He Is Worthy

Revelation 5

Immanuel – 2/20/22

Isn’t it frustrating when things don’t go according to plan? So far, 2022 has not gone according to plan. And now it has been three weeks since I was last in the pulpit.

That is unfortunate because it makes it feel like there is a big gap between Revelation 4 and Revelation 5. But I want to stress that there is no gap. These two chapters are meant to roll into one another. They are connected. They are the same vision.

And this one vision is filled with echoes from Mount Sinai, and from the prophets Ezekiel and Daniel.

Let us also remember that time is not normal in this vision. Time is both compressed and stretched. Just as the one seated upon the throne is Him who was and is and is to come; John is being shown things that were, things that are, and things that will come to pass.

So let’s review what we have seen in this vision already, and then we will dive into the glorious and symbolic waters of chapter 5.

Chapter 4 initiates the second part of the book of Revelation. The first vision – of Jesus speaking messages to the seven churches – has concluded. Now, the Holy Spirit catches John up in another vision, and John is transported into the heavenly throne room.

But this is a vision brimming with symbolic images. In my last sermon, I demonstrated why John is not seeing God’s literal throne room in Heaven. He is seeing symbols, things that show John – and all of us – spiritual realities. The symbols give us eyes to see what is beyond human sight.

And what we see is a glorious God, almighty in power, beautiful and holy, awesome beyond measure. Around Him are seated 24 elders – symbolic representatives of the church. The very promises that Jesus gave to the seven churches adorn the 24 elders: white garments, crowns, and thrones.

They are a picture of all who overcome. And if, by faith, you overcome the trials and temptations of this life, then their seat is your seat, their glory is your glory, their worship is your worship!

Also around the throne are the four living creatures. These represent all creation glorified, creation fulfilled. Day and night these cherubim cry “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.”

They do just as the entire created order does:

The heavens declare the glories of God, and the sky above proclaims His handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. -Psalm 19:1-4

When you and I go outside, stand on some lofty height, swim in a pristine mountain lake, hear loons calling through the morning mists, see countless glimmering stars arrayed in the night sky – all these glories in creation – does it not fill your heart with praise? Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.

This is the very song that the elder sing as they fall on their faces before the throne of God. This is worship as God has created it to be: creation expressing the glory and honor and power of the Creator, revealing His inexpressible holiness; and it fills our hearts with such worship that we cannot help but declare that He is worthy!

Such is the scene depicted in chapter 4. It is worship as God created it to be: the beauty of God’s works eliciting in us an eruption of joyful praise.

Then, when a new figure enters in chapter 5, this ecstasy of worship dramatically intensifies.

Purpose

Identify the scroll.

See the worthiness of the Lion that is a Lamb.

Worship

Read Revelation 5

The Scroll

John has been seeing some strange and wild things. In chapter 4 you could hear it, as John’s language struggles to keep up. But then something rather ordinary enters into John’s focus. There in the right hand of the Ancient of Days, of the Almighty God, is a little scroll.

Yet though, for John, a scroll would be a very ordinary item, the last things that this scroll is, is ordinary. It is peculiar in a number of ways, and it’s meaning is unbelievably profound. In fact, to understand the rest of the book of Revelation, you must understand the meaning of the scroll.

Once again, it’s description helps us to identify the scroll’s meaning.

Read vs 1

The first thing to note is that it is held in God’s hand. That means the writings inside have not been penned by men or angels, but by the hand of Him who holds it. God is the author of what is written upon the scroll.

And God has written on front and on back. Can you think of anything else in the Bible that God wrote upon, front and back?

Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain with the two tablets of the testimony in his hand, tablets that were written on both sides; on the front and on the back they were written. The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved on the tablets. -Exodus 32:15-16

God had rescued Israel from slavery in Egypt. He had defeated their enemies. He had sustained them in the desert with food and water. And then He made covenant with Israel: that He would be their God and they would be His people. The 10 commandments, two tablets of stone, bearing the very handwriting of God on front and on back, were the symbol of this great covenant with Israel.

Here in John’s vision is a similar symbol. This time no tablets of stone, but a scroll – likewise written by God’s own hand on front and on back. This scroll is the culmination of human history. It contains the words of a new way for man to relate to God, and God to man. It contains words of salvation and words of judgement. The Ancient of Days holds in His hand the scroll of the new covenant.

