Worthy is the Lamb!
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Last week, after completing the period of the “things which are”, we were ushered to the throne of God and the “things which shall be hereafter”, where John shared what he saw. The period of grace known as the time of the Gentiles or the church age has now ended. The Holy Spirit and His restraining power has been withdrawn.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
We ended this great reunion with a worship service involving the 24 elders, representative of all the saints worshipping Jesus Christ and casting their received crowns before Him praising Jesus who is worthy of all glory, honor, and power.
Today, we enter the 2nd half of this prelude to the tribulation period where preparation is being made to kick of the events of the tribulation period. We find them still praising Jesus Christ, the lamb slain, singing the Hymn of Redemption.
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.
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.
What causes all creation to sing this Hymn of Redemption?
For believers, this will be the greatest day the church of Jesus Christ has ever seen or experienced.
Let’s now go back to verse 1 and discover what makes this day and this chapter the most important chapter of understanding the rest of the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Ed F. Vallowe said, “Christian workers without a vision are without victory.”
This morning I want you to get a vision for the things of God that will lead us into the victorious life that God has prepared for us.
The Sealed Scroll:
The Sealed Scroll:
1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
After the joy, awe, and reverence of the presence of God, John now becomes laser focused on 1 simple item.
A seven sealed scroll or document translated “book” written front and back in the right hand of the one sitting on the throne.
“book” is the same greek word we get our word Bible.
In the ancient world of the first and second century A.D. most books were in a roll not bound books like we have today. There were rolls made out of papyrus, a substance made from the pith of a bulrush which grew in the delta of the nile, that was manufactured in single sheets of 10 inches by 8 inches.
The sheets would be joined together horizontally when a great deal of writing had to be done.
The writing was in narrow columns about 3 inches long, with margins of about two and half inches at the top and at the bottom, and with about 3/4 of an inch between the columns.
The roll commonly had a wooden roller at each end. It would be held in the left hand and unrolled by the right hand. As the reading went on, the part in the let hand was rolled up again.
Just some statistics I found to give an idea of the size of this scroll.
2 John, 3 John, Jude, and Philemon would occupy 1 sheet of papyrus.
Romans would require about a roll of 11 feet long.
Mark, 19 feet long.
John, 23 1/2 feet long.
Matthew 30 feet long.
Revelation a roll 15 feet long.
We are also told the scroll was written on front and back, showing it was lengthy and complete, nothing was left out.
After being written, it was sealed with 7 seals. Of course, we have discovered that 7 is the number of perfection or completeness, but also, in Roman law, a legal document was sealed by 7 seals by 7 witnesses before its legality could be established. This scroll is a legal title/deed that we will discuss later with its contents fixed and secure.
The Search Started:
The Search Started:
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
Almost immediately with a sense of urgency, we are introduced to a STRONG angel with a LOUD voice.
The Requirement of this Search:
The Requirement of this Search:
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
Notice the angel did not say, “Who is willing to open the book?”
Many down through the years have been willing but none are worthy.
By worthy we mean someone who is morally pure to open this document.
to loose the seals thereof means one who has the authority, as we will discover, to redeem and rule this wicked sin distraught world.
Who has the right to the Lordship of the world?
Who can rule it?
Many have tried and all have failed.
Who can establish justice on the earth?
Notice,
The Result of the Search:
The Result of the Search:
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
The philosophy of our world is that we can get along without God because man is capable of doing anything and everything.
Adam and Eve thought they could do it without God.
Man at the tower of Babel believed they could get to and become god.
Isreal thought they needed a King to rule them because God wasn’t sufficient.
But notice when the angel looked.
No MAN, in heaven, all the saints and the 24 elders, none were sufficient.
No MAN, in earth, of all the leaders, kings, and presidents, billionaires, scientist, or preachers, none are capable.
No MAN, under the earth, of all the previous leaders, kings, and presidents, all fell short.
No MAN is or was able to open the book nor were even worthy to look upon the book that rested in the hand of Almighty God!
How sad? Which leads to the next logical step.
The Remorse of the Search:
The Remorse of the Search:
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
John is now weeping, literally continual uncontrollable sobbing, because there was no one.
John recognizes the value of this scroll or book. All creation is doomed to feel the effects of sin for eternity.
Sadly, we ought to be like John. We ought to be continually weeping because no man is ever going to bring redemption to this world, retribution of the wicked, the restoration of Israel in Palestine, and reign over the entire earth. None of this will be able to happen until the scroll is opened.
The Search Secured:
The Search Secured:
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
One of them 24 elders tells John to stop sobbing. “Weep not, Behold”, Regardless of the problem, Jesus is the solution!
Even though no man is found worthy, we have someone in our midst.
The Old Testament Titles:
The Old Testament Titles:
“The Lion of the tribe of Judah”
“The Lion of the tribe of Judah”
immediately John knew and all Bible studying, reading Christians should recognize this phrase.
8 Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: Thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; Thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.
9 Judah is a lion’s whelp: From the prey, my son, thou art gone up: He stooped down, he couched as a lion, And as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh come; And unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
In this blessing giving by Jacob, Israel was promised a great ruler will arise out of Judah. He will be like a lion, He will be strong, powerful, brave, majestic, and He will be a mighty conquerer.
“The Root of David”
“The Root of David”
reflects the humanity and the deity of the Messiah. David branch and lineage would wither but the root wouldn’t die. David’s lineage would sit on the throne again.
1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
10 And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, Which shall stand for an ensign of the people; To it shall the Gentiles seek: And his rest shall be glorious.
