Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing! Revelation 5:12

Revelation 4:1–5:14 – The Book of Revelation: Worship. Obey. Endure.
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost  – July 31, 2022 (am)

We were asked to soak in Rev.4 this week. So, what’s come of your meditating on the throne room of the true and living God? Has it reshaped your thought at all, your understanding of who you are and how we live as God’s people, as His family in this world? Has it given you a new or refreshed perspective on any hardships you face, any challenges—seeing, knowing, there’s no way that the struggles and suffering we experience in this life could possibly exceed the strength and sovereign rule of this God to address, to use for our good, to resolve with perfect justice where required, with perfect comfort where needed? Have you seen any of these things? Tasted them?

Have you been stretched in your understanding of Who He is—not just a much bigger one of us, but One Who is entirely other—a Being of incomprehensible immensity and beauty, of inconceivable purity and kindness, and of unlimited authority and power? Has it dawned on you that there’s just no way possible to overestimate His greatness?

These are just a few of the things that need to lodge in our minds and hearts and take root there. These are some of the more important take-aways from this book as a whole. They form the foundation of our lives. They are what we need day in and day out to live well—to worship, obey, and endure in this life, to the very end.

Rev.4:1 is also the place where pretribulationists see the rapture taking place. Jesus’ invitation to John to come up here is seen as the invitation to the church to depart this world, so they’re not present from this point forward.

Now, having soaked in the setting, we’re ready for action. Each chapter has its discernible theme.

A Vision of the Indescribable Majesty of God – 4:1-11

What Happened in the Glorious Presence of God – 5:1-14

Three catalysts of different types move the story along (outline from Carson).

The Scroll – 1

The indescribably majestic One on the throne is holding a scroll in His right hand (the hand of power). And this scroll had writing on both sides—just like the scroll in Ezekiel (2:10). It’s not easy to write on the back side of a scroll; the papyrus strips are going the wrong direction. So, there are only two reasons to use both sides (Carson): either (1) you’re too poor to afford a second scroll, or (2) you need to have the whole of an lengthy document all in one place. And poverty is surely not the problem here!

This two-sided scroll was sealed with seven seals (1). These details work together to convey authority, surety, completeness. Also, in the ancient world, a will was sealed by seven witnesses (Beasley-Murray 1994 1434). So, all of this in combination with what follows, makes it seem like this scroll contains the purposes and plans of God for all ages, His purposes in judgment and blessing. And we’ll see this as the seals are opened (6:1-8:5).

The Search – 2-4

2 And [John] saw a mighty angel proclaiming loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals? If such a mighty angel couldn’t do it, who could? 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. Can you imagine living in a universe where there’s a God like the One described in c.4—holy, almighty, sovereign creator worthy of all glory and honor and power (4:8, 11)—Who has a plan for the ages, but it’s sealed up and can’t be known or enacted? British philosopher and avowed atheist Bertrand Russell wrote that man’s achievement must inevitably be buried beneath the debris of a universe in ruins…. Only on the firm foundation of unyielding despair can the soul’s salvation… be safely built. And it was no better for John here! In his own words: 4 … I began to weep loudly—sobbing and gasping—because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. There’s a God of indescribable majesty and power, but for an excruciating moment it appeared He may as well not exist! His plan for the ages was seven-times sealed and no one [anywhere] was worthy to open it, to unleash it!

But this isn’t the end of the story! John’s readers are now set up to appreciate the stunning reality of happens next.

The Solution – 5-14

One of the elders urged John to stop weeping because there is One Who is worthy, namely, the Lion of the tribe of Judah (5), an image from Gen.49 where Jacob had prophesied that a lion-like ruling line would descend from his son Judah, leading up to an abundant, golden age under an ultimate King. The Root of David (5) is also an image of Messiah that comes from Isa.11:1, 10, the root of Jesse, complete with a description of a prosperous and peaceable kingdom over which He will reign (Isa.11:2-9). This Messianic King is present, right here in Rev.5:5! And he can open the scroll and its seven seals because He has conquered! He’s worthy! (4:11; 5:9, 12)

John turned to look for this Lion, but there, even closer to the throne than the four living creatures, was a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain (6)—a gruesome image, right? No! This Lamb was standing! It has risen from the dead! And it had seven horns (6), complete ruling authority. It had seven eyes—all-seeing—and these eyes, are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth (6). Like the seven torches of fire (4:5), this represents the Holy Spirit. Yet, this was a slaughtered Lamb—an all-powerful, all-knowing, sacrificial Lamb, already slain, but now risen! What a strange image! But this happens in apocalyptic. This wasn’t part-Lion and part-Lamb. This was both Lion and Lamb—a sacrificial Offering and ruling Monarch, all intertwined into One!

But listen to this! More impressive yet, this Lion-Who-is-a-Lamb actually approached the throne, revealing Who He truly is! 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. This amazingly bold action prompted worship from the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders as they bore the prayers of the saints (8, cf. 8:3-4). This Being was the solution! And that was made evident in the content of the third hymn, a new song (9): 9 … Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth, just as they were originally created to do! (Gen.1:26-28)

This is where He conquered: at the cross (9), where He ransomed sinners, making them a kingdom and priests! This is what He did to restore all creation, to set all things right, to make it as though His people never sinned—except that they did, so now they have an even greater understanding of His great glory, seeing that He is able to ransom them and restore all things at His own cost!

