In this chapter we see all of heaven worshipping Jesus Christ for shedding His blood and purchasing them for God.
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Worthy Is The Lamb
Intro: Ch.4 is the backdrop, setting the stage for the drama of Ch.5. Ch.5 is reason John called up to heaven. God wants him to see this.
We are going to work our way through Revelation chapter 5 looking at 3 things:
- The Sealed Scroll (5:1-4);
- The Lion-Lamb (5:5-7);
- The Crescendo of Creation (5:8-14).
1. The Sealed Scroll: 5:1-4
- How Were Scrolls Made? Rev. 5:1 speaks of a book in the right hand of God the Father. However, we shouldn’t think of this book like we think of moder books made up of individual pieces of paper glued together and bound with a front and back cover. Their “books” were papyrus scrolls. They didn’t have paper. Their writing material was papyrus. Papyrus was both the name of a water plant grown in swamps along the Nile River, and the paper produced from these plants. This plant had the texture of celery. They would remove the outer layer from this plant, and then cut the remaining stalk into strips. They would soak the strips in water for several days. Then they would lay some strips vertically and some horizontally and put it out in the sun to dry. When it dried, all of the strips would be fused together just like you had glued them together. When they were all done they would have a piece of writing material. Sounds like an awful lot of work to produce 1 piece of paper doesn’t it!
Ancient people would write on both sides.
1) Papyrus paper was very time consuming so they would not waste any of it.
2) On legal documents it was imperative to include the entirety of the document on a single scroll.
This scroll in heaven must have had so much material written on it that it had to be written on both sides.
- What does this Scroll Contain? The world’s destiny; God’s eternal purpose for His creation; God’s decrees concerning the world. We know this, because in chapter 6 when the seals are broke, things start taking place on earth. The only Old Testament reference to a sealed scroll written on the front and back is Ezek.2:9-10. There we read that what was written on the scroll were lamentations, mourning and woe.
This scroll is sealed. If the scroll contained important or sensitive information that you didn’t want other people to read, you would seal it. Certain legal documents would be rolled part way on a spindle, then a dab of hot wax would be placed on the edges into which press a seal would be pressed. Then they would roll it up more and seal it again. This scroll had been sealed seven times. The number 7 in Scripture is the number for completeness. The contents of this scroll are completely inaccessible and hidden and would prevent it from being tampered with. When the seals of a legal document like a will were broken, it would result not just in revealing what was in that will, but also in carrying out its contents. That is the kind of scroll we see here in Revelation 5. If seals are not slit, it doesn’t just mean John doesn’t get a peek into future. It means God’s purposes for human race will not come to pass.
- Where is this Scroll? In right hand of God the Father. The right hand is the place of power and authority. Jesus is seated at the right hand of God showing us that He is seated at the place of power and authority in heaven. God’s plan for the destiny of the world is in His right hand of power. He is able to carry out His sovereign purposes for the world.
- What Question does the Strong Angel Ask? 5:2. Who is worthy to open book and break its seals? Why does he ask with a strong voice? It must be because he wants all the universe to hear his question, including John. Is there any human worthy? Any angel? No! Notice, even God won’t open the scroll. Why not? The answer must be because it was man who fell. Therefore man’s destiny must be determined by Another Man. But who has a life so perfect, a character so righteous, a rank so exalted, that he can approach this terrifying God on the throne, take the scroll of God’s predestined purposes for the world, and slit its seals, so that God’s plan is executed on the earth?
- How Does John Respond? Wept greatly. The word implies that John’s weeping was audible and ongoing. He was sobbing. But why would he weep greatly? It is because if no one can open the book and break its seals, it means that God’s purposes for this world will never be realized. All creation will remain subjected to futility. All people will remain in bondage to sin and misery and death. There is no final salvation or judgment. It means that all the wrongs of this world will never be righted. What about the hundreds of thousands of Christians who were tortured unmercifully and then killed for their faith? Or what about the Christian wife who was beaten senseless by a godless husband who hates Christ and gospel? What do we tell our children when it seems the bad guys always win? If this scroll not opened, we can’t tell them anything! All is meaningless. No purpose in all this! There is no justice. There is no righting of the wrongs. If the seals of the scroll are not broken, the persecutors triumph, believers do not overcome, there is no new heaven and new earth, and no eternal inheritance.
