders, the worthy ones who to lead nations fall short of a society’s ethics - then who can meet the standards of our eternal God?

And this is our cosmic struggle my friends! We are finite beings! We are sinful beings! No human is worthy to execute the eternal decress of God! What a letdown!

But!! we are not left caught hanging in that balance! What John and the reader is about to learn is that there is a comfort even amid this cosmic struggle.

Remember the book of Revelation was meant to bring comfort. It was written to persecuted people of God, the persecuted church under the brutal Roman empire.

And as we too experience this cosmic struggle, like John and the early church, we see comfort and relief - which brings us to our second point!

2. Our Saviour

You see despite all the hopelessness that prevails, despite all the unworthiness - there is hope!

Verse 5: And one of the elders said to me:

Slow emphasis: “Weep no more!”

Now what is stiking is that this interruption that comes as a relief doesn’t come from a mighty angel. No! it comes from one of the elders - an elder is a representative of the redeemed. The elder cries out: Do not weep John! there is indeed One who is worthy! Look! Behold! The Lion of the tribe of Judah

[Rev 5:5 “And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.””]

This is the only verse in the Bible where you see this title “Lion of..Judah” (yet this image is inspiring that it is one of the titles of Christ that is most beloved to Christians)

But there is a reference to this in Gen 49:9 when Jacob prophecies over his son and he says “Judah is a lion’s cub”.

This Lion of Judah is also referred to as the root of David (verse 5) - this title is based on the prophecy of Isaiah 11. You see when the future of Israel seemed bleak, God promised that a messiah would come through the line of David. The house of David however would almost be cut-off because of sin. Yet Isaiah prophecies that a shoot would come from the stump of Jess, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit [Isa 11:1].

The promised heir of Judah, the root of David - both these prophecies speak about Jesus - the messianic king

This Jesus - the promised heir from Judah - he rules history like a lion who reings unchallenged over his domain

He came in the power of God’s spirit to bring salvation to the earth

And John is being told that this Jesus - the Lion of Judah, the root of David has conquered - he has been victorious and he can open the scroll

Imagine, John - a weary soul, persecuted being, crushed in spirit, torchered physically - one who just broke down realizing his unworthiness just soaking that in and his heart must have been lifted up by those comforting words - but it gets more dramatic here. For we encounter an enigma in the drama of redemption. Neither John nor the reader is prepared for what we are about to see. You see, John hears of this conquering lion - the one with all power and authority

But when he looks - between the throne and the four living creatures (which represents the entire created order) and among the elders (the elders are heavenly representatives of the redeemed). In verse 8, you’ll see there are 24 such elders (this symbolizes the 12 tribes of Israel form the OT and the 12 Apostles from the NT) - he doesn’t see a lion - he sees a lamb!

[Rev 5:6 “And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”]

He was told that the Lion conquered but that Lion who conquered is the lamb.

Does Jesus - the Lion of Judah, the root of David conquer as a ferocious Lion who attacks and destroys his enemies? No, he conquers by being slain as the Lamb. (verse 6)

See, the word lamb is a special word used 29 times in the book of Revelation. And except for one instance, it is used exclusively of the resurrected and victorious Christ

Moreover, the theme of lamb is rich when we see it in the grand redemptive storyline of the Bible:

In Gen 22:8, in the story of Abraham and Isaac - we are told that “God himself will provide the lamb for the burnt offering”

In Exo 12:5 (Passover story) - “Take a lamb for a household” and “Your lamb shall be without blemish”

In Isa 53:7 (The suffering servant of the Lord) - “Like a lamb led to the slaughter”

John 1:29 (we see that great declaration of John the Baptist “Behold, the lamb of God who takes the sin of the world!

Right from the beginning, the drama of redemption has been calling out for a specatucal hero to appear on the scence - and we see the lamb without blemish. And all these types, prophecies and proclamations find their fulfillment in the victorious Lamb, our Lord Jesus Christ. John sees a slain lamb (or slaughtered). But this slain lamb is also standing. The words slain/slaughtered and standing are both in the perfect tenses. It shows that there is a permance about the scars of His Sacrifice and there is a permanence to the resurrection. He died a horrific death but he began to stand in resurrection life at a point and time in history, he stands today and he will stand forever.

