The Lion, the Lamb the Scroll
Revelation • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsJesus is the only one fit to open the scroll and in doing so has taken control of judgement and eternity. This brings forth great praise to the Holy one, who alone is worthy.
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Airplane lounge illustration
Airplane lounge illustration
Its only for certain people who could verify they were apart of that airlines group
As we looked into the worship the throne room last week and how that should affect our worship
We look today even more into the throne room and see why we should worship Jesus, in a more in depth way.
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
Vs 1- John throne room vision continues
-He sees the Father sitting on the throne and in his right hand was a scroll written front and back and sealed with 7 seals
a Few interesting things
Father is sitting- authority and command
Scroll is the right hand- mark of power
The scroll is written front and back- this is a complete account of the unfolding of the next events
7 seals- assures secrecy and immutability of the decree
And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
So then a mighty angels sends forth a message:
“Who is worthy to open the scrolls and break its seals?”
-Im not sure who the mighty angel is- Some said maybe Gabriel possibly Micheal but a good possibility is a arch angel of some sort
But they not the focal point-its the message he declares
Even the mightiest of angels cannot open the scroll
And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it,
No created being was worthy to open it or look in to
No one
and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
John then burst out in tears and mourning
This is very important
Every faithful Jew has hoped in the day when the Messiah would put all things asunder and have all things in subjection to Him
John was called up in Rev 4:1 to see what was to happen next
He has gazed on a glimpse of the glory of God in the Throne Room to be meet with the fact that no one can open the scroll
Eternity outcome and final destiny is in that scroll
John just falls apart
Society isnt capable of improving itself and being worthy to open the scroll, The church cant, created holy angels cant take it from the Fathers hand
Enter the Lion who really is a Lamb
And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
One of the 24 elders looks to John and says- “Weep no more”- finality- no more mourning John
We are not fit to open the scroll the He is
Behold the the Lion of the Tribe of Judah
Gen 49 will declare/describe Judah to be lion and Jesus come from that very tribe
IS 11:1 says he will come from the Jesse- Root of of David
John- Weep no more- The Conqueror is here
On the cross, Jesus decisively and strategically conquered Satan, death, and hell.
Because of his conquering, He is worthy to open the scroll
He worthy to bring about the eternal destiny of the world
He is the worthy offering to appease Gods wrath therefore he is the worthy One to bring forth the outworking of Gods plan
Let me ask you this simple question, Where would we be without Jesus?
Think about this? Look back at Johns mourning
-Every promise of eternal life hinges upon Jesus and his conquering of the curse.
This isnt a by chance plan- but one as John will record involved a Lamb slain before the foundation fo the world and Lambs book of life that was written before earth had a substance
But Jesus did come and conquer and is worthy
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
John the looks to the throne and as he looks, he sees a Lamb not a Lion
At times Revelation what John hears is clarified by what John sees- He is being contradictory, what he sees gives a clearer image of what we have just been told.
Is he Lion of the Tribe if Judah, oh yes beloved but he is also as JTB describes the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world
John sees the Lamb but with a very interesting description
“As though it had been slain”
During Holy Week, Jesus was being killed while the some priest somewhere in the city was killing the lamb for atonement
Jesus, was the final lamb offered up for sins. None else was needed
But also we see just as in the upper room, Jesus bears the scars of atonement for eternity
However this slain Lamb now stands and is described by having 7 horns and 7 eyes
All descriptions power and wisdom
Not to forget the HS presence and work in the middle of this as well
Again, the Trinity in full work here in the Throne Room
And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.
This is the most powerful verse in the whole chapter
Jesus- walks up to the Father and takes the Scroll from him
Isaiah- falls on his face when he gets his vision of God, Saul is blinded by Gods Glory
But the Conquering King has no hesitation, for he has meet the requirements to take the scroll and bring about the plan of the Trinity
He is worthy
And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
At this sight the angels, who I believe do not know the perfect plan of God, but eager long to look a 1 Peter tells us, burst forth into worship
The unfolding of Gods plan is about to be complete
The prayers of the saints are worship to God as in them declare Gods glory and also our dependence on Him
Think of the Lords Prayer- how does it start?
“Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
The prayer of the saints for millennia is now coming to pass
At this moment the great Day of the Lord is no longer spoken of but is on the verge of reality
And worship breaks forths throughout the halls of heaven
And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
A new song is sung by the elders now from what was sung in chapter 4
At times in the OT- Songs were created after great movements of God to remember and praise God
Ex 15- After the Egyptian are killed in the Red sea- Miriam leads in a song of praise
Psalms 96- Commands us sing to the Lord a new song for what has done
And that will continue in Heaven
One commentator said that there will always be something new to praise God for in Heaven
His holiness will bring forth new facets of glory worth singing a new song for
But here listen to the their song
Jesus is worthy to take the scrolls because he slain and by his blood he ransomed people to God
Nothing paid to Satan, all appeasement of Gods holy wrath
To where are all these people coming from? Jerusalem… No… The world
Adam was to be a reflection of the image of God to the world but he failed
Israel was to be the light to the nations and they failed
Jesus was and is the Light of World and he conquered
Where they all failed, Jesus was victorious
What more encourarging than VS 10
-those insignificant believers in hard places have a future in the kingdom of God as do you and I
Those 7 churches have hope because of the Victorious Lion who really was a Lamb
Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
All of heaven joins in the chorus
One of my favorite times every singing is at pastors conferences
SEBTS illustration- 9 marks conference
But can you imagine the sound of the angels in the heaven as the LAMB TAKES THE SCROLL!!!
saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
His worthiness is declared- There is none other worthy of this praise
And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
All created beings join in the heavenly chorus as praise is given to the Father and the Son
As they do
And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
What a scene!! What a Day!!
As we close, lets look at
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
He is worthy, the Day is coming, may we be ready and found faithful.