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MP3 Audio
Revelation
5:1 - Part 1
Revelation
5:1 - Part 2
Revelation
5:1 - Part 3
Revelation
5:1 - Part 4
Revelation
5:2
Revelation
5:1-4
Revelation
5:4-7
Revelation
5:8 - Part 1
Revelation
5:8 - Part 2
Revelation
5:9-10 - Part 1
Revelation
5:9-10 - Part 2
Revelation
5:11-12
Revelation
5:13-14
It is important to note that Revelation chapter 5 contains the story of the
seven sealed book. God devotes 14 verses to the description of this book, and to
the worship of Jesus Christ, who has prevailed to open the book. Many people
want to spend much time in trying to interpret the remainder of this book, and
do not want to spend much time on chapter 5.
It is impossible to understand what God is doing when he pours out his
vengeance on this world if we do not understand who he is. If we do not see all
the worship and adoration of God given in chapter 4 and 5, we might come to the
conclusion that Christ is some sort of tyrant, forcing his will on unwilling
subjects. The opposite is true, of course. Christ is not a tyrant, but is very
long-suffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should
come to repentance.
The wrath of God being poured out in the book of revelation is not a
reflection of a short-tempered God, but of the mercy of God bestowed on all who
will come to him, and on those that refuse to come, seeing their own sinfulness
and repenting. The souls under the altar in Revelation 6:10 are anxious for
Christ to judge and avenge their blood, which shows the long-suffering of God
toward the wickedness of man.
God gives sinners every opportunity to repent, as is reflected when the sixth
seal is opened. Revelation 6:12-17 records that Christ shows himself in his
coming judgment, but nobody repents, but cries out for the rocks of the
mountains to hide them from the face of the wrath of the Lamb of God.
The unwillingness of man to repent is clearly seen in Revelation 16:9, which
records the pouring out of the fourth vial. Men are scorched with great heat,
but do not repent, blaspheming God instead. Revelation 16:11 records the pouring
out of the fifth vial, and men gnaw their tongues with pain, yet blaspheme God
instead of repenting. Revelation 16:21 records that men continue to blasphemy
God and do not repent, even when the earth is crumbling under their feet; when
the mountains are not found, and every island flees away, and great hail stones
fall from the sky.
Verse 1 - And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book
written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
I. It is God the Father that sits upon the throne.
A. Right hand – speaks of the power of God. The Bible declares that the
right hand is more powerful than the left hand.
1. Genesis 48:8-20 - Story of Jacob blessing the two sons of Joseph,
guiding his hands wittingly, so his right hand was on the head of the
child on his left.
2. Exodus 15:6, 12 – Moses praises God for his right hand of strength
in destroying Egypt in the Red Sea.
a. Exodus 15:6 Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in
power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
b. Exodus 15:12 Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth
swallowed them.
3. Leviticus 14:15,16 and 26,27 – When the cleansing of a not poor
leper, and a poor leper is ceremoniously cleansed, the priest will pour
some of the log of oil into his left hand and use his right finger to dip
into his left hand and sprinkle before the Lord seven times.
4. Deuteronomy 33:2 – Moses declared the fiery law came from the
right hand of God. And he said, The LORD came from Sinai, and rose up
from Seir unto them; he shined forth from mount Paran, and he came with
ten thousands of saints: from his right hand went a fiery law for them.
5. I Kings 2:19 – Sitting at the right hand of the king is a position
of power and authority.
a. Bathsheba therefore went unto king Solomon, to speak unto him
for Adonijah. And the king rose up to meet her, and bowed himself unto
her, and sat down on his throne, and caused a seat to be set for the
king’s mother; and she sat on his right hand.
b. Matthew 26:64 - Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said:
nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man
sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
c. Acts 7:55 - But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up
stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on
the right hand of God,
d. Hebrews 12:2 - Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of
our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,
despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of
God.
6. There are 38 times in the book of Psalms that the right hand of God
is spoken of as having great strength for the person who trusts in it.
7. Ecclesiastes 10:2 - A wise man’s heart is at his right hand;
but a fool’s heart at his left.
B. Left hand – The only time the left hand is mentioned in sacrifice is
in the cleansing of a leper.
1. Leviticus 14:15,16 – When the leper that is not poor is
ceremoniously cleansed the priest will pour some of the log of oil into
his left hand and use his right finger to dip into his left hand and
sprinkle before the Lord seven times.
2. Leviticus 14:26,27 – The procedure is repeated as above, but this
cleansing is for a poor person.
C. There are some general references made to the left hand, but not in
reference to the sacrifices.