My friends, in this beautiful imagery of the lamb slaughtered and now standing we see how He wins by losing. He lives by dying. He conquers by becoming a victim. The victory over sin comes through one who died in our place to atone for our sins. The Lamb took upon himself the punishment we deserved. The Jews in that day expected to see their Messiah the promised King to storm in with a sword and conquer over his enemies but this King fell under the sword of God’s wrath and inaugrated the coming of the Kingdom of God in the most unusual way

At this point, I think its crucial for us to pause and draw out two key implications:

First, unbeliever: Your only hope for life is if you put your hope in this slain lamb. Only he can wash away your sins. If you rely on your own works, you are like a person trusting in a false hope. There is no hope for you. The only hope for you is the lamb who takes your sins. Put your trust in him.

Second, believer: Remember that life comes in an unexpected way. Our lives have many setbacks, sufferings, and pains.

What we long for is often not realized. What we hope for is often frustrated. But we learn from the cross that God likes to triumph through adversity and pain. He uses our sufferings to show forth his glory. And he reminds us of our inadequacy, so that we will look to him for strength.

Christ’s death — as well as the ongoing sufferings of the church — have been and are continually being turned into victory.

The kingdom of God is a kingdom of paradox, where through the ugly defeat of a cross, a holy God is utterly glorified. Victory comes through defeat; healing through brokenness; finding self through losing

Charles W. Colson; Charles Colson

The British theologian, Derek Tidball in his book “The Message of the Crross” tells us the story of the Romanian pastor Joseph Tson.

In 1981, Joseph was exiled by communist regime in Romania for preaching the gospel. Prior to the exile he underwent intense interrogation, beatings and mind games. During the exile, a secret police interrogated him once and threatened to kill him if he didnt renounce his stand on the gospel. This is how Tson responded

“Sir, your supreme weapon is killing. My supreme weapon is dying. Sir, you know my sermons are all over the country on tapes now. If you kill me, I will be sprinkling them with my blood. Whoever listens to them after that will say, “I’d better listen. This man sealed it with his blood.” They will speak ten times louder than before. So, go on and kill me. I win the supreme victory then.”

My friends, this is the reminder for us - that victory comes through sacrifice. As one commentator puts it - “we are to be lions in spiritual strength and faithfulness and lambs in our manner of dealing with sinners and sin”

To conquer as followers of Christ is to suffer for the gospel, placing the eternal well-being of others - even enemies - ahead of our own earthly good

But make no mistake, the gentleness of the Lamb who was slain doesn’t mean He is a timid God - He is still the Lion Lamb - look at what the rest of verse 6 says: this lamb has seven horns, and with seven eyes,

Horns were a symbol of power (see that in Dan 7) - so seven horns would mean perfect power. This is Christ’s divine omnipotence.

The seven eyes (which are images picked up from Zech 3,4) denote his divine omniscience. But John also identifies them as the seven spirits of God (denoting the Holy Spirit) sent out into all the earth - denoting his omnipresence

What an afirmation of the Lamb’s deity - only God can be all powerful, all-knowing, everpresent!

And now because of who he is and what he has done (his work of atonement) - only He can do what no one is able to do. The second person in the Trinity, the God man - the divine who become flesh, goes and takes the scroll from the right hand of God.

Rev 5:7 “And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.”

When Jesus takes the scroll - all heaven breaks loose. Not in an embarrassing way! Not at all - the redeeming of the blood of the lamb is no embarrassment in heaven.

And we see that in verse 8

The elders and their living creatures with their harps and gold bowls full of incense - which are prayers of the saints break out in worship

My friends, the work of salvation is purely God’s work but in this verse we see that the desperate cries and prayers of people are used in God’s plans and purposes

In praise and in prayer, they bend their knees and put their faces to the ground which in the previous chapter we are told is a sea of glass, like crystal

And so all of heaven breaks out in songs of praise - infact we see three songs

3. Our Song

In 1971, Coca-Cola mesmerised the world with one of the most popular TV commercials of all time featuring young people of diverse ethnicities from around the world, gathered on a hilltop in Italy, singing with conviction, “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing” (In perfect harmony)

The infectious jingle with its captivating words of hope struck a reverberating chord with the masses. Fifty years since the hit single, we cannot help but concede that Coca-Cola’s utopian dream of reconciliation and world peace has not fared as well as their skyrocketing sales.