But the scroll is sealed – sealed with seven seals. Remember, the number seven signified completeness, fullness, perfection.

But the fact that this scroll, containing the words of the new covenant, is sealed draws upon a scene in the Old Testament. The book of Daniel ends with this enduring loose end, an unfulfilled mystery, a prophesy that is sealed up. God sends an angel to speak to Daniel about the end of the old covenant and the beginning of a new covenant.

Here is what the angel says to Daniel:

At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people [the Jews]. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as has never been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting contempt. And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” -Daniel 12:1-4

Three things are prophesied:

A time of trouble like the nation of Israel has never known before.

A time of deliverance for all the elect, everyone whose name is in the book.

The establishment of a new covenant reality. The new covenant people will shine like the sun, they will be wise, they will turn people to righteousness. There will also be resurrection and judgement.

But Daniel is commanded to seal up these words until the time of the end: which means that it will remain a mystery until the end times. In such a statement we learn that the time of the end is the time when all these things will be fulfilled. Therefore, the end time is about judgment for Israel, salvation of the elect, and an establishment of a new covenant reality – or, you could say, there will be a new creation.

Again and again we continue to see the visions of Daniel embedded within Revelation.

Daniel asks the angel, “How long shall it be till the end of these wonders?”…“It would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that the shattering of the power of the holy people [Israel] comes to an end all these things would be finished.” I heard, but I did not understand. Then I said, “O my lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?” He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. Many shall purify themselves and make themselves white and be refined, but the wicked shall act wickedly. And none of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.” -Daniel 12:6-10

Daniel wants to know when the age of the old covenant will come to an end, and when the new covenant will break upon the earth. But once again, Daniel is told to seal up the words of prophesy: meaning it is not time. The prophesy of new covenant will remain a mystery. God is not yet ready to reveal the understanding of such things.

But much time has passed when John receives His vision. And in the hand of God, John sees the very words that Daniel sealed up, words that fill the scroll of the new covenant – front and back, words that God has written with His own hand. Perhaps it is time for the seals to be broken and the words of the new covenant to be released.

Read vs 2-4

A Call Goes Out

What a peculiar scroll! Not just anyone can take it from the hand of God and peer into it. Not just anyone can break its seals. Much like Arthur’s sword set in stone, which no man could pull but Arthur himself. There is only one who can open this scroll; and He is a being of unparalleled worth.

And a call is made by a mighty angel. His voice thunders throughout all creation – throughout the entire universe. And the mighty angel calls for one who is worthy. But none is found. All fall short of the glory of God.

Clearly, John knows what the scroll is about. And so great is John’s desire to see the opening of the new covenant scroll, that when it appears no one is worthy to open it, John begins to weep. How he yearns for a new age, for a new creation!

But upon seeing John mourning, one of the 24 elders can’t help but blurt out the solution.

Read vs 5

How appropriate that one of the elders, a symbol of the church, speaks about Him who is worthy. In other words, the church proclaims the good news of the gospel to John!

And John is told that the one who is worthy is the Root of David. Roots come before branches. The Root of David preceded David, existed before David. Jesus is therefore the Son of David, born a descendant of David; but Jesus also came before David and is in fact the Creator of David.

(Parenthesis)

Here is a little parenthetical thought for you to bend your mind upon later. There is a marvelous revelation about God in the name, “the Root of David:” for it means that God uses the future to determine the past, and thus He constructs the present.

Here’s what I mean. God determined that Jesus would be a descendant of David. To bring that reality into existence He orchestrated the past, and brought David into existence. With both past and future ordained, He constructs the present. Such is the power of the one seated upon the throne, who uses the future to determine the past, and thus He constructs the present.

This is how time is represented within the visions of Revelation.

(Close Parenthesis)

The elder also calls Jesus the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. From the time of the patriarchs comes this prophesy:

Judah is a lion’s cub…He crouches as a lion…who dares rouse Him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between His feet, until tribute comes to Him; and to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples. -Genesis 49:9-10

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah is a warrior king, a conqueror! So mighty is He that He commands the people’s obedience. They come to Him and pay Him tribute, bringing Him many gifts proving His immense worth.