1. Genesis 13:9 – If Lot goes to the left, Abraham will go to the
right, or vice-versa.
2. Judges 3:21 – Elud, a judge of Israel, used his left hand to take
his homemade dagger from his right thigh and thrust it into the belly of
Eglon, King of Moab.
3. Judges 7:20 – The 300 men with Gideon held the lamps in their left
hands, and the trumpets in their right hands.
4. Proverbs 3:16 – Wisdom holds length of days in her right hand and
riches and honor in her left hand.
5. Matthew 25:41 – At the judgment of the nations, the righteous
nations are said to be on the right hand of Christ, while the wicked
nations are on the left hand.
II. The seven sealed book:
A. Whenever our attention is directed toward the seven-sealed
book, it is immediately directly away from that book toward Christ.
1. Our attention is directed toward Christ because someone must open
the book so we can see what is on the inside.
2. Christ is the center of all our attention.
3. The important thing is not what is happening when the
seven-sealed book is open, but who is causing all these things to
happen.
a. The web site: http://greatriddle.flifree.com/010-e.htm correctly
declares that three witnesses always proclaim the truth and gives many
examples of this truth in scripture.
b. The web site is operated by Mormons, therefore also
contains the book of Mormon, alongside and equal to the Bible.
c. The homepage of the web site includes the following paragraph,
which is patently false:
All of the riddles and puzzles which have been discovered in the
King James Version of the Christian Bible. These riddles and puzzles
were hidden in plain sight. They were discovered only by obeying the
command that every word be established in the mouth of two or three
witnesses. The
story of their discovery is an interesting story. That
story is nevertheless not presented here because you do not need to
know that story in order to understand the Most High God. You
instead need to know and understand His riddles and puzzles.
(underlined emphasis - WWR)
4. Psalms 103:7 states, He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts
unto the children of Israel.
a. There are many people interested in knowing and understanding what
God is doing and what he will be doing in the future.
b. Few people are interested in knowing or understanding why
God is doing what he is doing and what he will be doing.
c. Many people are interested in knowing the facts concerning the
events in the book of Revelation, but few are interested in having a
personal acquaintance and relationship with the knowing God, who is full
of mercy, grace, love, judgment, and terrible vengeance.
B. The seven-sealed book is probably a scroll, because that was the way
written works were kept.
1. The way the book is put together keeps it from being unrolled
because each seal must be broken as more and more of the book is opened.
a. The seals show the chronological order of the book of Revelation.
b. The opening of one seal must take place before the next seal can
be opened.
c. One trumpet must sound before the next trumpet can be sounded.
d. One vial must be poured out before the next vial can be poured
out.
e. It doesn’t makes much difference whether the seven sealed book
is a scroll or a book – the result is the same.
2. There are many varied interpretations of the book of Revelation, but
it is error to fail to consider the chronological order of the book.
a. The fact that Revelation is a chronological book is very apparent.
b. Revelation 6:1-17 – The opening of the first six seals.
1.) Revelation 6:1-2 – The first seal is opened, the world is
conquered.
2.) Revelation 6:3-4 – The second seal is opened, there is
conflict on earth.
3.) Revelation 6:5-6 – The third seal is opened, there is famine
on the earth.
4.) Revelation 6:7-8 – The fourth seal is opened – there is
widespread death and destruction on the earth.
5.) Revelation 6:9-11 – The fifth seal is opened – the souls
under the altar cry to the Lord for vengeance.
6.) Revelation 6:12-17 – The sixth seal is opened – Christ
appears and men cry for a hiding place from his wrath.
c. Revelation 8:1-6 – When the seventh seal is opened, the seven
trumpets appear.
d. Revelation 8:7-9:21 – The sounding of the first six trumpets.
1.) Revelation 8:7 – The first trumpet sounds, vegetation is
destroyed.
2.) Revelation 8:8-9 – The second trumpet sounds, the seas are
struck.
3.) Revelation 8:10-11 – The third trumpet sounds, the waters
struck.
4.) Revelation 8:12-13 – The fourth trumpet sounds, the heavens
struck. (Three woes are coming!)
5.) Revelation 9:1-12 – The fifth trumpet sounds, locust from the
bottomless pit. (The first woe!)
6.) Revelation 9:13-21 – The sixth trumpet sounds, The angels
from the Euphrates. (The second woe!)
e. Revelation 10:1-4 – The seven thunders utter their voices, but
John is forbidden to write what they declare.
1.) The seven thunders are evidently included within, and a part
of, the sixth trumpet and the second woe.
