Sermon Tone Analysis

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb

It’s interesting.

Surveys were conducted on the book that members in churches would mostly want taught and the book that preachers would least like to teach.

The same book tops each list — the book of Revelation.

It’s the book people want taught.

And let me add, it’s the book that needs to be taught.

It’s interesting.

Surveys were conducted on the book that members in churches would mostly want taught and the book that preachers would least like to teach.

The same book tops each list — the book of Revelation.

It’s the book people want taught.

And let me add, it’s the book that needs to be taught.

God controls history and will bring it to its consummation in Christ.

Let’s begin in chapter 5.

Revelation 5:1-

Revelation 5:12

That is the theme of the book of Revelation — Worthy is the Lamb.

Can you understand the Book of Revelation?

Can you understand the Book of Revelation?

I ask this question because of the attitudes that some people toward the book of Revelation:

I ask this question because of the attitudes that some people toward the book of Revelation:

Some people tend to fear the book and why not - with a Dragon, and a beast, and creatures, and blood and violence and judgment.

But you don’t have to fear this book.

In fact, you should embrace this book simply because it is the Word of God!

Other people marginalize the book - Martin Luther claimed the book as “Unedifying for the ordinary believer.”

I disagree.

This book is absolutely edifying to the ordinary believer.

We need the book of Revelation.

I disagree.

This book is absolutely edifying to the ordinary believer.

We need the book of Revelation.

Some sensationalize the book — They do this by looking at the book of Revelation as a puzzle book instead of a picture book.

They attempt to identify every minute detail of the book treating it as so mysterious.

To do this actually leads us away from the main purpose of the book.

Why is it difficult?

It’s difficult because it’s apocalyptic literature.

It’s the only book in the NT that is apocalyptic.

The OT has apocalyptic literature, but we’re not as comfortable in the OT as we are in the NT, right?

But we need the OT.

We need the OT to understand the NT.

For instance, to really get a clear understanding of the book of Hebrews, you need to understand the book of Leviticus.

More on that in a second.

Can you understand the Book of Revelation?

Absolutely, IF - If you read it with the understanding that the main point to the book is that God rules human history and is bringing it to His desired end in Christ!

But — we must understand that it is a picture book and not puzzle book.

It was really meant to be read in one sitting.

Because it’s a picture book be careful NOT to get caught up in all the minute details, but seek to understand the book in view of this main point and you will profit spiritually from it.

I want us to carefully observe that this is God’s Revelation and not John’s and that Revelation is Jesus Christ.

That is why we should be careful to say it properly.

It's not Revelations with an “s.”

It's not plural.

It is singular.

It is “Revelation” because it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Let’s review the book by recognizing Three Important Aspects about the book that are found in these first 3 verses.

I. God gave the Revelation.

Verse 1 ~ “The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show His slaves what must quickly take place.”

God gave the Revelation.

This shows us the glory and sovereignty of the Triune God.

We’ll talk about this more in a moment, but I want you to first see that the glory and sovereignty of the Triune God is revealed in Jesus Christ.

This word “Revelation” is the transliterated word Apocalypse.

To see this should help us to understand the genre of the literature of the Book of Revelation.

It is Apocalyptic literature.

And this is where we tend to fear, marginalize, or sensationalize the book and it’s because we tend to think of it in terms of secrecy and mysterious codes.

And while that is partly the case, it misses the point from the very first statement of verse 1. “The revelation of Jesus Christ that God gave Him to show…” This word Ἀποκάλυψις that is translated Revelation means to “to unveil, to uncover, to make fully known.”

Interpretative Key — Understand that because it is Apocalyptic in nature, we must interpret what we are not told straightforwardly by going to the OT.

Here’s why: of the 404 verses of the book of Revelation, there are more than 500 allusions to nearly every OT book - most of which come from Exodus, Psalms, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah.

Most in number come from Isaiah, most proportionately to the size of the book is from Daniel.

The point is we need to know the OT.

What Bible do you think the early Christians knew?

The OT, why, because that was the only Bible they had.

So, they would have readily understood the imagery and symbolism of the book of Revelation.

Why don’t we?

Because we don’t understand the OT.

The principle purpose of the book of Revelation is to make fully known Jesus Christ.

And so we find throughout all the book of Revelation a “making known” Jesus Christ.

In other words, the book is primarily about Jesus.

And we see this throughout the entire book — this focus on the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus — the Son of Man, the First and the Last, the Living One, the One who holds the seven stars, the One who was dead and came to life, the One who has the sharp, two-edged sword, the Son of God, the One whose eyes are like fine bronze, the One who has the seven spirits of God, the Holy One, the True One, the One who has the key of David, who opens and no one will close and closes and no one opens, The Amen, the faithful and True Witness, the Originator of God’s creation, the Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, the Lamb who was slaughtered and is Worthy - That’s! who this book is about and reveals.

Interpretative Key — Do not miss the main point for all the details.

It's a mistake to go running through the book of Revelation for clues to how things are going to end.

We should read the book to see Christ and to see Him enthroned and lifted up not only in Heaven but also lifted up on the thrones of our own hearts.

In all of the visions, symbols, and stories contained within the pages of this book, don't get so distracted in trying to piece together like a puzzle the detail events of the last days that you lose sight of Christ.

It is when we begin to discover Christ more fully that the greatest treasure of the book will become more and more revealed to us.

Because God revealed His glory and sovereign rule over history in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

God gave the Revelation, AND God made the Revelation known.

II.

God made the Revelation known.

Verse 1 ~ “He sent it and signified it through His angel to His slave John, who testified to God's word and to the testimony about Jesus Christ, in all he saw.”

Or — “He sent and communicated it” (NASB) Or — “He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John” (ESV).

God made the Revelation known by “Signifying” it.

This word "Signified" means to give a sign.

Now, before we fall into the trap that this is some kind of decoding mechanism.

It’s not.

Don't forget this is an unveiling!

It doesn’t make things secretive, but clears things up.

God gave the revelation to "Show His slaves" (that’s plural) and He did it through symbols.

So, these symbols are important.

But before we get overwhelmed by all the symbols, keep in mind these are things known for the most part from the OT, which we’ll see as we go along.Symbols like Colors.

Just here in the first chapter we have gold lamp stands, Christ has white hair and fiery eyes and bronze feet.

There are animals and creatures - creatures like a lion, a calf, one like a flying eagle, and a creature who has a face like a human.