Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Scripture

Outline

Revelation 1 - Introduction

Revelation 1:1-3 - Prologue & Benediction

Revelation 1:4-8 - Epistolary Introduction

Revelation 1:9-20 - A Vision of the Son of Man

Revelation 2-3 - The Seven Churches

Revelation 2:1-7 - The Letter to Ephesus

Revelation 2:8-11 - The Letter to Smyrna

Revelation 2:12-17 - The Letter to Pergamum

Revelation 2:18-29 - The Letter to Thyatira

Revelation 3:1-6 - The Letter to Sardis

Revelation 3:7-13 - The Letter to Philadelphia

Revelation 3:14-22 - The Letter to Laodicea

Revelation 4-5 - The Throne Room

Revelation 4:1-11 - A Vision of the Throne Room

Revelation 5:1-14 - The Lamb is Worthy

Revelation 5:1-7 - The Lamb is Victorious

Revelation 5:8-14 - The Lamb is Worshiped

Purpose of Book

The purpose of Revelation is to challenge/encourage believers, who are expectantly awaiting the reign of Christ, to live faithfully for Him despite worldly circumstances, persecution, and the cosmic battle between God and Satan.

Main Point

The Lamb alone is worthy to take the scroll from the Father because of his resurrection from the dead

Revelation 5:1-7 - The Lamb is Victorious

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne

God the Father who rules over all creation in unmatched majesty and glory

The scroll is held in his right hand signifying He has the power to bring about judgment and salvation

A scroll written within and on the back

Ezekiel was delivering messages of judgment to Israel

Daniel’s vision that is sealed is about to be revealed by the Lamb

The scroll has the comprehensive account of the judgment Jesus will issue upon the earth as well as the blessing of those who are in Christ

Thus the scroll represents the redemptive, divine plan through the Lamb

Sealed with seven seals

Seven seals symbolically represents completeness

The contents have been entirely keep secret

The seals must be opened for the fullness of God’s redemptive plan to be known, enacted, and fulfilled

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?

The crux of this chapter - Who is worthy?

The angel (spokesperson for the council) asks the entirety of creation

Revelation is the fulfillment of the latter-day prophecies in the book of Daniel -> 500 years after he wrote

No one is worthy enough to open the scroll, not a single celestial being or person - alive or dead

John’s response is despair - there is no hope for humanity because the totality of God’s redemptive plan is unable to be revealed

And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Weep no more

John is rebuked for his response because he already knows Jesus conquered

Christ is able to open because of his victory!

Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered

Lion of the tribe of Judah

One of Judah’s descendants will rule over (kingship) his enemies and the obedience of the peoples will be his (power)

Root of David

The Messianic Davidic figure will rule over the whole earth in peace and with righteousness

Has conquered

The references to Genesis and Isaiah both reveal that a messianic figure will judge his enemies thus conquering them AND only he is able to open the scroll

In the 7 churches, Jesus implores the churches to conquer so they can receive eternal life

Jesus HAS already conquered and our conquering is dependent upon HIS victory

So that he can open the scroll and its seven seals

Opening the scroll and the seven seals is an act of war by the Lamb

The figure prophesied in Genesis and Isaiah is fully capable of opening the scroll

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain

John was told about a lion, but instead sees a LAMB

Jesus really died and rose again - his sacrifice is the center of New Testament witness

Lamb

Jesus is identified as the Lamb 26x in Revelation

Seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth

Seven horns

Infinite/perfect power

Seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth

The Holy Spirit that rests on Christ as He fulfills the sovereign redemptive plan to the entire earth

And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.

The Lamb alone is worthy to take the scroll because of his death and resurrection

Christ sits with authority next to the Father and here He is given authority to open the scroll

Revelation 5:8-14 - The Lamb is Worshiped

And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb

The Lamb receives worship just like the Father did

Each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints

Holding a harp

Offering hymns of praise

Prayers of the saints

Prayer that God vindicates the righteous by judging the wicked

Prayers of the saints are welcomed before God

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

They sang a new song

Multiple OT passages revealing that God’s people sing new songs when he saves and delivers them

Psalm 33

Psalm 40

Psalm 96

Christ’s redemptive work is a new work that delivers and saves from sin!

Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals

Worthy

The Father is worthy as the Creator

The Son is worthy as the redeemer

You were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation

Why is the Lamb worthy to be worshiped?

He ransomed people from sin through his death!