Rev 5.Who is worthy?
William Akehurst, HSWC
What an AMAZING look at Revelation chapter 5. Who is worthy to open the full and complete sealed scroll of what is to come? The Lion, The Lamb. Worship now includes the deity of Christ as shown by the angels.
The Lion and the Lamb.
WHO IS ON THE THRONE? YHWH GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISSAAC, JACOB.
BOOK/SCROLL WRITTEN ON BOTH SIDES. In Synagogues all over the world, the Torah is written on a scroll. Only one side has writing so that when the scroll is rolled up, the words, the writing are protected. This is the way scrolls were normally written in John's day.
HOWEVER, This book, this scroll was written on both sides of the page. Filled with its content and sealed 7 times over. All space on the paper was written upon. This book was complete!
This book is the key to understanding the Revelation, detailing God's judgment and triumph over evil. The world's future will be unfolded and as the seals are broken, a portion of the books content is revealed in a vision.
A seal is put upon a letter when something of importance needed to be transfered from one person to another. The seal shows its genuinity, that the contents are unaltered, official, and from the person whose seal is upon the item.
SEALS show ownership, protection, and even secrecy of the contents. For the eyes of the one who opens the seals to reveal its contents.
Revelation 5:1-14
JOHN’S FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE
GOD IS ON THE THRONE, IN HIS HAND IS THE BOOK. RIGHT HAND SHOWS HIS POWER AND THE SOURCE OF THE SCROLL.
HE HAS THE FUTURE ALREADY WRITTEN OUT.
THEOLOGIANS BELIEF: Judgment of 7 trumpets on one side. Judgment of 7 bowls on other.
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.
STRONG ANGEL. INTERESTING.
ANGEL, GABRIEL, ORDERED DANIEL TO CLOSE AND SEAL HIS BOOK TO BE REVEALED IN THAT LAST TIME.
ANGEL SHOUTING TO ALL THE HEAVEN AND EARTH. . . WHO IS WORTHY TO OPEN AND LOOSE THE SEALS?
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?
NO MAN, ANGEL, ELDER, PROPHET, BEAST - FAILURE TO FIND
3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
JOHN SADDENED. THERE IS NO ONE.
4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Ephesians 3:4-5
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
NO ONE, EXCEPT CHRIST, THE LEADER, THE LION
TO THE ELDERS, THIS WAS THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH. THE FORETOLD BRANCH OF JESSE, THE CONQUERER, AND RULER
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.
Isaiah 11:1
1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots:
THE LION, THE CONQUERER.
WHAT VICTORY DID JESUS CONQUER? He conquered:
1. SIN
Ephesians 1.7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.
2. DEATH
1 Corinthians 15:25-26
For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
3. HELL
Revelation 1:18
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
REALIZE SOMETHING HERE. GOD CANNOT HAVE SIN IN HIS PRESENCE. THEREFORE, IN ORDER TO FEEL WHAT WE FEEL, HE WOULD HAVE TO BECOME A MAN AND EXPERIENCE WHAT WE EXPERIENCE FIRSTHAND.
JESUS DID JUST THAT. HE CONQUERED THIS LIFE, WITHOUT SIN. THEN FOR YOU AND ME, WENT TO THE CROSS, GAVE HIS BLOOD AS THE LAMB OF SACRIFICE FOR OUR SIN, HE CONQUERED SIN.
DIED, AND ROSE AGAIN, HE CONQUERED DEATH
PROVIDING THE WAY OUT OF SIN AND DEATH, HE CONQUERED HELL.
THE CROSS GAVE HIM THE RIGHT TO OPEN THE SCROLL
THE ELDERS SAW CHRIST AS THE LION. JOHN SAW THE LAMB OF SACRIFICE.
NO ONE, EXCEPT CHRIST, THE LAMB OF SACRIFICE
SEVEN-FOLD SPIRIT, THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE SEVEN SPIRITS TO THE SEVEN CHURCHES.
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.
7-8, THE BOOK
HARPS - THE GREEK "LYRE", PLAYED AND SOUNDS MORE LIKE A GUITAR THAN A HARP. SO THE MUSIC WAS DIFFERENT.
