Worthy Is The Lamb Series

WEEK 14

“Worthy Is The Lamb”

Date: September 18, 2002

Place: Allendale Baptist Church

Text: Revelation 5:8-14

Introduction

In our last study beginning in chapter 5 we see the church in heaven. Chapter 5, a continuation of chapter 4 is the first picture we see of the ongoing worship that we will be a part of in heaven.

The only One that is found worthy in heaven to open the scroll or book has come forward, and all of heaven and all creation worship Him. That One is Jesus.

Verse 8

“The four living creatures”

 These are the angels of heaven. Their one primary purpose is to worship God before the throne.

“And the twenty-four elders”

 Remember we said that these twenty-four elders represent the redeemed of all the ages. They represent the church.

“Fall down before the Lamb”

 Here again we see the continual worship given to the One that is worthy of all praise and all worship.

“Each having a harp”

 A harp as we know is a musical instrument, which always denotes praise.

 In the Old Testament messages of prophecy was accompanied with music usually a harp.

 John MacArthur states, “The twenty-four elders, which represents the redeemed church, played their harps in praise and in symbolic indication that all the prophets had said was about to be fulfilled.

“And golden bowls full of incense”

 These golden wide mouth bowls or saucers were common in the tabernacle and temple worship.

 Incense was a normal part of the O.T. ritual. Priests stood twice daily before the inner veil of the temple and burned incense so that the smoke would carry into the Holy of Holies and be swept into the nostrils of God.

 This symbolized the peoples prayers rising up before the Lord

“Which are the prayers of the saints”

 These prayers represent all that the redeemed, the church, have ever prayed concerning ultimate and final redemption.

 This seems to a reoccurring theme throughout the Book of revelation.

Verse 9 & 10

“And they sang”

 Some translate this as all of creation joining in on this song.

 I believe this is a song only those of the church, those have been redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb will sing.

 I love to hear beautiful music. I especially love to hear a choir sing when all the different voices sing in different octaves and parts.

“A new song”

 Here is something else people worry and ponder. About what will we sing? Will we sing an old familiar hymn? No Will we sing a praise song or a chorus? No

 It says here a new song

 One only those that have been redeemed and one that has never been sang before.

“For you were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood.”

 This new song is all about why we are in heaven.

 We praise and worship Jesus because He has redeemed us.

 Because He has saved us.

 We sing to Him because He died for our sins

 Because He is worthy

 And because of His blood.

“And have made us kings and priests to our God.”

 This is our new position in Christ Jesus

 Because of this position because of our kingship, because of our priesthood we have the right to come into His presence.

Verse 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 times thousands”

 John is telling us here there were more than he could ever possibly count.

Verse 12

“Saying worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

 This doxology records 7 qualities that demand our praise

 Some one has put it this way

Power – over my life, the church, the world and universe

Riches – all my silver and gold

Wisdom – the finest of my intellectual powers

Strength – My physical strength for His service

Honor – a single, pure desire to magnify Him in all my ways

Glory – my entire life devoted to glorifying Him

Blessing – all my powers of praise for Him

Verse 13

Read

 This verse resembles Philippians 2:10-11 which tells us every knee will bow before Jesus and every tongue will confess Him as Lord.

 I believe this is speaking of saved and unsaved alike.

 It doesn’t say exactly when this will take place. Some say most likely after the believer’s have received their rewards and the unbelievers their final judgment.

Verse 14

 This is the finally.

 Remember the word Amen means I agree or let it be