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Revelation 5

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Verses 1-14

Intro:
1. Prayer: God prime our hearts, & prepares our minds!
2. In one wonderful moment John experiences the purpose for which mankind was created – “union with God”.
3. Worship = to ascribe Worth!
  1. Worship means, “To use all that we are & have, to Praise God for all that He is & does !” (www)
4. Worship is also Wonder!
  1. Thomas Carlyle said, “Wonder is the basis of worship”.
  2. Wonder is “a priceless ingredient in the life of any thinking person!”
5. Last week Pastor Dan shared on ch.4 (Worship of the Father)
  1. Now the spot light moves to the Lamb.
  2. Drawing every eye, & prompting endless Praise!
    1. Q: Why would they do this in the sight of God the Father if Jesus was not God?
WORTHY! (1-14)
1. THE QUESTION! (1,2)
2. Explain scroll w/7 seals:
3. Why 7 seals?
  1. One document that was sealed w/7 seals was a Will!
  2. Under Roman law the 7 witnesses to a Will sealed it w/their seals(wax, along 1 edge), & it only could be opened w/all 7, or their representatives.
  3. This was the case with both Caesar Augustus & Emperor Vespian.
  4. So, such a document was sealed with wax or clay & could be opened only by a qualified person.
4. (2) The issue wasn’t finding someone “willing”!
  1. Many a men were willing to rule the earth: Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Hitler,...The issue wasn’t who was “willing” but who was “Worthy”.
  2. We hear no voice speak up…“Here give me that scroll”…not Abraham, not Peter, not even Mary!
5. THE LION, THE ROOT, & THE LAMB! (3-7)
6. (5) Only the Lion from the Tribe of Judah has the moral right to open the scroll which will reveal & bring about history’s completion.
  1. Many call this Scroll: “Gods Will, His final settlement of the affairs of the universe, the Title Deed to creation.”
  2. From what’s written on the scroll(ch.6) it’s obvious the subject of the scroll is regarding the sphere of man.
  3. The right to rule the earth is about to be declared at the Throne of God, once & for All!
7. THE LION!
  1. Why a Lion?
  2. Read! Gen.49:8-10
  3. Lion speaks of “Dignity, Sovereignty, Courage, Victory!”
8. THE ROOT!
  1. Why a Root? Because he existed before David & brought David’s kingly line into being.
  2. Is.11:1 - As far as His Humanity was concerned - Jesus had his roots in David.
  3. Is.11:10 - As far as His Divinity was concerned - Jesus is the root of Jesse(David’s dad).
  4. Remember when Jesus asked the Pharisees how the Messiah could both be David’s Lord & David’s son? (they couldn’t answer) Mt.22:41-46.
9. THE LAMB!
  1. Why a Lamb? – Because only through His sacrificial atonement is our future w/God possible.
  2. When John turned around to see the Lion, he saw a Lamb!
  3. A standing lamb, w/blood on it, w/7 horns(power), & 7 eyes(7 sp.)!
  4. Slain…(i.e.) He still had the markings! {To remind man for eternity the “cost” of their redemption!}
  5. Yet, He was standing…meaning Victorious!
  6. Emphasis then on His Res. not on the crucifixion… “Had been slain”.
  7. Jesus is called “Lamb” 29 times in the book of Rev.
10. Q: How can He be both Lamb & Lion?
  1. They represent 2 aspects of Jesus’ nature: the Royal & the Sacrificial!
    1. As Lamb he offers salvation [Sacrificial]
    2. As a Lion He judges those who reject Him [Royal]
11. Note the Progressive Rev. of Redemption:
  1. [1] In the beginning 1 animal was sac. per Individual! (Adam/Eve)
  2. [2] At Passover 1 animal was sac. per Family!
  3. [3] On the Day of Atonement 1 sac. per Nation!
  4. [4] John the Baptist announced 1 Lamb that would take sins away from the Whole world!
  5. The O.T. question from Isaac was, “Where is the Lamb?”
  6. The N.T. answer from John the Baptist was,“Behold the Lamb of God!”
  7. The Choirs in Heaven will sing, “Worthy is the Lamb!”