VIALS OF ODORS - BOWL, FIRE PANS, FOR INCENSE PRAYER OF SAINTS - Believers dedicated to "waiting for his appearing", praying and looking for HIS coming.
These bowls of incense indicate that the book must be opened and judgments of the Great Tribulation must take place before the prayers of saints can be answered.
The KINGDOM must go through judgment. Therefore some of the prayers of saints will not be answered until after the Tribulation.
7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
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.
BEFORE, ALL PRAISE WAS GIVEN TO GOD THE FATHER. BUT NOW, A NEW SONG.
SANG A NEW SONG ‘THOUGH ART WORTHY’
PRAISE THAT ACKNOWLEDGES THE DIETY OF CHRIST.
ELDERS AND PEOPLE SING SONG OF REDEMPTION.
HE HAS REDEEMED US...
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; WE ARE REDEEMED ***TO GOD*** BY HIS BLOOD, THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB.
THE PRICE HE PAID? HE WAS SLAIN.
HE SAVES PEOPLE OF EVERY TRIBE, LANGUAGE, RACE AND NATION.
NO PREJUDICE OR DISCRIMINATION.
ROM 10.13 WHOEVER CALLS UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED.
MADE US KINGS AND PRIESTS UPON THE EARTH - FUTURE, AFTER JUDGMENT. AFTER TRIBULATION. BUT ALSO GOOD TO KNOW NOW.
10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
MAJESTIC WORSHIP OF THE ANGELS.
ANGELS DO NOT SING THE SONG OF REDEMPTION. THEY WEREN'T REDEEMED.
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;
NOW THE ANGELS SING PRAISE TO THE LORD.
THE ANGEL BAND SINGS PRAISE OF HIS POWER, RICHES, WISDOM...
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.
POWER- the one able to open God's book and carry out and execute God's will throughout the universe. Power on earth to do miracles, cast out demons, raise the dead. Remember, he never used power to make things easier for himself.
RICHES- a double claim on the wealth of the universe, 1st creation, then redemption.
WISDOM- wisdom of God, omnicient, seeing and knowing. he knows all about God and heaven, and all about the world with temptations and trials.
STRENGTH-no one can stand against him, strength and might as the power of truth. all he has to do is speak the WORD and HIS will is done. Luke 1.37. Remember in the wilderness, Satan tried to tempt Jesus, but Christ responded with the WORD and Satan was defeated.
HONOR-Reverence and respect are due to him for all he has accomplished in plan of God. Angels said he was worthy to receive respect due him. Do we give him the respect he is due?
GLORY-light of heaven. no flaw or defect at all.
BLESSING-praise (greek). All the blessings that heaven and earth can give are due to him. Thanks, praise, are due to him.
EVERYONE, EVERY LIVING THING WILL PRAISE HE THAT SITS ON THE THRONE, AND THE LAMB THE WHOLE EARTH WILL GROAN FOR HIM.WAITING FOR THE DAY OF HIS ETERNAL KINGDOM.
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.
FELL DOWN, BOWED AND WORSHIPPED HIM FOR EVER AND EVER.
14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
THERE WILL COME A DAY WHEN EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL CONFESS THAT JESUS IS LORD.
SOME WILL BOW OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL, AND WILL EXPERIENCE LIFE EVERLASTING.
OTHERS WILL BE CAUSED TO BOW AND CONFESS, THEN EXPERIENCE BEING CAST INTO THE EVERLASTING LAKE OF FIRE.
Whether we as Christians face the time of tribulation before, during or after the rapture of the Church, we must stay firm, and focused on our relationship with the LORD GOD, made possible by Jesus Christ. Do not be dismayed, we Americans think that we cannot or will not go through the time of tribulation, but look around you. Christians in other lands are dying for standing for Christ. True Martyrs in their land. What makes us better than them?
Do not fear however, instead, remain steadfast, firm, focused on the LORD our REDEEMER. Don't lose heart, instead, be ready, waiting, and looking for the day HE RETURNS!
