The Sealed Book (5:1-4) scroll written on inside and out in Father’s hand—Legislator seven seals—complete and perfect will of God strong angel proclaiming—but not strong enough to open the book

Able to Open (5:3, 4) none in heaven (angelic) none on the earth (man) none under the earth (departed spirits) No one was “found worthy” Was a Reason To Weep

Revelation 5 should impress upon us of our dependency and need for Christ. “...when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do’” (Lk. 17:10)

Our Benefit! God’s will was written (5:1) God’s will needs to be opened and looked into (5:3) Christ came to do the will of God, “He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne” (5:6) Without the work of Christ, we should all weep! We would all be lost in hopelessness!

The Lion-Lamb (5:5-7)

Luke 11:21, 22 “to conquer” (Rev. 6:2) –found 28 times in 24 verses in NT –Found 17 times in Revelation

“overcomes” –Invites Christians (2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 21:7) –Apparent victory against saints (11:7; 13:7) –Ultimate victory of Christ & saints (12:11; 15:2; 17:14) Of what abides within (1 Jn. 2:14) Of who abides within (1 Jn. 4:4)

The elder said “the Lion”— John beheld “the Lamb” (5:6) Two creatures could not be more different

Was slain (Jn. 1:29) But “stood!” –Rev. 1:18; 2:8 Seven horns –Horn power (Deut. 33:17; 1 Sam. 2:10; Lk. 1:69) –seven horns Intensified/complete power

Seven eyes identified as the seven spirits of God –Holy Spirit (Is. 11:1, 2) –“sent out into all the earth” Like the gospel (Mk. 16:15; Col. 1:23)

Took the scroll (5:7) –two distinct persons! –only Lamb was able to approach and take scroll (1 Tim. 2:5, 6) –Fits His role as the executive “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me” (Jn. 6:38)

The New Song of Redemption Revelation 5:8-10

The New Song (5:8-10) Falling Down: the response! harp and golden bowls –heaven is real, but not material (1 Cor. 15:50) –these represent the prayers of the saints

proof for instrumental music in the church? taking something figurative to implement it materialistically –if one can do it with harps, then why not incense? –why not insist and implement the decorum for elders (4:4) –why not give the elders “thrones” to sit on in the church?

what is in heaven is in church? –angels are in heaven, but are they in the blood-built church on earth (Heb. 2:16)? –“sight” is in heaven, “faith” is in the church on earth (2 Cor. 5:7; 1 Jn. 3:2) –Abraham, Isaac, Jacob will be in heaven, but were not in the church (Lk. 13:23-28) –Lord’s Supper in church, but not in heaven (1 Cor. 11:26) proof for instrumental music in the church?

Music In Worship If we want to know anything about what the church on earth is to do, then we need to look at what God commands the church on earth to do “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19)

Hebrews 13:15 “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name”

When God Specified... to make an ark of gopherwood (Gen. 6:14) –“Ark” excludes any other sea vessel –“gopherwood” excludes any other kind of wood a “red heifer without spot” (Num. 19:2) –Excludes: black heifer, red bull, red heifer with spot

When God Specified... priests were to come from the tribe of Levi –Excludes any other tribe (Heb. 7:12-14) “burial” in baptism (Rom. 6:3) –Excludes other Mode: sprinkling, pouring, etc. “speaking” in song (singing) –Excludes “playing”

Voices of the Past John Calvin, “Musical instruments in celebrating the praises of God would be no more suitable than the burning of incense, the lighting up of lamps, and the restoration of the other shadows of the law” (Psalms, Vol. 1, p. 539). Charles Spurgeon, a Baptist preacher who preached to over 10,000 people in London would not allow mechanical instruments in worship saying, “We do not need them; they would hinder our praise.”

Voices of the Past John Wesley (Methodist), “I have no objection to organ in our chapels, provided it is neither heard nor seen.” Alexander Campbell, “But I presume, to all spiritually-minded Christians such aids would be as a cow bell in a concert.” Ben Franklin, in speaking sarcastically about the permissiveness of instrumental music in worship said, “Where a church never had or has lost the Spirit of Christ.”

The New Song (5:9, 10) Song is “new” because it speaks of man’s redemption Emphasis on the worthiness of Jesus

Jesus Is Worthy because He was slain (known from the foundation of the world, 13:8) because He redeemed us to God by His blood (cf. 1 Pet. 1:18-20) –out of every tribe, tongue, people, nation –scope of blood can reach all the world if they will obey gospel (Mk. 16:15, 16)

Jesus Is Worthy

Kings and Priests (5:10) His Lordship and Priesthood stand together; to reject one is to reject the other!

Hebrews 8:1, 2 “Now this is the main point of the things we are saying; We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, a Minister of the sanctuary and of the true tabernacle which the Lord erected, and not man”

Kings and Priests (5:10)

Heaven’s Praise (5:11-14) The voice of many the chorus of 100 million Ps 132:9, “Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.”

Heaven’s Praise (5:11-14) Seven things Jesus is Worthy of: –Power (Gk. dunamis), strength, power like dynamite Rom. 1:16; 1 Cor. 1:24 –Riches –abundance, plentitude 2 Cor. 8:9; Heb. 11:26 –Wisdom –broad and full intelligence Col. 2:3 –Strength –force, as in physical power 2 Pet. 2:11; might, Eph. 6:10; 1:19

Heaven’s Praise (5:11-14) –Honor –that which is given to one by reason of rank, reverence Heb. 2:9; 3:3 –Glory –splendor brightness Jn. 1:14; Heb. 1:3 –Blessing- praise & laudation Phil. 2:9, 10