Topic: End Times. The Scroll Sealed with Seven Seals. Kingdom> Category: End Times>
Bible Scripture: Revelation 5:1-14.
Listen to the full sermon.
Today we will take a glimpse into the future, as seen through the eyes of the Apostle John. This vision was given to John during a time of persecution. The world was under the rule of one of the most brutal empires of humanity. Through the eyes of humanity, it appeared that evil was winning the ultimate battle over good. Tribes and nations had chosen to be one with evil. As a result they effectively declared war on God, the Eternal One.
It is in these circumstances of this world of chaos and conflict, that God brings a vision of what is yet to take place on earth.
So through the eyes of the writer John, let us take a look into eternity and discover the mystery of the scroll sealed with the 7 seals.
But before we begin, let us take a moment to surrender and be still before God. Surrender any thoughts, beliefs and emotions. Thank you Father that we have this moment to be still in your presence and receive from You. May we receive a greater revelation of Your love, truth and power. As there is always more with you Lord, may we live in continual awe the wonder of you. In Jesus name amen.
no one worthy to open the scroll
So let us go to Revelation 5:1-4 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. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.
This scene is filled with high drama and emotion. At the centre of it all is the one who sits on the throne. The writer John is involved in the drama as he watches, listens and responds.
In the right hand of the one who sits on the throne is the scroll sealed with 7 seals. The right hand is symbolic of strength and power.
Then a mighty angel proclaims with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose the seals?’ Worthy in this context means deserving or comparable in authority. It is the right to rule and reign with the one who sits on the throne.
At the centre of this high drama is the throne that is above all kings and kingdoms, emperors and empires, time and space, good and evil. The same throne that from which all things good were created, in the heavens and on the earth. Ultimate power and authority is represented by the throne. For the one who sits on the throne is the Eternal One. Yes the LORD God Almighty reigns.
is anyone worthy to open the scroll?
The significance of the scroll and the loosening of the seals is yet to be revealed. However a seal represents a royal signature of authority and power. The scroll has been sealed up by the highest authority and power and can only be loosed by the same. Only someone who is authorised by the one who sits on the throne to open the seal can do so.
The scroll that must be opened is sealed with not 1 or 2 or even 3 seals, but 7.
7 throughout scripture is symbolic of completion, perfection, wholeness and rest as an important part of the cycle of work. All 7 seals must be opened for the completion of what the scroll represents. It is vital that the scroll is opened and the final destiny of eternity be released.
So the drama is set. Everyone and everything is waiting for the seals to be opened.
Yet there was no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth who was able to open the scroll, or even to look at it. This caused John to weep as He knew the significance of this tragedy. For the first man and women were originally created in the image of God. Created by God to be comparable to Him. Yet humanity marred their God given identity by becoming one with good and evil, instead of only good. So there was no one worthy or comparable to the one who sits on the throne to open the scroll.
In response John weeps. For He knows the significance of the opening of the scroll. Yet in amongst his weeping, a voice of truth breaks through His sorrow and lament.
one is worthy to open the scroll
Revelation 5:5-7 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 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.
One of the elders testifies. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its 7 seals. The king of all kings from the human tribe of Judah is the one who came, lived, died, rose and ascended on high. He is now in the position of the highest power and authority, at the right hand of God the Father, who is the one who sits on the throne.
It is true that God Himself, the Son of God became human. Only God the Son is comparable to the one who sits on the throne and is worthy to open the seals. For only Jesus has the authority and power to open the seals and bring everything to its eternal destiny. Only Jesus is the bringer of salvation and true justice.
The opening of the seals will bring the consummation of salvation to all who received Him throughout the ages. Therefore it will also bring judgement upon evil. Likewise those who have chosen to align themselves with evil, will also come under the judgement of evil.
two sides to the scroll
The writer John continues to describe what He sees. In the centre of everything stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes. The 7 horns represent wholeness of power. The 7 eyes represent the all seeing and all knowing completeness of God sent out into all the earth. To bring the fullness of salvation to all those who have received God’s right to rule and reign throughout the ages. And conversely judgement to all those who have rejected God’s right to rule and reign and aligned themselves with evil. As a result their eternal destiny is aligned with the eternal destiny of evil.
Back to scroll itself. It has two sides and when released will bring the fullness of salvation and final judgement of evil. It represents the completion of God’s kingdom of truth and justice on earth as it is in heaven. Where the fullness of salvation is possessed by all those who have received God’s right to rule and reign throughout the ages.
Conversely it is final judgement for all those who refuse to receive God’s right to rule and reign. In doing so they choose to align themselves with evil. It is at the time of judgment that the elimination of evil takes place.
Heaven responds in awe and wonder.
revelation of jesus
Revelation 5:8-10 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. And 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, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
The two who are listed first around the lamb are the 4 living creatures and the 24 elders.
The 4 living creatures are first mention in Revelation in chapter 4. They are all seeing and have a full revelation of who God is, what He has done and will do. In Revelation 4 the 4 living creatures are described as this. One like a lion, symbolic of a king or right to rule. Another like a calf, representing a servant nature. The third like a man and the fourth like a flying eagle, which is symbolic of the divine.
All 4 together represent a likeness to Jesus. As the four gospels represent Jesus as those 4 aspects. Matthew reveals Jesus as the Jewish king. Mark emphasises the servant aspect of Jesus. Luke focused on representing the perfect humanity of Jesus and John revealed that Jesus was the divine, who became one of us. It appears that the 4 living creatures are not Jesus, however they have a likeness to Him and are a true witnesses of Him. They together with the 24 elders testify of who He is and what He has done and will do.
new song is sung
Therefore the 24 elders together with the 4 living creatures respond when Jesus takes the scroll from the right hand of the one who sits on the throne. The 24 elders represent those from the Old Testament era and New Testament era who have received God’s right to rule and reign. They have the prayers of the saints and a harp which represent a form of worship.
Together they sing a new song that is rich with revelation and is filled with awe and wonder. As we are those who have received God’s right to rule and reign from the New Testament era, we too can sing this new song. Together with the 4 living creature and the 24 elders we testify of Jesus.
“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, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
Only Jesus is worthy and as we surrender to His right to rule and reign, we receive His sacrifice for us. He makes us worthy as kings and priests. For it is true. All those who have received Jesus’ sacrifice, shall rule and reign on the earth with Him. For this is the will and good pleasure of our Father and Jesus the Son.
So in receiving Jesus sacrifice we have been redeemed from the controlling destructive forces of evil, death and our selfish desires.
Let us read on as the rest of heaven joins in and in celebration worship the one who is worthy to open the scroll and the one who sits on the throne.
worship
Revelation 5:11-14 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 ten thousand times ten thousand, 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!” Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
The mighty lion of the tribe of Judah is the lamb that was slain. He paid the ultimate cost of our salvation and placed the highest value on our lives. So He is the only one worthy and He willing did it all for us.
Therefore the lamb is the centre of it all together with the one who sits on the throne. Jesus the lamb of God, the eternal voice and the one who sits on the throne is the eternal one, God the Father.
“Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!” Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
SERMON CATEGORIES
unsearchable mysteries> son of man> love of God> hope and healing> know God> truth> power> end times> experience God> life> success in life> kingdom> miracles of the wilderness journey>
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