Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb (Revelation Chapter 5) 1. Last week we examined several powerful images, including the Holiness of God and the wonder of heaven. It is fitting that we are celebrating the Lord's supper today, because our passage deals with the "Lamb of God" - Jesus - who was our sacrificial lamb, who was offered for our sins. Because the Book of Revelation is "all about Jesus" - we get to see pictures of Jesus that we may not ordinarily get from the gospels about his life upon the earth. We see him ascended to heaven, seated at the right hand of God the Father, glorified forever. Let's read our passage together. 2. "Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." a. We have this event, unfolding as John has been invited to come up to heaven in the spirit, and he witnesses worship going on in heaven. He sees a majestic throne (that we described in detail last week) and the One sitting upon it (who is God Himself). And now he looks at sees in the right hand of the One who is sitting on the throne, a scroll that has writing upon it and has seven seals. It must be a very holy scroll, because an angel cries out in a loud lament, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" b. The question is not, "who is strong enough to break the seals" but rather, "who is worthy?" John then tells us that there is no one in heaven or on earth, in all of creation itself who can open it, or much less look inside of it. John describes himself as weeping because no one has been found who is worthy to open it. c. What is so important about this scroll? i. This scroll is a holy scroll that the next 3 chapters of this book will spend describing the seals that keep it closed. Each seal, we will discover, has particular meaning concerning end time events that God's people must diligently prepare for. ii. I wonder if you understand what a "seal" looks like. In ancient times, rulers had a specially made seal or stamp that had been carved with a variety of identifiable carvings that would be used to press onto hot wax, leaving the positive impression of the seal on the document. By applying it to a document, it would certify the authenticity of the document. It would also bear witness to the document's integrity if the seal had not been broken. (see slides SEAL and SCROLL). iii. Now what makes this scroll (and its seals) so special is that each seal, when they are broken, reveals specific events that will come to pass at an appointed time. These events are pre-ordained by God and cannot be changed. They constitute both judgment and an opportunity for redemption for all of mankind. iv. These seals are so holy, no creature that has been created is worthy to open them. You may remember the definition from last week of holiness...it is "otherness." God is completely different than His creation. He is Creator, we are creature. He alone possesses the holiness and worthiness to handle things which are holy. d. Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." i. One of the elders tells John, "don't weep, the Lion of Judah has triumphed." The Lion of tribe of Judah is another name given to the Messiah. In other words, Jesus Christ, the Risen Lord has triumphed over Satan, evil, death and the grave. He is worthy. ii. This scroll's origins are mysterious. But it may have made a previous appearance in the prophet Daniel's writings in the Old Testament. Daniel's 12th chapter deals with very similar end-time visions as the Book of Revelation. Daniel chapter 12:4 says he is told by the angel, "But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end." He is told that the final descriptions will not be made available until a later time, a time called "the time of the end" or the "end times." e. ENDTIMES: What are the "end times?" The "end times" are not just the final 7 years before the end of the world. In fact, the "end times" began when Jesus came to the earth. His going to the cross ushered in the "end times" - a time that is for the redemption of humanity and to offer forgiveness of sins to all who would believe the good news of His sacrifice. The end times were not forecast as times of doom, but rather of redemption, and of the opportunity for the entire world to come to know the God of Israel. This period of "end times" will continue until the day of his return. 3. "Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had 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 him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." a. John turns to see the Lion of Judah but instead sees a Lamb that looks as if it had been slain. The Messiah doesn't conquer by military might but rather by his humility and self sacrifice. Victory has been achieved not by the sword, but rather by SELF-sacrifice. This is the POWER of the Cross. It seems like such a contradiction, yet it has proven true throughout the ages. b. But it is STANDING (not seated) in the center of the throne where God is seated. Clearly He is Jesus. He comes and takes the scroll from the hand of the one who is seated on the throne...God the Father - and the moment he takes it, worship breaks out in heaven again, this time worshipping the Lamb. i. TRINITY/DIVINITY: People often ask me, "where does the bible say Jesus is God?" ii. Worship in heaven is directed at Jesus. You only worship God! So when JW's try to convince you otherwise, remember, the bible is filled with references to Jesus being worshipped, not only by people, but by angels and all of creation! iii. This is a clear picture of the divinity of Jesus being acknowledged by the angels and the elders. Jesus also shares the throne with Father God who is seated upon the throne. Father, Son and Holy Spirit are One God, yet separate persons in eternal relationship. iv. PRAYER: Each of the elders holds a harp but ALSO something much more valuable. They are holding "Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints." Revelation 5:8 c. I cannot overstate the significance of this imagery here. i. Have you ever wondered how God processes all of our prayers? I don't know about you, but I whisper many prayers every day to God. Prayers for healing, provision, understanding, for others, for help, for mercy, for grace, for guidance. Multiply that times millions of Christians over the last 2000 years. Those are what are in those bowls that the elders are holding! ii. The prayers of the saints go up to God like incense. iii. INCENSE: 1. We know from studies that scent is a powerful ingredient in human memory and that incense can help the body release certain hormones and relieve stress. But incense is not magical, nor is it a cure all. It has been used in religious services from the earliest times of human history. 