Christ’s Worthy Role

Introduction

We learned this morning of God’s holiness.

We should pay attention to the sound rhythm because that is an important part of the lesson.

Agios

Axios

Information does get revealed through the experience of the writer.

Based on God’s control of events, we now can proceed to the next part of the vision.

One interesting part of New Testament teaching is the “play” on death and crucifixion.

We should think of the world as part of a cosmic struggle between God and His enemies that since the Fall includes human beings.

How does victory in war normally occur?

We also will get another way of thinking about the importance of the crucifixion.

The Question of the Seals

The writer now sees the one sitting on the throne having a book in his right hand.

Part of the dynamic of the whole work is the question of revealed information.

Notice Rev. 1:1-2.

This book or scroll has information inside of it and on the back of it that informs John and the churches about what will occur yet in the future.

The key problem, however, is finding someone worthy to open the seals of the book.

This would involve approaching the one sitting on the throne and taking the book from him.

Who could that be?

Just as there was a phonetic play on “holy” and “worthy,” so now there will be a similar play on the sound of the words “seal” and “slain.”

The writer begins to weep because no one worthy is found to take the book and open its seals.

The Lamb

After he receives assurance that the lamb has “triumphed,” he provides a description of the Lamb.

Notice, especially Rev. 5:6.

A slain lamb has triumphed and thus is worthy to take the seals and to open them.

He receives praise from those who gave incessant praise to the one who sits on the throne.

Consider the implication of those who praise the one sitting on the throne now praising the Lamb.

They have stringed instruments, and they now sing a new song.

The Lamb’s worthiness is connected to his death and to his purchase for God of people in his blood.

Notice the joint praise of the one sitting on the throne and of the Lamb.

Rev. 5:13 places them alongside one another and praises them equally.

What gets emphasized here, then, is the importance of the death of the Messiah and His equality with the Father.

God’s people receive assurance, therefore, that their faith in the person and identity of the crucified Messiah was not misplaced.

It is because of his death that He is worthy to approach the throne, take the book, and open its seals.

It is because of his death that He is worthy to be praised alongside the one who sits on the throne.