2.) Many have tried to determine what the seven thunders declared,
but it is impossible to know because God does not want us to know.
f. Revelation 11:15 – The seventh trumpet sounds (The third woe!),
1.) Included in this seventh trumpet and third woe is:
a.) Chapter 12 gives a summary of Israel and Christ, while
chapter 13 gives a summary of the anti-Christ kingdom, and chapter
14 declares:
1) Revelation 14:1-5 – The 144,000 worship God,
2) Revelation 14:6-13 – The proclamation that pagan Babylon
has fallen.
3) Revelation 14:14-20 – The earth is reaped.
b.) Revelation 15:1 declares the last seven plagues, for the
wrath of God is filled up with these.
2.) Revelation 15:5-8 – The seven angels come out of heaven’s
temple with the seven final plagues – each angel has a vial or bowl
of the wrath of God.
a.) Revelation 16:2 – The first vial is poured out – there
are terrible sores on those who had received the mark of the beast.
b.) Revelation 16:3 – The second vial is poured out – The sea
turns to blood.
c.) Revelation 16:4-7 – The third vial is poured out – The
water turns into blood.
d.) Revelation 16:8-9 – The fourth vial is poured out – Men
are scorched with great heat.
e.) Revelation 16:10-11 – The fifth vial is poured out –
Darkness and pain fill the Anti-Christ kingdom.
f.) Revelation 16:12-16 – The sixth vial is poured out – the
way is prepared for the Battle of Armageddon.
g.) Revelation 16:17-21 – The seventh vial is poured out –
Terrible wrath from God is upon the earth.
3. The end of the chronological order of Revelation does not stop with
the wrath of God upon the earth, but continues into eternity.
a. Revelation 20:1-6 records that Satan is bound 1,000 years while
Christ reigns on this earth.
b. Revelation 20:7 records that when the 1,000 years are completed,
Satan is loosed from his prison, goes out and deceives the people who
are ready for his return and the battle of God and Magog finalizes Satan’s
destruction, as he is cast into the Lake of Fire in verse 10.
c. Revelation 20:11-15 records the judgment of the lost and their
being cast into the Lake of Fire.
d. Revelation 21 records the establishment of the new heaven and new
earth and its glory.
e. Revelation 21:4 reveals that Christ will wipe all tears from eyes,
and there shall be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain because all
those former things are wiped away.
4. Any interpretation of the book of Revelation that does not consider
the chronological order of the book is very obviously in error.
C. The seven sealed book is:
1. A book inside a book, which is inside another book.
a. The seven sealed book held by God the Father is contained within
the book of Revelation, which is contained in the Bible.
1.) Saved people are protected inside the hand of Jesus Christ,
which is kept safe in the hand of God.
2.) John 10:28-30 - And I give unto them eternal life; and they
shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is
able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are
one.
3.) Colossians 3:3 - For ye are dead, and your life is hid with
Christ in God.
b. If we do not believe the Bible, we will not believe the book of
Revelation, and we will not believe what is written in the seven sealed
book.
1.) II Peter 3:3 states, Knowing this first, that there shall
come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2.) These unbelievers are walking after their own lusts, not after
the things of God.
3.) Therefore they doubt the return of Christ, because,
4.) They are willingly ignorant of the flood in Noah’s day,
because
5.) They do not want to believe God judged the world then, and
6.) They do not want to believe God will judge the world with fire.
c. The reason Satan is causing all these new versions of the Bible in
these last days is to:
1.) Cause confusion as to the sinful condition of man.
2.) Cause confusion as to who Jesus Christ is.
3.) Cause confusion as to God’s eternal plan of redemption.
4.) Cause confusion as to God’s past judgments.
5.) Cause confusion as to God’s present judgments.
6.) Cause confusion as to God’s future judgments.
2. Revelation 5:9 – The seven sealed book is a book of redemption for
souls and for the earth.
a. Adam lost the souls of all the earth when he rebelled against God
in the Garden of Eden.
b. Genesis 3:22-24 – Adam and his wife were cast out of the Garden
of Eden, and the fulfilling of the book of Revelation will put man back
into the paradise of God.
c. Paradise was lost because of the actions of the first Adam, but
Paradise will be regained because of the actions of the second Adam,
1.) I Corinthians 15:22 - For as in Adam all die, even so in
Christ shall all be made alive.
2.) I Corinthians 15:45 - And so it is written, The first man
Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening
spirit.
