Revelation 5
Notes
Transcript
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb
Good morning my friends!
I am blessed to see your faces today. i hope you had a good week leading up to this day.
I think we could say with certainty, each day has it’s challenges, some days are not easy.
But we can say without a doubt, walking with Jesus gives us hope for each day. It is encouraging knowing that the Lord is with us.
And church, we can also be encouraged knowing that we are praying for each other and our families. What a blessing it is to know that our brothers and sisters pray for one another.
Today, as we prepare to walk into this text of Revelation chapter 5, I hope you this message and text will bless you. Not because of what I will say… but because Jesus is worthy to be praised.
Worthy is the lamb, the Lord Jesus for all that He has done and will do in our future friends. Just thinking of that should bring joy to our lives.
Remember, John is on the Isle of Patmos, he is in exile, his punishment for proclaiming the gospel faithfully.
But he is there, praying, seeking the Lord and while there, the magnificent takes place. The Lord appears to him and unveils a series of visions for him to record for all to see and know the Lord’s plans.
Some visions are pretty straight forward and some are hidden in mystery that is not meant for us to know the complete meaning too.
Yet without a doubt, we can trust the Lord, Amen?
So lets begin it these thoughts today....
1. A Scroll Revealed...
As we open the text, the first image we are allowed to witness is the presence of a scroll in the hand of the Him who sits on the throne.
Now that is God the Father who is on the throne, we saw that last week as we walked through chapter 4.
But lets look at our text for today Rev 5:1-4
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
So we know that this chapter is a continuation of chapter 4, the throne room vision that John is allowed to see..
And John witnesses something interesting, a scroll. A scroll that is in the hand of God the Father on the throne.
A scroll is something that has been written, it is a like a letter or document which is prepared for others to know, at the prefect timing…
How do we know it is final?
Well there is a couple of thoughts here, 1.) one is the language. The wording in the Greek language, bears witness to the completed activity concerning the scroll.
2.) But also, according to Roman a law in that day, a testament, or other type of document was considered to be complete, and legally binding if it was sealed with seven seals. The legality was without question.
So with this information, we know the document, the scroll held by God the Father was important, and significant.
And as John witnesses this mighty scroll, a new scene unfolds, a mighty angel is seen in heaven. He is literally proclaiming the call...
“Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
He is calling loudly, the wording here is like a “town crier” He is calling heaven together asking who is worthy?
What a question He asks for all of heaven to hear, “...who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals…?”
It tells us that many are unworthy, but who is worthy… and no one answers..
John is like a spectator in heaven, he is watching and waiting for one to step forward, for one to be announced that they are worthy to take the scroll from the hand of the Father and proceed to open it’s seals and reveal its content...
But the search doesn’t reveal anyone.. And consider the depth of their search...
No one in heaven is found, no one on earth is found worthy to open it, and no one from under the earth is found worthy to open it and look at its contents.
The depth of the search tells us that it has been exhaustive, complete… Everywhere was examined, looked upon and no one was found.
And with this failure, John become emotional, he is weeping…
Listen, John understands the significance of this scroll, He doesn’t know its content, but he knows it is important.
John weeps, God’s plans are recorded on those pages and there is no one to open and reveal them…
Consider this my friends, There is a scroll open for people lives, but sadly many live without knowing God’s plan. They do not ask or seek God’s will for their lives. They are far more concerned with self than the presence of the living God.
Secondly this morning, one is revealed...
2. A Worthy One Seen...
My friends, John was weeping, but soon that will end, for there is one who is worthy, and He is about to be revealed..
Lets look at our text today. Verses 5-7
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.”
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. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.
One of the elders speaks to John. That is one of the 24 who sit around the throne of God… Remember we identified those last week. The 24 represent the 12 OT tribe leaders, and then the 12 Apostles of the NT.
But one of them speaks to John…and listen to this command here. Weep no more… Do not weep John...
John you do not have to be sad, you don’t have to weep. Look John - Behold, look one has been revealed...
“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.”
Oh wow… look at that....
The Lion is the symbol for the Tribe of Judah. In many cultures it is seen as the King of the beasts, the King of the Jungle, the Lion is strong, majestic, it is smart and courageous
The Lion is the King....
If you watched or read C.S. Lewis book "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe.” One of the key character is Aslan, the Lion. He was strong and courageous, wise and powerful. Aslan represented Jesus Christ..
John look a lion, not just any lion, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has appeared, it is King Jesus.
But look at what else he says… He is the root of David, he comes from the bloodline of David, he is the one Isaiah prophesies about in Isaiah 11.
Listen to Isa 11:1
1 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
This one who comes from the ole stump, it is Jesus… He is the descendant of David.
And look at this next line in verse 5.. He has conquered… What has Jesus, this lion conquered.. He has conquered death…
He died that the wrath of God toward sin might be satisfied. Humanity, you and I deserved death but Jesus took our place. He took our death upon the cross. He was buried but He, Jesus rose from the dead.
He has overcome, he has triumphed, He has conquered and He who is both God and Lord has the authority to open the seals ...
And look, remember what I just said… the scene is now illustrated…look at verse 6...
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.
A lamb standing as tough it had been slain is scene standing before the throne and before the living creatures and the elders.
