Transcript

The Triumphant Lamb

Revelation 5:1-14
Sunday, October 11, 2015
Pastor Randy Smith

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So often for many of us, the issue is not lacking the knowledge of what we should be doing, but rather lacking the proper motivation to do what we know we should be doing. Without a doubt, I would suggest that all our motivational shortcomings are a result of failing to comprehend the greatness of our God.

If your concept of God is only one that sees the Divine as a relational buddy that exists for the sole purpose of keeping you from hell and granting all your wishes while on earth, you will fall miserably short. If your concept of God is not resulting in fear, passion, excitement, reverence and awe, you will fall miserably short. I suggest based on the way many professing Christians obey the Bible, pray, conduct themselves in worship, view the local church and share their faith, the god they claim to worship is far from the God portrayed in the Bible, and the motivation for wholehearted biblical living is absent.

Last week we learned about the greatness of our God. Though no human words can adequately describe the Indescribable One, John in Revelation 4 painted us an awe-inspiring picture that should have left us speechless and terrified.

Do you remember? A voice like "a trumpet." "One sitting on the throne" compared to the most beautiful colors. "Flashing of lightening and sounds and peals of thunder"…coming "out from the throne." Before the throne "was a rainbow" and "a sea of glass." Surrounding the throne were a high order of angels called the "four living creatures." Also were "twenty-four elders" each on their own "throne," most likely another high order of angels with "white garments and golden crowns on their heads." "Day and night" the "four living creatures" sing, "Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God, the Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come." "The twenty-four elders" then "fall down before… Him who sits on the throne." They "worship [the One] who lives forever and ever, and…cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created."

We draw from this picture the inexpressible glory of our God. We learn that this is what heaven is about and that the journey for Christians on earth is simply to prepare us for this awesome reality. Heaven is the home for those who want to see and experience the greatness of our God in a way their heart has always desired, but has never been able to achieve fully here on earth. Heaven is worship and having that ultimate blessing for all of eternity. Get this message and your life will be transformed. Get this message and you'll understand why Jesus told us to pray, "Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven" (Mt. 6:10).

But as we close chapter 4 of Revelation, we need to ask a very pressing question. How can we ever expect to approach this terrifying God? How could we ever make it past the concentric circles of millions of worshipping angels? Moreover, how can a minutia of sin ever exist for a minutia of a second in the presence of Him who is Holy, Holy, Holy? How do guilty humans who violate God's law expect to receive a pardon from the One described in Hebrews 12:29 as a "consuming fire?" Revelation 4 is a glorious chapter, but if understood correctly, Revelation 4 is also a frightening chapter. It is a chapter that spells unquestionable eternal doom to all mankind.

Now if you think that you have even a remote chance to spend eternity with, much less approach this God for a second, you do not understand both God's impeccable holiness and your own sinful condition. There is absolutely nothing we can do on our own to be saved from eternal damnation and have intimate fellowship with Him.

Yet God in His love and mercy has acted on our behalf without compromising His other attributes of holiness and justice. Revelation chapter 5 this morning tells us how.

1. The Sealed Scroll (verses 1-4)

I am calling the first of three points, "The Sealed Scroll."

Verse 1 says that the apostle John, in his vision saw God sitting on His throne. In His right hand (signifying the hand of God's power), John noticed Him holding a book, better said, a scroll. According to verse 1, the scroll was "written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals."

I'm sure most of you are familiar with the concept of a scroll. The paper was about 32 feet long and attached to rods on both ends. Often it was rolled up to one side. When the two rods were turned the contents on the scroll were revealed.

Back then the source used for the paper was a fiber-type plant called papyrus. Thin strips were peeled away and placed beside one another. Then more thin strips were peeled away and placed over them running in the opposite direction. Together both these layers were glued together to produce the paper.

Unless you were poor, you would only write on one side of the scroll. It would be the side where all the lines from the papyrus were horizontal. Yet when it came to legal documents, oftentimes you would write on the back side as well just to prevent yourself from needing to separate the contents by using a second scroll. The fact that God's scroll had writing on the front and back shows it was not only extensive and comprehensive, but also suggests it was also official in its nature.

