Your Are Worthy
Introduction
Do You See What I See? This chapter in our Bible calls our attention to a scene around the throne in Heaven. There is a scroll, a question, “Who is worthy to open the scroll?” There’s weeping, there’s a Lamb, there’s a new song, and then there’s unparalleled praise and worship. The scroll represents Christ’s “title deed” to all that the Heavenly Father promised Him because of His sacrifice on the cross.
Psalms 2:8, “Ask of Me, and I will give You
the nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.”
Jesus Christ is the “heir of all things” (Heb 1:2). He is our beloved “Kinsman-Redeemer” Who was willing to give His life to set us free from the bondage of sin and to restore our lost inheritance.
This text reminds us that one day Jesus Christ will take back what is rightfully His from Satan the usurper. Rev. 5 introduces Jesus Christ, earth’s rightful ruler, Who is pictured about to return to redeem the world from sin, Satan, death, and the curse.
Present in this scene are the cherubim, the twenty-four elders (representing the raptured, glorified church), and the Holy Spirit in His sevenfold glory. The events described anticipate the divine judgment about to be poured out on the sinful, rebellious, cursed earth (Chapters 6-19). Salvation here is in the 3rd tense: saved from the penalty of sin (Romans 6:23); saved from the power of sin (Rom. 6:14 dominion over you); and here from the presence of sin (saved to sin no more).
I. OBSERVE THE WATCHFULNESS. 1-4
In Daniel 12:8-9, 13 Daniel had a glimpse of our future resurrection of the dead. In Daniel 12:6, he asked, “How long should the fulfillment of these wonders be?”
Daniel 12:8-9, “ Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, ‘My lord, what shall be the end of these things?’
And he said, ‘Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.’”
Daniel 12:13. "But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days."
God did not unveil the end of time to Daniel, but told him it was sealed up until then.
Here, in Rev. 5, is the scroll and the seals to be broken so the things of the end can come to pass.
ILLUSTRATE: The prediction of the end of the world was last Friday. The fact that I am preaching means the end is yet to come.
A. THE SCROLL. 1
Speaks of completeness and finality
B. THE SAYING. 2-3
Speaks of urgency and great concern “able” – requires authority
The scroll needed its seals loosed.However, the scroll was a legal seal and only the rightful heir could break it. No one in the earth, heaven, or under the earth - no human, angel, or demon could open it. Remember, the scroll represents the title deed to the earth, the right to rule the earth.
The question of v.2 was answered by the silence of .v3
C. THE SADNESS. 4
When Adam and Eve sinned and Satan was loosed among humanity, Satan became a usurper. He became the one who rules and governs the affairs of the earth. He is the prince of the power of this present world; the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience (Eph 2:2).
Ephesians 2:3, “among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.”
Satan is the evil person/presence that opposes and attacks all God promotes. Satan promotes sin, sadness, sorrow, and death.
Verse 4 reminds of the complete moral inability of man to change himself.
John wept because he realized that God’s glorious redemption plan for mankind could never be completed until the scroll was opened.
Not only would my salvation be completed, but His justice would be vindicated on sinners who here rejected the Gospel of God’s Son.
ILLUSTRATE: Adam Lanza, 20 years old – 27 dead, killed himself, our justice system will not have the opportunity to bring him to justice.
II. OBSERVE THE WONDER. 5-7
A. WHO HE IS .5
“Behold” – call to attention
● the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” – lion speaks of dignity, sovereignty, courage, victory
“Judah” – reminds us of the blessings of this tribe, Gen 49:8-10
● the “root of David” – Jesus is both the descendent of David’s royal line and the source of it. Speaks of our Lord’s eternality; He’s David’s Son and David’s Lord.
● Key “truth” – “has prevailed,” (overcome) at the Cross He defeated sin, death, and all the forces of hell. Believers are overcomers through His overcoming.
B. WHAT HE IS. 6
“a Lamb” – a little pet lamb
In Genesis 22:7, Abraham was asked by his son Isaac, “Where is the lamb?” In John 1:29, John the Baptist spoke, “Behold, the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.”
“in the midst”- He is the centerpiece; He is the center of all that transpires in Heaven.
Why is the Lamb able to open the scroll?
1. He became flesh, so He is our kinsman. Merry Christmas – not Happy Holidays
2. He loves us and is willing to redeem us.
3. He paid the price, so He could redeem us.
v.6 says, “a Lamb as though it had been
slain” – for all eternity our worship will be in remembrance of the CROSS. Just as Victoria Soto put herself in the way so that the children in her class might live, Jesus Christ put Himself in the way that we might live.
Seven horns – power: Omnipotence
Seven eyes – wisdom: Omniscience (perfect understanding and knowledge)
Seven spirits – perfect presence: Omnipresence (the Holy Spirit in all His fullness)
NOTE in v.6 “stood” (standing) – alive and on His feet. We do not worship a babe in a manger or a corpse on a tree. We worship the living, standing, reigning Lamb of God, slain from the foundation of the world, Who is in the midst of Heaven.
C. WHAT IS HIS. 7
Revelation 11:15, “Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!’"
He’s got the whole world in His hands. This is my Father’s world and He has just handed the title deed to His Son and our Savior.
1. It is His by Creation.
John 1:3, "All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”
2. It is His by Redemption.
Rev. 5:9, “have redeemed us to God by Your blood”
In v.7, this views the great, culminating act of history, the act that will signal the end of man’s day. The ultimate goal of redemption is about to be seen; paradise will be regained, Eden restored (Note Daniel 7:13-14)
III. OBSERVE THE WORSHIP. 8-14
The appearance of the Lamb causes praise to break out from everywhere in the universe. These are spontaneous outbursts of worship that result from the realization that the long-anticipated defeat of sin, death, and Satan is about to be accomplished.
The curse will be reversed, the believing remnant of Israel will be saved, and the church will be honored, exalted, and granted the privilege of reigning with Christ.
EXAMPLE: Church is on its way out; no, on its way out and up!
A. WORSHIPFUL PROPHECY. 8a
“each having a harp” – symbolized all of prophecy, which culminates in the events about to take place.
(Note: II Kings 3:15; I Chron 25:1, 3, 6)
B. WORSHIPFUL PRAYERS. 8b
“golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints” – it’s Matthew 6:10, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
It’s God’s answer to many long awaited prayers.
C. WORSHIPFUL PRAISE. 9-14
“they sang a new song”
1. Worship Song.
“You are worthy”
2. Gospel Song.
“You were slain”
3. Missionary Song.
“You redeemed us…every tribe and tongue and peoples and nations”
4. Devotional Song
“Made us kings and priests to our God”
5. Prophetic Song.
“We shall reign on the earth”
(Rev. 20:6)
v.11 Unaccountable host of angels
Word that comes to mind: LOUD!!!
v.12 He will receive all that He dispensed.
● Power - Unlimited ability
● Riches - Unconditional wealth
● Wisdom - Mental excellence
● Might - Super-human power
● Honor - Praise of character
● Glory - Majestic radiance
● Blessing - Thanksgiving, praise
v.13-14:
● He was born in weakness and he died in weakness, but He is now the recipient of all power.
● He became the poorest of the poor, but now He owns all the riches of heaven and earth.
● Men laughed at Him and called Him names, but now He is the wisdom of God.
● He hungered, thirsted, and became weary, but now He possesses all strength.
● He experienced humiliation and shame on earth, but now He is worshipped by everyone that has breath.
AMEN - Let it be so, make it happen!