2. The Lion-Lamb: 5:5-7.
- The Lion from the tribe of Judah: A lion suggests royalty, majesty, and strength. Jesus is all of those things.
- The Root of David: originator, source. Do you remember the question Jesus asked the Pharisees in Mt.22:41-45, “What do you think about the Christ, whose son is He?” They responded that he would be the son of David. Then Jesus went on to show from Ps. 110:1 that the Messiah would not just be David’s son – He would be David’s Lord. That’s the idea here. Jesus is the root, or the source of David. He is David’s Creator!
- Overcome: What does this refer to? Why is Jesus worthy to open the book and break its seals? It is because He overcame! How? 5:9 – He was slain and He purchased men for God from every nation.
What does all this mean for Jesus? As a result of Jesus’ suffering unto death, God rewards Him!
Mt. 28:18 “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me.”
Phil.2:8-11 “He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
As a result of Jesus’ suffering unto death, the Father crowns Him King of the universe! This doesn’t mean the Father leaves the throne; it means Jesus, the Mediator, is seated on the Throne with the Father. From now on, this is the throne of God and the Lamb (22:1,3). God governs the Universe through the Lamb. This is Christ’s reward for His sufferings and obedience.
- Where is Jesus? Standing in the center of the throne! He is not falling on his face before the throne like the Elders. He is standing in the center of it showing us that He is not there to worship but to be worshiped.
- He came the first time as a Lamb to die and take away the sins of the world. He will come again the second time as the Lion to judge His enemies and rule.
7 Horns: complete power. 7 Eyes: the fullness of the Spirit was upon Him.
3. The Crescendo of Creation: 5:8-14
- The Lamb is Worshipped:
5:8 – fell down before the Lamb;
5:9 – Worthy are You;
5:12 – Worthy is the Lamb!;
5:13 – “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing…”
5:14 – “The elders fell down and worshipped!” But the angel would not allow himself to be worshipped – Rev.22:8-9. John never says explicitly “Jesus is God” – but this scene makes that truth crystal clear. He is worshipped as equal with God together on the same throne!
- Harps: 5:8. We sometimes envision heaven as monotonous plucking on a harp while sitting on white clouds wearing white togas, popping grapes. A harp was a very common ancient instrument played in the first century. If the harps are symbolic perhaps they merely represent musical instruments of any kind. Maybe there will be guitars, pianos, sitars, violins, mandolins, cellos, basses, dobros, harmonicas, drums. Maybe even banjos! If there are banjos in heaven I want to be in the banjo part of the symphony! The harps point to a spirit of celebration, joy and gladness in the worship of heaven.
- Bowls full of Incense: 5:8. The prayers of saints. We have an example of the prayers of the saints in heaven in 6:9-10. There we find the souls of the martyrs crying out and asking God how long He will refrain from judging and avenging their blood on their persecutors. They are sweet smelling because they reflect very purpose included in the scroll.
- A New Song: 5:9. After God delivered Israel by bringing them through the Red Sea on dry land, and then bringing the waters down upon the Egyptians to destroy them, the Israelites sang a new song of praise. We have that new song recorded in Exodus 15. A new song is for new expressions of redemption. Well, here in heaven, there is a new song sang to celebrate what Christ accomplished at the cross. He purchased (redeemed) men from every people group on Earth.
- The Church as the Fulfillment of Israel: This song has rich overtones from original Exodus. Why is Jesus worthy?
The Event: He was slain – Event
The Meaning of the Event: He purchased men for God
The Result of the Event: we are made a kingdom and priests
The OT Event: The Passover Lamb was slain – Ex.12;
The Meaning of the Event: God purchased all first-born. They became property of God – Ex.13;
The Result of the Event: all Israel became a kingdom of priests – Ex.19:5-6.
