160110 The Lamb and the Scroll

Revelation 5:1-5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. ² And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” ³ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, ⁴ and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. ⁵ And one of the elders said to me, “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.”

We need to remember when we look into the book of Revelation that the letter was written to seven churches that existed at the end of the first century. The first recipients of this letter lived some 2000 years ago. The letter had to make sense to them and, since it is included in the Bible, it has to make sense to us also. Many believers avoid this book at all costs. Others get so involved in it that they lose sight of all else. Both of these attitudes are wrong! I don’t know that we will go through all of the book during this series of sermons or if we will come back from time to time as the Lord leads.

Last week we joined John as he went through the door in heaven.

As a result of John’s passing through the door in heaven he was suddenly surrounded by many things that he had to describe. John was able only to reveal one thing at a time! We joined with him but we could not look through his eyes. We could only see what John wrote down for us to see. First…

We saw the throne room of God. The psalmist saw the same vision. It is written in Psalm 11:4. The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man.

Apparently David was in one of his many times of trial and in need of protection. As he prayed for God’s help he saw the Lord in his holy temple in heaven and immediately knew that God was there to take care of him. That heavenly vision assured him that God was ruling over all. He could see that God, from that throne in his holy temple could see and take care of his children.

We join with John in the book of Revelation.

When John saw the throne he was immediately dazzled by an emerald rainbow, 24 lesser thrones, seven torches of fire that represent the Holy Spirit and the sea of glass, like crystal.

And, at same time, around the throne were four living creatures that were amazing to look at. They seemed to represent the heavenly worship of God. They symbolized the all seeing eye of God — being covered with eyes in front and in back. They represented all of God’s creation and they continuously worship him.

Heaven is a place of continuous worship! Continuously proclaiming God to be holy. Repeated three times the word “holy” represents the absolute purity of God.

We join with John in seeing all these things and much more. As we move into Revelation chapter 5 — surrounded by these visions…

Now, we see a scroll that no one could open. Heaven was opened up before in a similar manner. We find a similar account in Ezekiel 2:9-10. And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. ¹⁰ And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.

This time the scroll was open and Ezekiel was instructed to eat it! I believe that eating the scroll was symbolic of reading the words that were written on it. On that scroll was words of lamentation, mourning and woe. Representing God’s answer to Israel’s rebellion.

The scroll in Revelation was of a different sort. For one thing it was sealed with seven seals. This would be done with wax. A string or cord would be wrapped around the scroll a drop of hot wax would bind it together and a seal, perhaps on a ring, would be pressed into the wax. That would keep the uninitiated from looking at the writing. The seven seals represent a perfect “sealing”. And no one was found who had the right, or power, to open the scroll and look into it. John wept over the fact that the scroll was sealed and could not be opened. We might join with him in weeping…

Until we discover there is one who can. The power to open the seals was granted only to the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Paul introduces us to the idea that our enemy, Satan, and his cohorts had no idea what power they were giving to Jesus when they crucified him. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:7-8.  But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. ⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Jesus’ death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead defeated the last enemy — the power of the fear of death. Jesus now is worthy to open the scroll and look into it.

The human rulers that put Jesus to death were the tools of the devil. They had no idea what they were doing or how far-reaching its effects would be. Recall the words of our Lord as he came to the end of his life. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” While the humans did not know that they were crucifying the Lord of Glory their ruler, Satan, did not realize that he was releasing the power to open all the secrets of the ages.

Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus he now had the power to defeat the enemy in every area. For our purposes today — he had the power to open the seals on the scroll that John was seeing in the right hand of the Majesty on the throne.

The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David had conquered all the enemies and as a consequence he can open the scroll and its seven seals.

However…

The Lion is a Lamb. Let’s read on Revelation 5:6-7. And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.

As John became aware of the being between the throne and the four living creatures he might have expected to see a Lion. Instead, he saw a very unusual Lamb. Many, many years before John had heard John the baptizer say, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” That time, when John looked he saw a man — the Lord Jesus! Now, in John’s vision, he saw a Lamb that was different from ever lamb he’d ever seen. This lamb had the evidence of having been killed and yet was alive. He had seven horns representing perfect power with seven eyes that represent the Holy Spirit. The seven flaming torches and the seven eyes of the Lamb all represent the third member of the Trinity in symbolic significance.

