WHO IS WORTHY TO OPEN THE BOOK?
REV. 5
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WhoIsWorthy.html
Rev. 5 tells us of a scroll in heaven which is sealed w/ 7 seals. There is no way we could over-emphasize the importance of this scroll. The fact that it was sealed 7 times speaks to its importance, for in Bible days this practice was reserved for only the most important of documents.
The procedure and practice of sealing a scroll 7 times was often used in property foreclosures. When a Jewish family fell on hard times, they were required to forfeit their land. According to Jewish law, their property could not be taken from them permanently, and so their losses they encountered were listed in a scroll sealed 7 times…and the conditions for getting back their land were written on the outside of the scroll.
v. 1 front and backside
Then, when a qualified person could be found, when a redeemer could be found, when someone was found who could meet the conditions listed on the backside of the scroll, then they alone had the authority to break the seals, to open the scroll, and at that time the property had to be returned to the original owner.
All Bible scholars agree that this scroll in ch. 5 represents the title deed to the earth/God’s creation.
Remember now, that the earth and the world that God created was man’s original inheritance. God placed man in the garden of Eden and said, I give you dominion over the earth. Man was the delegated ruler of planet earth…but when man chose to sin, he forfeited the title deed to this earth to Satan…that’s when the foreclosure took place. The arch-enemy of God, Satan, legally took over the dominion of this earth.
Here’s some verses which deal with the “prince-hood” of Satan upon this earth:
Jn. 12
31Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out.
Jn. 14
30Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
II Cor. 4
4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not
Eph. 2
2Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air
Remember when Jesus was tempted of the devil in the wilderness? In the 3rd temptation, Satan took Jesus to a high place and showed Him the kingdoms of the earth. He said, bow down to me and I’ll give you dominion over these kingdoms.
Notice what Jesus said and what He did not say:
He said, I will not bow down to you. Then He quoted scripture which commands that He alone be worshipped and served.
But Jesus did not debate Satan’s authority to offer Him those kingdoms. Even Jesus knew that Satan is in authority right now on this dust ball earth.
Satan’s prince-hood over the earth is alive and well, and very much intact.
And this scroll in heaven represents the title deed to the world.
The big question in ch. 5:
Where is mankind going to find someone who can fulfil the requirements written on the backside of the scroll, in order to redeem for man his lost inheritance?
v. 2 who has the right to the title deed of the earth?
Who has the right to reclaim God’s creation?
This question is thrown out there in front of all humanity…and no one steps forward.
v. 3 “no MAN”…no one in Adam’s race had the right to take charge of the earth.
No pastor could step forward/politician/philosopher/scientist
v. 3 reveals the weakness of human civilization/mankind/Adam's race
Notice it does not say that no one was WILLING to open the book, but that no one was worthy.
Lots of men have been willing! Alexander the Great was very much willing to rule the earth, but he was not worthy/
Hitler/Caesar/Osama Bin Ladin/Said I’m Insane
Even the best of men did not step forward at this offer:
Abraham/Moses/david/peter/paul
Even the best of men could not step forward as being worthy to open the scroll…but it still must be opened, the seals must be broken, otherwise, God’s purposes would be left unfulfilled/God’s creation would remain forever in the hands of Satan…no wonder verse 4 says that John wept uncontrollably.
v. 4 John knew that unless the seals were broken and the book opened that all his suffering on that island was in vain…and all our suffering too,/grief/heartache would be totally useless and in vain…unless God’s plan of redemption could be totally completed.
John knew that if this book were not opened, there would never be restoration in Israel/peace in the world/end of destruction and doom/earth would never blossom as a rose as the Bible had promised/glory of the Lord would never fill the earth as promised.
And John cried his eyes out at the thought that since no one stepped forward as worthy, all God created would forever remain in the hands of the enemy. But look at v. 5!
v. 5-7 John, don’t cry, there’s good news! There is somebody who is qualified/worthy/strong enough…He’s the lion of Judah/root of David…none other than the Lord Jesus Christ…He alone is worthy to open the book!
The rest of the chapter tells us why He’s worthy/qualified to reclaim God’s creation…it’s an incredibly wondrous worship experience as we learn the reasons why He’s worthy and why He should be worshipped:
1. Because of Who He is—His Power!
v. 5 Lion—symbol of dignity/victory/power/courage
King of beasts
The elder says to John, “don’t cry…look at the Lion of Judah…” and John turns to look, and it’s not a lion, it’s a Lamb!
v. 6 The word translated lamb is not the one usually used in scripture for an ordinary lamb…this word actually means a little, cuddly, baby, pet lamb.
John turns to see a ferocious lion with long claws, jagged teeth, shaggy mane…but instead sees a tender little lamb…but wait a minute, it’s not just any lamb. This lamb has 7 horns and 7 eyes, and 7 spirits that roam the earth.
If an artist were to draw this description is would look grotesque, but when you study the symbolism is becomes a beautiful picture of the awesome power of the Lamb.
Remember, we’re talking about why He is worthy to open the book.
Because of Who He is—His Power!
7 horns—in the Bible the horn is a symbol for power…7 is God’s perfect number…this Lamb has not just power, but perfect power! This Lamb is all-powerful…it’s the omnipotent Lamb of God, Jesus Christ!
