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Who Is Worthy to Open the Book
Text: Revelation 5:1-10
Introduction:
To fully introduce this passage properly would take me nearly
as long as to preach the passage. So, please forgive me for being brief and
leaving so many things unstated and questions you might have about this passage
unanswered. But, that is nothing new when you read or study the book of
Revelation. If you have figured this whole book out and got every verse down you
let me know. Better yet, just sign a copy of your book and I’ll pay full
price, no freebies here.
Many believe chapter four introduces the third and final
section of the book of Revelation; "the things which shall be
hereafter." 1:19, "after this" 4:1. The idea presented is that
God will now change course in administering truth in His kingdom. He is done
with the local church being the administrative and authoritative body within his
Kingdom, he removes them from the earth and will now choose to use Israel again
(Romans 11:25 and Acts 15:16).
- The Sight – vs. 1 (what he saw)
- A throne (explained in chapter 4, mentioned 12 times)
- Is in heaven – 4:1
- Is occupied – 4:2-3
- The one who sits upon this throne is glorious
- The one who sits upon this throne is ready to judge (this is the
implication of the Greek word used here.)
- The one sits upon this throne is worshipped – 4:11
- It is surrounded – 4:4
- By Twenty-four elders seated upon twenty-four seats
- By a rainbow like emerald green – imagine a circular brilliant
multi-faceted green rainbow!
- It is powerful – thundering and lightening – 4:5 (Now lets move on
and back to Chapter five or we will never get any where)
- A book
- It was a full book – written front and back, filled up, complete,
nothing more can be added to it.
- It was a secured book – "sealed" seven times
- Perfection, perfection required to open the seals?
- The words are certain, immutable (they must then be his words) – God’s
promises are sure but it is only in Christ that they will be fulfilled
- It was a secret book – Couldn’t open it, can’t read it and each of
the seven seals must be opened to read the words.
- Maybe it is the title deed to all of God’s creation, to all the
Earth and its inhabitants.
- Is it indeed the title deed given to Adam and lost to Satan?
- A strong angel – a mighty messenger of God, a loud voice!
- Given power by the sovereign will of God
- Given power to perform the sovereign will of God
- He was louder than any man made P.A. system and it could do more than
rattle the doors and windows but rattle your jaw too. (Even that is too
little)
The Statement: - vs. 2 (what he heard) He heard a proclamation
A particular proclamation – "Who is worthy"
- Someone must meet particular qualifications- worthy, suitable
- They must be suitable (Divine recognition) – having the right –
Jesus became our kinsman
- They must be strong (Divine seals) – having the ability – Jesus had
the divine power
- They must be willing – having the will – Jesus voluntarily submitted
A complete proclamation – "to open the book and loose the
seals"
- Not to look at, touch, check out, or simple explore the possibilities
- You have to be able and willing to open the all seven seals. Not just
one part but the complete, perfect opening or perfection in redemption.
The Search – vs. 3
Exposes a great search
- Billions upon billions of people have lived and died on this earth.
- The search was through every one and any one that could and would meet
the qualifications, have the ability and be willing
- Every single individual from one end of eternity to the other hears this
proclamation.
- Every bit of history is examined, all of heaven, even those great men
man has examined and found to be the most notable are unable, incapable,
and ineffective when it comes to opening this great book.
- Every single individual in every part of creation, be it heaven, earth
or hell and none were found to open the book
Exposes a great need – can’t open it and can’t even look on it
- No man could answer yes for he himself is sold into slavery and bondage
to sin, "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"
- No strength, no ability, no power, no mind, no will, no love can be
found within anyone that can open the book. "But the scripture
hath concluded all under sin…"
- Even the might and strong angel could not open the book or break the
seals.
- Even the four and twenty elders seated and clothed in righteousness
could not for their righteousness did not come by merit but by grace.
- The Evil one is ruling, the wicked and vile beast, antichrist, and Satan
are in charge, isn’t there one who can destroy their hold and power?
The Sorrow – vs. 4
Was personal – "and I wept"
- Because none were found that had the right, none were found that had the
power, no one was found that was even willing to open the book and break
the seals.
- No man careth for my soul. None can save me, no refuge can be found for
my soul, I will forever remain in bondage the tyranny of Satan will remain
forever, all hope is gone, all optimism removed, all joy is vanished my
heart is crushed, my mind is captured, my heart is downcast
Was intense – "and I wept much" Greek means an intense or
bitter weeping
- It isn’t just me that will remain enslaved, it isn’t just me that
will remain under the bondage of sin and Satan; it is everyone.
- My children, my grandchildren, my friends, my family, my neighbors, no
one has any hope of escape.
- If no one is to be found I weep but it will not be but for a moment, it
will be forever, the tears will never dry, the heaving of my chest will
never end.
- This book holds such value and for it to not be opened is a great burden
The Support – vs. 5,
From a messenger of God – One of the twenty-four elders
- No ordinary messenger of God but not an angel either
- An elder was one who himself had been redeemed, he knew by experience,
unlike the angel, about redemption and the power.
- He was one clothed with righteousness, not earned but imputed to him
Forbidding to weep – Not just an encouragement, but a forbidding to weep
- Stop weeping it will hinder your ability to hear the good news
- If you continue to weep and pay attention to the despair you see you
will never be able to hear the good news of God’s message, or see the
glory of Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.
- You need to quit weeping and you need to listen up –
"BEHOLD" get your eyes off of your plight and listen and see the
Messiah
For a Messiah – a lion from the tribe of Judah
- It is a message of hope about the Messiah, the One identified throughout
Scripture as the lion of Judah.
- Genesis 49:10, "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a
lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the
gathering of the people be."
- Hebrews 7:14 "For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda;
of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood."
- The Deliverer has been found, I have some good news for you to hear.
Look unto the Lion of Juda
The Success – "prevailed" (vs. 5)
He has prevailed – he has subdued, he has overcome
- John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye
might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world."
- 1 John 5:4-5, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh
the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even
our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that
believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?"
He has prevailed over the seals
- Colossians 2:14, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances
that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way,
nailing it to his cross;"
- The restrictions keeping others out, making it impossible for anyone to
open, he has prevailed, he has overcome and
And they sung a new song - Revelation 5:9, "And they sung a new
song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals
thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out
of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;"
Read from verse 9 to 14
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