The Lamb took the scroll and prepared to open it. Immediately, we become aware that…

The worshipers now have harps and bowls. Let’s continue to read Revelation 5:8. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

Twice more in the book of Revelation we will see the harps. Once, when the 144,000 — who represent those who are redeemed — appear along with the Lamb and, again as the seven angels with seven plagues to be poured out on the earth appear. Each time the harps are played in worship to God. In chapter 15 they are called the “harps of God” and they are played to accompany the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.

Along with their harps the four living creatures, and the 24 elders, are holding golden bowls full of incense. This incense represents the prayers of the saints. In Psalm 141 prayer is compared to incense and twice more in the book of Revelation the incense rises before God as the prayers of the saints.

Now before we begin to think that these prayers come from very special people we need to remember that every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is a saint! It should be encouraging to us to know that our prayer rises to God as a sweet incense.

Throughout Paul’s letters it is very clear that every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ is a saint. Not just a special group of people who have been voted on by Rome but instead everyone who has accepted Christ as Lord and Savior are clearly designated as saints. Paul wrote his letter to the Romans, “To all those in Rome who are led by God and called to be saints…” (Romans 1:7) The first letter to the Corinthians was addressed to, “… To those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours.”  (1 Corinthians 1:2) In the letter to the Ephesians Paul wrote “To the saints who are in Ephesus, and are faithful in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:1). To the Philippians he wrote, “To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi,” (Philippians 1:1). And to the Colossians, “To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae” (Colossians 1:2). This is just a sample of references in the New Testament that convince us that all those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ are “Saints”! Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? The Bible says that if you will “confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) Sainthood is not just for those who are chosen today. It is not a sign of perfection it is a sign of completion. Belief in the Lord Jesus Christ makes one a saint.

It should be encouraging to know that our prayers rise as a sweet-smelling incense before the throne of God in heaven.

The picture that John paints for us becomes more and more complete. We see a door open in heaven; an Emerald throne with one sitting on it; 24 thrones before it with 24 elders seated on them; four living creatures each with six wings and many other remarkable features; all of this is highlighted by flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder.

And then we see the angels. Daniel describes a similar vision for us Daniel 7:9-10. As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire. ¹⁰ A stream of fire issued and came out from before him; a thousand thousands served him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him; the court sat in judgment, and the books were opened.

In Daniel’s vision the “one seated on the throne” is identified as the Ancient of Days. No doubt this is none other than Jehovah himself. In both visions there are many angels. Daniel tells us that 1000 thousands served him, and 10,000×10,000 stood before him. In John’s vision the Angels are numbered as myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. In both cases I do not believe our writer counted them. I believe he was either told a number or followed his “best guess”.

The writer of Hebrews speaks of the place we have come to in Hebrews 12:22-24. But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, ²³ and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, ²⁴ and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

Hebrews tells us that we have not come to something that can be touched as the people of Israel did at Mount Sinai. Instead we have come to the future — a future that is 2000 years closer to fulfillment.

We have come to “Mount Zion” which certainly represents the New Jerusalem. A city we will learn more about towards the end of our look at Revelation. He goes on to tell us that we have come to the heavenly Jerusalem; to innumerable angels who are worshiping always before the throne in heaven; to the Assembly of Jesus’ people; to God, the judge of all; and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect!

Best of all, we have come to Jesus! John saw him as the Lamb who was slain and Hebrews presents him as the mediator of the new covenant. Hebrews tells us last of all we have come to the sprinkled blood!

The apostle Paul said that we need to “care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.” (Acts 20:28) Further, God has put Jesus forward “as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith.” (Romans 3:25) Paul tells us that we have been justified by his blood and that we will be saved by him (Jesus) from the wrath of God. (Romans 5:9) “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,” (Ephesians 1:7) In fact “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.” (Hebrews 9:22)

We have come to innumerable angels who are constantly worshiping God. I hope you can picture this. It is the scene God paints for us in this letter to the seven churches of Asia.

If you don’t enjoy worship now you probably are not headed for heaven. Because in heaven worship is almost continuous. The churches of Asia learned a long time ago the importance of worship. They each had their own problems and instruction for correcting their problems. They had the rest of the book of Revelation as their continued instruction. Our first concern should be, “Are we going to be in heaven to join this worship?” That is a legitimate question because all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and the wages of sin is death. Therefore, in order to be in heaven, we need to have received Christ, believed in his name and received from him the right to become children of God. Each of us needs to have confessed with our mouths that Jesus is Lord and believed in our hearts that God raised him from the dead. We who were lost needed to be saved!

All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.