Rev. #16~ 5:1-5~pt.3~ PRAISING THE LAMB 8-1-09
Today we’ll continue our study of “THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST”
We left off a couple of weeks ago with verse 6, I’ll review what’s been said to get our thought line back on the right track.
First of all let me say that in both chapters 4 and 5, is a scene in heaven that you and I that are saved will witness first hand as we are the Elders that we read of here, we’ll see that in more detail when we get to verses 8-10 of this chapter.
Chapter 4 was primarily to do with the worship of God the Father’ as He is the One that’s seated on the Throne.
In chapter 5 we have the worship of the LAMB, who is Jesus Christ.
In these two chapters we have a preview you could say, as to what will be going on in heaven just before God pours out His judgments on the earth beginning in chapter 6 as the Lord begins to open the 7 sealed book.
Vs.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.
I want us to notice that God the Father is in complete control of every thing that’s taking place today and what will take place in the future, this book is in His right hand, revealing the fact that no matter what Satan and his demonic forces do every thing in Gods plan will come to pass exactly as He has foreordained, nothing can alter it in any way shape or form, its all in His right hand.
The right hand speaks of His authority and soverenty over the entire world, and without question.
As you and I are reading and studying together here today, Satan and his forces are working over time, he knows that his time is not going to last much longer.
But lets remember that God has already made plans for Satan’s eternal abode in Rev.20:10 as he is cast into the lake of fire and tormented day and night forever and ever.
Who would have ever thought that our beloved country would be in the mess that its in today? It seems as though some of the highest-ranking members of government are purposely doing things to destroy our country.
But that’s what happens to nations that turn their back on Gods chosen people Israel, any nation that turns on Israel is going down.
But the bright side is, that all this reveals to we that are saved, that we’re coming to the close of the church age.
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2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ”Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?”
Ø Lets be sure to notice that’s its this strong angel that is crying aloud here,
”Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?”
This strong angel is most likely Gabriel, he is always Gods messenger angel, he brought Daniel Gods message in Dan. chapter 8:& chapter 9:, there we read the angels name, and its Gabriel.
And in the N.T., Luke 1: we find Gabriel over 500 years later talking to Zechariah there in the Temple about his son John the Baptist, also in that same chapter, Luke 1:, Gabriel is sent too the virgin Mary and told her she would be the mother of Jesus, who would save His people from their sins.
So we believe this strong angel is Gods messenger angel Gabriel.
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And then John sees and realizes that there’s no one worthy in all creation to open the book.
3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
Today all of us can open the book and read what God has in store for a God rejecting world during the horrible 7 year Tribulation, we can open and read it ourselves, but its only because of what the Lord Jesus has accomplished on the cross, we’re not worthy within our selves to be saved, but God has imputed the righteousness of Jesus on our account because we are believers in Him.
Even the lost sinner is invited to open and read the book; no one will ever be saved apart from the Word of God, thank God for His mercy and grace.
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
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We know that the Lord Jesus came as we’re told in all 4 gospels to be the Redeemer of mankind, and the universe as well. –
Ø But before He went to the cross to do that great work of redemption, we find in Matthew chapter 4, and also Luke chapter 4: what Satan tried to do.
He ask the Lord Jesus to worship him, too acknowledge his sovereignty over this planet as the god of this world, and Satan told the Lord that if He would do this that he would give Him all the kingdoms of the whole world. –Satan has always wanted to be worshipped.
But Jesus rebuked Satan with the Word of God, always from Duet.
Jesus commands Satan in;
Luke 4:8 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve
Jesus knew that He had to drink the bitter cup of the sin of the world, which was His mission the 1st time He came. -- He gave Himself on the cross of Calvary. That’s why he’s the Lamb here in Rev.chapter 5:--
That’s why this scroll is rightfully His: this scroll** is the title deed of the creation of the universe, although Christ did create the universe, He had to pay the redemption price as Adam fell into sin and gave control to Satan, Jesus bought it back and all of man-kind that will receive His payment as dying in their stead. We’re now redeemed, no longer under the bondage of Satan. –Thanks to Him.