The imagery here my friends is clear…It was a lamb that was sacrificed for the remissions of sins. it is not just any lamb, the wording here is Arnion, in the Greek, meaning not an adult lamb but a very young lamb. And it held all the marks of having been sacrificed.
Jesus is there, as a lamb.. remember John the Baptist, he called out in John 1:29
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
The second person of the Trinity, Jesus, portrayed as a lamb makes His appearance, not just any lamb....one that looked as if it had been slain.
Jesus took our place on the cross, he was slain for our sins, They pierced his hand and feet, his side.
He laid down his life that we might live. This one, he is worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals...
But look, this lamb isn’t dead, it isn’t laying there before the throne, No! The lamb is alive. He is standing before the throne...
And finally, we see something unique about the lamb. This lamb has seven horns and seven eyes...
The seven horns symbolize the great power of the lamb. Psalm 18:2
2 The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
And the seven eyes represent the 7 spirits of God, which is the Holy Spirit of God. And the metaphor of eyes reminds us that the Lord see’s all throughout the earth.. Nothing is hidden from Him.
Friends, this young lamb approaches the throne of God and takes the scroll from the right hand of the Father.
He is worthy, He is worthy of all honor and praise, from us, the creation of his hands, the Savior of our lives.
We should offer Him praise...
Now look at this one last thought today..
3. A Blessing of Praise to the Lamb...
Would you consider the scene in heaven my friends, John has witnessed so much.. these two chapters focusing on the throne room of heaven.
We’ve seen the Father, and now the Son… and my friends, the Son completed the will and work of the Father, redeeming humanity so that man kind might have the opportunity to be redeemed, to to be welcomed back to the Father in relationship and presence.
But there is more to come...
Lets go back to our text this morning..
Verses 8-10 to begin with.... Rev 5:8-10
8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 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,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
As Jesus ( the lamb) took the scroll from the Father’s hand. Praise breaks out in heaven.
The living creatures, the Cherubim, and the 24 elders who are each holding a harp and a golden bowl of incense fell down before the lamb.
If you remember in chapter 4, they fell down before the Father in worship and praise, now they do so before the lamb.
But in this picture, the elders hold these extra items.
The harps are just that, those items are played before the Lord. but the bow’s, its contents, the incense is the prayers of the saints.
Think of this, the prayers of the saints.. Incense, it has always represented the prayers of God’s people. Just as incense is a sweet aroma to our senses so the prayers of the saints are a sweet aroma to our Heavenly Father.
My friends, The Lord is pleased with the prayers of his people. He loves them and delights in them I believe.
Now look at verse 9, the Scriptures say they sang a new song.. They are proclaiming the worthiness of the Lord to take the scrolls and open them.
But this worthiness is also known because of His actions to redeem us. They praised Jesus because he was slain and by His blood he redeemed all of humanity.
My friends, we should give Jesus praise everyday because He has ransomed us from sin.
To be ransomed, means someone has paid the price required to release the people held in captivity.
Jesus satisfied the ransom that held humanity in sin and death through his own blood. His sacrificial death satisfied the requirements of the law and the ensured the freedom of all.
His work, His great love is something to be praised.
And since we have been redeemed, heaven is irrupting in praise… Those in heaven are overflowing with praise.
And consider this… the redeemed come from every tribe and people and tongue… Man think of the people all across our world that the Gospel has changed. From our own Lottie Moon in China to William Cary in India, to other faithful preachers all across this world who has labored as servants of the Lord and now, Heaven has the nations before the throne.
But how about one other reason to praise his name..
Jesus, has made his children a kingdom of priests unto our God.
You see the change that comes, we move from one being helpless, hopeless and lost. Then we Jesus saves us and our lives are forever changes..
A day is coming when this mortal will put on mortality , When Jesus comes for the church we are called up and we are changed, and made like him.
And when he establishes His Kingdom, we will rule and reign with Jesus. He has made us a kingdom and priests unto God...
It’s hard to imagine that it gets any better, but it does, look at verses 11-12
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, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
John says as I saw all of heaven worshipping and praising the Lord our God
Thousands, upon thousands, and thousands, a great number of angels, are praising the Lord, and calling worthy is the Land who was slain.
Oh He is worthy my friends, He is worhty to be praised.
The King of Kings laid aside is royal place, His royal garments and was made flesh. He being fully God was fully man… he lived her among us and faithfully completed the work of the Father. He offered His life as a sacrifice for sin, he redeemed mankind and He has saved us and made us into Him image.
Oh He is worthy my friends,
He has given so much, live for Him always..
Now look at these last two verses 13-14
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
All of heaven, all of earth and even all those who are under the earth, in grave and sea praised Him.
To him who sits on the throne and to the lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever...
And at those words the 4 living creatures said Amen and the 24 elders fell down and worshipped him.
Jesus is worthy my friends, Jesus is worthy of your life, He is worthy of your efforts, He is worthy of your praise and He is worthy of all we can give to Him
The call in these last days is to live faithfully. The call is to keep telling others, as Buddy Newsome said Keep Braggin’ on Jesus
He changed my life, He changed your life, and He is still changing lives.. Praise him/
My friends, If there is any hurt, if there is any hindrance, if there is any thing that keeps you from living your best life for the Lord Jesus get rid of it today.
Pray