The Worthy Lamb and the Seven-Sealed Scroll of Inheritance

THE WORTHY LAMB AND THE SEVEN-SEALED SCROLL OF INHERITANCE Spring Valley Mennonite; January 20, 2019; Psalm 2, Revelation 5 As we begin our study today, we are transported into the future; the scene is in heaven; the church age is finished, and along with all believers, we are seeing the same things that the Apostle John is seeing. The Rapture of the Church has occurred, we all have our new resurrection bodies, and like John, we are awestruck at the majestic glory of God on His Holy Throne. As we watch, the scene described in Revelation chapter 5 unfolds. Read v. 1. I. THE SCROLL OF INHERITANCE God the Father is holding in His right hand a scroll, full of writing on both sides. It is sealed up with seven seals, emphasizing both its importance and how securely it has been kept. This scroll is sealed in such a way that the contents are secure and unknown until the proper person opens the scroll. There is no doubt that God Himself has sealed the scroll, and He holds the scroll until is to be opened at the proper time. Matthew records an answer to a question from the disciples about the timing of Jesus’ return; to that question, our Lord answered, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, not the Son, but the Father alone.” God the Father holds the scroll which reveals the future. So, what is contained in this scroll? There is no doubt that it is of extreme importance, for all heaven is held in suspense as the scroll appears. The scroll is like a will or deed which lists what will be inherited by the Lord Jesus and the righteous. Roman wills were sealed with seven seals. I believe the scroll is the title deed to the earth, the description of the Earthly Kingdom and the Throne of Jesus Christ who will rule from the Throne of David. But more than that, the scroll contains the description of the salvation of mankind and the earth, a world of blessing, peace and righteousness, a world where there is no sin. Presently, the earth is shrouded in darkness and sin, and is the kingdom of Satan, the Prince of this fallen kingdom. Truly we live on the darkened planet, a fallen world. In a sense, this one fact explains so much. We live in a sinful world where things go wrong. But this situation is only temporary. This glorious future of the earth and of Christ reigning is sealed, and until the seals are broken, the Kingdom will not be realized. Psalm 2, along with many other verses, describe this future Kingdom; (Read Psalm 2:1-9). It is clear that Christ has not yet received His promised inheritance. His promised inheritance of all the nations and the earth is what is described in the scroll. It was this Kingdom that was “at hand” when Jesus ministered on the earth. The promised Kingdom was offered to Israel, but they rejected the offer, and crucified the King of Glory. So, Jesus’ earthly, physical Kingdom was postponed until a future time. A new thing, Paul calls it a “Mystery”, came into being: the Church. After His sacrificial death, Christ arose to take His place beside the Father on the Father’s Throne. The work of intercession for the Church began and continues to this day: Romans 8:34, “Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God who also intercedes for us.” “. Hebrews 10:12-13 describes Jesus’ temporary ministry: “…but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for his feet.” But after the Church is Raptured, the work of intercession is no longer needed, and Jesus rises from His seat at God’s right hand and begins the role of reclaiming His fallen earthly Kingdom, won through His purchase of all things by the blood of Calvary. Daniel saw into the future as described in Daniel 12, but was told to “conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.” While certainly describing the modern world where man has the advantage of worldwide transportation, and the amazing increase of knowledge—now made available through the internet—man through his own resources and knowledge cannot unlock the future, the future is sealed. But to those who would study the prophesies of the New Testament, we can know when and how the future will be revealed. This revelation has been given to the church. In John’s vision, there begins: II. A SEARCH FOR SOMEONE WORTHY TO OPEN THE BOOK Read vv. 2-5. An angel announces a search for anyone who is able to unseal the book; the search included all who were in heaven, on earth, and under the earth. A search was made in all creation and all of history, and no one was found. John observed the search, and the implications of this empty search were evident to him: the future was stalled, and the promises made for complete redemption of the earth could not be completed. John, realizing that the search was futile, is moved to intense weeping, but his tears were premature, for one of the 24 Elders spoke: “Stop weeping, for the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; He can open the book.” So pause with me just a moment, and answer this question: “After these words, what did John expect to see?” If I tell my grandchildren as we are riding along, “Look, children: see that flock of sheep?” they expect to see sheep, not horses! But as John looked, expecting to see a lion, what did he see? He saw a lamb! And this lamb bore the marks of having been slain, but now very much alive. In this book we realize there is much symbolism, but each symbol represents something very real. When the Elder announced that the Lion of Judah, the Root of David had prevailed and overcome, something very significant is being said. Jesus is not only the Savior of the Church, but He is the promised Messiah of