The people of Israel prefigure Us! We are the True Israel – the New Israel.
The OT Passover prefigures the Cross
The OT Exodus from Egypt prefigures our separation from the world
The OT circumcision prefigures our circumcision of the heart – the New Birth.
The Sabbath prefigures our resting in Christ for salvation.
Phil.3:3 “For we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh”
Gal.3:29 “And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”
Rom.2:28-29 “For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.”
Now in heaven we worship the Lamb beause He has fulfilled His covenant promises! This is the ultimate and final exodus that was dimly prefigured by Israel in wilderness.
- The Sacrifice: 5:9-10
It Was Bloody. Blood simply speaks of death. Not to be looked at in a superstitious way, as though there were magical qualities in His blood. I sometimes hear people talk about “pleading the blood” over their home. They seem to think that if they “plead the blood” the devil or his demons can’t come near. But we never find this practice in Scripture. I think that it is a superstitious belief that arose over the centuries. The Blood speaks of a violent outpoured life.
It Was Effective: It actually accomplished something. Not redemption of every tribe… but men from every tribe. There are Universal and Particular aspects Christ’s bloody death. It is Universal in that no tribe on earth has been exempted. It is Particular in that particular people from those tribes were purchased. God will have representatives from every people group in heaven worshipping the Lamb. 21:24-26. Jesus is not in heaven, wringing His hands, hoping against hope, that somebody out there will believe so that His death would become effective. His cross was effective! He purchased the gift of the Holy Spirit which would regenerate dead sinners and bring them to faith. His death secured the redemption of all the elect!
It Was Purposeful:
“for God.” We don’t sing about How Jesus purchased our salvation for us. We sing about how Jesus purchased us for God! He came on a mission for God. He came to do the Father’s will. If you are a believer, He died for you, but in a subsidiary sense. Ultimately Jesus died for God.
He Made Us To Be A Kingdom – Jesus is King, we are His loving subjects.
He Made Us To Be Priests to our God – those who privileged to draw near to God. A priest offers sacrifice – we offer the sacrifices of praise, thanksgiving, doing good, sharing, and prayer.
- Rest of Angels Join In: 28 worshipers with their harps now become a group so enormous that he couldn’t count them (John’s purpose not to give exact count. Where find time to count them? Simply to say worshippers so vast could not be counted.)
Loud voice: you can imagine how loud would be by sheer numbers! Also by passion in which they proclaim their praise. Worthy is the Lamb! 7 synonyms; 7 excellencies – Power, Riches, Wisdom, Might, Honor, Glory, Blessing. They are declaring the Lamb’s Perfect Worthiness! This is the answer to the question of 5:2.
- All Creation Joins In: 5:13. Blessing – Honor – Glory – Dominion.
Application:
- Heaven Worships Jesus as Redeemer: for cross, sacrifice, shed blood, atoning work. Cross should be central to all our praise and worship. That is why the Lord’s Supper is a central and important event in the life of the church.
- Heaven Worships Jesus in Joyful Celebration: Harps. So should our praise and worship be! Joy! Ps.100:1.
- Heaven Worships Jesus as Equal with God the Father: This is written in unmistakable language. You don’t need to ever question whether Jesus is God. This is without a doubt.
Mt.2:11 – the wise men worshiped Jesus.
Mt.14:33 – the disciples worshiped Jesus after He stilled the winds and waves.
Mt. 28:9 – the disciples worshiped Jesus after His resurrection.
Mt.28:17 – the disciples worshiped Jesus before He gave the Great Commission
Luke 24:52 – the disciples worshiped Jesus after He ascended to heaven
John 9:38 – the blind man worshiped Jesus after Jesus healed him.
Will you worship Jesus Christ, along with all of these? If you will not worship Jesus you are not a Christian. A Christian is one who glories in Christ Jesus by the power of the Spirit. Let’s be true worshipers!
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