You were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ. - 1 Peter 1:18-19
John refers to Jesus as the Lamb approximately 30 times in the book of Revelation. According to the Old Testament law, lambs (and other certain animals) were sacrificed in the tabernacle and temple to atone for sin. God justly demands the shedding of blood as the price for the remission of sin. These sacrifices had a limited effect and were repeated frequently, resulting in the deaths of thousands of animals. All of these offerings were, in fact, merely a picture of the Savior to come. It was the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ - the holy, divine Lamb of God - that paid the full debt of sin once and for all!
In today’s message, Jesus will once again enter the scene. He will do something that He alone is capable of doing. Once again, let’s envision the heavenly throne room where the Father sits exalted on His throne. The 4 living creatures fly about Him, the 24 elders surround Him, and the crystal sea spreads out before Him. Can you see it? Okay then, let’s begin...
I. THE SCROLL WITH 7 SEALS (Revelation 5:1-4)
After describing many glorious details of the heavenly throne room, John returned his attention to God the Father (who was seated on the throne in the center). He noticed something in the Father’s right hand. It was a scroll, with writing on both sides of the paper, which was sealed with 7 seals. The scroll’s voluminous text highlights the extensive nature of the judgments to follow, while the seals indicate that these judgments contained therein were predetermined and preserved until the right time.
John saw a strong angel loudly declare, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” To his dismay, no one could be found worthy of the task. None of those in Heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth were properly qualified to open the scroll or view its contents. This search to find someone fit to break the seals encompassed all 3 realms of God’s creation - Heaven, Hell, and the earth.
When no created being could be found to open the scroll, John began to cry profusely. He was desperate to find out what was written inside. He was devastated at the thought that the scroll’s contents would remain unknown. Was anyone worthy to open the Father’s scroll?
II. THE LAMB TAKES THE SCROLL (Revelation 5:5-7)
As John wept, one of the elders seated around the throne consoled him saying, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” John looked up and saw Jesus, the Lamb of God, standing between the Father’s throne, where the 4 living creatures were, and the elders' thrones which encircled it. Jesus approached God the Father and took the scroll from His hand.
Jesus is figuratively described in these verses as a slaughtered lamb with 7 horns and 7 eyes. This refers to His sacrificial and substitutionary death, through which He made atonement for man’s sin. The eyes and horns point to His kingship and dominion, as well as His insight and omniscient awareness. They are also symbolic of the 7 spirits of God, which we’ve already identified in this series as the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, who had been sent out to the earth during the Church Age, was now in Heaven with the Father and the Son.
In these few verses, Jesus is called “the Lion from the tribe of Judah”, “the Root of David”, and the “Lamb”. Hailing from the Jewish tribe of Judah, He is the majestic, powerful King over all of God’s creation. He is the descendant of David, who reigns over God’s people eternally. He is the Lamb who was slain to secure man’s forgiveness and salvation!
III. WORSHIPING THE LAMB (Revelation 5:8-14)
When Jesus took the scroll from His Father’s hand, the 24 elders and the 4 living creatures fell down before Him. Each elder held a harp and a golden bowl of incense, which symbolically contained the prayer of the saints (that is, Christians from all ages). God was on the verge of giving a final and long-awaited answer to these prayers. The creatures and elders began singing a new song declaring Jesus’ exceptional worthiness to open the scroll. He offered Himself sacrificially to pay the price of redemption for all mankind, making all believers into a kingdom of priests who will someday reign with Him upon the earth.
Suddenly John saw “myriads of myriads” of angels, thousands of thousands, surrounding the throne. In the Greek a myriad is 10,000, so a “myriad of myriads” is at least 100,000,000. In other words, angels blanketed the sky as far as he could see. They joined their voices with those of the living creatures and the elders. Collectively they shouted in unison, ““Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.”
As if this amazing heavenly chorus was not enough already, John then heard the voices of every created thing join in the praise. This included all of those in Heaven, those on the earth, those on and in the sea, and even those under the earth. It is noteworthy that even those who’d rejected Christ during their lives and had been consigned to Hell due to their unrepented sin were also recognizing and acknowledging Jesus as the Lord of all (see Philippians 2:9-11).
CONCLUSION
In last week’s message on Revelation chapter 4, John drew a beautiful picture of a heavenly throne room where God the Father was seated. All of those present worshiped and ascribed the highest praise to Him. In today’s message in Revelation chapter 5, Jesus enters the scene and is showered with similar worship and adoration.
This leads us to consider an important question. If the Father is worthy of all praise and adoration, how then can we righly worship the Son also? To worship Jesus would logically take away from the praise due exclusively to the Father. If He is entitled to all of it, then none is left for Christ. Yet, the same creatures who worshiped and paid tribute to the Father did likewise to the Son. How is this reconcilable?
The answer is simple, though it defies an explanation. Both the Father and the Son, though distinct Persons, are one God. They, along with the Holy Spirit, form the Trinity. Each member of the Godhead has unique personal attributes, but all share the same nature, essence, and being. With this in mind, when worship is directed specifically toward God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit it is ascribed to all Three.
The main point is this - Jesus is God. As such, He is worthy of our praise of adoration. He alone is qualified to open the scroll of God’s judgment, because He alone overcame sin and conquered death. In the words of my favorite singer and songwriter, Andrew Peterson, “Is He worthy? Is He worthy, to receive blessing and honor and glory? Is He worthy of this? He is!”
Watch Andrew's Video Here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIahc83Kvp4
Next week, we will move into the portion of Revelation which covers the Tribulation. It begins with the breaking of the 7 seals and spans from chapters 6 through 19. I hope you’ll join us. Until then, may God bless you!