12. (7) Satan offered Him the whole world in return for one act of worship(Mt.4:8-10), but Jesus won the right to receive the scroll when He gave Himself on the cross.
13. WORTHY Times 4! (8-10)
14. (8) Incense – represents prayer.
  1. Ps.141:1,2.
15. If you ever thought your prayers don’t matter, look at these stored here!
  1. The prayers of God’s people play a vital part in God’s governing of the world. ☺
16. I wonder…will we play air harps in heaven? hmmm
17. Worthy – He is worthy not only because He is Creator(4:11) but even more because he is our redeemer.
18. A 5-fold new song:
  1. [1] A Worship Song - “you are worthy”.
  2. [2] A Gospel Song - “you were slain…have redeemed…by your blood”
    1. Interesting, Heaven sings about the Cross & the Blood, & yet some churches today have omitted all Hymns with this subject matter out of their hymn books!
  3. [3] A Missionary song - “Every tribe, tongue, people, nation”.
    1. Lifted from Daniel 7:13,14.
    2. The church now serves as Israel once did, with the tasks of worshiping God & making Him known to the world.
    3. Q: What does this mean for evangelism that the Lamb has purchased people from every tribe, language, people, & nation?
  4. [4] A Priestly song - “and have made us a kingdom of priests”.
  5. [5] A Prophetic song - “We shall reign on earth”.
    1. The future is to share Christ’s rule on earth.
19. (9) New? – It’s 2000 years old!
  1. New, not in time or origin; but new in the sense of its nature, something previously unknown & unprecedented.
  2. Moses song in Ex.15 was a song of redemption from Egypt.
    1. A new work of redemption calls for a new song!
20. Redeemed - In 1776 Thomas Paine, American Revolution patriot and writer, wrote about the price of freedom: What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; 'tis dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated.
21. WORTHY Times 7! (11,12)
22. Note the 7 things.
23. WORTHY Times 4, Times 2! (13,14)
24. Note the 4 things. Plus it is to both receiving it!
25. (13) The whole heaven explodes into praise! [The crescendo of worship!]
26. Notice how contagious, infectious, irresistible, & communicable true Worship is!
  1. From: the 4 living creatures(4:8); to the 24 elders(4:10); to the multitudes in heaven(4:12; 5:9,10); to every creature above, on, & under the earth(5:13)
  2. Even the demonic world & unsaved humanity thus fulfilling Phil.2:9-11.
27. Heaven is a place of worship, so begin to get ready now to join in the praise!
  1. This isn’t a “do we have to” thing!
  2. It’s what happens automatically when a good song comes on in a store where it’s hard not to tap your foot, whistle, or sing to.
    1. Ex: Today at Submarina, when an oldie song came on.
28. Times 2 – Worship is to be given to both the Father & Jesus!
  1. Athanasian Creed states, “We worship one God in Trinity, & Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance.”
  2. Both receiving worship thus again proving Christ to be God!
29. Shock & Awe!
  1. Elihu said, “Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him.” Job 36:26
  2. Zophar said to Job “Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?” Job 11:7
  3. Paul said, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” Rom. 11:33
  4. Read - “Screwtape” (Pg.49 Real Worship)
30. Worship is to feel in your heart and express in some appropriate manner a humbling but delightful sense of admiring awe and astonished wonder and overpowering love in the presence of that most ancient Mystery, that Majesty which philosophers call the First Cause, but which we call Our Father Which Are in Heaven. A. W. Tozer
31. (14) The 4 living Creatures are a little Pentecostal…“Amen”!
  1. Q: Hearing this praise to Jesus as the Redeemer - Do you find your heart saying Amen?
  2. Q: Last week you may have agreed to Worship God as Creator; but how about Jesus as Redeemer?

