The Scroll in the Right Hand of the Almighty - 16

We read from the book of Revelation chapter 5 this evening. Revelation chapter 5 again hear the word of the Lord. John writes in I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose it seals and no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look at it.

So I went much because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll to look at it. One of the elders said to me, do not weep. Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and the loose its seven seals. And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. Now when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls of incense, which are the prayers of the saints, and they sang a new song, saying you are worthy to take the scroll and open it seals, for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and it made us kings and priests to our God and we shall reign on the earth. Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures and the elders and the number of them was 10,000×10,000, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea and all that are in them. I heard saying, blessing and honor and glory and power be to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb forever and ever than the four living creatures said amen and the 24 elders fell down and worshiped him, who lives forever and ever. Will you cannot accurately understand the contents of Revelation chapter 5 in divorce of what is recorded in chapter 4. They are one in the same scene as you recall John in chapter 4 verse one was summoned into heaven through the door and he was privileged to see heaven in all its splendor in all of its glory and the most dominant thing he saw was a throne and him who sits on the throne.

That's what dominates chapters 4 and five.

The emphasis of the throne. 17 times in chapters 4 and five mentioned of a throne 38 times in the entire book of the Revelation and the book of Revelation speaks of God's sovereignty as he rules and reigns upon his throne over all of history. So tonight as we continue here in chapter 5. Again, understanding that there is a continuation here chapters 4 and and in the chapter 5 John is still captured by this same vision and he is recording that for us in chapter 5, verse one. He says and I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. John's attention now is drawn to an object in the right-hand of the one who sits on the throne that being Almighty God and what is his attention drawn to according to verse one it's drawn to a scroll a scroll that's in the right hand of him who sat on the throne and what is being conveyed here is one who is sitting on the throne is the author of whatever it is that is scribed on the scroll.

It's in his right hand.

He's the author of it, and in this scroll is written inside and on the back and it sealed with seven seals. So the content of the scroll is hidden. It's unknown, except by the one who has written it in its the scroll is on the inside and on the out which is communicating, completeness, now before I move on I want to give you one person of from antiquity that I think has a good grasp of book of the Revelation and this is Augustine this is. He lived around the year 400 and this is what he has to say about his summary of book. The Revelation listen quote all will be a man and hallelujah we will rest and we will see we will see and we will know we will know and we will love. We will love and we will praise behold our end which is no end at all like that a good perspective of what the Revelation is communicating to us. So tonight in our consideration. I want to just initially I thought I would get through the entire chapter but I want to reserve versus eight to the end of the chapter 4 the next messages we considered the new song that is recorded in a song in John's vision recorded for so tonight in verses one through seven. I want us to think one about the document and that's what scroll John John's attention is drawn to in verse one. The document then is a dilemma that develops in relationship to that document. So the document the dilemma then three, the deliverance that's where I want to go with you this evening and we need to try and identify what John is communicating to us in relationship to this scroll. There are many theories postulated and set forth as to the identity of this scroll, and let me mention at least four of them and then will move from what I think to be the most unlikely to what I believe to be plausible explanation of that as of the identity of this scroll so number one. Some believe that the scroll is the last will and testament of Jesus Christ. And there's a couple reasons for an rationale for that.

The right of the main rationale is that because Roman wills were sealed with seven seals and we see again verse one John saying I saw on the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back see old with seven seals again in Roman culture wills and testaments were sealed with seven seals. Peter talks to us about an inheritance now this is inheritance reserved for believers in inheritance imperishable on the flyable, reserved in heaven for you, Peter says so in inheritance. So putting those two things together that there is the last will and testament of the Lord Jesus and you and I await our inheritance. It's reserved in heaven, and this is the unfolding and the revelation of what that inheritance looks like and that's one theory that's postulated a second is that the scroll in God's right hand is the same as of life that it is the record of the elect, the names of all the redeemed of all the ages ordained by God for salvation. So I say I'm moving from the most unlikely to what seems to be the most likely in I dismissed those first two, because as you read on into Revelation chapter 6 and seven and eight and on we get some insight as to what is indeed written on this scroll and its not about the last will and testament of the Lord Jesus. It's not the names of the redeemed of all the ages, so it pretty much rules those two up the third view is that the scroll is the Old Testament that is brought to full explanation and fulfillment in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. And although that is true. Jesus is the fulfillment of all that was written in the Old Testament. The Old Testament shadows and pictures and they find their fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember that occasion on the road to Emmaus when Jesus encountered the two men he began to unfold from the prophets in the Scriptures. The Old Testament Scriptures, all related to him. Well it is true that the Old Testament finds its fulfillment in Jesus Christ. All the promises of God are you in a man in Christ. But again I don't think that that is what is being revealed here. The fourth and I think to be the most of plausible and the most consistent with the context is that this scroll. It's in the right hand of God contains the entire T of God's will for human history.