Here we are told that the redeemed (the elders) burst out in song - infact we are told that they sing a new song (look at verse 9)

[Rev 5:9 “And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,” ]

Throughout the Old Testament, a new song is sung as an expression of praise to God for granting his people victory over their enemies.

Here we see this new song - this redemption song, sung by the elders (the redeemed): Worthy are you! This reflects the praise that an emperor would receieve as he passed by in triumphal procession. This is not song of a longing or wishful thinking. No! This is a song of an accomplishment!

And we are even given the reasons - as to why he is worthy - First, he was slain - this is was not a uncontrollable tragedy - No this was a voluntary act of sacrificial love for his people. Secondly, he is worthy because by his blood he ransomed people for God - this has the sense of ransoming a prisoner or a slave out of bondage. You see, the justice of God demanded death as the penalty for sin but Jesus made payment to the justice of God. How marvellous my friends - that adoration of the church in heaven centers on the redemptive sacrifice of Christ’s cross

But we must pay attention not only to the emphasis on Christ’s redemption but also the kind of redemption they praise

Rev 5:9 b “by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,”

Now, this isn’t a universalist claim - that every tribe will be saved. No, but this is talking about all His sheep that he will bring into the fold from every tribe, people and nation

This is not a general redemption - this is a particular redemption

GK Beale - It is not a redemption without exception, it is a redemption without distinction,

But this song gets even more triumphant for we now have the angelic host - numbering thousands and thousands or as some translations would say countless thousands.

Rev 5:11 “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,”

And they praise the Lamb with a magnificent sevenfold blessing (a perfect blessing) - Worthy is the Lamb to recieve power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory, and blessing

Now again a remark - God doesn’t become worthy by recieving this praise. No he already reigns in fullness and perfection of all these attributes. And so what the angels are doing is not adding to this glory but ascribing - giving the credit - associating

What a symphony of praise though! But this symphony orchestra is about to get even louder

This is a crescendo of praise - First song - the redeemed, Second song - the heavenly host

The last two verses mark the culmination of the entire scene of heavenly adoration. We are told that every creature in heaven, on earth and under the earth in the sea joins in this triumphant chorus of praise and honor to God and to the Lamb. This song is the universal hit song that will last forever - no one will get tired

And at this - the living creature shout Amen! So be it! and the elders once more fall down and worship

As God’s people - this is the anthem we too join in my friends

This is the song of the redeemed

“O for a thousand tongues to sing; my great Redeemer's praise, the glories of my God and King,the triumphs of his grace!”

A chorus of praise that is rooted in a conviction - a conviction that has been shaped by the message of the cross

If the death of Christ to ransom us from sin is the center of heaven’s worship, it must also be at the center of the church’s witness on earth. (Richard Philips)

4. Our Service

The saints are not only forgiven but also are vested with significance

And this is the significance - To reign on earth as a kingdom of priests. As people of the kingdom, we serve the king and advance his mission!

Rev 5:10 “and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.””

Christ has not only purchased people for God but He has made them into a kingdom and priests - or we could just say “a kingdom of priests”

Regining - some argue that this is a reference to the future

But the text tells us that the Lamb made them priests - which means that the church is currently described as a “kingdom and priests” - they reign in Christ’s name

Reign on earth - This rule is exercised now in a real but limited way, triumphing through the way of the cross, but will be fulfilled triumphantly in the kingdom of the final new creation.

Kingdom here refers not just to a place but, in parallel with priests, it refers to an action - something that we are doing. “Kingdom” can also mean “kingship” or “royal power.”