return to 'Top of Page'

Verses 1-14

Intro:
1. Prayer: God prime our hearts, & prepares our minds!
2. In one wonderful moment John experiences the purpose for which mankind was created – “union with God”.
3. Worship = to ascribe Worth!
  1. Worship means, “To use all that we are & have, to Praise God for all that He is & does !” (www)
4. Worship is also Wonder!
  1. Thomas Carlyle said, “Wonder is the basis of worship”.
  2. Wonder is “a priceless ingredient in the life of any thinking person!”
5. Last week Pastor Dan shared on ch.4 (Worship of the Father)
  1. Now the spot light moves to the Lamb.
  2. Drawing every eye, & prompting endless Praise!
    1. Q: Why would they do this in the sight of God the Father if Jesus was not God?
WORTHY! (1-14)
1. THE QUESTION! (1,2)
2. Explain scroll w/7 seals:
3. Why 7 seals?
  1. One document that was sealed w/7 seals was a Will!
  2. Under Roman law the 7 witnesses to a Will sealed it w/their seals(wax, along 1 edge), & it only could be opened w/all 7, or their representatives.
  3. This was the case with both Caesar Augustus & Emperor Vespian.
  4. So, such a document was sealed with wax or clay & could be opened only by a qualified person.
4. (2) The issue wasn’t finding someone “willing”!
  1. Many a men were willing to rule the earth: Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Hitler,...The issue wasn’t who was “willing” but who was “Worthy”.
  2. We hear no voice speak up…“Here give me that scroll”…not Abraham, not Peter, not even Mary!
5. THE LION, THE ROOT, & THE LAMB! (3-7)
6. (5) Only the Lion from the Tribe of Judah has the moral right to open the scroll which will reveal & bring about history’s completion.
  1. Many call this Scroll: “Gods Will, His final settlement of the affairs of the universe, the Title Deed to creation.”
  2. From what’s written on the scroll(ch.6) it’s obvious the subject of the scroll is regarding the sphere of man.
  3. The right to rule the earth is about to be declared at the Throne of God, once & for All!
7. THE LION!
  1. Why a Lion?
  2. Read! Gen.49:8-10
  3. Lion speaks of “Dignity, Sovereignty, Courage, Victory!”
8. THE ROOT!
  1. Why a Root? Because he existed before David & brought David’s kingly line into being.
  2. Is.11:1 - As far as His Humanity was concerned - Jesus had his roots in David.
  3. Is.11:10 - As far as His Divinity was concerned - Jesus is the root of Jesse(David’s dad).
  4. Remember when Jesus asked the Pharisees how the Messiah could both be David’s Lord & David’s son? (they couldn’t answer) Mt.22:41-46.
9. THE LAMB!
  1. Why a Lamb? – Because only through His sacrificial atonement is our future w/God possible.
  2. When John turned around to see the Lion, he saw a Lamb!
  3. A standing lamb, w/blood on it, w/7 horns(power), & 7 eyes(7 sp.)!
  4. Slain…(i.e.) He still had the markings! {To remind man for eternity the “cost” of their redemption!}
  5. Yet, He was standing…meaning Victorious!
  6. Emphasis then on His Res. not on the crucifixion… “Had been slain”.
  7. Jesus is called “Lamb” 29 times in the book of Rev.
10. Q: How can He be both Lamb & Lion?
  1. They represent 2 aspects of Jesus’ nature: the Royal & the Sacrificial!
    1. As Lamb he offers salvation [Sacrificial]
    2. As a Lion He judges those who reject Him [Royal]
11. Note the Progressive Rev. of Redemption:
  1. [1] In the beginning 1 animal was sac. per Individual! (Adam/Eve)
  2. [2] At Passover 1 animal was sac. per Family!
  3. [3] On the Day of Atonement 1 sac. per Nation!
  4. [4] John the Baptist announced 1 Lamb that would take sins away from the Whole world!
  5. The O.T. question from Isaac was, “Where is the Lamb?”
  6. The N.T. answer from John the Baptist was,“Behold the Lamb of God!”
  7. The Choirs in Heaven will sing, “Worthy is the Lamb!”
12. (7) Satan offered Him the whole world in return for one act of worship(Mt.4:8-10), but Jesus won the right to receive the scroll when He gave Himself on the cross.
13. WORTHY Times 4! (8-10)
14. (8) Incense – represents prayer.
  1. Ps.141:1,2.
15. If you ever thought your prayers don’t matter, look at these stored here!
  1. The prayers of God’s people play a vital part in God’s governing of the world. ☺