2. But incense in the bible was considered a holy item. In fact, the recipe for the incense to be offered in the Temple was so holy, only the priests could make it and it could not be replicated by anyone else and was not permitted for personal use under penalty of being cut off from the community. Incense was a valuable item, often made from the rarest of ingredients, especially the holy incense used in the temple. iv. Just for a moment, dwell upon this. Imagine every prayer you have ever prayed, now being held in a bowl, offered up to God like the smoke and sweet aroma of incense. 1. They are offerings of self, of vulnerability, of worship and dependence upon God - because that is what prayer is. 2. They are the intimate conversations between creature and Creator. And they are sweet and precious to God 3. They are an offering, a sacrifice of ourselves to God. 4. Our prayers say, "I can't but You can." 5. Praying demonstrates the greatest humility, our dependency upon God. They show we cannot live without Him. d. I'm going to share a new word with some of our teens this morning: it is the word efficacy. Because Our prayers have lasting efficacy. Like incense, our prayers remain in the air long after we pray them. Lasting efficacy means that once prayed, they have power for the rest of creation. My prayers for someone will continue to go up before God long after I leave this earth...some of them may not even be answered in my own lifetime! But in God's economy, they are powerful and are at work in His plan to bring "His Kingdom to come and His will to be done, on earth as it is in heaven." My prayers are part of my partnership with God to bring about His will and kingdom upon the earth! i. Have you ever wondered why your prayers never seem to be answered? Perhaps you are like I once was. I was taught to pray in church, and I knew about God, but I hadn't surrendered to Him as Lord of my life. So I would pray desperate prayers "toward God." But few if any were ever answered, and some, thankfully, were probably not even heard! But something changed on the day I prayed to receive Christ as my savior and surrendered to His rule in my life. My prayers became effective. It seemed that almost all of my prayers got answered, and some in record time. Prayer is always about relationship. They are an intimate conversation between creature and Creator, between the Redeemed and the Redeemer. 4. Our passage we read included another powerful sentence about what Jesus purchased us to become: a. "...with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth." i. Jesus purchased our lives with his own blood from every race, tribe, nation upon the earth. And here is the amazing and wonderful thing. He has made us to BE a kingdom, and priests, and we will reign upon the earth. ii. Be a Kingdom: We think of a kingdom as something we live in, that is outside of ourselves. But the reign of God, the KOG, is something inside of us. Followers of Christ ARE the kingdom of God made visible. We are the evidence that God exists, rules, and still reigns. And finally, we have been made priests. We are the intermediaries through whom people who are far from God can be brought near. Everyone of us. Let there be no debate: THE Kingdom of God supersedes the kingdom of man. No king, no president truly reigns. A human leader may affect the comfort of our life, but they have no say over our eternal destiny or identity. No matter who is in the White House, the Kingdom of God shall endure forever. Human policies may be decided by men, but Jesus is our King. Vote with your head but follow Jesus with your heart! 5. "Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped." (Revelation 5:1-14) a. John LOOKED and HEARED 100 million angels...not an exact number, but it is expressed in this way to indicate the massive scale of the angelic beings singing. Heaven will be a vast, eternal expanse, but it is filled with beings like angels. The angels are singing a song - "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" i. This is an act of worship in response to the Lamb taking the scroll. By doing so, he is initiating the final events of creation and the ultimate judgment of the earth. ii. It is acknowledging that Jesus, the Lamb of God, who sacrificed His life in obedience to the Father, has demonstrated who He is - the eternal Son of God to whom all praise is due. b. And then finally, there is a chorus that arises from the entirety of Creation. i. Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped." ii. Imagine, creation itself praising God, every rock crying out, every animal and bird, fish in the sea, every creature ever made singing the praises of Jesus. iii. It is the fulfillment of the passage that Paul writes in Philippians 2:10-12 that we often quote, "Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." iv. This is the reward that Jesus reaps for what Philippians 2:6-8 describes as the emptying of Christ, "Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross." v. This is why we worship Him. This is why we celebrate communion and remember His sacrifice. This is why all creation praises Him for all eternity. He alone is worthy.