3. Revelation 5:10 – The seven sealed book is a book to remove Satan’s
control over this earth as prince and power of the air and return control
to God.
a. Ephesians 2:2 – Satan is the prince of the power of the air.
b. Luke 4:6 – Satan has a kingdom on this earth, and he gives it to
whomsoever he will.
c. Revelation 11:15 – The time when Christ shall take control of
the kingdoms of this world and begin to reign forever and ever.
4. The seven sealed book is a book of judgment on the wickedness of
this world.
a. See the seals – which typify the progression of events leading
up to the judgment of this world.
b. See the thunders, which may typify some type of progressive
revelation of God’s coming judgments, which will not be heeded by
wicked men, but will probably be heard by faithful men.
c. See the trumpets, which typify progressive judgment during the
tribulation period.
d. See the vials, which typify progressively stronger judgments
during the last half of the tribulation period.
5. The seven sealed book is a book of judgment, but it is also a very
sad book in that it is a reminder of the ignorance of Israel, their
rebellion against God’s clear commandments, the replacement of God’s
laws with laws of their own, and his judgment against them.
a. If Israel, the apple of God’s eye, could willfully sin and rebel
against God, who are we to look down on them, or to think we cannot sin
after the same fashion?
1.) If we are faithful to God, it is because of his abounding grace
and mercy toward us, not because we are better than Israel.
2.) Left to ourselves, we will be guilty of the exact same
disbelief as Israel.
b. Romans 11:11-12 reveals that God allowed blindness to come to
Israel that they might reject him, and he would reject them, and turn to
the unbelieving, undeserving Gentiles.
III. What does it mean that the book is sealed?
A. The seal relates to power and authority and is whatever keeps the
contents of the book hidden or contained.
1. The seal could be as a clasp that keeps the book closed –
something like a locked clasp on some personal diaries.
2. The seal could also be as a signet ring that relates authority or
ownership.
a. In Esther,
1.) Esther 3:10 – Haman talked King Ahasuerus into putting the
king’s seal on a letter whose intent was to give authority to
destroy the Jews.
2.) Esther 8:7,8, 10 – King Ahasuerus gave Esther and Mordecai
the authority to use his ring to write a letter giving permission for
the Jews to protect themselves.
b. 1 Kings 21:8 states, So she (Jezebel) wrote letters in
Ahab’s name, and sealed them with his seal, and sent the letters unto
the elders and to the nobles that were in his city, dwelling with
Naboth.
1.) Ahab’s seal reflected that the king’s authority was behind
this diabolical plot.
2.) Therefore, the citizens of Naboth’s city were afraid to
disobey, and delivered just Naboth to destruction.
c. Daniel 6:17 confirms, And a stone was brought, and laid upon
the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and
with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed
concerning Daniel.
d. In Matthew 27:66 the tomb of Christ was sealed with something,
perhaps an official government seal.
e. Revelation 13:16 – Satan’s servants are marked with the number
of a man.
f. God’s faithful servants are sealed, or protected.
1.) II Timothy 2:19 declares, Nevertheless the foundation of God
standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.
And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from
iniquity.
2.) Revelation 7:3 – The 144,000 Jews who will believe during the
Great Tribulation will be sealed beforehand.
3.) Ezekiel 9:4 states, And the LORD said unto him, Go through
the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark
upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the
abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
a.) When the rebellion of Israel finalized in their being
conquered by the Babylonians, God protected those who desired to
worship him by putting a mark on their foreheads.
b.) I do not know what that mark was, but there is no doubt it is
God setting these aside for his protection.
g. There is a mark on the forehead of believers and unbelievers,
marking them as the territory of God or Satan.
3. The book is sealed as to two things:
a. Nobody will be able to understand what the book is about because
we cannot look inside the book.
b. The prophecies contained in the book will not come to pass until
the time is right.
IV. The nation of Israel and the sealing of the book.
A. Daniel 9:24 gives six things that is determined to be done to
Jerusalem and Israel.
1. To finish the transgression.
2. To make an end of sins.
3. To make reconciliation for iniquity.
4. to bring in everlasting righteousness.
5. to seal up the vision and prophecy – this is the part of this
prophecy we are concerned with.
6. to anoint the most holy.
B. The book was sealed because of the willful ignorance of Israel, their
rebellion against God’s commandments, and the replacement of God’s laws
with laws of their own, but is unsealed by the grace of God.
1. Refer to Daniel 9:24 - the part of the six things we are concerned
with is number 5 – to seal up the vision and prophecy.
2. All of the prophecy given in Daniel 9:24-27 will be fulfilled within
490 years of the commandment given by Cyrus to rebuild the temple in
Jerusalem.
