Who Is Worthy2
11/16/2008
WHO IS WORTHY . . . ?
Revelation 5:1-5
*Two weeks ago I preached a message called “COME UP HERE”. Our text for that message was Revelation 4:1-2 as well as verses 8-11.
*In that message we focused on two things, “The Worlds that John Discovered and The Wonders that John Discussed”.
The WORLDS John DISCOVERED included two things:
The REALITY of the NATURAL world: In John’s real world he was isolated on an island called Patmos. The reality of John’s natural world included things like rejection, loneliness, heartache and suffering. However according to Revelation 4:2 John had also learned how to live within:
The REALM of the SPIRITUAL world: John says in 4:2 that “immediately I was in the spirit and behold . . .As twice born men and women living in a once born world, we have the capacity to live within the REALM of the SPIRITUAL world. We can see things as they are but also as they are going to be!
*While John was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus the Holy Spirit showed him some incredible sights and gave him some supernatural insights into the way things were going to be. In our last message we learned about some WONDERS that John DISCUSSED.
The WONDERS John DISCUSSED included two things:
A DOOR that was OPENED:
A THRONE that was OCCUPIED:
Our message today is really a continuation of The Wonders that John Discussed. In addition to a DOOR that was OPENED and A THRONE that was OCCUPIED there were seven (7) additional wonders that John discussed. First of all there was:
I. A BOOK WAS SEALED
5:1 I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals
**The LOCATION of this book is INTERESTING to me: According to 5:1 John said that he saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book . . . This is a continuation of what began in 4:1 the person sitting on this throne is the same person who was recipient of the praise, adoration and worship described in 4:9-11 . . . The One who is holding this book in His right hand is none other than GOD HIMSELF!
**The DESCRIPTION of this book is INTRIGUING to me: Notice what your Bible states in 5:1 . . . a book written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. The word that is used for “book” is the word “Biblion” and it is the same word that is used for our English word “BIBLE”. It is hard to determine if it is referring to a hard back book or to a rolled up scroll but the common consensus is that it was probably a scroll that was rolled up and sealed with seven seals. These seven seals will be broken in chapter 6 and 8.
**So not only is the LOCATION of this book INTERESTING and the DESCRIPTION of this book INTRIGUING but:
**The IDENTIFICATION of this book is FASCINATING to me: What kind of book or scroll was in the right hand of God? Hold that thought and we will get back to it in just a moment (smile)!
**There was a DOOR that was OPENED which led John to see A THRONE that was OCCUPIED which led John to see a BOOK that was SEALED and the Book that was SEALED led John to notice that:
II. A QUESTION WAS ASKED
5:2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break the seals”?
*In 5:2 John hears “a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals? “This is the first of 20 times that the phrase loud voice is used in the book of Revelation.
*The BOOK that was SEALED and the QUESTION that was ASKED leads us to:
III. A CONCLUSION WAS REACHED
5:3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it 4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it
**This brings us back to the importance of the book that God was holding in His right hand and asking the question “Who is Worthy to open the book”? Notice in 5:4 the first word is “THEN”. What did John begin to do? “Then I began to weep greatly . . .” Why did John say that he began to weep greatly? “. . . because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it”!
**What is it about this book that is so important? In other words what is the identification of this book?
Some people have said that this book is the Book of:
REDEMPTION: They say that this is the book of life that is referred to in 3:5, 13:8, 20:12,15 and in 21:27. They say that there are so many names that a book can’t contain them and that is why there is writing on the front and back. That is not a bad thought but the problem is that we know from chapter 6 and 8 that this book deals with judgment so it can’t be limited to the book of Life.
OLD TESTAMENT: Because Christ is the only one who is able to unlock the true meaning of the Old Testament prophecies.
FUTURE EVENTS: This view says that this book holds the answers to all of the events leading up to and through the Great Tribulation and the Second Coming of the Lord.
GOD’S JUDGMENTS and REDEMPTION: This was set in motion with Christ’s death and Resurrection.
GOD’S COVENANTAL PROMISE of INHERITANCE: God promised to Adam that he would reign over the earth. Adam forfeited that right but CHRIST (the LAST ADAM) regained it.
**This is why John was weeping. Nobody had come forward to claim the right and authority to open and fulfill all of the covenant promises that were made by God.
However:
IV. A SIGHT WAS OBSERVED
5:5 And one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” 6 And I SAW between the throne (with the four living creatures), and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth 7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne
**Slain = Violently slain
V. A MYSTERY WAS SOLVED
5:8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the PRAYERS of the SAINTS
*8:3 Prayers of all the saints rise up before the throne as incense . .
VI. A SONG WAS LEARNED
5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”
VII. A CHOIR WAS FORMED
5:11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” 13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” 14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “AMEN.” And the elders fell down and worshiped!