The verse adds that the scroll was sealed with "seven seals." After the two halves were rolled up, the scroll was locked in place either with string or in the more official sense, a seal. A seal was a blob of wax that dried and locked the two halves together. Frequently the high official would press his signet ring in the seal before it dried to leave his authorized imprint. God's scroll had seven seals symbolizing its absolute holiness. To read the scroll the seals needed to be broken, but not just anybody was permitted to break the seals.

That takes us to verse 2. John says, "And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?'" What you need to understand from this verse is that breaking the seals signified bringing to pass the contents of the scroll. And now's a good time to ask, what were the contents of the scroll?

Many suggestions have been proposed: The Book of Life - thus revealing the names of all true believers. The Old Testament - thus the true meaning of its fulfillment in Christ. The future events - thus what will happen during the end of the end times. Or what I believe to be the case, God's plan of judgment and redemption. In other words, to break the seals and open the scroll would have to be the One who would bring these events of judgment and redemption to pass.

So the angel proclaims the challenge to the entire cosmos. But, verse 3, "No one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it."

Who's going to approach the God we learned about in chapter 4 and take the book from His hand? Moreover who has the authority and power to bring to pass all that God had decreed regarding the salvation and judgment for all people? The challenge goes out. There is a deafening silence in all of creation. No one can accept that challenge.

John in verse 4 says, "Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it." John ultimately wept not because he was a "nosy-body" and couldn't see the contents. John wept because God's vindication for the church and His blessing for the believer would never come to pass.

Let's remember, the overall setting at the time was the persecuted church on earth. Many were dying for their faith in Christ. Was it all a waste? Would evil ever be judged? Would people who remained loyal to God be vindicated? Sure God can and will be praised for who He is in chapter 4. But without this scroll being opened, life for those who placed their trust in God is absolutely meaningless. You can see why John "began to weep greatly."

This, my friends, is the ultimate dilemma all people should consider. Whose side am I on? Is there a God, and if so, what must I do to make myself right with Him? We are talking about eternal ramifications containing eternal destinations. Needless to say, there's a lot on the line! Yet American's have anesthetized ourselves with erroneous beliefs and unending activities of busyness and an artificial world that is absorbed in electronics. We've insulated ourselves from the need to moment-by-moment be confronted with the ultimate questions in life. Heaven or hell? Blessings or judgment? This burdened John to the point of tears. Does it burden us?

2. The Slain Savior (verses 5-7)

As we move to the second point, the answer is found in verse 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.'"

There is One worthy to receive the scroll, break the seven seals and fulfill its contents.

The elder calls Him (as you can see in verse 5) "the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah." That's a direct pronouncement from Genesis 49:9-10 when Jacob spoke to his 12 sons. There it was prophesied that the Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah. The elder also calls this figure "the Root of David." That takes us back to the prophecy from Isaiah 11 (verses 1 and 10) that speaks about how the Messiah would be in the family line of King David. Jesus was David's greater son. So we have the Lion who conquers and the King who rules. John says He has overcome and thus He is worthy to fulfill the contents of the scroll.

Then John looked, verse 6, "And [he] 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."

At this point, if you are like me, you might try to visualize all these images. You may desire to paint a picture of Jesus based the descriptions we've just received. Resist the temptation. The goal of the author is not a literal description. Remember, this is apocalyptic literature and these are only symbols that seek to explain the Being they are presenting.

He's a lion. He's a king. And now we see, He's a lamb. And not just a Lamb, but a lamb who was slain, but is now alive and standing.

At this point the reader knows the descriptions have narrowed our options down to One. Only Jesus Christ, the One by the throne at the right hand of the Father, always there to do the Father's will is worthy as the overcomer to open the scroll and fulfill the deeds in the scroll.

And what qualified Him was what He accomplished while on earth. The majestic kingly-lion humbled Himself by becoming man, living a perfect life and representing humanity by dying for the sins of God's people. In humility, He became the author's favorite title for Jesus. He is the Lamb. "The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29).

One of the older commentators said, "[The Lamb] is perhaps the most important figure of the Book of The Revelation. When earth-bound men want symbols of power, they conjure up mighty beasts and birds of prey. Russia elevates the bear, Britain the lion, France the tiger, the United States the spread eagle: all of them ravenous. It is only the Kingdom of Heaven that would dare to use as its symbol of might, not the Lion for which John was looking, but the helpless Lamb, and at that, a slain Lamb" (J.P. Love).