What this means is that believers do not merely live within a kingdom; they exercise its kingly power under Christ

Kings reign by conquering, and believers conquer in Christ’s name through the gospel

Ex 19:6 “and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’

As kingdom of priests:

We first render true worship to God in accordance with his word - that is our primary reason as the church - to fulfill our priestly role of offering worship to the true and living God, who is worthy of all our praise

Second, as priests we bear testimony of God’s glory and grace to the world

Great Commission:

Matt 28:18 “And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Power is the ability to get things done. Authority is jurisdication - the legal action use of power

When Jesus claims he has “all authority” he is declaring that he has sovereign authority

Think of a football match - Players have power, referees have authority - Jesus has all power and authorty in heaven and earth

Scope of this authority - all, sphere of authority - everywhere

It’s vital that we believe the claim that Jesus has all authority

But we must also obey the comission - this is the call of the church - to GO and make DISCIPLES

Matt 28:19-20 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.””

In the way the Greek is put, the “go” is actually a modifier for the “make disciples”. And so this go actually means “as you are going, you are to make disciples”

Think of it - as you are going to work, to college or wherever - you are to make disciples

As one Baptist minister put it - “We are to be a going church for a coming Christ”

And we see that making disciples involves - going of course but also baptizing and teaching them the word

Baptizing - involves proclamation of the gospel of God’s kingdom and the necessary call to repentance from sin and faith in Christ. The water baptism symbolizes the inward cleansing that God effects when people do turn from their sins and turn to faith in God for foriveness of their sings in Christ

Teaching involves instructing people to follow Jesus’ commands concerning how God wants his people to live . Our culture often forces us to trim down the message but we don’t have the authority to edit portions of scripture and resort to selective teaching - No, we are called to teach all that Jesus has commanded.

And in teaching them - we are calling to observe. We are calling them to live out the gospel, we are calling them to pick up their cross and follow Jesus

Make Disciples by proclaiming the gospel, baptize them, teach them, call them to live out the gospel

And who is in scope here? All nations - this is not talking about a world tour nor specifically talking about cross-country missions.

No the phrase all nations - panta ta ethne - is referring to all people groups

My friends what is your sphere of influence? That’s where we start - we do it without distinction

Our call is to lay aside our petty egos, selfish ambitions, vain pursuits and embrace the King’s summons. This is our service to the kingdom

And we can go in strength and confidence holding on to the promised that He is always with us even to the end of the age

Closing Illustration and Thoughts

Earlier I mentioned the story of Josef Tson of his courageous stand for the gospel even in his exile - well there is another fascinating piece to his story which dates four years earlier to his exile - In 1977

He was ordered to meet an officer from the secret police in a Romanian hotel.

The communist officer had pledged to do what previous secret police officials had failed to do: silence Tson’s ministry by offering him a secular job in exchange for a promise that he never again preach the Gospel.

For Tson - Turning down the job spelled at least hard time in a prison camp. It might very well mean execution.

Tson met with the man and without flinching turned down the job.

Tson then proceeded - ‘Now I am ready to die,’” I have prepared everything in order and made ready. But as long as I am free, I will preach the Gospel.’”

Tson expected the Officer to immediately arrest him but his response caught Tson by surprise

The communist officer was equally unflinching in his response: He told Tson to go and preach the Gospel.

Many years later - when Tson shares this testimony - He notes that the officer made up his mind “that if i was ready to die for it, then I should have it” - all because I said that as long as I was free I will preach the gospel, even die for it

A valuable truth that a British theologian taught him: The cross of Christ was for the propitiation of sins, but the cross each Christian is called to bear is for the propagation of the Gospel.

Biblical obedience and faithful witness - that is our kingdom work

By doing this, the church rightly functions as the visible manifestation of God’s kingdom

Because the church is the primary arena God has chosen to make his redemptive reign over his people visible

And as the world sees and responds to that kingdom life, the church will not only manifest the kingdom, but also bear witness to it.

One day the world will see the King and the kingdom but today we can give them glimpse of the kingdom life. And we do it in full confidence knowing the one day, Jesus will make all things new

Is everything sad going to come untrue?

Tim Keller answers it this way - Everything sad is going to come untrue and it will somehow be greater for having once been broken and lost.

One day, when we are in the presence of this Lamb, none of our wounds will be remembered, none of them will be visible. The only wounds which will be visible and remembered will be the wounds of the Lamb. Only His.

With joy and thanksgiving set ourselves to the task of proclaiming the praises of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.