Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

“Further up and further in” comes from C. S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia: The Last Battle.

It is about the end of all things **transitions to**

The fascinating book of Revelation:

I have been fascinated and intrigued my whole life, even being scared as a child.

The Greek word for Revelation is apokalupsis, which is where we get our word, “apocalypse” - a word with many negative connotations in our society today.

For example, “The Zombie Apocalypse.”

Yet the word simply means “unveiling.”

Revelation unveils for us the reality that is going on “behind the scenes.”

The book consists of a series of supernatural visions seen by a Christian leader named.

The visions are sometimes difficult to interpret.

Their overall message, however, is that there is more going on that meets the eye, and God is brining things to His good intended end.

Written to 7 churches in Asia Minor, in what is now called Turkey, experiencing trials.

For example:

Ephesus: “endured hardship”

Smyrna: “Endurance of afflictions and poverty”

Pergamum: “Where the throne of Satan is”

Thyatira: “perseverance”

Sardis: only a “few” who have not soiled their clothes

Philadelphia: “little strength”

Laodicea: “lukewarm”

The challenges of the hearers are re-framed in the climactic struggle of good versus evil.

It gives us the spiritual explanation of the experiences we encounter upon the earth.

The epic battle:

The powers of heaven versus the powers of earth and hell.

One of the strange things about the book of Revelation is the monsters that occupy the visual horizon.

[Describe these monsters.]

Yet we should not be surprised to find monsters.

We face them constantly:

Ecological disasters are monsters.

The fact that in we have entered an era in human history in which we can literally wipe out most of the population of the earth in a single day through nuclear weapons is a monster.

That we live in a day with more slaves than at any other time in human history is a monster.

The corrosion that turns family relationships into arenas of warfare and abuse is a monster.

Addiction in all its varied kinds is a monster.

The pressure that pushes us to achieve and acquire more status and possessions at the expense of our homes and our souls is a monster.

Yet the monsters are not unopposed.

Revelation tells us that the monsters act as part of a war against the Lamb

Note how in our way of viewing things, “the Lamb” can be disappointing when we want something strong to go against the monsters that we face.

Revelation shows us Godzilla rising from the sea to demand the allegiance of the earth, and heaven’s champion is announced:

“The Lion of the Tribe of Judah.”

We turn to see

A Lamb.

Yet the Lamb is a central figure in the book.

The Lamb, of course, is Jesus.

This is the shocking way in which God will get His work done.

We are called to worship this Lamb.

A book about Worship.

Revelation is a book about WORSHIP.

In today’s message we will learn about why we worship the Lamb and what happens when we worship the Lamb.

Why We Worship the Lamb

In Revelation chapter 4, John his caught up into a spiritual experience in which he receives a supernatural vision of the throne room of heaven.

Now, this is not to indicate that there is some geographical location in outer space that we call heaven.

Heaven is not somewhere out there.

We refer to it as “up” because that is a good biblical way for us to understand how Heaven is above the experiences and powers of the earth.

When John sees Heaven’s throne, it is full of fantastical images and activity.

What has happened is that God has made visible to John spiritual realities that to us are invisible without supernatural sight.

John’s vision of the throne room in heaven early on emphasizes the activity of worship.

The selected texts illustrate this.

2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne.

6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal.

And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.

8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within.

And they do not rest day or night, saying:

“Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God Almighty,

Who was and is and is to come!”

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying:

11 “You are worthy, O Lord,

To receive glory and honor and power;

For You created all things,

And by Your will they exist and were created.”

This text gives you a picture of the constant atmosphere of worship that takes place in heaven.

The Lord is worshipped and very soon we will be introduced to the Lamb and the Lamb will also be worshipped.

The biblical texts tell us that we worship the Lamb “because He is worthy.”

What does that mean?

Why is He worthy?

1.

We worship the Lamb because He is in control.

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. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 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.

4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.

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.”

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.

7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

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. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 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.

4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.

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.”

Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

9 And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,

And to open its seals;

For You were slain,

And have redeemed us to God by Your blood

Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;

And we shall reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

To receive power and riches and wisdom,