Israel. At this point in the history of the Ages, Jesus is finished with His work of Intercession for the Church. We are secure in heaven. We will rule and reign with Him forever. But now He turns His attention to completing the redemption of His chosen people. All the promises of the Old Testament to Israel, as well as our eternal destiny as the Church, the Bride of Christ, will be fulfilled through the events revealed in the scroll. But they cannot begin to be fulfilled until the seals of the scroll are broken. The seals represent the judgment of the Lamb on evil, sin and Satan. And these things could not occur until the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ came and died, providing the ultimate sacrifice for sin. The Lion of Judah, the Son of David is the Lamb which was slain. III. THE WORTHY LAMB AND THE SONG Read v. 6-7 As John observed the Lamb, he noticed that the Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes. Medieval artists tried to paint a lamb with a terrible wound with eyes all over and horns sprouting at all angles from the head. This demonstrates the foolishness of looking at this picture other than through the symbolism involved. In Scripture, a horn always is a symbol of power and of government, and since the Lamb is seen with seven horns, it tells that the Lord Jesus is to receive the full power of the government of God; He will have full authority and power to accomplish what has been eternally determined. The reason the Lord Jesus appears as a sacrificial Lamb is that the redemption of mankind and the earth was and is dependent on Jesus’ death on the cross. Donald Grey Barnhouse describes it like this: “Here we have the declaration that even in the day of His power, when He shall come forth to pour out the wrath of God upon a deserving earth; when He shall come as Judge of the nations to break them into pieces, when He shall come vested with all the authority of the Almighty Creator, He will nevertheless act in full harmony with all that He was when He was dying upon the cross.” (Revelation: An Expository Commentary by Donald Grey Barnhouse, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI; 1971; p. 105) In this age, as well as all ages since the days of Noah, God has delegated authority to human governments. Governments and nations have the right to pass laws and administer justice. But all humans are subject to error, and as they administer justice, they act with partial knowledge. It is difficult to know all the facts. So occasionally, we read of verdicts being reversed as new evidence comes to light. But as the Lamb, the Lion of Judah begins to judge the earth, He acts with complete knowledge. The seven eyes represent the perfection of vision that goes with having complete knowledge. Hebrews 4:13: “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.” All the judgment which will be unleashed is completely deserved. Rejection of the Lamb of God, God’s only and complete provision for sin, has the harshest and most dreadful consequences. The Lamb takes the scroll from the hand of the Father, for He is Worthy! Joyful praise breaks out in heaven, for now things can move forward. The Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, the final chapters of eternity can now be revealed! A new song breaks out in heaven: Look at vv. 8-14 (Read). Note the worthiness rests upon the fact that Jesus died on the cross and purchased with His blood men from every tribe and tongue and nation—not only those from His chosen people Israel, but from the whole earth. The promise made to Abraham that all nations would be blessed through his descendant has been fulfilled, and will continue as many will believe during the coming days of Tribulation. I will conclude with the “why” of this great celebration, again in the words of Donald Grey Barnhouse: “No longer seated at the right hand of God, (Jesus) is seen walking in Heaven, coming to take the book out of the right hand of God, and proceeding with His work for His own in Israel and among the nations, and proceeding with His work of judgment upon the enemies whom God is now about to make His footstool. “It is when He assumes this character that Heaven breaks forth anew in worship. …There are four things out of place in the universe. The Church is out of place; she ought to be in heaven. Israel is out of place; she should be in the land (in belief) that has been sworn to her and possessing every part of it. The devil is out of place; he ought to be in the lake of fire while he is still roaming free. Christ is out of place; He should be through with intercession and seated upon His own throne reigning instead of upon His Father’s throne interceding. Here in the vision of the throne of God in Heaven we hear successive cries of praise and worship. The saints come home to Heaven, their proper place. Christ ceases His work in their behalf, for they are now made like Him. He moves to assume titles which show that He will now fulfill the promises made to Israel. All these (signal) the doom of Satan who will so soon be cast forth to his proper place. “Is it any wonder that when Christ walks in Heaven and takes the book, the unloosing of whose seals means fulfillment of promise and judgment, the righting of all wrongs, --the living creatures and the four and twenty elders fall down to worship?” (Revelation: An Expository Commentary by Donald Grey Barnhouse, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI; 1971; p. 109) Worthy is the Lamb! The Book of Inheritance, the title deed to earth, the steps leading to redemption of all things is now possible. The seals are about to be broken and judgment of all evil will take place.