16. I wonder…will we play air harps in heaven? hmmm
17. Worthy – He is worthy not only because He is Creator(4:11) but even more because he is our redeemer.
18. A 5-fold new song:
  1. [1] A Worship Song - “you are worthy”.
  2. [2] A Gospel Song - “you were slain…have redeemed…by your blood”
    1. Interesting, Heaven sings about the Cross & the Blood, & yet some churches today have omitted all Hymns with this subject matter out of their hymn books!
  3. [3] A Missionary song - “Every tribe, tongue, people, nation”.
    1. Lifted from Daniel 7:13,14.
    2. The church now serves as Israel once did, with the tasks of worshiping God & making Him known to the world.
    3. Q: What does this mean for evangelism that the Lamb has purchased people from every tribe, language, people, & nation?
  4. [4] A Priestly song - “and have made us a kingdom of priests”.
  5. [5] A Prophetic song - “We shall reign on earth”.
    1. The future is to share Christ’s rule on earth.
19. (9) New? – It’s 2000 years old!
  1. New, not in time or origin; but new in the sense of its nature, something previously unknown & unprecedented.
  2. Moses song in Ex.15 was a song of redemption from Egypt.
    1. A new work of redemption calls for a new song!
20. Redeemed - In 1776 Thomas Paine, American Revolution patriot and writer, wrote about the price of freedom: What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly; 'tis dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed, if so celestial an article as Freedom should not be highly rated.
21. WORTHY Times 7! (11,12)
22. Note the 7 things.
23. WORTHY Times 4, Times 2! (13,14)
24. Note the 4 things. Plus it is to both receiving it!
25. (13) The whole heaven explodes into praise! [The crescendo of worship!]
26. Notice how contagious, infectious, irresistible, & communicable true Worship is!
  1. From: the 4 living creatures(4:8); to the 24 elders(4:10); to the multitudes in heaven(4:12; 5:9,10); to every creature above, on, & under the earth(5:13)
  2. Even the demonic world & unsaved humanity thus fulfilling Phil.2:9-11.
27. Heaven is a place of worship, so begin to get ready now to join in the praise!
  1. This isn’t a “do we have to” thing!
  2. It’s what happens automatically when a good song comes on in a store where it’s hard not to tap your foot, whistle, or sing to.
    1. Ex: Today at Submarina, when an oldie song came on.
28. Times 2 – Worship is to be given to both the Father & Jesus!
  1. Athanasian Creed states, “We worship one God in Trinity, & Trinity in Unity; neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the Substance.”
  2. Both receiving worship thus again proving Christ to be God!
29. Shock & Awe!
  1. Elihu said, “Behold, God is great, and we do not know Him.” Job 36:26
  2. Zophar said to Job “Can you search out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limits of the Almighty?” Job 11:7
  3. Paul said, “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!” Rom. 11:33
  4. Read - “Screwtape” (Pg.49 Real Worship)
30. Worship is to feel in your heart and express in some appropriate manner a humbling but delightful sense of admiring awe and astonished wonder and overpowering love in the presence of that most ancient Mystery, that Majesty which philosophers call the First Cause, but which we call Our Father Which Are in Heaven. A. W. Tozer
31. (14) The 4 living Creatures are a little Pentecostal…“Amen”!
  1. Q: Hearing this praise to Jesus as the Redeemer - Do you find your heart saying Amen?
  2. Q: Last week you may have agreed to Worship God as Creator; but how about Jesus as Redeemer?

return to 'Top of Page'

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Copyright Statement
These files are the property of Brian Bell.
Text Courtesy of Calvary Chapel of Murrieta. Used by Permission.

Bibliographical Information
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on Revelation 5". "Bell's Commentary". https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cbb/revelation-5.html. 2017.

Bible CommentariesRevelation 5

Bell's Commentary on the BibleBell's Commentary

Verses 1-14

Verses 1-14

Bible Commentaries
Revelation 5