Revelation Part 11

The Lamb of God

Pre-Introduction: Review of Saturday’s Message and the Problem

Ha-Foke-Bah Hebrew

Ha-Foke-Bah English

Revelation 5 TLV

And I saw in the right hand of the One seated upon the throne a scroll, written on both the front and the back, sealed with seven seals. I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” No one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Then one of the elders tells me, “Stop weeping! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed—He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.” And in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, I saw a Lamb standing, as having been slain—having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne. When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense—which are the prayers of the kedoshim. And they are singing a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals. For You were slain, and by Your blood You redeemed for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. You have made them for our God a kingdom and kohanim, and they shall reign upon the earth.” Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders—their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. They were chanting with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” And I heard every creature in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea and everything in them, responding, “To the One seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and power forever and ever!” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped.

Introduction: The Holy Majesty of God confronts humanity with the seriousness of sin and the deep need we have for a redeemer. God’s Holy Majesty exposes our utter sinfulness.

The Scroll: The Scroll may be small but it has something large in mind, the scroll is how God intends to enact His redemptive purposes in judgment upon the world. He intends to liberate the world from sin, evil, and the devil.

The Challenge: Who is worthy to liberate the world and enact God’s redemptive purposes in judgment and blessing. No one is worthy to approach God’s throne.

The Search: No on is found worthy to carry out God’s purposes in blessing and judgment. No one has the power, the authority, the might, the holiness, the sinlessness. There is no one.

The Tears: Unless this scroll is opened God’s purposes for redemption and judgment cannot come to pass. John represents the persecuted body. If the scroll is not opened then there is no rescue, there is no end to the evil, there is just endless evil upon the earth. There may be holy praises around the throne but the world will sink further, and further. In the presence of such terrifying majesty John weeps.

The Consolation: The Greater Son of David has been made King - He is Worthy!

The Lamb: John sees the risen-suffering Lamb with all authority and all of God’s Spirit.

The Ascent: The Lamb does not ask to ascend, he just ascends and takes the Scroll.

The Cosmic Response to Messiah Ascent

A New Song: Messiah’s Grace signals to the whole created order that the Kingdom of God is not reserved for good people but for forgiven people. Grace never diminishes God’s Holy Majesty it Highlights it. Grace constantly says, “No one was worthy except the Lamb and he gave his life so you could enter where you should be stopped from going.” Grace constantly says, “It is not perfect people, it’s purchased sinners who reign in God’s Kingdom.”

The Guardians of the Throne Worship Sing a New Song

A New Song: Messiah’s Grace signals to the whole created order that the Kingdom of God is not reserved for good people but for forgiven people. Grace never diminishes God’s Holy Majesty it Highlights it. Grace understands fully the Holy Majesty of God and yet offers a way forward. Grace constantly says, “No one was worthy except the Lamb and he gave his life so you could enter where you should be stopped from going.” Grace constantly says, “It is not perfect people, it’s purchased sinners who reign in God’s Kingdom.”

The Heavenly Host Declare Their Sevenfold Loyalty

The Creaturely Word Declares It’s Loyalty

At this moment in Revelation, John is witnessing an important legal ceremony that sets an eternal precedent: permission to enter the throne room of God’s Holy Majesty is by Messiah’s death alone.