Revelation, Part VIII
Revelation Chapter 5:8-14
Last week, we reviewed the one sitting on the throne – and I mentioned that I really wanted you to understand the importance of WHO we are talking about. This is not only the Savior promised to humanity, but the ONE given authority to judge the world!
Revelation 20 – when the living and the dead are judged – is very important, and we need to understand that without our understanding of who Jesus is – we cannot show others the importance of salvation on their lives.
So, we have to understand WHO Jesus is, and from there we can THEN share Him with others in a bold and merciful manner.
Read Revelation 5:8-14
Pray
I. Who takes the scroll? (v 8-10)
Jesus takes the scroll out of the right hand of the Father and is worshiped by the heavenly host. I believe this shows Jesus’ deity – his holiness – his authority.
Please note, that only God is worshiped. Jesus is therefore God.
The text in this passage indicates that the elders have vials that contain fragrances and that the fragrances in them are the prayers of the saints. The prayers of the saints are being stored. All unanswered prayer will be answered. The passage goes on and tells us that by the blood of the Lamb men have been redeemed. They are redeemed from every tribe, tongue, people and nation to become kings and priests that will reign on the earth.
This passage speaks of those that Jesus purchased with His own blood. Notice that these kings and priests will reign on earth. Jesus is not coming back to take everyone up into heaven for eternity as some teach.
The Worthy One is praised. The Here, the harp is mentioned. "This is a zithern or kind of guitar, played either with the hand, or with a pick" Worship in heaven is accompanied by music. And, of course, this is where the idea of we all having harps in heaven comes from.
With their golden bowls full of incense, the elders symbolically present the prayers of the saints, but they are not interceding for the saints, they are not functioning as mediators for God’s people.
I want to remind you that there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus (as 1 Timothy 2:5 says). These elders are not praying for the souls of those on Earth, and this very verse ought to show proof that there are not people in heaven praying for us which the Roman Catholic Church would suggest.
These men – these elders – are in the presence of the Lord, they are not given any authority, and they are simply worshipping at the Throne of Grace. They are exalting the King of Glory, because He is worthy.
They are signing a new song!!
Why is He worthy? Hebrews 9:25-26 says “Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself.”
Jesus Christ is the only intercessor between man and God, and without His interceding on your behalf because you have accepted Him as your Lord and Savior – you will not see the Kingdom of Heaven.
Now, let’s look at the angels around the Throne.
II. The angels around the throne (v11-12)
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.
John saw and heard the voice of many angels. Some say the book of Revelation is all symbols but John tells us what He heard in this book many times. What is heard cannot be made into symbols reflecting some spiritual meaning.
The number of these beings around the throne was over 100 million. We see the same reference to this number of beings around the throne and to the timing of these events in Daniel Chapter 7.
Daniel 7:9-10 says “I beheld till the thrones were cast down, and the Ancient of Days did sit, whose garment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like the pure wool: his throne was like the fiery flame, and his wheels as burning fire. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.”
Now, take a look at the authority Jesus will have.
Daniel 7:26-27 says “But the judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it unto the end. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the most High, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him”
In Daniel, the Ancient of Days comes to set up his court and there are over 100 million beings as well around the throne. In Daniel and in Revelation we see the kingdom will be taken from Satan and awarded to the saints.
We talked about this a few weeks ago, and it is important to note the authority.
The angels are proclaiming how WORTHY is the Lamb!! I believe they are singing this very song now, and will sing it into eternity! This is the art of true worship – this is the heart of true worship – and this ought to be the same worship that we have here in this life – BEFORE we get to the throne room!!
III. Who worships the One on the Throne? (v13-14)
Finally, these last few verses tell us that all creation will acknowledge that Jesus is Lord when He completes the work given to Him by the Father and restores creation to what it was before the fall of angels and man.
Jesus has completed the work of His father, and He is worthy to be praised!
Everything in creation cries out to show how worthy Jesus is … and we should be joining that chorus right now, without any mental reservation.
The story of this restoration begins in the next chapter with the opening of the seven-sealed book and continues until God creates the new heaven and earth at the end of the book.
Conclusion
Invite Singers
Do you need to praise Him today? Is there something that you need to say thank you for?
Every day we have an opportunity to be thankful to Jesus for what He has done – for the victory He has already won – and this day, ought to be no different.
If you need to come and give thanks, you come.
If you need to come and accept this Jesus, you come.
* Some research confirmed with Prophecy Update today and several other resources.