He is the Creator of David and the Son of David. He has overcome the world and He rules the world. He is worthy to open the scroll! He establishes a new covenant!

So John looks to see this One he has been told about, but he sees no mighty Lion. No. He sees a very strange Lamb.

Read vs 6

The Lamb

John was told about a Lion, but he sees a Lamb. For the second time in Revelation we see a tool employed. John is told one thing, but he sees something different. John is being given and understanding from two different perspectives. He hears one thing and sees another, and the harmonizing of both is the greater reality.

And this Lamb appears to emerge from the throne. So much old covenant prophesy finds its fulfillment in that little phrase. But perhaps even more profound than prophesy fulfilled, we see that the Father has answered the prayer of His most beloved Son.

Jesus prayed, “I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.” -John 17:4-5

And so Jesus is seen coming from the throne of God, where He is seated with the highest honor and glory and power in all of heaven. Indeed, the Father has lavished glories upon Him, just as it was in eternity past.

And yet Christ’s appearance is not one of glory, not like a conquering lion, but one of strange humility; for He looks like a lamb slaughtered, though He stands. The Greek used here captures the image of a lamb slaughtered upon the temple altar.

This accords with what Jesus said earlier in Revelation.

“Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.” -Revelation 1:17-18

And this Lamb has seven horns. Horns are a Biblical symbol of strength and power. Even though the sight of the Lamb is humble – even pathetic by some standards – He is most certainly not! He is the possessor of perfect power; a power so complete that He has spoken all things into existence and by His word they are sustained. And with a word, if He chose to do so, He could speak any of us and all of us immediately out of existence. His power is absolute!

The Lamb also has seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God. We have already identified the seven spirits of God as the symbolic representations of the one Holy Spirit. In chapter 4 we saw that the Ancient of Days possessed the Holy Spirit. Here Christ possesses the Holy Spirit.

And Jesus possesses the Spirit only to send Him out upon the earth, to dwell in the hearts of those He elects. Jesus said:

“I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send Him to you.” -John 16:7

The full Trinity is on display in Revelation 5. The Son proceeds from the Father, as He emerges from the throne. The Spirit proceeding from both Father and Son. But all of them one single Almighty God! Here in chapter 5 is enough to bend your mind upon for countless ages!

And then this Lion, who is a Lamb, does something that no one else in all creation is able to do. He takes the scroll from the very hand of God.

Read vs 7

Like Arthur pulling the sword form the stone, Jesus takes the scroll from the hand of the Ancient of Days. But Arthur’s story is a cute little myth compared to the supreme glory of what the Lamb accomplishes. And to truly understand what is going on, we must consider how a covenant works.

Covenants

Two parties enter into covenant; each agree to fulfill certain terms. They make promises/vows to one another. But different than a contract, a covenant is deeply relational – like the covenant of marriage.

In the old covenant, symbolized in the tables of stone, God promised to provide, to give abundance, to give life. He promised to be God to Israel, and faithfully love the people. Israel promised to obey, to serve, to worship as God deserves – with all of the heart, mind, soul, and strength.

The problem was, Israel was never able to uphold their part of the covenant. They constantly failed, constantly wandered, constantly rebelled. I’ll talk about this more next week. In other words, no one was worthy to fulfill covenant with God. Like Paul said, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).”

But Jesus is worthy because He perfectly upheld the old covenant. It was His purpose. Jesus said:

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” -Matthew 5:17

That’s exactly what He did. He fulfilled the Law, and upheld every single detail of covenant. He lived a flawless life, and perfectly loved His Father. He fulfilled the Prophets, where every prophesy and promise finds it’s fulfillment in Jesus the Christ – in He who is the Lion and the Lamb.

And not only did He fulfill the old covenant for Himself, He fulfilled it for His enemies. You see, the Lion does not conquer by slaughtering His enemies – like we would naturally assume, like so many want to see at the end of Revelation. No. The Lion conquers by allowing His enemies to slaughter Him – like an unassuming Lamb. And He dies, even in the place of His enemies.

