Sermon Tone Analysis

Turn to Revelation 5

 

[1]5:1–14 THE SOURCE OF JUDGMENT

Revelation 5 is a continuation of the heavenly scene as we first read about in chapter 4. John focuses his attention on a sealed book in the right hand of the one sitting on the throne.

Rev 5:1  And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

Turn to Ezekiel 2:9-10

 

            [2]The fact that the scroll is written on the inside and on the back indicates that there was a lot to say (cf.

Ezek.

2:9-10).

The Greek word “biblion” is used to denote a book, scroll, or over all a “writing”.

That’s what we see here

Eze 2:9  And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, *a roll of a book was therein*;

Eze 2:10  And he spread it before me; *and it was written within and without*: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.

Turn back to Revelation 5

Now seeing the description there in Ezekiel we begin to realize early, what is written on the book on the inside and outside- lamentations, mounring, and woe.

Very shortly we are going to be seeing specifically what those things are, that are written in and outside of the book.

Rev 5:2  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

The question of worthiness for judgment (5:2) then needs to be answered; who is worthy to open this book?

Is there anyone in heaven or earth who is worthy?

That challenge goes out to heaven above, the earth beneath, and underneath the earth as well.

None is found worthy

/Phil 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth/[3]

Rev 5:3  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

Keep your place in Rev 5 & Turn to John 10

 

            So no man in heaven or earth was able to open the book.

I want to note here that angels in the Bible are sometimes referred to as men.

Satan, or the devil is also referred to as a man as well.

Gives credence to Joh 10:29  My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and *no man is* able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

So, that’s an indicator that the devil, the angels, and you and I cannot take “us” individually out of the hand of God.

Neither are we worthy to challenge God on any matter, because we cannot open the book of judgments.

That’s important as you consider the implications of eternal life.

Rev 5:4  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

So here is noted no one could read the book, nor could they even look on the book to see what it said on the outside.

This indicates the book had to be unsealed before it could be read at all.

Even visible writing was unreadable before the unsealing event occurred.

[4]The drama of seeking a worthy opener heightens the importance of the sealed scroll.

To break the seals was to open the scroll.

The function of seals in the ancient world was to protect important documents for private and select viewing.

This scroll is so confidential that it has not one, but seven seals.

Only when all seven are broken will the contents of the book be revealed.

It’s like working for the White House or NSA or some other Top Secret Organization.

Only a privileged few are allowed to view the nations secrets.

Clearance levels like Top Secret, SCI~/ YW~/ZB~/ TS Black, and beyond are compartmented and kept for a very few to see and know.

That’s what this scroll is like, but even more.

Only one, with the highest authority, only one who is “worthy” and responsibility could open the seals of this book.

To receive one of those clearances I mentioned you have to literally be “WORTHY” of such a position.

If you don’t fit the mold, then you are not “worthy” of such authority and responsibility

But Christ is worthy of it all!

Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

One of the 24 elders is now speaking to the Apostle John.

Weep Not!

The Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David.

The creator no less where David comes from, can open the book.

The sights that John was beholding must have been incredible and the seven sealed book or scroll was of so much importance that it caused John to weep because no one could open it.

John didn’t even know what was in the book, but he knew it was important…

Rev 5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

[5]The one worthy to open the seals would have to match the worthiness of the Father.

Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Here appears in the midst of the throne of God, in the midst of the four beasts and the midst of the elders, a lamb that stood, yet looked like it had been slain.

Here is the second person of the trinity, the God Head, now appearing as the slain Lamb of God.

The picture I get in my mind is the head of the lamb lolling to the side as it were in death.

The word slain in the Greek has the idea of something that had been butchered or killed.

But yet, the lamb was standing “up”.

And not dead

Christ conquered (5:5), and his triumph serves as the model for the believers’ “victory.”

Christ’s victory is explained in 5:9–10.

Jesus the Messiah is the one who overcame death and thus demonstrates his right to open the book.

The terms “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (5:5; Gen. 49:8–10) and “heir to David’s throne” (Isa.

11:1, 10; Rom.

15:12) are Messianic.

Christ is the royal figure coming from the tribe of Judah and the descendant of King David.

His victory, and that of his followers, is victory through righteous suffering, sacrifice, and conflict.

[6]

 

            /having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth./

/            /The Seven horns are the number of perfection; the horns represent authority and power.

Horns are representative of those two attributes.

The Seven eyes are the seven spirits of God; The number seven representing the fullness of the Holy Spirit in all His ministries.

The eyes are representative of God seeing throughout the whole earth as later indicated in /which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth./

The seven spirits of God, the Holy Spirit, going throughout the earth to accomplish the seven fold ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Rev 5:7  And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

Even though He stood in the midst of the throne, He still “came” and took the book from the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne.

Rev 5:8  And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

The four beasts, the 24 elders all fell down before the Lamb

            The each have harps: they each have golden vials full of odors, representing the prayers of the saints and the praising of God by them

Rev 5:9  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

 

            Here is what they are singing, this new song, praising the Lord for what he has done.

Redeeming all the peoples of the earth by the blood of the Lamb; every kindred, nation, and tongue, and people.

Rev 5:10  And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

The doctrine of Kings and Priests; or strictly known as the priesthood of the believer, which negates any specific man made priesthood found in the world.

We shall reign because He has made us kings with Him.

Rev 5:11  And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

 

            So here, along with the elders and beasts are now gathered 100 million angels praising God all around the throne.

Rev 5:12  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

Now, we saw in chapter 4:11 that God was worthy to receive glory, power, honour; now we are seeing the Lamb is worthy of the same, to receive power, riches, glory, and blessing.

That blessing is our elegant speech, elegant language, our adoration, benediction, consecration of Christ in our hearts

Rev 5:13  And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

Every creature, that is everywhere there could be a creature; everything that is created that had some form of life in it is now proclaiming… 

            Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

You might be thinking, well this couldn’t actually mean animals as well...

            Its certainly doesn’t mean animals does it?

Looking at the scripture here it literally means what it literally says, every creature, on the earth, under it, in it, in the sea etc.

After all the donkey spoke didn’t she to Baalam when he was disobeying God.

Every creature will praise Him; it may als oeindicate all those people who have died, will be resurrected to praise Him before their judgment before the great white throne.