Revelation 5
Worthy is the Lamb – Part 1
Read…
Rev 22:8 Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things.
Rev. 22:9 Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.”
Pray
Introduction
√ Worship
People worship so many different things today....
Athletes - "he's the man"
Actors/Actresses - "she's beautiful"
Ex. One woman at the academy awards speaking to Jack Nicholson
“Jack, you’re a god!”
We adorn our walls with their photo's, we read all about their lives, memorize their stats, seek their autographs, wear their numbers....
But, when was the last time Tiger Woods did anything for you?
Exactly! Our worship should be directed to someone who is worthy of it, and who has done everything for us!
√ Heaven
Last week in chapter 4 we learned that much of what goes on in heaven is worship...
Worship of…
God the Father (Creator)
By...
The angelic host
The saints
This week as we look at chapter 5 we find that the focus of worship changes from the God the Father...
…to God the Son (Redeemer)
Ap. Proof text that Jesus is God!
As we read in our opening scripture (Rev. 22:9) only God is to be worshiped. So then, when we find the host of heaven bowing in worship before Jesus…
…we can rightly conclude that He is God! Chapter 5 of the Revelation is all about the worship of Jesus!
The title deed (vs. 1-4)
Rev 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
Rev 5:2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?"
Rev 5:3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
Rev 5:4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.
√ The title deed
John's attention moves from the worship of the Father on the throne to what is in His hand...
"a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals." – vs. 1
What is it?
Scroll
Written on both sides
Sealed with 7 seals
Ex. Roman wills
This scroll then is the title deed to the Earth.
Man was given rule of the Earth in Gen. 1:26-28
Man forfeited it to Satan at the Fall
Ex. The temptation of Jesus – Matt. 4:8-11
√ The contents of the scroll
The importance of the contents of the scroll are attested by the proclamation of the "strong” (mighty & powerful) angel who asks the question....
"Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?"
A deed, or will, could only be opened by the appointed heir.
Unfortunately, John tells us that no one in all the universe was found worthy to open the scroll!
Ex. Qualifications to open the scroll...
One who is a near kin
One who had the power to take it (if contested)
One who had the legal authority
So, John begins to cry because in response to the angels question no one in heaven, or on the Earth, or under the earth moves one inch toward the scroll.
Think of all the great men and woman of history…
…the saints of God throughout the ages; the spiritual sages worshiped around the globe, Gabriel or Michael..
Not any of the angelic host
Not Moses
Not Peter
Not the Dali Lama
Not George Washington
....move forward toward the scroll.
The reason then for John’s tears is that he understands that the earth and all it's inhabitants will remain under the power and dominion of Satan unless Someone is found that can open the scroll, take possession of the Earth and redeem Man.
Someone who…
Is a near kin
Has the power to take it
Has the legal authority
John weeps because he recognizes the hopelessness of the situation.
Then, one of the 24 elders speaks to John...
Worship the Redeemer (vs. 5)
Rev 5:5 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."
√ The Redeemer!
In the midst of John's tears one of the elders tells him it's okay…
…there is One who is qualified to open the scroll. Someone who can fill the role of the kinsman redeemer.
Someone who is...
Near kin
Who has the power
Who has the authority
Ex. The law of the kinsman redeemer - Lev. 25
Lev 25:25 'If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his kinsman-redeemer comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold.
Ex. Ruth & Boaz
Ap. That is exactly what Adam and Eve did in the Garden - sold our inheritance to the Devil!
Who then can redeem us out of slavery and buy our inheritance back from the Devil?
In all the history of Mankind only One Person meets the qualifications - Jesus Christ.
Why?
• He's a near-kinsman (the reason for the incarnation!)
• He alone has more power than Satan - the present
ruler of the earth.
• He alone has the authority - legal right - to the souls of
Mankind and to the planet - which He purchased with
His own blood.
As John hears the words spoken by the elder his tears are turned to joy and his heart is filled with thanksgiving for One has been found Who is worthy to open the scroll!
Ap. Therefore, worship Jesus!
He is worthy of our worship first of all because of what He has done to save us – He is our Redeemer!
Secondly, Jesus is worthy of our worship because of Who He is.
Because of Who He is (vs. 6)
Rev 5:6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
√ Because of Who He is
The second reason that we worship Jesus is because of Who He is.
Note the descriptions and the titles given - make for a weird picture! Meant to be understood as symbolic.
Vs. 5 - Lion of Judah; ref. back to Gen. 49:8-10 where Jacob prophetically gave the throne of Israel to Judah's offspring.
Lion = dignity, sovereignty, courage and victory.
Jesus is the only living Jew who can prove His right to the throne from the genealogical records - thus He was called the "Son of David."
Vs. 5 - Root of David; ref. to Isa. 11:1 which means that He brought David and his kingly line into existence.
As far as Jesus' humanity He had His roots in David; but as far as His deity is concerned He is the Root of David - speaks of Jesus' eternal nature.
Ex. This was the theological problem that Jesus presented to the religious leaders in Matt. 22:41-46.
Mat. 22:41 While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them,
Mat. 22:42 saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose Son is He?” They said to Him, “The Son of David.”
Mat. 22:43 He said to them, “How then does David in the Spirit call Him ‘Lord,’ saying:
Mat. 22:44 ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”’?
Mat. 22:45 “If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?”
Mat. 22:46 And no one was able to answer Him a word, nor from that day on did anyone dare question Him anymore.
The solution to the dilemma that Jesus presented to the Pharisees is found in the truth that Jesus is both…
God - from eternity past (Root of David)
Man - in His incarnation (Son of David)
Thus, we find another proof text that testifies to Jesus’ divine nature.
Vs. 6 - A Lamb slain; ref. to His sacrifice on the cross.
Ex. The testimony of John the Baptist
Joh 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
Another point that might escape the casual reader is the truth that Jesus still bears the scars of His suffering in Heaven!
Ap. The only Manmade thing in Heaven are the scars He wears
A reminder for all of eternity of His unfathomable love for us.
Isa. 49:15 “Can a woman forget her nursing child, And not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.
Isa. 49:16 See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.
Vs. 6 - Seven horn's; complete - perfect authority & power.
That is, Jesus is Omnipotent
Vs 6 - Seven eyes; complete - perfect knowledge (see's all).
That is, Jesus is Omniscient
Vs. 6 - Seven Spirits in all the earth; complete - perfect presence.
That is, Jesus is Omnipresent
√ Connect the dots!
The Nature of Jesus as described by John matches the unique Nature of God...
Eternal
Omnipotent
Omniscient
Omnipresent
Holy
Immutable
Therefore, Jesus is God!
Therefore we worship the Redeemer not only because of what He’s done for us…
…but also because He is God!
Because of where He is (vs. 6)
Rev 5:6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
√ Because of where He is
Seems too obvious to mention but it is significant…Jesus is in heaven in the midst of the throne!
He is no longer a babe in manger
No longer a suffering Man on the cross
No longer a corpse in a tomb
He is back in His rightful place - the throne of Heaven and is at the center of all the goes on in heaven and on the earth.
Ap. So, we worship Jesus today because of…
What He’s done for us
Who He is
…and because He is the Living-Ruling-Lamb of God.
Close
√ Jesus deserves our worship
Because of what He’s done
Because of Who He is
Because of Where He is
Make the worship of Jesus a regular part of your life!