However, when their Messiah came to deliver them, He did not meet their expectations. Instead of delivering the Jews from their bondage in a great military victory, and establishing the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, The Messiah went around healing, preaching, and performing miracles. As a result, the Jews rejected Him and their Messiah was crucified.
However, just because they rejected Him, doesn’t mean everything was lost, because he prevailed.
5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Prevailed means “to carry off the victory”.
He did that in
The New Testament Fulfillment:
The New Testament Fulfillment:
6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
John is expecting to see a Lion, but instead a little Lamb, a kids pet rises and comes forth.
Again, not the Messiah that everyone was expecting. However, in Exodus 12 we discover the purpose of the Lamb.
Before Israel could be ruled they had to be redeemed.
In Exodus 12 Israel was instructed to select a perfect lamb, one without spot or blemish. They were to take that lamb home and nourish it and care for it for 3 days and then they were to kill what had now become a pet and part of the family.
However, unlike all the lambs killed that night and ever since only one lamb rose from the dead and is now standing before John, the living creatures, and the 24 elders.
The term “lamb” is used 28 times in the book of Revelation.
It is kind of ironic that the Devil, Satan, Jesus’ greatest enemy is described as “a great, red dragon” in Rev. 12.
Satan’s power is described as massive with a great human army and great demonic army, but yet God chooses to send a Lamb and not just any lamb but a “slain lamb”, a symbol of meekness, submission, and gentleness.
Satan is defeated not by military power or force, but by a meek, compassionate, loving, and submissive lamb.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
The Lamb of God, Jesus Christ now takes the book out of the hand of God.
It reminds me of the old Rocky movie when everyone thought Rocky was defeated and everything was over. But then, he began to move and getting up on his feet goosebumps began to form on the views arms and cheers broke out in the theater as he rises.
When Jesus grabs that scroll, the weeping stopped. Praise broke out and we discover the information written in this scroll and why it is so important and crucial.
Notice
The Singing Saints:
The Singing Saints:
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.
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;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
I believe we find the key to understanding this book or scroll in the word “redeemed” and why Jesus was the only one worthy.
I believe this sealed scroll is a legal document, the title deed to the planet earth.
Why do I believe this?
Redemption has its roots in the past, but the final fulfillment lies in the future. Redemption is not just confined to the First coming of Jesus but is definitely linked with His 2nd Coming also.
Jesus spoke about His 2nd coming in Luke 21:28
28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Remember back to our study of Ephesians where Paul said in Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
The possession has been purchased when Jesus cried “It is finished” but has not been fully redeemed. Therefore, we see all creation groaning waiting for the day of redemption.
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
Tonight, we will look at this in greater detail but for this morning, I want you to understand when Adam sinned he lost his inheritance of the earth and it passed out of his hands into the hands of Satan, to the disinheritance of all of Adam’s seed.
That forfeited title deed of dominion over the earth has been in the hands of God since that time and everyone has been waiting for the legal repossession of all that Adam lost by the Fall.
Adam and any man born to Adam which is the entire human race is impotent to redeem the lost possession, but the Law of God given to Israel provides that a kinsman may redeem the lost possession.
23 The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine; for ye are strangers and sojourners with me.
24 And in all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land.
That kinsman has been provided in the person of Jesus Christ.
However, to be a kinsman, God, through Jesus, had to be born into the human race. This is why the virgin birth was necessary.
In the Old Testament days when a kinsman desired to redeem a property he took his position, with ten men (Elders) as witnesses, in the gate of the city and advertised his purpose. This is beautifully illustrated in the story of Ruth and Boaz. The kinsman who redeemed the property was called the “Goel” or Redeemer.
This week would be a great time to go back and read the book of Ruth and refresh your memory.
Boaz is an important person for without him Ruth would have continued a Gentile servant, an alien from the commonwealth of Israel, and a stranger from the commonwealth of Israel, and a stranger from the covenants of promise. It was through Boaz, and him alone, that she was accepted into Israel.
When Christ died on the cross, He and He alone, by the shedding of His blood, purchased our salvation and redeemed us from the curse of the Law.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
By death of Christ, atonement has been made, therefore man can now claim his rightful position, as kings and priests, and possession of the earth through HIm and all that was lost in the fall by man, has now been redeemed through the last man, Christ.
In taking the book/ scroll/ title deed, Jesus proclaims to all of heaven and to His redeemed Bride:
“Get ready! We have to go back!”
Why?
“Because I, Jesus Christ, the slain lamb, is going to claim that which is rightfully His, the EARTH.”
Jesus Christ is the Lord of Creation, He is the kinsman redeemer. The earth is the Lord’s and the fulness thereof.
Jesus now holds the seven sealed scroll and Jesus will begin to open the seals.
And when he finishes breaking the seals and reading and fulfillment the redemption plan, He will return to this earth as a conqueror. Jesus, the slain lamb, will take Satan and throw him into the bottomless pit and retake what is His. He is the owner.
This is why unbridled worship and praise are unleashed in heaven with no restraint or embarrassment!
Folks, we ought to be shouting right now.
The book of judgment, salvation, and restoration of the earth shall be opened. John is elated! The Saints are elated! The Angels are elated! All Creation is elated and singing together the new song, The revelation song.
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.
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;
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
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.
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.
Do you know Jesus Christ as your Redeemer?
Have you repented of your sins and recognized and surrendered to Him as Lord of your life? If not, the joy of the saints is going to turn into wailing and anguish as God’s wrath is going to begin to be poured out.
