Who is worthy to open the scroll of history and eternity? In this message, we dive into Revelation 5 to witness the “Special Search” for the one worthy to loose the seven seals. While John wept when no one was found in heaven or earth, his tears were turned to joy at the revelation of the Lion of the tribe of Judah—the Root of David who has prevailed.
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Revelation 5:1 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.
Revelation 5:2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy
to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”
Revelation 5:3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able
to open the scroll, or to look at it.
Revelation 5:4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and
read the scroll, or to look at it.
Revelation 5:5 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.”
Revelation 5:6 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.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
So worship in eternity in heaven is the same yesterday, today and forever.”
Revelation 5:1 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.
Those great theologians the Eagles in their song “The Last Resort” sang:
And you can see them there on Sunday morning
Stand up and sing about what it’s like up there
They call it paradise, I don’t know why
You call someplace paradise, kiss it goodbye
1. THE SPECIAL SEARCH FOR THE WORTHY ONE.
Revelation 5:2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy
to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”
Revelation 5:3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able
to open the scroll, or to look at it.
The person doing the saving can’t have the same problem as the one who needs
to be saved.
Revelation 5:4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and
read the scroll, or to look at it.
W. A. Criswell once wrote: “These tears of John represent the tears of all God’s
people through all the centuries.”
2. THE SPECIFIC SELECTION OF THE WORTHY ONE.
Revelation 5:5 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.”
Matthew 1:1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David,…
Jesus not only comes from David, but David comes from Him.
Matthew 22:45 If David then calls Him ‘Lord,’ how is He his Son?
Revelation 22:16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the
churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”
Revelation 5:5 “… the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to
open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
Revelation 5:5 (NLT) “… Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne,
has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.
3. THE SLAIN SACRIFICE KNOWN AS THE WORTHY ONE
Revelation 5:6 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, ,,,
Exodus 12:3 (EASY) Tell all the Israelite people to do this on the tenth day of this
month: Each man must choose a lamb to kill as a sacrifice for his family.
That will be one lamb for each home.
1 Corinthians 5:7 “… For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.
The bridge of the song “Here I Am to Worship,” written by Tim Hughes
“I’ll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross”
Revelation 5:6 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.
Revelation 5:12 …”Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches
and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
Step through the open door into heaven’s throne room in Part 3 of our Revelation series! In “A Visit to God’s Heavenly Throne,” we witness the breathtaking vision of Revelation 4 — the radiant One seated on the throne, surrounded by 24 elders, four living creatures, a sea of glass, and the ceaseless worship of heaven. Discover the seven awe-inspiring elements around God’s throne and explore four life-changing aspects of true praise: its permanence, the glorious Person we worship, the humble posture of worship, and its power to lift our perspective from earth to heaven. Be renewed in worship as Jesus is revealed behind the veil!
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Sermon Notes
Revelation 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in
heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me,
saying, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”
Revelation 4:2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven,
and One sat on the throne.
Revelation 4:3 And He who sat there was like a jasper and a sardius stone in
appearance; and there was a rainbow around the throne, in appearance like
an emerald.
Revelation 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones
I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of
gold on their heads.
Revelation 4:5 And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices.
Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Revelation 4:6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the
midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes
in front and in back.
Revelation 4:7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like
a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature
was like a flying eagle.
Revelation 4:8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes
around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
Revelation 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to
Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
Revelation 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne
and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne,
saying:
Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.”
There are Seven Things Around the Throne of God
1. SEATED UPON THE THRONE IS THE TRIUNE GOD.
2. SURROUNDING THE THRONE IS A RAINBOW.
3. SITTING AROUND THE THRONE ARE THE 24 ELDERS.
4. SOUNDING FORTH FROM THE THRONE ARE LIGHTNINGS,
THUNDERS AND VOICES.
5. SPREAD BEFORE THE THRONE IS A SEA OF GLASS.
6. SITUATED IN THE MIDST OF THE THRONE ARE THE FOUR
LIVING CREATURES.
7. SHARING PRAISE TOWARD THE ONE ON THE THRONE ARE
THE CREATURES AND THE ELDERS.
Revelation 4:8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes
around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
1. THE PERMANENCE OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:8 “… And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord
God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
Isaiah 6:3 And one cried to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts;
Psalm 136:1 …. For His mercy endures forever.
Psalm 136:2 …. For His mercy endures forever.
Quote
When we are really in love, we don’t count the number of times we say “I love you!”,
especially if the one we love really loves to hear it.
The same way, God really loves to hear our words of love towards Him, even when
we only say “I love You” over and over again.
2. THE PERSON OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to
Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
Lyrics “I Write The Songs”
I’ve been alive forever
And I wrote the very first song
I put the words and the melodies together
I am music, and I write the songs
Ephesians 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the
Spirit;
Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Revelation 4:9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to
Him who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever,
John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory
3. THE POSTURE OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him who sits on the
throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before
the throne, saying:
The word “worship” means to prostrate one’s self,
Revelation 7:11 And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders
and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Revelation 11:16 And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats,
fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,
Revelation 19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and
worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.
Matthew 4:9 And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down
and worship me.”
Matthew 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written,
‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’
Psalm 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord
our Maker.
Quote
There are times I get down on my face to pray and it’s like I just can’t even get my face
deep enough in the carpet. It just seems like I can’t humble myself enough before God
Revelation 4:10 “… and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their
crowns before the throne …”
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
not seen.
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of
God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore
God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
4. THE PURPOSE OF PRAISE.
Revelation 4:11 “You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created.
Praise is not praise unless it’s expressed.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Worship lifts our perspective from the earthly to the heavenly.
Colossians 3:1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which
are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
