INTRODUCTION
Jesus once said that believers are the "salt" of the earth - a preserving
agent for the earth (Matt.
5:13, NKJV). As we studied chapter 4 last week
we placed the Rapture of the Church in vs. 1 & 2. After this event
the earth, depleted of its "salt," is more corrupt that ever, rapidly degenerating
into a cesspool of wickedness and violence.
The price for earth’s redemption was paid long ago on Calvary’s Cross;
but it is, at this time, still bound tight in the power of the wicked one,
so that its actual redemption must still be accomplished. It’s as though
a man had purchased a tract of land, and had clear title to it but was
barred from occupying it by unlawful squatters who had settled on it.
Just so, earth’s final redemption is yet to come. Jesus referred to
this fact in Luke
21:27-28 (NKJV) when He tells His listeners that "when you see the
Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory, look up and lift
up your heads, because your redemption draws near." Paul in Ephesians
1:13-14 (NKJV) tells believers that when they place their trust in
Christ that they are sealed by the "Holy Spirit…until the redemption of
the purchased promise."
In chapter 5, earth’s Redeemer is preparing to finish the task of purging
the purchased world.
I. THE DEED IS PRESENTED
Rev. 5:1 (NKJV)
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.
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What is this scroll that we here in verse 1? We know that its important
because it is in the right hand of the One who sits on the Throne.
To the original readers this passage would have brought to mind ancient
real estate transactions. Deeds for land sold in Israel always had a redemption
clause to allow the original owner to buy back the land if he met the conditions.
On the inside of these deed scrolls was written the boundaries and assets
of the property. The conditions for buy back the land (the redemption clause)
was written on the outside of the scroll. Only when the conditions were
met could the original owner break the sealed deed to begin the process
of reclaiming his land.
If you could not meet the conditions to buy back your land, a kinsman
could do it for you if he met the conditions of the redemption clause.
What were the conditions? He had to be a kinsman - He had to have the money
- He had to be willing to buy it back.
There are several examples of the Kinsman
Redeemer in the Old Testament.
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Ruth: Boaz was a kinsman of Naomi; He had the money; He was willing because
of Ruth. (Ruth
3:9-4:12, NKJV)
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The prophet Jeremiah was instructed to buy land in Israel before the Babylonian
captivity showing that at some point in the future the Jewish people would
be able to return to their land. (Jer.
32:6-15, NKJV)
There is disagreement about this scroll and its contents but I agree with
those who believe that this scroll is the title deed to the earth including
God’s plan for reclaiming the earth. Though not explained in the immediate
context, it seems clear to me that this scene in chapter 5 is that to which
the divinely specified procedures for land redemption in the Old Testamanet
point. The earth that God created and sustains is also the earth which
God must now redeem.
II. THE DILEMMA IS PRESENTED
Rev. 5:2-4 (NKJV)
2Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud
voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?"
3And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able
to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open
and read the scroll, or to look at it.
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A powerful angel heads up the search to see if there is anyone worthy to
open this scroll. Is there anyone who meets the conditions of the redemption
clause?
In all of heaven and earth there is no one who is able to open the scroll.
Let me point out once again that John is standing in heaven. He is in the
company of Michael and Gabriel, yet there is no one who is worthy to break
the seals and open the scroll.
Wait a minute! Isn’t the earth the Lord’s now?
Yes, the earth is permanently God’s possession by right of creation.
But just as an Israelite would sell his land for a time, so Adam lost his
God-given dominion over the earth. When Adam sinned, the earth was also
affected.
In the New Testament satan is called the "god of this world." (2
Cor. 4:3-4, John 12:31, NKJV). When Jesus was tempted by satan in the
wilderness (Luke
4:1-14, NKJV), Satan offers Jesus dominion over the earth:
" 5Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain,
showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
6And
the devil said to Him, 'All this authority I will give You, and their glory;
for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7Therefore,
if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.'"
Satan: "I know why you came, Jesus, to redeem the earth. I will give you
dominion over the earth without you having to shed your blood - if you’ll
just worship me." Jesus rejected the offer but does not refute satan’s
claim.
Satan is a usurper - an unlawful squatter on this earth. Even he knows
that his dominion here is only superficial and temporary. But, in the mean
time, he wants to deceive and damn as many people as he can.
Why do we see John sobbing in verse 4?
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If no one could be found who was worthy to open this scroll, this would
mean a lack of fulfillment
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A mood of helplessness swept over John as he contemplated the ramifications
of this:
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It would mean that satan would still have control of the earth.
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It would mean that millions more would experience eternal death.
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That was more than John could bear.
III. THE DELIVERER PREVAILS
Rev. 5:5-6 (NKJV)
5But 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."
6And 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
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One of the 24 elders says to John, "Don’t cry, there is One Who is worthy!"
"5Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root
of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals."
John turns, expecting to see a Lion, but he instead sees a Lamb.
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"As though it had been slain." Take note that this scene takes place in
heaven.
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Even here, Jesus bears the marks of His crucifixion.
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Even here, the effects of sin can be seen.
In Old Testament times when a person brought a lamb as a sacrifice for
their sins, they had to watch as the priest cut the lamb’s throat and see
it blood poured out. In doing so, they had a vivid picture of the consequences
of sin.
Today, people want to eliminate such images - even to the point of removing
songs about the blood in the hymnal of some churches. Even in the church
we have lost any concept of the seriousness of sin. Remember the Lamb that
was slain for your salvation as we take Communion at this time.
Order for the Lord’s Supper
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Preparation
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Prayer
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Invitation to the Lord’s Table
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Distribution of the Bread
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Distribution of the Cup
IV. THE DEMONSTRATION OF PRAISE
Rev. 5:7-14 (NKJV)
7Then He came and took the scroll out of the right
hand of Him who sat on the throne.
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures
and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp,
and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9And they sang a new song, saying:
"You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth."
11Then 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 ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12saying
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!"
13And 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!"
14Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four
elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
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In verse 7 we see the greatest moment of this scene in heaven as Jesus
come and takes the scroll from the One Who sits on the throne!
What were Jesus’ qualifications to be the Kinsman Redeemer?
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He became a man: The Virgin
Birth is essential to Redemption.
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He was able to pay the price with His shed blood on Calvary.
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He not only was willing to pay the price, He had already done it!
When He finished the work of Redemption on the Cross He shouted: "It is
finished!" (John
19:28-30, NKJV) The Greek word translated, "It is finished" (Gk. tetelestai),
was the word stamped on the release papers of a prisoner who had paid his
debt to society - it was the word stamped on a receipt when a debt was
"paid in full." Jesus was saying, "Nothing else needs to be done. I have
fulfilled the Redemption Clause!"
This is what all of Creation had been waiting for and when it happens
a celebration breaks out in heaven! First the 24 elders lead the redeemed
of ages in the first hymn or praise.
Rev.
5:9-10 (NKJV): 9And they sang a new song, saying:
"You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth."
Then billions of angels join the praise celebration as they all sing another
hymn of praise.
Rev.
5:11-12 (NKJV): 11Then 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 ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of
thousands, 12saying 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!"
Finally, all of creation joins the throng as they give praise to the One
Who sits on the throne and the Lamb.
Rev.
5:13-14 (NKJV): 13And 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!"
14Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four
elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
Let’s join our voices with that great multitude around God’s Throne as
we give praise to our Kinsman Redeemer - The Lion of the Tribe of Judah
- The Root of David - The Lamb of God - Jesus Christ!
SONGS OF PRAISE
"Behold The Lamb Of God"
"Hallelujah, Praise The Lamb"
"Hallelujah, I Have Found Him Whom My Soul So Long Has Craved…" |