3. II Chronicles 36:22-23 reveals that Cyrus gave this command in the
first year of his reign over Judah, immediately after the seventy year
captivity is finished.
4. The year is 536 BC.
C. The judgments against Israel and the promise of a redeemer is sealed
(hidden by the authority and power of God) to Israel.
1. Isaiah 28:5-13 – God declares that Israel have gone away through
wine and strong drink. They should have learned precept upon precept (a
little at a time until they have understood the hard things), but they
have refused. Therefore God has let them go away from him a little bit at
a time until they have gone backward and is snared by Satan and fallen
completely away.
a. The warning for us is evident.
b. If we pay more attention to the things of this world than we do to
the things of God – if we do not make application in our everyday
lives to the things we know we should – God will also refuse to reveal
himself to us.
c. The wine and strong drink might be literal, but they could be
simply taking more concern with the things of this world than the things
of the kingdom of God.
d. Matthew 13:22 speaks of the saved person who is overcome with the
cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and chokes the word,
that they bear no fruit to perfection. (See also Luke 8:14.)
2. Isaiah 28:14-22 – God will disannul the covenant Israel has made
with death to revive that favored nation with his eternal blessings.
a. Verse 19-20 describes the wretchedness of Israel.
b. The strange work of verse 21 is not an "odd" work, but a
work that is alien to the thinking of Israel.
c. Verse 22 describes the Great Tribulation of Revelation.
3. Isaiah 28:23-29 reveals that Christ knows how to reap the benefits
of the earth.
a. The earth must be prepared with barrenness, so all will know there
is need of a Saviour, just as a person will not be saved until they
first see the complete blackness and wickedness of their heart.
b. Verse 27-28 describes the different processes used by God on
different peoples.
c. Verse 29 clarifies that all these things come from the Lord.
4. Isaiah 29 is a dual prophecy concerning the time of Babylonian
captivity and the time of the Gentiles.
a. Verse 1-9 states that Jerusalem will be overrun by Gentiles, both
during the Babylonian captivity and the times of the Gentiles.
b. Verse 9-10 explains the blindness of Israel is poured upon them
from the Lord.
c. Verse 11 refers to the seven sealed book of Revelation 5.
d. Verse 13-16 reveals the reason for God giving blindness to Israel
is because of their willing unbelief, and lack of seeking the face of
God.
e. Verse 17-24 speak of the time of restoration (the millennium) of
Israel when their eyes shall be opened, those that erred in spirit shall
come to understand, and those that murmured shall understand doctrine.
5. There are those people called Preterists, who believe all the
prophecies about Israel are completely fulfilled when Titus entered and
destroyed Jerusalem in 70 A. D.
a. These people are wrong, because there are other prophecies that
declare that Israel will be revived in the last days.
b. Isaiah 28:14-22 speaks of the revival of Israel in the last days,
when God disannuls their agreement with hell.
1.) Isaiah 28:21 speaks of Perazim, which is the same as
Baal-perazim, where David burnt the Philistine gods.
2.) Isaiah 28:21 speaks of the valley of Gibeon, where God wrought
a great victory for Israel.
a.) According to I Chronicles 16:39, and 21:29, the Tabernacle
was placed here, and remained until Solomon built the temple.
b.) Joshua 10 relates how God caused the sun to stand still so
Joshua could defeat five kings, who attempted to crush Gibeon.
c.) II Samuel 2:12-17 declares the victory of King David’s army
over King Ishbosheth’s army and the kingdom of David becoming
stronger and stronger.
d.) II Samuel 21:6-9 records the hanging of seven sons of Saul at
Gibeon for the grievance of the Gibeonites against Saul’s breaking
Israel’s oath with them, made in Joshua 9:3-15.
e.) I Kings 3:2 reveals that King Solomon offered 1,000
sacrifices to God in the high place at Gibeon, and Solomon asked God
for wisdom.
c. Isaiah 28:23-29 compares the work of the farmer for a completed,
useable finished crop to God who works with Israel to complete them,
making them useable for the eternal glory of God.
1.) Fitches – a type of condiment, something like cummin.
2.) The farmer knows how to plant and cultivate and harvest each
plant for the greatest benefit.
3.) God also knows how to plant and cultivate and harvest Israel
for the greatest benefit to himself.
d. God is not running rough shod over Israel, but each move of
chastisement is carefully planned for the best benefit to God and
Israel.
6. Isaiah 29:9-10 - Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and
cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with
strong drink. 10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep
sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers
hath he covered.
a. Because of the rebellion of Israel, God caused the spirit of a deep
sleep to come upon them.
