Worthy is The Lamb

Sermon Title: “Worthy Is the Lamb!”

Text: Revelation 4–5 Theme: A vision of heaven that calls us to worship, witness, and walk in awe of our Sovereign God and His Son, our Savior.

Introduction:

Revelation 1:19 CSB Therefore write what you have seen, (chapter 1) what is, (chapter 2-3), and what will take place after this (chapters 4-22).

In chapter 4, every verse but one has a reference to the OT except 1 (v.10). In chapter 5, every verse but two has a reference to the OT except 2 (v. 3, 4).

In these two chapters, we are going to get a glimpse of heaven unlike anywhere in the NT. Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and the prophet Micaiah speak about the Throne of God, but nothing compares to the description we are about to see.

Let’s read Revelation chapter 4.

I. Our Sovereign God on the Throne (Revelation 4:1–11)

John is caught up into heaven and sees a throne—central, unshakable, and surrounded by glory. The central theme of John’s vision is the throne of God, mentioned 11 times in this chapter alone. It would do us well to not think of the Throne so much as a piece of furniture but more as a representation of God’s sovereign rule and authority.

A. The Majesty of God

Revelation 4:2 “Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there was a throne standing in heaven and someone was seated on it.”

The idea of the Throne standing in heaven represents that God’s Throne is fixed, permanent, unshakable. The “One” seated on the Throne is God.

Revelation 4:3 “The one seated there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian stone. These stones were the first and last stone found on the breastplates of the High Priests found in Exodus chapter 28. Jasper was “crystal-clear” and would be better described as a diamond that represents God’s purity and glory. The carnelian stone was a bloodred ruby which could indicate God’s blazing wrath about to be poured out on sinful humankind.

Verse 3b - A rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald surrounded the throne.” All of us know of the rainbow God placed in the sky as a covenant of His mercy and grace after the flood. Here, it is a reminder to everyone that although God is about to pour out His wrath on a sinful world, He will still show grace and mercy. Grace to the church by removing them from this time of wrath and mercy to those who will still have a chance to repent during the coming tribulation.

In contrast when we look ahead in Revelation chapter 20 at the scene of the Great White Throne where The Book of Life is opened and all mankind will be judged - there is no vision of a rainbow. The time of mercy has ended.

B. The Movement Around the Throne

Revelation 4:4 “Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones sat twenty-four elders dressed in white clothes, with golden crowns on their heads.”

These 24 elders represent the raptured church which will sing the song of redemption in the next chapter.

Heaven is not silent—it is thunderous with praise. Revelation 4:5 “Flashes of lightning and rumblings and peals of thunder came from the throne. As lightning and thunder announce the coming of a rainstorm so will they announce the coming judgment of an angry, righteous, God.

v. 5b - Seven fiery torches were burning before the throne, which are the seven spirits of God.” The 7 Spirits of God represent the wholeness, the completeness of God’s Spirit. They represent the sevenfold perfection of God in (1) Wisdom, (2) Understanding, (3) Counsel, (4) Strength, (5) Knowledge, (6) Reverence, and (7) Deity (Isa. 11:2; Zech. 4:1-10).

Torches are associated with war in the OT. Here these torches represent that God is ready to make war with a sinful and rebellious world.

Revelation 4:6b–11 “Four living creatures covered with eyes in front and in back were around the throne on each side. The first living creature was like a lion; the second living creature was like an ox; the third living creature had a face like a man; and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings; they were covered with eyes around and inside. Day and night they never stop, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God, the Almighty, who was, who is, and who is to come. Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, the one who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before the one seated on the throne and worship the one who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne and say, Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.”

Ezekiel identifies these creatures as the Cherubim - An exalted order of Angels that represent God’s Presence, Power and Holiness (Ezek. Ch. 1).

The Lion - Majesty/Authority/Power

The Ox - Strength/Service

The Man - Intelligence/Responsibility/Relational

The Eagle - Swiftness/Transcendence

The 4 living creatures praise God’s Holiness, Power, and Eternity and that praise demands a response to those around the Throne and they fall down and worship!

What an experience for John. The human mind cannot comprehend the majesty of it all. But before we can lose ourselves in chapter 4 - chapter 5 comes rushing in. Let’s read that together.