John refers to Jesus as the Lamb approximately 30 times in the book of Revelation. According to the Old Testament law, lambs (and other certain animals) were sacrificed in the tabernacle and temple to atone for sin. God justly demands the shedding of blood as the price for the remission of sin. These sacrifices had a limited effect and were repeated frequently, resulting in the deaths of thousands of animals. All of these offerings were, in fact, merely a picture of the Savior to come. It was the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ - the holy, divine Lamb of God - that paid the full debt of sin once and for all!
In today’s message, Jesus will once again enter the scene. He will do something that He alone is capable of doing. Once again, let’s envision the heavenly throne room where the Father sits exalted on His throne. The 4 living creatures fly about Him, the 24 elders surround Him, and the crystal sea spreads out before Him. Can you see it? Okay then, let’s begin...
I. THE SCROLL WITH 7 SEALS (Revelation 5:1-4)
After describing many glorious details of the heavenly throne room, John returned his attention to God the Father (who was seated on the throne in the center). He noticed something in the Father’s right hand. It was a scroll, with writing on both sides of the paper, which was sealed with 7 seals. The scroll’s voluminous text highlights the extensive nature of the judgments to follow, while the seals indicate that these judgments contained therein were predetermined and preserved until the right time.
John saw a strong angel loudly declare, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” To his dismay, no one could be found worthy of the task. None of those in Heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth were properly qualified to open the scroll or view its contents. This search to find someone fit to break the seals encompassed all 3 realms of God’s creation - Heaven, Hell, and the earth.
When no created being could be found to open the scroll, John began to cry profusely. He was desperate to find out what was written inside. He was devastated at the thought that the scroll’s contents would remain unknown. Was anyone worthy to open the Father’s scroll?
II. THE LAMB TAKES THE SCROLL (Revelation 5:5-7)
As John wept, one of the elders seated around the throne consoled him saying, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to be able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” John looked up and saw Jesus, the Lamb of God, standing between the Father’s throne, where the 4 living creatures were, and the elders' thrones which encircled it. Jesus approached God the Father and took the scroll from His hand.
Jesus is figuratively described in these verses as a slaughtered lamb with 7 horns and 7 eyes. This refers to His sacrificial and substitutionary death, through which He made atonement for man’s sin. The eyes and horns point to His kingship and dominion, as well as His insight and omniscient awareness. They are also symbolic of the 7 spirits of God, which we’ve already identified in this series as the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, who had been sent out to the earth during the Church Age, was now in Heaven with the Father and the Son.
In these few verses, Jesus is called “the Lion from the tribe of Judah”, “the Root of David”, and the “Lamb”. Hailing from the Jewish tribe of Judah, He is the majestic, powerful King over all of God’s creation. He is the descendant of David, who reigns over God’s people eternally. He is the Lamb who was slain to secure man’s forgiveness and salvation!
III. WORSHIPING THE LAMB (Revelation 5:8-14)
When Jesus took the scroll from His Father’s hand, the 24 elders and the 4 living creatures fell down before Him. Each elder held a harp and a golden bowl of incense, which symbolically contained the prayer of the saints (that is, Christians from all ages). God was on the verge of giving a final and long-awaited answer to these prayers. The creatures and elders began singing a new song declaring Jesus’ exceptional worthiness to open the scroll. He offered Himself sacrificially to pay the price of redemption for all mankind, making all believers into a kingdom of priests who will someday reign with Him upon the earth.
Suddenly John saw “myriads of myriads” of angels, thousands of thousands, surrounding the throne. In the Greek a myriad is 10,000, so a “myriad of myriads” is at least 100,000,000. In other words, angels blanketed the sky as far as he could see. They joined their voices with those of the living creatures and the elders. Collectively they shouted in unison, ““Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.”
As if this amazing heavenly chorus was not enough already, John then heard the voices of every created thing join in the praise. This included all of those in Heaven, those on the earth, those on and in the sea, and even those under the earth. It is noteworthy that even those who’d rejected Christ during their lives and had been consigned to Hell due to their unrepented sin were also recognizing and acknowledging Jesus as the Lord of all (see Philippians 2:9-11).
CONCLUSION
In last week’s message on Revelation chapter 4, John drew a beautiful picture of a heavenly throne room where God the Father was seated. All of those present worshiped and ascribed the highest praise to Him. In today’s message in Revelation chapter 5, Jesus enters the scene and is showered with similar worship and adoration.
This leads us to consider an important question. If the Father is worthy of all praise and adoration, how then can we righly worship the Son also? To worship Jesus would logically take away from the praise due exclusively to the Father. If He is entitled to all of it, then none is left for Christ. Yet, the same creatures who worshiped and paid tribute to the Father did likewise to the Son. How is this reconcilable?
The answer is simple, though it defies an explanation. Both the Father and the Son, though distinct Persons, are one God. They, along with the Holy Spirit, form the Trinity. Each member of the Godhead has unique personal attributes, but all share the same nature, essence, and being. With this in mind, when worship is directed specifically toward God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit it is ascribed to all Three.
The main point is this - Jesus is God. As such, He is worthy of our praise of adoration. He alone is qualified to open the scroll of God’s judgment, because He alone overcame sin and conquered death. In the words of my favorite singer and songwriter, Andrew Peterson, “Is He worthy? Is He worthy, to receive blessing and honor and glory? Is He worthy of this? He is!”
Watch Andrew's Video Here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIahc83Kvp4
Next week, we will move into the portion of Revelation which covers the Tribulation. It begins with the breaking of the 7 seals and spans from chapters 6 through 19. I hope you’ll join us. Until then, may God bless you!