1.) Israel willingly rebelled against God and his commandments,
therefore God caused the deep sleep of ignorance to come upon them.
2.) God allowed Israel to rebel against him.
b. Who will God hold the more accountable: those people who lived
during the time of Christ and saw his crucifixion, or people today who
refuse to believe true preaching?
1.) Both are equally accountable.
2.) Both are equally depraved, and cannot see unless God opens their
eyes.
3.) If God begins to open your eyes to the truth, you should use the
light God has given to you and seek his face, so he will open more to
you.
4.) Failure to follow the light God gives to you will bring the
judgment of God upon you.
c. I Samuel 16:14 states, But the Spirit of the LORD departed from
Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
1.) The ignorance of Saul, his rebellion against the clear
commandments of God and the replacement of God’s laws with his own
laws is the reason God sent the evil spirit from God to come upon him.
2.) Saul continued to reign over Israel another 38 years until his
death and David began his reign of 40 years.
3.) Thus Israel continues to be a nation after their rebellion, both
during the Babylonian captivity and the times of the Gentiles.
4.) King David is a type of Christ, and when the times of the evil
spirit from the Lord being on Israel is over, Jesus Christ himself shall
rule and reign, and all Israel will know he is the one they missed.
V. God gave Israel many warnings about their departure from the faith, but
they refused to listen. God did not cause them to cease being a nation right
away, but "gave them enough rope to hang themselves," and fulfill
his ultimate prophecy against them.
A. Isaiah 6:8-12 - Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom
shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. 9 And
he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and
see ye indeed, but perceive not. 10 Make the heart of this people fat, and
make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and
be healed. 11 Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities
be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be
utterly desolate, 12 And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a
great forsaking in the midst of the land.
1. Israel will not see their error before God, nor will they see the
redeemer when he comes.
2. How long?
a. Isaiah prophesies until Israel goes into Assyrian captivity, thus
fulfilling the short term requirement of prophecy.
b. Verse 11 – The long term fulfillment of this prophecy is when
Titus destroyed Jerusalem and Jerusalem in 70 A. D.
c. Verse 12 – Israel will be scattered through all the world.
d. If this were the end of the prophecy, the story would be sad
indeed.
e. But there are other prophecies that speak of the restoration of
Israel in the last days of this world.
B. The blindness of Israel mentioned in the New Testament.
1. Matthew 13:10-15 - And the disciples came, and said unto him, Why
speakest thou unto them in parables? 11 He answered and said unto them,
Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of
heaven, but to them it is not given. 12 For whosoever hath, to him shall
be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from
him shall be taken away even that he hath. 13 Therefore speak I to them in
parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither
do they understand. 14 And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias,
which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and
seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive: 15 For this people’s heart
is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they
have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear
with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be
converted, and I should heal them.
2. Acts 28:23-29 - And when they had appointed him a day, there came
many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the
kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of
Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some
believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. 25 And when
they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had
spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our
fathers, 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear,
and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27
For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of
hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their
eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and
should be converted, and I should heal them. 28 Be it known therefore unto
you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they
will hear it. 29 And when he had said these words, the Jews departed, and
had great reasoning among themselves.
a. Paul is a very able expositor of the Old Testament, but
understanding is not by human reasoning, although that is necessary.
b. True spiritual understanding comes only when the Lord opens the
understanding.
c. God did not open the understanding of the Jews because they had
rejected so much.
C. Daniel is commanded to shut up the book and seal it until the time
appointed. This prophecy is comparable to the prophecy of Isaiah 6:9-11.
1. Daniel 12:4 – Daniel is commanded to shut up the words and seal
the book even to the time of the end. But thou, O Daniel, shut up the
words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to
and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
a. Amillennialists believe Daniel 11 is all history and has been
fulfilled.
b. They do not understand the seven sealed book of Revelation 5 and
how Isaiah 29:11 speaks of the book Daniel is commanded to seal.
c. Daniel 12:4, 9 and 13 speak of the end of time, not the overtaking
of Israel by Titus in 70 A.D., which is not the end of Israel, or the
end of the prophecy concerning Israel.
2. Daniel 12:6 – Daniel asked how long the book should be sealed up. And
one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the
river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
3. Daniel 12:7-9 – Daniel was told, but did not understand, and was
told again that the words of the book were closed up and sealed. And I
heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river,
when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by
him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half;
and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy
people, all these things shall be finished. 8 And I heard, but I
understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these
things? 9 And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and
sealed till the time of the end.
a. There are some prophecies that we will not understand until the
time of the end arrives.
b. Daniel did not understand what he was told because it was not time
for the words to be understood.
c. It is remarkable to me that Daniel did not understand that Israel
would be in Babylonian captivity for 70 years until the end of the 70
years.
d. Some prophecies will be understood only when the seven sealed book
is opened.