That's why. And again this is symbolic language, there's no manuscript is going to contain the writings whether your inside or on the out is going to contain the entire history of mankind again.

John's speaking to us a symbolically but here is I believe the record of the remainder of human history both in the judging of the wicked and the redeeming of God's elect and again the scroll written on both sides. It's a bit unusual for scroll's and Roman days to be written on both sides, but it's again the point is that it contains the whole story. The entire counsel and purpose of God's will. And again, it's in God's hand because he's the author of the content is written on both sides, because it speaks of its completeness and the fact that it's that it's mentioned that there are seven seals. Also speaks of its completeness, that it's complete and because it's complete and there's nothing more to be added to it. It is sealed so what is the identity of this scroll. It is the sovereign plan of God for human history for redemptive history so there's much, much more that can be said.

I read an awful lot a lot of different sources send some not very commendable. So I try to condense it down to the four that seem to be worth considering the notice with me. We move from the document to the dilemma the appearance of the scroll prompts an immediate dilemma. Notice verse two. John says, then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seal.

John is wondering who has the qualifications. Who has the authority who has the right to come to Almighty God, and take the scroll out of his right hand and break the seal and open the book and reveal its content. This angel unnamed angel, but a strong angel is proclaiming with a loud voice, and I think the emphasis on a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice is to communicate that the search went throughout heaven throughout the earth under the and it says no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth. No one answered the call. No one was found worthy. It's a dilemma and it's a dilemma because until there is someone qualified with authority and has the right to approach Almighty God, and take the scroll and unseal the scroll and reveal what's inside. We are left in the dark. The content cannot be revealed. John laments in verse three no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look at what did that provoke and John consternation bewilderment, frustration, know it says verse four. So I wept.

I wept much and why did he wait because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll or to look at. No one keep in mind who John is. John is the beloved apostle John is weeping because there was no one found there was no one qualified and that included himself. He was not qualified.

He had no right. He had no authority to approach Almighty God, and again he was, not the a nobody. He was the prophet of God. The apostle of God, the one beloved of Jesus and his weeping reveals at least a sense of his own unworthiness. I think it's it's it's a mark of I was going to say Christian maturity, but I think that that's probably correct, but it's also a sign of correct Christianity when when we come to the place where we understand are on worthiness beef or Almighty God. Sin and its consequences makes us unworthy, we ought to wait before God, because we have no access to God. Our sin disqualifies us to go to God and until we been taught that until there's a breaking until there is a weeping over our sin. There is very little hope for person to truly be converted.

He who makes light of sin makes light of the Savior. So it's a good thing to be exercised in the inner man to weep over our sin and our failures to seek God's forgiveness. Philip use in his commentary says this quote.

There is nothing so calamitous in the story of mankind than the total unworthiness of man is a sinful creature in the presence of his maker. Nothing is more lamentable than the fact that by one by by our own ungodliness. We have lost our worthiness to serve God as we were made to do. We we've all disqualified ourselves. We are all unworthy before Almighty God and this is a dilemma because if the scroll is not opened, it means there will be no protection for God's people in the hour of bitter trial there will be no judgment upon the world for their rejection of Christ and his authority. There will be no ultimate trying out for believers in Christ. There will be no new heaven and new earth will be no future inheritance and glory be no ultimate triumph and consummation of Christ and his kingdom. It is the unfolding of the rest of redemptive history. It's God's decrees that have been established in the past and the thought that there was no one worthy to open the seal and reveal its content was because for John to weep. He says so I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll or to look at it. The relief for John's weeping is found in verses 5 to 7 versus 5 to 7 say this, but one of the elders said to me, do not weep. Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.

And I looked, and behold, in the in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

What is the relief for John, what is the relief for John. It is the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is the qualification of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is the son of God approaching his father with all the authority in heaven and on earth to take the scroll remove it seals and reveal the content see the relief does not come from an angel, those first five but one of the elders sought this loud voice of the angel is recorded in verse two, but is one of the elders said to him, do not weep.

One of the elders. As I mentioned to you in previous message, I believe the 24 elders who are occupying the 24 thrones around God's throne recorded there in chapter 4 are representative of the church triumphant.

