Making Things Right

Revelation   •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  43:10
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This is my Father’s World. We sing about it. We rest in it. It frames our worldview. It guides our actions as believers. This IS my Father’s World.
But right now, as it has been since the fall, it is a messed up world. The extent to which it is messed up seems to ebb and flow, and often our view of things is myopic. For instance, many can see the fallenness of this world in the form of a virus that has reeked havoc on our world for a year, but many can’t see the fallenness of this world in the form of a cancer called abortion.
The truth is we see the effect of sin at every level. And we know that the original usurper against God is the Devil Himself. The truth is that the Devil led a rebellion in heaven against God and is the mover and shaker behind every rebellion against God here on earth.
We have arrived at chapter 5 of Revelation. We have seen Jesus as He really is in chapter 1. We have studied the letters to the 7 church in chapters 2-3 and realized again that before God explains his judgments to come on a lost world, he also currently judges the conditions of the church. We saw in chapter 4 a picture of the heavenly throne and in chapters 4 and 5 a glimpse of worship in heaven. Soon we will see the judgments on all who have rebelled against Almighty God began to unfold.
Today we will see that only King Jesus has the power, position, and authority to unleash those judgments and to retake this world that rightly belongs to God.
This is played out in dramatic form in Revelation 5.1-7

Eliminating the Unworthy

Revelation 5:1–4 HCSB
1 Then I saw in the right hand of the One seated on the throne a scroll with writing on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 I also saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or even to look in it. 4 And I cried and cried because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look in it.
Seated on throne- place of authority
Scroll- Ezekiel saw the same scroll in one of his visions, or at least one that was like it. Immediately seen as significant even though its importance will be fully made known as we progress. The scroll contains the judgments God will pour out on the earth.
Seven Seals- as each seal is removed, another level of judgment will come.
Worthiness- Verse 2 and 3 makes it clear… no other leader… no other power… no one has the power and authority to judge the earth, and to make all things right, and to restore creation to its rightful Creator.
Cried and Cried- This scene of no one being able to open stirred deep and ongoing anguish in John. The scene didn’t unfold in an instant. As John stood watching as person after person was ruled out, no doubt his anguish increased. Since the scroll has not yet been opened, I was curious as to why John was so distraught about a scroll he knew nothing about.
Revelation 4.1- I will show you what is about to take place. I believe John realized that if no one could open the seals, it would hinder him seeing what was to come. It would also hinder the progress of God’s restoration of all things.
Just when things seem impossible, Something changes. That is often the case. And can be with you too!

Empowering the Worthy

Revelation 5:5–7 HCSB
5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look! The Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has been victorious so that He may open the scroll and its seven seals.” 6 Then I saw One like a slaughtered lamb standing between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent into all the earth. 7 He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of the One seated on the throne.
By empower I do not mean that Jesus didn’t already have power. Here we see an acknowledgement of the power He already possessed.
John is given two commands.
Stop Crying. One of the 24 elders from chapter 4 speaks these words to John.
Look- Check it out. Investigate this!
Note how Jesus is introduced.
The Lion from the tribe of Judah. Jesus was a descendant from this tribe. called a young lion in Genesis 49.9
Root of David- such an interesting thing to say. In Isaiah Jesus is prophetically called the root and the shoot of Jesse, David’s Father. This teaches that Jesus is the heir apparent to the throne of King David, but he also precedes David. As a man, he was a descendant of David, but as God, David came from Him. Reminds me of that Gospel song “On my Father’s side”.
Victorious- Jesus Himself said that He had overcome the world. The empty tomb shows He overcame Satan, death, heal, and the grave.
Slaughtered lamb- Sacrificial lamb. Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is to pay for sin. He is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.
Seven horn and seven eyes, seven spirits. Fullness of the Spirit. Full of power (horns) and fullness of eyes (He can see everything)
HE CAME AND TOOK THE SCROLLS. HE ALONE IS WORTHY. AND NOW HE HAS THE SCROLL IN HIS HAND! He is ready, set, go, on peeling off the seals, bringing judgment, justice, and the restoration of all things.
Do you know Him?
Rush, Carmen, Earl.
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