D. The coming judgment of God upon this world during the tribulation
period and the redeemer are linked together.
1. Isaiah 28:16 – The promise of the redeemer, a sure foundation. Therefore
thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a
tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth
shall not make haste.
a. Israel longed to see the King of Kings rule over them.
b. They wanted this "big" thing.
c. But they refused to seek God in the smallest things, therefore God
refused to reveal himself to them.
d. Israel did not see Christ when he came as their redeemer and the
redeemer of all the world.
e. Their eyes were blinded to the miracles and other wondrous works
Christ did.
2. Isaiah 28:18-19 – God will disannul man’s covenant with death
and destruction, even though the physical judgments of God must be
endured. And your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your
agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall
pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it. 19 From the time that
it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass
over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand
the report.
a. There is spiritual salvation, but the physical consequences of sin
must be paid.
b. The physical consequences of sin shall come day by day, and night by
night.
c. The word "vexation" means horror, or an object of terror,
therefore the report of whatever has come, or is coming will be a terror
to all.
d. There will be no comfort or hope in any news, or report.
VI. The book of Ezekiel 2:10.
A. This book refers to Ezekiel first understanding the judgments of God
himself, then preaching about those coming judgments.
B. Ezekiel 2:10 states, And he spread it before me; and it was written
within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and
mourning, and woe.
1. This book is not the seven sealed book of Revelation 5.
a. This book is like the little book of Revelation 10:2, 8-11.
1.)
2.) Both are books concerning the coming judgment of God upon
Israel and this world.
3.) Both books contain the final prophecies concerning the end of
this phrase of the earth’s history.
b. Because of the similarity of these two books, some believe Ezekiel
and John will be the two final witnesses of Revelation 11.
1.) Revelation 10:11 is spoken to John when he is writing the book
of Revelation.
2.) Comparing Revelation 10:7 with Revelation 11:15 reveals the
time period is the very last of the Great Tribulation.
c. Some believe Moses and Elijah will be the two final witness, while
others believe Elijah and Enoch will fill that position.
2. Ezekiel is told in Ezekiel 3:1-4 to go preach the book to all of
Israel.
a. In verse 11, Ezekiel is told to prophecy to those of the
captivity, therefore we understand Israel had already gone into
Babylonian captivity.
b. In verse 12-14, Ezekiel was moved by the Spirit of God, but went
in his bitterness, because he had a hard job to do.
c. In verse 24-27 God promised to open and shut Ezekiel’s mouth and
give him strength to obey.
C. Ezekiel’s preaching involved both the short-term judgments of God
and the long-term judgments of the end days.
1. Short term judgments.
a. Ezekiel chapters 4 and 5 give Ezekiel some things to do as visual
aids to Israel.
b. The Babylonian captivity had begun, therefore Ezekiel actions
forced Israel to understand there would be more judgments in the future
if they did not listen to the present judgments.
2. Long-term Judgments.
a. Ezekiel 5:12 speaks of the time after 70 A. D. when God scatters
Israel to all the world.
b. Ezekiel 6:8-10 confirms Ezekiel 5:12.
Verse 2 - And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is
worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
I. A strong angel proclaims; it is not a weak angel, or just an angel. It
is not strength that allows the book to be opened, but worthiness.
A. There are two things the angel proclaims:
1. The worthy individual must open the book.
2. The worthy individual must loose the seals thereof.
B. Angels have a lot to do in bringing the judgments of God upon Israel
and the entire world.
1. Some form of the word "angel" appears 72 times in the book
of Revelation.
a. An angel is the messenger of God – for blessing or judgment.
b. There seems to be groups of angels who carry out the judgments of
God.
1.) There seems to be other groups of angels who protect the people
of God.
2.) Sometimes angels bring a literal message from God.
a.) Judges 13:3 – An angel of the Lord appeared to the mother
and father of Samson, informing them of her coming pregnancy, and
how Samson would defeat the Philistines.
b.) Judges 6:11 – An angel brought the message to Gideon that
he was to lead Israel to victory against the Midianites.
2. God’s people, as individuals, are not generally allowed to execute
the judgment of God.
a. God reserved the execution of his laws to the nation of Israel,
not individuals.