It is the church representative from the Old Testament old covenant new covenant, the entirety of the church redeemed before the throne and is one of the elders who speaks to John and tells them, do not weep. Why behold what behold the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David as prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals. This is the only verse that I know of in the Bible that refers to Jesus as a lion of Judah, the lion of Judah that title sees Jesus as the fulfillment of the prophecy made by Jacob, the patriarch in Genesis chapter 89 and verses nine and 10 kind of apportion their in study of Joseph that oftentimes get skipped over. Not a lot of attention is paid to it, but it's filled with important information and is that portion where Jacob is on his deathbed and he calls his children to his bedside and he pronounces prophecies concerning each of his sons in relationship to his son Judah. He says Judah is a lion's cup Jacob there prophesies that there would be a royal dynasty emerging from the tribe of Judah, and to him shall be according to Genesis 49 verses nine and 10 to him that descendent shall be the obedience of the nations. Here Jesus is the promised there from Judah. He is the lion he's the lion of the tribe of Judah who reigns over the kingdom with power. He is unchallenged over his domain and his sovereignty over history.

Secondly, that Elder identifies Jesus not only as the lion of the tribe of Judah, but he says the root of David, the root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals in that name or that identification is perhaps least known to us.

It is another messianic title and its derived from Isaiah chapter 11 verse one. The says then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse in a branch from his roots will bear fruit. You remember the genealogies that are recorded in Matthew chapter 1 Luke chapter 3 the reveal that Jesus was indeed the descendent of David, both on his father's side and on his father's side. Jesus. Jesus is the one worthy to take the scroll and open it seals for three reasons. Number one because of who he is.

Who is he he is the rightful king from David's kingly line number two for what he is, what is he he is the lion from Judah's tribe with the power to destroy his enemies. Number three because of what he is done.

What has he done. He has overcome. He has overcome. Notice again.

I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though he had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Then he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne is the one who's overkill. Who's Who is overcome at the cross. He defeated sin and death and all the forces of hell that Sue is so he's the one who has authority because of who he is the rightful king from David's kingly line because of what he is the lion from the tribe from Judah's the tribe of Judah, and number three because of what he is done he has overcome these conquered death and sin in the grave and the devil himself.

Verse six says.

John says and I saw her and I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures remember the identity of the four living creatures, the cherubim of God with their explanation there in chapter 4 in the midst of the throne of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders in the 24 elders on their thrones stood a Lamb. Again, this is symbolic language, a Lamb standing, not on all floors but a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain had the appearance of death, but it was alive happen, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Notice what the subject is here in verse six, the subject in the sentence is the Lamb is not the lion of the tribe of Judah is not the root or the branch of David. It is the Lamb that is the focal point of verse six and again the Lamb was standing as though it had been slain, which again signifies our body. Jesus in his glorified humanity bears the marks of Calvary and he always will and that's what John is seeing in this vision, a Lamb as though it had been sent as though it had been slain again.

The Lamb stands at the center of God's throne slain yet triumphant and then there is these this 3×7 mentioned in relationship to horns, eyes in the spirit of God.

He had seven horns and seven eyes to the seven spirits of God sent out and all the earth.

Again, the number seven emphasizes and symbolizes completeness.

The horn seven horns. It's the symbol of might and was seven horns.

Jesus possesses all authority to rule in heaven and on earth. Seven. Ice was seven eyes. He's able to observe everything that happens in the universe. Nothing escapes his notice. He has perfect knowledge. Perfect discernment and understanding the eyes of the Lord go to and fro throughout the whole earth. The Bible tells us in John provides an explanation that I mentioned to you I think last Sunday night that many times all John does is identify and give us the description of what he saw, without explanation, without commentary is one of those times where he adds a word of explanation were the commentary that helps us understand this vision, the seven eyes. He says having seven horns and seven eyes, and then he says which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth, so John is giving us this word of explanation as to the identity of the seven eyes.

He says the seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth, the seven spirits of God commissioned by him.

It speaks of the fullness of the Holy Spirit and you wouldn't know this apart from me telling you this, unless you have really delved into the passage in have some knowledge of the language, but there the Greek participle. That's translated, sent in verse six, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth, that verb is in the perfect tense and it indicates continuing presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts and lives of God's people Holy Spirit is sent out into all the earth is not passive.

He's actively involved in working in the hearts and lives of God's people. That's an encouragement. That's our hope that's the promise of grace to help us on our way to God and then we have word were told again, this description of the Lamb, then verse seven says, then he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne, the appearance of the Lamb as he moves toward the throne were Almighty God resides and he has the scroll in his right hand.

