Rev. 5:1-14, Praise the Lamb!

Revelation 5:1-14, Praise the Lamb!

  Here is a summary of last Sunday’s message.
1. God invites us to worship Him in heaven.
2. John had a vision of Christ and saw the Lord in His glory and power.
3. John was amazed to see the twenty-four elders falling down before the Lord who sits on the throne and worshipping Him and laying their crowns before the throne.

  Rev. 5 portrays the lamb Jesus Christ in the throne and heavenly worship. Let us also worship Him as every creature in heaven and on earth worships Him.

1. Look at the scroll sealed with seven seals (1-4)

  John saw in the right hand of the Lord who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. If no one opened the scroll that contained what must soon take place, salvation of the saints and the judgment of unbelievers could not begin. John wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. John’s heart broke for the people and the nations. Nehemiah also wept when he heard that the wall of Jerusalem was broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire and the people were in great trouble and disgrace. By God’s grace, Nehemiah completed the wall of Jerusalem. In Luke 23:28, Jesus also said to the women who mourned and wailed for him when he carried the cross, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, weep for yourselves and for your children” Do you weep for the unbelievers, families and neighbors who do not yet know Jesus?

2. The Lamb who will open the scroll and its seals (5-7)
Jesus Christ is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, who was slain, the only one who is able to open the scroll and its seven seals. Genesis 49:9-10 write, “You are a lion’s cub, Judah; you return from the prey, my son. Like a lion he crouches and lies down, like a lioness—who dares to rouse him? The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his. Isaiah 11:1 writes, “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.” Jesus is the Lamb who died on the cross and conquered death and the world forever and resurrected. Isaiah 53:7 describes him, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” We must triumph like Jesus has triumphed. Jesus submitted to God even to the death of the cross, denied himself, and had victory. This is a battle with ourselves since “self” desires to follow the world. Do you take up the cross and follow Jesus daily? Our resurrected Lord opened the scroll and received the authority to fulfill God’s redemptive plan.

3. Praise the Lamb (8-14) 
When the Lamb took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb and worshipped Him forever. The twenty-four elders give Him incense, prayers of God’s people. Psalm 141:2 says, “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.” How should we praise Him? Verses 9-14 display it well.

9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

  There is a worship song called “the slain lamb.” Praise Him for He has purchased us with His blood. He made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve Him and to reign on the earth. Worship Him for He was slain, receives power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise. Every creature in heaven and on earth worships Him who sits on the throne and the Lamb forever. The four living creatures say, “Amen,” and fall down and worship. Worship sweep all over the world. Let our praise and worship spread to those around us and let us pray for salvation of the lost souls.

Dear saints, may God bless you to be a kingdom and priests to serve Him and reign on the earth. Amen.