The Worthiness Of The Lamb Of God Series

Alpha and Omega, Part 29, Revelation Part 6

The Worthiness of the Lamb of God

Revelation 5:1-14

Welcome, we are grateful to have you here today – VIP cards in bulletin

Introduction

- Taking this a part, chapter by chapter, to understand God’s ultimate plan

- Last week we were introduced to the Throne of God

-- We discussed the importance of the 24 elders and the 4 living creatures

-- We unpacked their role: to worship and to serve God before His throne

-- The vision John gets is clear: the majesty and glory of God is second to none

-- It’s a place of unbelievable power (thunder / lightning) and glory (beauty)

- Today, the vision continues in the Throne Room, and introduces Jesus Christ

- Read Revelation 5:1-14 / Pray

- Scene: Understand there is no break between Ch. 4 and 5

-- God is on His throne, and in His hand is the very plan of His for creation

-- What is it? The history of the final days of Earth; the end of all things

-- Must stress: This is the center piece of all that we are studying: God’s plans

- TR: This book – this revelation – tells us how the story ends

-- Let’s talk a bit and set up some background for the rest of the message …

Point 1 – God demonstrates His absolute sovereignty

- As if creation was not enough, speaking our existence into place …

-- John sees God holding a scroll in the palm of His right hand (v1)

- The scroll is written front and back – rolled up and sealed

-- Ancient books were written this way – front and back, and tied or sealed

-- In this case, a seal is used to ensure they do not fall apart (ref. wax imprint)

- This has seven (GR: hepta) seals – it’s worth is the focus here

-- The scroll was sealed closed … Greek: katasphragizó; to seal up

-- In Roman times when a will was written, it would need 7 witness of men

-- This means that seven men would witness and approve of the contents

-- To us, the seals reveal the secrecy of the book – no one in time has opened them

-- Romans 11:33, “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways!”

- John sees an angel pose a question: “Who is worthy to open …?” (v2)

-- This angel has the ability to pose the question to any that could hear

-- Deeper: “Is there anyone who is worthy to comprehend its contents?”

• No person in Heaven (of all the souls there) was found worthy (v3)

• No person on Earth (no king or rulers) was found worthy

• No person under the Earth (meaning from the dead) was worthy

- Because of this, John is found in despair – he weeps bitterly (v4)

-- Consider: Standing before the greatness of God, and NONE are worthy???

-- Not a single person (Abraham, Moses, etc.) would come forward to do this?

-- IMP APP: Quit putting your faith in man … we are not able to redeem!

- But also, as a human, John weeps because … He wants to know too!

-- Just like you and I … we want to know what is going to happen

-- We do this all the time with our prayers, don’t we? “Why?” “When?”

- Even during this critical time in Heaven, none were found worthy. Really?

-- Right! Why? B/c of the contents … no one is able to know God’s plan

-- FYI: Everything that we will see from Chap. 6-21 is disastrous for creation

-- And until now, not one has been worthy to see or know God’s truth

- Ponder: The one who opens this book has to be able to grasp its contents

-- Consider: If you knew the date of your death, might you change your life?

-- How about, if you knew the destruction or the end of all things … ?

- The contents of this scroll are just that and none of us can comprehend them

-- It is why we NEED a revelation or have it shown to us! (Welcome to church!)

- Interesting: This same scroll is also mentioned in OT prophecy as well:

• Ezekiel 2:9-10, “Then I looked and saw a hand reaching out to me. It held a scroll, which he unrolled. And I saw that both sides were covered with funeral songs, words of sorrow, and pronouncements of doom.”

- The importance of this is consistent – all things to happen are inside of it

-- Church: Don’t miss this … in your hands today is the knowledge of God!