It causes praise to breakout from everywhere in the universe.

All of human history is moving to a climax and the unfolding of God's decrees are going to take place and transpire from this point forward, and John is going to record those things for us and many of those things are God's judging and the pouring out of his wrath on an unbelieving rejecting people and again. Then he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

God is going to entrust with the authority to bring its contents to realization to his son, the Lamb and only the Lamb is empowered to break the seal and open the scroll.

I just read verse eight and then I'll be finished because I want to reserve the rest of the chapter 4 consideration next week as we consider the new song that's mentioned in verse nine. They sang a new song but verse eight says now when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures, the cherubim of God and the 24 elders the church the redeemed church representative, all the nation of all the ages fell down before the Lamb, each having a heart and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints again. Keep in mind what what is transpiring here, the one and only person in the entire universe who is worthy and able to take the scroll from the hand of Almighty God is the Lamb and when he takes the scroll and breaks the seal to open it when we find we find the four living creatures, the cherubim of God.

The 24 elders all assume a posture of worship that knowledge the power and authority invested in the Lord Jesus Christ and they are jubilant that the contents of the scroll are now being revealed and they delight in the realization of God's plan and God's purpose in God's decrees being revealed will wonder how is this world going to wind up how are things going to consummate how Weatherby a new heaven and a new earth. What events lead up to that and that's what is contained in the scroll that has been sealed until now.

That's going to lead us and direct us in our study as we move into chapter 6, seven and eight and nine, and further on the DC. As we mentioned last Lords evening God's purpose for all that is created the earth is the Lords and the fullness thereof, and all who dwell therein. Everything and everyone has been created for the purpose of Almighty God.

And we find our ultimate purpose in this scene worship we have been created to worship God and defined our contentment and our satisfaction and our fulfillment and our purpose in that and as we engage ourselves on this earth. Despite the fact that were still were redeemed, but we are redeemed sinners were still struggling. We only see through a door available dimly that we can't see everything there is to see but what we do see provokes worship in us, but here's the scene that unfolds before us, those who've gone on before us.

The question lingers in our minds and wonder what they're doing. I wonder what heaven is like.

I wonder you don't need to wonder. Here it is set before us and God in his kindness has revealed this to the beloved apostle John, and he has instructed John to record these things for our encouragement for our comfort for our admonition. Unlike Paul, who was taken to the third heaven and was forbidden to talk about what he saw John's instructed to write down what he see.

So we have this reliable source of information. The doesn't leave us to a spiritualizing or sanctified imagination. We don't need to wonder what heaven is like, what will be going on around the throne.

Here it is worship of Almighty God and again as we come together, Lord willing. Next Sunday night, we will spend our entire time unpacking this new song recorded I don't. If you notice this, but there are five doxologies here in chapters 4 and chapter 5 thereto recorded in chapter 4, and there are three recorded in chapter 5, and it shouldn't surprise us.

We are given this revelation to provokes worship that we might extol and worship and honor and glorify God nest. What transpires is this scene unfold. It is the natural response and it should be our natural response and for put off by this were unconcerned about this run interested about this then it reveals that there something amiss in our hearts because this is what God has created us for. That's why when we come together is the people of God. I hope you prepare your hearts for for corporate worship in your preparation. I hope your mindset isn't going to be here. Isn't what is are going to be there for me no in worship we give of ourselves we we ask God to sanctify us.

We ask God to prepare a sweet.

We consecrate ourselves in the totality of our being, our minds, our wills are emotions were to love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and we come in worship to give worship to God. Here's the interesting thing about that because we been created for that. Our highest purpose and satisfaction is in that that regardless of how sincere and how pure our motives are to get all the God be lost in wonder of God. God blesses us for engaging in that activity is wonderful. That's why God centered worship is so satisfying will of God warms our hearts. It satisfies our longings were were content with that.

To know God to worship God even with the hindrances we have is a blessing. The world knows nothing of it should create a longing and a growing desire to enter into this realm and to join this strong where were able to do this, free of sin free of every hindrance free of every distraction. All praise and honor to him who sits on the throne. Let us pray father thank you thank you thank you for revealing this wonderful portion of your word to us that were not left to speculate, not left to wonder where our lives are full of questions we we have this vision recorded that John was privileged to have of what we will be doing throughout all eternity. Lord we long for that day when we will say with the throng gathered around your throne blessing and honor and glory and power be to him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb for ever and ever. Amen