And by the way, this is called particular atonement. Jesus didn’t just make salvation generally available through His death on the cross. If that were the case, there would be no guarantee that some from every tribe and language and people and nation would receive it.

No, He purchased particular people from every tribe and language and nation! Salvation belongs to the Lord! (Jon.2:9)

From here on, the worship just explodes! It mushrooms! And from this point on for the rest of this book, the Lamb will be worshiped right along with him who was seated on the throne (1). First myriads of myriads of angels joined the elders and living creatures to shout: 12 … Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing—a seven-fold affirmation of worship! But right at the heart of it all: He’s worthy because He was slain! Then every creature in [all creation] joined in a fifth and final hymn, praising God and the Lamb, saying: 13 … To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might—a four-fold affirmation of worship—forever and ever!  14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Conclusion

So, the bottom-line message here is clear. God’s purpose in redemption and judgment is achieved through the death and resurrection of Jesus. And through Jesus’ reign God’s plan for creation will be completed and His glory displayed (Beale 1999 311; cf. Eph.1:3-10). But there’s more. Back in c.3 we read: 3:21 The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. We do suffer in this life. But as we persevere in faith, we conquer, we overcome. And when we overcome, we reign with Him on His throne! We actually enter into this scene in Rev.4-5! We become part of it! In fact, we marry into it—the Lamb is the Bridegroom, and the church is His bride! This scene is happening right now in heaven, and we live in light of it here on earth. But when we arrive there, we join in with it!

So, back to our two questions from last Sunday: do we really believe this? And: do our lives show it?

The story is told of some 49ers who were digging for gold on a western mountain. They found a huge vein and knew they needed more supplies to extract it. So, they marked the spot, agreed together not to mention it to anyone, then returned to the village to make preparations.

Three days later as they headed back to their find, most of the town followed them. They couldn’t believe it! So, who told? The town-folk assured them that none of them had broken confidence. They could just tell they’d found gold by the smiles on their faces, and the way they’d behaved for the past three days! When we discover gold, or inherit a fortune, it changes us! And the change is evident to all!

When we see and actually believe what we’ve read today—when we’re encouraged and our confidence is stoked that God truly is worthy of our worship and praise and sacrificial obedience, even if it feels very costly to offer it, that will change us! It will show in our lives—in how speak, and in how we behave, and in the smiles on our faces!

So, do you believe it? And does it show?

______________

Resources

Arnold, Clinton E., ed. 2002. Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, vol. 4, Hebrews to Revelation. Revelation, by Mark Wilson. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Aune, David E. 1997. Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 52abc. Revelation, 3 vols. Dallas: Word.

Barclay, William. 1976. The Daily Study Bible. The Revelation of John: Revised, 2 vols. Louisville: Westminster John Knox.

Beale, G. K., & D. A. Carson, eds. 2007. Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. Revelation, by G. K. Beale & Sean M. McDonough, 1081-1161. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic.

Beale, G. K., with David H. Campbell. 2015. Revelation: A Shorter Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Black, Matthew, NT ed. 1974. The New Century Bible Commentary. Revelation, by G. R. Beasley-Murray. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Bruce, F. F., ed. 1986. The International Bible Commentary, Revised Edition. Revelation, by F. F. Bruce, 1593-1629. Basingstoke, Eng.: Marshall, Morgan, and Scott.

            , ed. 1977. The New International Commentary on the New Testament. The Book of Revelation, by Robert H. Mounce. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Carson, D. A. 1995. Personal Notes from 20-Part Lecture Series on Revelation. Waukesha, WI: Elmbrook Church.

            , R. T. France, J. A. Motyer, & G. J. Wenham, eds. 1994. New Bible Commentary 21st Century Edition. Revelation, by George R. Beasley-Murray, 1421-1455. Leicester, Eng.: InterVarsity.

Clements, Roy. 1981. Personal Notes from Introductory Sermon in a Series on Revelation. Cambridge: Eden Baptist Church.

Dockery, David S, ed. 2012. New American Commentary. Vol. 39, Revelation, by Paige Patterson. Nashville: Broadman & Holman.

Grudem, Wayne, ed. 2008. ESV Study Bible. Study notes on Revelation, 2463-2497, by Dennis E. Johnson. Wheaton: Crossway.

Hendriksen, William. 1940. More than Conquerors. Grand Rapids: Baker.

Ladd, George Eldon. 1972. A Commentary on the Revelation of John. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Longman III, Tremper, & David E. Garland, eds. 2010. Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 9, Matthew-Mark. Matthew, by D. A. Carson, 23-670. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

            , eds. 1981. Expositor’s Bible Commentary, vol. 13, Hebrews-Revelation. Revelation, by Alan F. Johnson, 571-789. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

MacArthur, John. 1999. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary. Revelation, 2 vols. Chicago: Moody.

Marshall, I. Howard, & Donald A. Hagner, eds. 1999. The New International Greek Testament Commentary. The Book of Revelation, by G. K. Beale. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.

Morris, Leon, ed. 1987. Tyndale New Testament Commentaries. Vol. 20, Revelation, by Leon Morris. Downers Grove: InterVarsity.

Walvoord, John F. 1966. The Revelation of Jesus Christ. Chicago: Moody.

            , & Roy B. Zuck, eds. 1983. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Revelation, by John F. Walvoord, 925-991. Wheaton: Victor.

NEXT WEEK’S SERMON: The First Six Seals Are Opened, Revelation 6:1–17