Revelation 5

Translation

I saw in the right hand of the one seated upon the throne a scroll which had been written on inside and out, and having been sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel announcing in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” And no one in heaven, on earth, nor under the earth was able to open the scroll nor to observe it. So I wept greatly, because no one worthy was found to open the scroll nor observe it.

And one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying. Look: the lion from the tribe of Judah, the root of David, he has conquered so as to open the scroll and its seven seals.

So I looked in between the throne and the four creatures and between the elders stood a little lamb, like it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes (which are the seven spirits of God sent out to all the earth). He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the one seated upon the throne. And when he took the scroll, the four creatures and the twenty-four elders prostrated themselves before the lamb, and each one was holding a guitar and a golden offering plate full of incense (which is the prayers of the saints).

And they were singing a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals, because you were slaughtered and you redeemed people for God by your blood from every tribe, language, people, and ethnicity. And you made them to be a Kingdom and Priests for our God, and they will rule over the earth.”

And I looked, and I heard the sound of many angels around the throne, the creatures, and the elders, and they numbered myriads of myriads, thousands of thousands, chanting with a loud voice:

“The little slaughtered lamb is worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise!”

And all creation, things in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the seas, and everything in them, I heard them chanting:

“To the one seated upon the throne and to the little lamb be praise, honor, glory, and might for ever and ever!”

And the four creatures said, “Amen.” And the elders prostrated themselves and offered worship.

Why are we here?

Why do we come to church?

Is church just routine?

Is it an obligation?

No, it is a privilege and a joy!

Christ is worthy

There really is only one reason to come to church: Jesus.

Jesus is worthy of all glory, honor, and praise.

Why?

Receives authority from God (scroll and Roman symbol of power)

An equal to God, who sits on the throne and enacts order over creation with the Father

Jesus the Lion of Judah

Powerful and mighty; of royal lineage

Jesus the Little Lamb

But most importantly, he died for us!

This is the reason no one else is worthy

The Divorce Scroll

Jesus is worthy of worship, but some had not given him that worship.

God through Jesus is faithful to us, but some had chosen not to be faithful to God.

Call to Faithful Worship