It was upon the cross that the Lion became a Lamb. With nakedness and nail and thorn was the Eternal One slaughtered. It was a slaughtering that each one of us deserves. We are the wicked enemies of God, rebelling against Him and thinking we know a better way to live. We should be the condemned. But Christ was our sacrifice, dying in our place, slaughtered and shamed that we could have life and honor: that we could be clothed in white, seated upon thrones, and given crowns.

Yes, Jesus died our death that His life could become our life.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall He live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.”

-John 11:25-26

This is the message written upon that scroll! The testimony of the Lion and the Lamb, written in God’s own hand, is the glorious gospel of the new covenant – of Christ crucified and risen – of the Holy Spirit poured out upon all flesh and a new creation birthed.

Jesus Christ was the only one worthy enough to take that scroll and open it for all mankind to behold. This is the very reality that Paul proclaimed:

The mystery was made known to me by revelation…When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. -Ephesians 3:4-6

The scroll, containing the mystery of Christ, has been revealed in Christ. It is the message of the gospel. All people, from every tribe, tongue, and nation, Jews and Gentiles, male and female, slave and free, all enemies of God, can come to Jesus and be forgiven. His righteousness is freely offered, if only we would repent and believe. Obey Him as Lord and trust Him as Savior, and you will inherit all the promises of this new covenant. If you thirst for such glories of grace, come to Jesus and find rivers of living water!

Yes, when the Lion who is a Lamb takes the scroll, it means the beginning of a new creation, the establishment of a new covenant, and a glorious reign of Him who is forever worthy!

Read vs 8-10

Worship

When the Lamb takes the scroll, all heaven erupts in ecstatic, glorious worship. The cherubim and the elders, who had been engaged in call and response in chapter 4, now join together in awesome worship, declaring that Jesus is worthy!

Notice in verse 8 that the elders – symbolizing the church – hold bowls of incense – symbolizing the prayers of the saints. Our prayers delight the senses of God. He loves it when we pray; like an incense that fills the nose with the most aromatic smells and moves the mind to memories of love and family. These prayers will play a very important role in this book. It will become more clear as we go through Revelation, that this whole scene is God’s glorious answer to the prayers of the saints.

Look at the combine praises of church and creation: Christ is worthy for He was slain, and by His blood He ransomed a people! We are the ransomed! The Lion has conquered His enemies by making us into a kingdom and priests unto God! We are the ones who reign upon earth!

The original dominion mandate given to Adam and Eve is now being fulfilled in creation through the church! We are created anew and live among a creation undergoing recreation. Such is the picture when the elders and cherubim join in worship together, singing a new song – a new song for a new creation. He is worthy!

The new wine of the new covenant cannot be contained in the old wineskins of the old covenant (Matthew 9:14-17)!

Read vs 11-12

Now, surrounding the throne and the cherubim and the elders, are angels beyond number: millions, even billions. And in wonder they gaze upon this new worshipping and glorious creation, and they in turn erupt in worship.

With one voice that must have sounded like a thousand volcanic eruptions, they cry out, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

The angelic host proclaims a sevenfold blessing upon Jesus. He is worthy of all that is good. And nothing reveals His great worth, even to the eyes of angels, like the cross. Indeed, all history folds in upon the cross. It is the loudest declaration of the glory of Jesus, of His immeasurable worth, of His absolute majesty! The Lamb that was slain, He is worthy!

Read vs 13-14

Now even the rocks cry out! All creation joins the cherubim, the elders, and angels – every voice, even that which has no voice, together they proclaim “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

A fourfold blessing, and four is the number of the created order. And the cherubim give a final amen, and the elders fall to their faces in utter silence. Words can no longer express the worship bursting within the heart of the church. And don’t you know it, that sometimes the only way to express the absolute worth and majesty of the risen Christ is with a silence of awe and adoration. Glorious silence is all that is left for the 24 elders.

What are we, the church, to do with Revelation 5? Isn’t is glaringly obvious? See the Lamb that was slain, standing in the midst of the throne, having forever established a covenant of grace and glory, and worship Him! Join in the new song of this new creation, and let your heart’s cry be, “He is worthy! He is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

Then go, you kingdom of priests, and like that elder, proclaim that there is one who is worthy! Tell of how the Lion became a Lamb. Proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of the darkness into His marvelous light. This is how we shall reign upon this earth! Brothers and sisters, join in the new song, and fill this earth with the worship of heaven!