Revelation 5 “Worship part 2 ”

Intro…“Why men hate church”

As men grow and mature in their faith, they can learn to sing more, however…

Text: Revelation 5

Big Pic: As the wonderful mysteries of our life and faith unfold, it should cause us to fall down and worship God (in confusion and/or delight).

In this heavenly vision that God gives to John, he sees not only God on his throne, but also the slain lamb which represents Jesus.

Jesus’ resurrection and power over death qualifies him to open the scroll and execute God’s future purposes for history, the destruction of his foes and the vindication of those who trust him.

As the Lamb opens the scroll’s seals, John sees images of God’s instruments of judgment and of the saints who will receive salvation.

John sees the right hand of God holding a scroll, sealed with seven seals.

The angel proclaims, “Who is worthy of open the scroll and break its seals?”

It’s kind of like the sword and the stone…

V. 3 No one is worthy in heaven, earth or hell…

Only God knows the future. We’re going to do our best to interpret this book of Revelation, but we have to remember to ultimately trust God.

V. 4 This troubled John to the point of tears (seeing that the church’s hope stood in jeopardy) until one of the elders said,

“Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Scroll

Similar to the scroll given to Ezekiel (2:9-3:3)

It’s not like most ancient manuscripts though which were hard to inscribe on both sides.

It did resemble a Roman will or contract deed with the contents written in detail on the inside and summarized briefly on the outside.

The seven seals represent the seven spirits of God.

This scroll could symbolize a will that is to be opened and its context executed…

Or it could symbolize God’s covenant with mankind, with the covenant curses being poured out due to mankind’s breaking of the contract.

This scroll contains God’s purposes for history, how things will ultimately end for all people.

But its seven seals prevent the full disclosure and enactment of its contents.

Lion of the tribe of Judah/Root of David

Both of these figurative titles used to describe Jesus are familiar OT messianic titles. (Gen. 49:9-10, Isa. 11:1 & 10, Jer. 23:5, 33:5)

The figure of a lion designated the conquering Messiah who would destroy Rome (Ezra 11:58).

The lion also echoes Jacob’s blessing on Judah conferring leadership over his brothers.

The root of David signifies the branch which sprung from Jesse’s root to restore David’s dynasty.

Jesus is the royal descendent of David and also the source of David’s rule.

The OT promise of a conquering lion is fulfilled in the NT reality of one who is also the slain Lamb, Jesus. v. 6

Jesus was like a lamb led to slaughter, bearing the iniquity of all and achieving their healing.

Isaiah 53:4-7

The Lamb’s seven horns symbolize great power. (Ps. 18:2, Dan. 7:24, Zech. 1:18-21)

His seven eyes are the seven spirits mentioned in Rev. 1:4-6 and these show that the Lamb’s knowledge extends throughout the whole earth.

v. 7-8 Jesus take the scroll and the four living creatures (all of creation) and the 24 elders (representing both Old and New Testaments) fell down and worshipped.

They sing a new song, similar to what we sang last week.

Harps (Psalm 33:2, 98:5)

Bowls in incense represent the prayer of the saints. (8:3-4) and that their pleas are heard and will be answered in God’s providential judgments.

v. 11-14 The worship builds to a crescendo.

Myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands…

The imagery suggests the infinite honor and power of the one who is at the center of it all.

As the scroll is about to be opened and the seven seals broken we will begin to see God’s purposes for history, how things will ultimately end for all people.

What is the proper reaction?

v. 8 & 14 “fell down and worshipped before the Lamb.”

Sang new songs, v. 9-10

For those who don’t like to sing as much….

V. 12 Saying with a loud voice “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

A sevenfold blessing.

Conclusion:

Phil. 2:9-11 “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Someday we will all bow before Jesus, whether we want to or not.

So I guess we either learn to worship God now, every day, all the time, during the singing or not at church…