II. The Scroll in the Hand of God (Revelation 5:1–4)

The scroll represents God’s redemptive plan—sealed, sacred, and inaccessible. The scroll is written on both sides meaning that it is complete. There is no room for anything more to be said. What is on the scroll is the complete plan of God and is the Word of God that cannot be changed.

A. The Sealed Mystery

The scroll is sealed with Seven seals: this represents complete security and divine secrecy. God is holding it and no one has ever seen what is inside it. And then the search begins to find the one that can take the scroll from God.

Will Abraham step forward? Isaac? Jacob? Joseph? Moses? David - a man after God’s own heart? One of the Prophet’s? Perhaps Enoch or Elijah since they were taken away from earth without ever seeing death? How about Peter or Paul? Maybe John himself, is this one of the purposes that Jesus brought him up to heaven?

John waits - looking around to see who is going to step forward. As the seconds tick by John grows more and more devastated. No human is worthy to take the scroll. No one! Not in heaven, not on earth, not even under the earth - those hero’s of the faith who have died long ago! No one.

We now witness the:

B. The Sorrow of John Revelation 5:4 “I wept and wept because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it.”

John weeps—because without someone to open the scroll, God’s plan remains unfulfilled. John weeps because sin still exists. John weeps because death still exists. John weeps because satan is still fighting against God and humankind. John Weeps!

Question:

Do we weep over the brokenness of the world like John did? Are we desperate for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven?

John Weeps but Help is on the way. While no Human is worthy enough to take the scroll from God’s own hand and open it - There is One that is Worthy and He’s on His way!

III. The Savior Who Is Worthy (Revelation 5:5–14)

Revelation 5:5 “Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Look, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

John must have jumped for joy. His sorrow turned to inexpressible joy because there was One after all that was found worthy. He turns to see this mighty Lion, this warrior, this all powerful warrior that is going to set God’s plan in motion and what does he see? A slaughtered lamb! What? This doesn’t make sense.

Here we see:

A. The Paradox of Power

Jesus conquers not by force, but by sacrifice. I love how John MacArthur addresses this moment. “The Lord Jesus could not be the Lion of judgment, or the King of Glory, unless he was first ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29).’”

He is both Lion (kingly authority) and Lamb (atoning sacrifice). It is interesting to note how the Bible refers to Jesus as the Lamb. In the OT this reference is only found 1 time in Isaiah 53:7. In the NT, in the books of Matthew to Jude it is found 4 times. But in the book of Revelation it is found 31 times.

The description of Jesus represents His perfect and complete power, strength, wisdom, understanding, counsel, knowledge, reverence, and deity = 7 horns and 7 eyes.

Jesus, the worthy One - took the scroll from God’s hand.

And then...

B. The Praise of Heaven

Revelation 5:8–14 “When he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and golden bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered, and you purchased people for God by your blood from every tribe and language and people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign on the earth. Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and also of the living creatures and of the elders. Their number was countless thousands, plus thousands of thousands. They said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing! I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them say, Blessing and honor and glory and power be to the one seated on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever! The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.”

Conclusion: Revelation 4-5 are not just about future glory—they are about our present posture. How we live our lives right now.

Chapters 4 and 5 demand a response from us. We cannot read these chapters and do nothing!

It is a Call to Worship, Witness, and Walk worthy of our calling.

We are to Worship: Surrender to our Sovereign God. Stop trying to run your own throne. Trust in the Lamb who was slain. He alone is worthy to open the scroll of your life. Have you called on the name of the One who is Worthy? Have you turned from your sin? Are you serving Christ or are you still living for self?

We are to Witness: If heaven can’t stay silent, why should we?

We are to Walk: When was the last time you took a serious look at your daily walk with Christ? Let’s get real for a moment. Holy Spirit, speak to us! There may be some today who think this life is about self, so, everything revolves around themselves. Every decision is made with the thought…what’s in it for me! Nothing could be further from the truth. This life is not about us; it is about God’s purpose in and through us! Every decision we make is a kingdom decision, and thus every thought should be taken captive and understood to have kingdom consequences. Every action is an action that is either for God’s Kingdom or is trying to hinder God’s Kingdom.

Final Challenge:

If Jesus is worthy of all worship in heaven, is He not worthy of your full obedience on earth? Today, right now - Will you symbolically cast your crown before Him—not just in the song we are about to sing, but in total surrender to the Lamb who is worthy!