He is Worthy
Things to Come Revelation series • Sermon • Submitted
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1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” 6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, 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 who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor 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, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” 14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
Intro:
This chapter is a continuation of the scene set forth in chapter four.
It is still a scene predominantly about worship!
But, here in this chapter we see a move from worshiping God in all His triune glory (sitting on the throne in chapter four), to the second person in the trinity (Christ the Son), who is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb.
Exegesis:
John sees in the right hand of He who sits on the throne a scroll.
It had writing on the inside and the outside.
It was sealed with seven seals.
9 Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.
I believe this is the same book, though I cannot prove it!
It now has seven seals because only the Lion of Judah, the Lamb has earned the write to open it or look upon it!
It probably was also incomplete until Calvary and the Resurrection.
A powerful angel proclaims with a loud voice.
“Who is worthy to open and loosen it’s seals.”
Some have suggested this to be Gabriel because it seems to fit best with his duties of announcing Christ!
No one is found worthy in heaven, on earth, or under the earth to open it.
John begins to weep much.
God provides
The correlation between none worthy (the entirety of the human race and all created beings in the universe or any dimension not known to man) and the Lion of the tribe of Judah, is one of the most incredible comparisons in the scriptures.
Those that deny the deity of the Lamb of God, are ignorant devilish beasts that will only reap the eternal consequence of the Lake of fire!
So here we have the only one worthy to open the seals and unleash the future events that will quickly come to pass, that no person can possibly prevent or change or believe away!
And He can do this because He is worthy. And He is worthy...
I. Because He is God.
I. Because He is God.
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Notice that the Lamb is present in the midst of :
The throne
The four Living creatures
The Elders
The Lamb is the center of attention in this passage, and stands where only God is present.
Notice He has seven horns and seven eyes:
Horns show Kingship
Eyes describe His omniscience
Notice that the Lamb is the object of worship:
The Living creatures and the Elders prostrate themselves before Him.
Having harps - the object of praise
Golden Bowls full of incense (prayers of the saints)
2 Let my prayer be set before You as incense, The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
They sing a new song to Him
Joined by the Heavenly host to praise the Lamb.
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands,
II. Because He paid an impossible debt.
II. Because He paid an impossible debt.
The debt owed by the entire human race for their disobedience through their parents (Adam & Eve).
The debt that separates them from God.
The debt that no human morality can assuage.
The debt that no angel or archangel could pay.
The debt that will send every single person to everlasting Hell fire!
III. Because He chose us.
III. Because He chose us.
Did it ever occur to you that God was not obligated to do anything for us?
Why did He not just let us go and perish in our own sin?
Some have speculated that some intrinsic value of man was responsible for redemption. That God could not let him perish because He saw something good in him?
Ridiculous !!
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
Conclusion:
These two chapters have given us but a glimpse of the majesty and power of Almighty God!
What we will will experience at the throne of Grace will leave us breathless!
My question to you is, what kind of persons ought we to be considering these things?
I mean, why do we live in fear in this world?
Is it because our hope is in this world?
Is our faith strong enough to transcend this temporal sphere that will be burned up?
Because after all, our life is not here!
3 For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.