Who is Worthy?

Revelation 5:1–5 NLT

Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Introduction:

The Book of Revelation has been misunderstood by many people over the years. Though it is written differently than the other parts of the Bible it should not be confusing. The enemy of our souls has worked hard to confuse people.

The word “Revelation” itself means an “unveiling.” Think about it this way, if you had something under a huge sheet in the middle of this sanctuary and I took off the sheet, the thing that was hidden would now be revealed. That is what is going on here. There is a revealing to John and he is writing it down and sharing with all of us. Thank God for the vision that he was given. And thank God he shared it with us.

A basic outline might help:

Chapter 1 describes the glory of God

Chapters 2 and 3 show God’s grace in the letters to the 7 churches

Chapters 4 & 5 Vision of the Throne

Chapters 6 - 16 Seven Seals, Seven Trumpets, Seven Vials (Tribulation and Wrath)

Chapters 17 - 19 The Fall of Babylon

Chapter 20 The Defeat of Satan & The Final Judgement

Chapter 21 - 22 The New Heaven & New Earth

In this passage, we see the scroll being presented. It has been said that this could be seen as the deed to all the earth.

So the question is who is worthy to claim the whole earth?

I am here today to tell you that there is only one who can claim the earth as His own and His name is Jesus.

Let’s look together at why I can say that with such confidence.

1. The Unqualified World

The question was asked, “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?”

Explain what a seal is

The Preacher’s Commentary Series, Volume 35: 1, 2 & 3 John / Revelation A Great Scroll

“In the right hand … a scroll … with seven seals.” It was first-century tradition to validate and secure books and scrolls with a clay or wax seal imprinted with the special mark of the sender. The seal then had to be removed or broken in order to read the document. In some cases, more than one seal was placed upon a document. The seal was considered the personal property of the sender.

The answer came quickly - there is no one in heaven or on earth who is able

No politician

No Athlete

No Military hero

not even Abraham or Moses or Isaac or Jacob

not even King David

Many have been willing but they were not able

Alexander the Great tried to conquer the world and took a great deal of it

Napoleon blazed across the earth trying to capture as much of it as he could

other dictators have tried to conquer everyone and stake claim to the earth

Though many men have tried, none were able because none were worthy!

The world has not and cannot produce someone worthy to open the deed to all the earth

Money cannot make you worthy

Your education can’t make you worthy

Your position can’t make you worthy

Your title can’t make you worthy

Your good character can’t make you worthy

Your family name can’t make you worthy

The bottom line—No human being is worthy to open the scroll

Let’s talk about one who is worthy….

2. The Worthy One

One of the twenty-four elders told John to look - when he did he saw the Lord Jesus

So, why is Jesus worthy?

a. Jesus is Powerful

He is the Lion of Judah

Genesis 49:9–10 “Judah, my son, is a young lion that has finished eating its prey. Like a lion he crouches and lies down; like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor.”

Hosea 5:14 “I will be like a lion to Israel, like a strong young lion to Judah. I will tear them to pieces! I will carry them off, and no one will be left to rescue them.”

Amos 3:8 “The lion has roared— so who isn’t frightened? The Sovereign Lord has spoken— so who can refuse to proclaim his message?”

He is the heir of David

Matthew 1 spells this out

7 horns and 7 eyes (He has all power-omnipotent and He can see all things-omniscient)

Revelation 5:6 “Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth.”

He Defeated our Enemy

Hebrews 2:14 “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death.”

1 John 3:8 “But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.”

Colossians 2:15 “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”

The enemy has been defeated and his time is drawing to an end

Not only is Jesus powerful, but…

b. Jesus is Present

He was present in John’s vision of the throne

1 Peter 3:22 “Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.”

John cried because no one stepped up, but Jesus was there

Martha complained that Jesus was late but He is never late

Jesus was always present just like He is present with His followers even now

Matthew 28:20 “Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””

What I am saying here is that Jesus is not gone. He’s not dead and in some grave. He’s alive and present!

c. Jesus is Entitled

Why is it that Jesus is the only one worthy?

It was His from the beginning

Revelation 4:11 ““You are worthy, O Lord our God, to receive glory and honor and power. For you created all things, and they exist because you created what you pleased.””

John 1:1–3 “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.”

Colossians 1:15–16 “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation, for through him God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth. He made the things we can see and the things we can’t see— such as thrones, kingdoms, rulers, and authorities in the unseen world. Everything was created through him and for him.”

He won the victory

Revelation 5:5 “But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.””

Colossians 2:15 “In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”

Romans 5:19 “Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.”

Isaiah 53:5 “But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.”

He Bore the Cross

John 19:30 “When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”

Mark 15:37–38 “Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.”

Matthew 27:50–51 “Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart,”

Luke 23:44–46 “By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.”

Only Jesus died for you and I, no one else could do that!

3. The Worship

Revelation 5:11 “Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders.”

Jesus is familiar with worship

Jesus was worshiped at creation

Jesus was worshiped at His birth

Jesus was worship at His triumphant entry

None of it can compare to the worship His followers will give when the revelation of chapter 5 is realized.

All of creation, the saints of old, everyone who has been redeemed will be crying out “Worthy is the Lamb!”

Here’s my exhortation to you today:

You don’t have to wait to worship the ONLY WORTHY ONE!

Altar Call

Holy Spirit lead me!