7 eyes—symbol of knowledge and wisdom…7=perfection…this Lamb has perfect knowledge and wisdom…all knowing…it’s the omniscient Lamb of God, Jesus Christ!
7 spirits which go into all the earth—symbol of the presence of God…7=perfection…this Lamb has perfect presence…this Lamb is ever-present…it the omnipresent Lamb of God, Jesus Christ!
No wonder they all cried, Worthy is the Lamb, Worthy is the Lamb
He’s not just any Lamb, He’s the omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent Lamb of God.
It’s interesting that in the book of Revelation Satan is characterized as a dragon, w/ hordes of demons supporting his work…but God is so powerful that all He requires to defeat the dragon is a little pet lamb.
He’s so great…He’s worthy of our worship/praise/to claim the title deed/His creation…because of Who He is—His Power!
2. He’s worthy because of where He is—His Position!
v. 6 In Heaven, not in a manger/on a cross/in a tomb…He’s ascended and exalted in heaven.
I love Christmas, but we do not worship a babe in a manger
I love Easter, but we won’t worship a corpse on a cross in heaven
(that’s why we should be repulsed when we see a crucifix, with our dead Savior hanging on a cross)
We will worship the Lamb of God, ascended, exalted in heaven!
In Heaven…and He’s Standing!
John said that the Lamb stood…as it had been slain.
Wait a minute…I’m no genius…but lambs that have been slain don’t stand. Lambs that have been slain lie on the ground in a pool of blood.
There’s only 1 way a slain Lamb can possibly stand, and that is if He has been triumphantly raised from the dead!
How did John know that this standing Lamb had been slain? There’s only 1 way possible: His mortal wounds were still visible!
Jesus showed his scars to those on earth after His resurrection…and Revelation will later tell us that Jesus will show His scars to those who have rejected Him.
I don’t know why He chose to retain His scars in glory (the only man-made things there), but I have a feeling He chose to keep them for all eternity as a reminder to you and me of how we got there…by the blood of the Lamb of God.
In Heaven/Standing/and thirdly, “In the midst”
v. 6 means “in the middle”—He’s the center of all that transpires in heaven.
In the midst of the 4 beasts (all of creation)
24 elders (God’s people)
Doesn’t it make you wonder why John had not already seen Him in this scene…after all, He’s encircled by everyone there! John describes the 4 beasts/24 elders/rainbow/scroll/throne…but He failed to recognize the Lamb, until pointed out to Him!
I wonder if John was not so taken back by all these other things that somehow He had forgotten to see the Lord.
That is a great danger in studying Bible prophecy. As we go verse by verse thru Revelation, it’s possible to get so caught up in the events of prophecy/details of prophecy…that you fail to see the One that the prophecies are pointing to…Jesus Christ is the central theme…this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ! He’s in the midst!
Why is He worthy to open the book and reclaim all of creation?
Because of Who He is—His Power
Where He is—His Position
3. Because of What He does—His Prerogatives (Rights)
Ill.—presidential prerogative
7-10 Why is He worthy?…v. 9: “for Thou was slain…and hast redeemed us…and hast made us kings and priests to reign!
Notice that when the Lamb took the book, the weeping ended, and the praising started!
What are His prerogatives? What right does He have to take that book?
3 prerogatives:
1. Right of creation (4:11)
The world was created BY Him, is sustained THRU Him, and it only stands to reason that it come back TO Him! It is his by right of creation
Ill.—philosophy student/final exam: 1 ?… “why?”/expected to write a several thousand word essay answering why/student smarter than teacher and wrote on final exam one word: because!
The world is asking why. Why am I here?/created?/come from?/going? Why?why?why? There’s a better answer than because…the answer is Jesus. He is the one word answer to every problem in the world…this place is His! His by right of creation!
2. Right of conquest
v. 5 “hath prevailed” (conquered)
Conquered sin by perfection/death by His resurrection/Satan w/ one word!
3. Right of Calvary
v. 9 Redeemed by His blood! (Some denominations today have gone thru hymn books and taken out those offensive songs about the blood) It’s the first song we’ll sing in heaven.
Worthy because of Who He is—His Power/Where He is—Position/What He does—Prerogatives
Notice the closing burst of praise
v. 11-14
100 million+ strong choir!
v. 14 says that all will bow the knee to Him, v. 13 says those in heaven, earth, and hell beneath will exalt Him as Lord.
Phil. 2
10That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
You can bow the knee now or later…if you do it now, you will be saved!
(Midas commercial: pay me now or later!)
ill.—Christian man/avid chess player/artist/wanted to paint something to illustrate the fact that you cannot beat Satan at the game of sin/painted teen boy sitting at chess table w/ Satan on other side…playing a game of chess/Satan smirking/boy despaired look/artist painted the chess pieces in positions where anyone who knew anything about chess would know the boy was at checkmate/displayed at gallery where thousands would see it/one day an astute, older, intelligent man known as an expert at chess walked by/it caught his attn./he stood there for hours staring at that chess board/suddenly his voice broke the silence/yelled: I found it, I found it…he’s got one more move, he’s not beaten, he’s got one more move!
If you’ve never been saved…you’ve only got 1 move…trust the Lamb…His blood was shed for you. Accept Him as Savior.
Christians: Do you believe He’s worthy? Worthy of what?
Your time?/talents?/treasures?
http://gbcdecatur.org/sermons/WhoIsWorthy.html