The Lamb you might say, steps from the shadows into the spotlight in chapter 5 of this vision, and every eye is focused on Him. The Lamb is the theme of their song in heaven.
The Lamb is the center of their thought in heaven.-- The Lamb is the object of their adoration in heaven. Why? Because only He is found to be worthy.
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I want us to notice that this strong angel didn’t ask ’Who is willing to open the book?’, he cries aloud, ’Who is worthy?’. –Not who is willing.
There’s been many down through the centuries that wanted and even tried to dominate the world, they were willing to take over the earth by their own human empires.
Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon;-- Alexander the Great of Greece who wept because there were no more armies for him to conquer;--
Julius Caesar led his legions across Europe to impose Romanism by force upon those nations; -- Napoleon of France; and many of us today can think of Adolf Hitler of Germany as he envisaged a worldwide dominance that would reign for a thousand years - a millennium!
But they all failed, and the reason was, none of them was worthy, none of them! They were willing, but not worthy.—and John says;
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4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
In chapter 4 verse 1 John was promised that he was going to see things to come, --I will shew thee things which must be hereafter--and now it seemed that because no one was worthy to open this book that none of the wrongs upon earth would ever be righted, that God’s kingdom would never come because there was none worthy to open this book.
John was weeping because he was fearful that Gods plan of the Kingdom to come- might be postpone, John was a man just like we are, he so wanted to see Gods Kingdom come to pass, but after a search of all creation no one was found worthy to open and read, or look upon the book.
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5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath** prevailed**[conquered, overcome, prevailed, gotten the victory] to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
The “Lion from the tribe of Judah” and the “Root of David” these are Old Testament titles of the Messiah who would fulfill the promises of salvation and would rule.
Ø Jacob had 12 sons, the 4th son was “Judah” –Jacobs 12 sons make up the 12 tribes of Israel, when we mention Israel we’re actually talking about the descendants of the 12 sons of Jacob.
The tribe of Judah was the tribe David was of, from which the kingly line would be of.
Gen.49: 9-10 Judah is a lion’s whelp:**[young lion] from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? 10The sceptre **[kingdom] shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh **come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
It was this tribe of Judah that the promise was given of a Son whose throne and kingdom would endure forever.
2 Samuel 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.—notice, God said He would establish it.
The title “the Root of David” Not only is He called the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but He’s spoken of as the Root of David.
’Root’ means that He existed before David, that He brought David into existence, He was the Root of David –
It tells us that He brought David’s kingly line into being as well.
Luke 1:32-33 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: 33And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end—
IN Matthew’s gospel and Luke’s gospel we can read of His lineage, His genealogy, that He was in the lineage of David the King.
Jesus said in Revelation 22:16 I am the root and the offspring of David, meaning that through David’s linage, Jesus the Son of man came, the humanity side of Jesus.
He was before David, He created David, and yet He is the OFF SPRING OF DAVID.
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6And 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.
Lets be sure and notice that The Lamb is standing, if some one is standing, he is about to move. -- 29 times we find the word ’lamb’ in Rev.
Right now as we’re reading and studying together, He is seated. He is seated and making intersession for we that are saved, He is our Mediator.
Romans 8:34--It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
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The lion speaks of Christ as the Judge, coming to judge those who oppose Him; but the lamb speaks of Him as Saviour, the one who saves those who believe in Him.
--In those two descriptions,- LAMB & LION- we have His first advent and His second advent - coming to the world to be Saviour, and coming again to be the Sovereign King and Judge.
But the road of the Lamb is the road of pain, suffering, rejection, and humiliation. The cross always comes before the crown, always!
The cross, and the Lamb, is central to God’s plan of history. It is because of Christ being crucified that the Lord Jesus is worthy to take this scroll and to open the seals thereof.
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Jesus is not looked upon by the masses of the world today, but one day they will but it will be too late for them then.
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Our Lord is now rejected,
And by the world disowned,
By the many still neglected,
And by the few is He enthroned,
But soon He’ll come in glory,
The hour is drawing nigh,
For the crowning day is coming in the sweet by and by’.