And when we read our Bibles and think of the lamb, how can we not consider the Passover Lamb? Deep in Israel's history during the Egyptian captivity, God commanded the Hebrews to slaughter a spotless male lamb and spread its blood on the doorposts to shield them from His wrath. Hmmm, who can that be? Or how about the great prophecy from Isaiah 53:7? "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth." Hmmm, who can that be?

The salvation of God's people came riding on the back of a Lamb, Jesus Christ our redeemer. The Lion of Judah was the Lamb of God. The One with utmost power became the utmost self-giver. The One who was slaughtered was the Overcomer.

So who could break the seals? Verse 7 tells us, "And He [Jesus Christ] came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne."

Listen to the remarkable parallel to Daniel 7:13-14 from the Old Testament: "I kept looking in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, and He came up to the Ancient of Days and was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, glory and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations and men of every language might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion which will not pass away; and His kingdom is one which will not be destroyed."

The day will come on God's timetable when the world as we know it will come to an end. Jesus will return as He promised. The dead and alive will be judged. Those who rejected God's incredible free gift of grace of salvation in the Lamb for the full removal of their sins will be bear the eternal penalty for their rejection. And those who received Jesus Christ will have their sins covered and will enjoy eternal companionship in glory.

Though billions in the world go about their business chasing their idols and living for themselves, there will be a day of reckoning. There will be a day with the Risen Savior takes the book from the Father and blesses His people and judges those who rejected Him in the fullness of all divine authority.

3. The Sacred Songs (verses 8-14)

And when the Lamb takes the scroll, listen to the response of heaven, our third point.

Verse 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."

We learned about the "the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders" last week in chapter 4. We concluded that they are a high order of angels surrounding God's throne continually bringing Him praise and worship. The harps in their hands symbolized instruments of joy, praise for God's purposes of the universe finally coming to pass. All because of the Lamb! Even the prayers they held in their "golden bowls" have any meaning and hope before the Father all because of the Lamb. As a matter of fact, our prayers are compared in verse 8 to incense. They have a sweet smell to the Father, again, only because of the Lamb.

After they fell down verses 9 and 10 tells us "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. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.'"

Again, the Lamb is praised for being worthy. Beyond His intrinsic worthiness is His act of redemption. In other words, Jesus would be praised whether He went to the cross or not. But apart from the cross, heaven would be empty and hell would be filled with all of humanity.

So here we see the angels praising the worthiness of Christ because (verse 9) He was "slain." He voluntarily gave His life. >And because (verse 9) He "purchased for God with [His] blood" people for salvation. And not just one type of people, but rather (verse 9) people from all people groups "men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation." And not just people saved from hell, but rather people (verse 10) that have been "made…to be a kingdom and priests." God's people would not be saved just for themselves. They would be saved to be priests. They would take this wonderful message of salvation from God share it with the world and bring the world to God for reconciliation and forgiveness. And they (verse 10) will reign on the earth. The kingdom of God will be fully realized and we will reign together with Christ our King.

Beginning in verse 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, 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." 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.' And the four living creatures kept saying, 'Amen.' And the elders fell down and worshiped" (Rev. 6:11-14).

My friends, the day will come when the universe operates as God originally intended it. Because of the fall, things are out of kilter. Yet our Lord is recreating things. It started with the salvation of His people and by the power of the Holy Spirit recreating them back to the image of Christ. All creation will be delivered from the captivity and futility of sin.

It's important to note that not only glorious praise is given to our Savior, but the extent of those who will give Him that praise. Verse 13 says "every created thing," even those it says, "under the earth." The picture from Revelation 4 and 5 is clear, all things have been created for God's glory. So what about those who rejected God while on earth? They will be eternally separated from Him in torment, but the Scripture here says they too will be praising Him throughout eternity. The redeemed will praise from freewill and the overflow of their hearts. Those in hell through forced submission.

How about Philippians 2? "For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Phil. 2:9-11).

So the conclusion is this. The Scripture is clear that all will be found praising Jesus Christ. Those who begin praising Him now after receiving Him by faith as their Savior will enjoy the blessed consummation of that throughout all of eternity. Those who reject Him will praise Him, but under obligation. Simply put, God is too glorious to allow any corner of His creation to exist without recognizing His glory by ascribing to God the worship that is due His name.

Throughout all of eternity all of creation will sing, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever" (Rev. 5:13).