1.) The only exception is when an individual kills a murderer, then
flees to one of the cities of refuge.
2.) God knows there would be times when the anger of this flesh
would be sudden and hot, and therefore made provision for that without
making provision for murder.
3.) The reason God did not destroy Cain when he killed Abel is
because there was no government established, and there were no cities
of refuge established, therefore God put the mark upon him that no man
would kill him.
b. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ does not execute the judgment
of God.
1.) I Corinthians 5:5, 9-13 – A congregation is allowed only to
put the wicked person from their midst, therefore delivering them to
the judgment of God.
2.) Revelation 11:1-12 – During the tribulation period, the two
witnesses do not judge the world, or pour out the judgment of God,
rather they continually proclaim the gospel and glory of God until
their testimony is finished, then they are killed.
3.) Revelation 14:6 – The angels preach the everlasting gospel
during the last half of the tribulation period, after the two
witnesses are killed, resurrected and taken to heaven.
c. Angels do not carry out their personal vengeance upon this earth,
but rather pour out the judgment of God.
1.) The angels show no joy in pouring out the judgment of God upon
the earth, instead glorying God for his righteous judgment
2.) In all places in the book of Revelation, we are told the
various kinds of God’s judgment the angels bring to the earth,
except when the seven thunders utter their voices, which plague is
withheld from our knowledge.
C. The different strengths of angels.
1. Revelation 5:1 – It is a strong angel that asks if there is
any worthy to open the seven sealed book.
2. Revelation 10:1 – It is a mighty angel that has a little
book in his hand.
3. Revelation 18:1, 2, 21 – A mighty angel describes the
destruction of Babylon.
4. Revelation 20:1 – It is a "plain, ordinary" angel that
binds defeated Satan in the bottomless pit for 1,000 years.
D. The different works of the angels.
1. Revelation 1:1 – the book of Revelation was given to an angel to
give to the Lord’s churches.
2. Revelation 1:20 – Each church has a special angelic messenger
directly from God.
a. Revelation 2:1 – the angel of the church of Ephesus.
b. Revelation 2:8 – the angel of the church of Smyrna.
c. Revelation 2:12 – the angel of the church of Pergamos.
d. Revelation 2:18 – the angel of the church of Thyatira.
e. Revelation 3:1 – the angel of the church of Sardis.
f. Revelation 3:5 – He, whose name is not blotted out of the book
of life will be confessed before God and his angels.
g. Revelation 3:7 – the angel of the church of Philadelphia.
h. Revelation 3:14 – the angel of the church of Laodiceans.
3. There are people who believe the angels of these churches are the
pastors of those churches.
a. Words have special meanings.
1.) The word "church" means assembly, especially an
assembly of called out, saved, scripturally baptized followers of
Christ, who have covenanted together to worship and serve God.
2.) The word "demon" means a certain thing in the Bible.
3.) The word "angel" also means a certain thing in the
Bible.
4.) God uses words to give understanding to his Bible.
5.) If we do not know the definitions of words, or if we change the
definitions of words, we will not understand what God is saying to us.
b. The word "angel*" appears some 283 times in the entire
Bible (72 times in the book of Revelation), but there is no passage in
the entire Bible that states that men are angels, therefore pastors
cannot be angels, although pastors are supposed to be messengers from
God.
1.) It is very dangerous to state that pastors are angels when the
Bible does not say that.
2.) To believe that angels are pastors is to overlook a most
valuable truth about the oversight of each local church.
c. I understand that pastors hold a special position in the Lord’s
churches, but pastors are not angels (created beings).
1.) Pastors are placed by God as overseers to his churches, and
they are the ones the people should look to for God’s guidance and
leadership.
2.) Pastors are not dictators, as the church does not belong to
them, but to God.
d. Pastors get their message from the Bible, the Word of God, while
angels get their message from the actual spoken word directly from God’s
voice.
e. Some pastors promote the idea that pastors are angels because that
elevates their position, but in reality it takes away from God’s
protection over his churches.
1.) Just as children have guardian angels, but they also have
parents who protect them; so churches have guardian angels, but they
also have pastors who protect them.
2.) There is no doubt that pastors should protect and lead the Lord’s
church into greater communion with Christ.
3.) Some pastors act as if they are the one everything must go
through, but in reality, Christ is still the head of his kind of
churches, and everything should go through him – being approved by
his revealed word – the KJV Bible.
f. The theory that pastors are angels also lends credence to the
false theory that the sons of God are angels which co-habits with women,
producing children which are half-human, half-some other creature, which
are exceedingly wicked, and caused the flood in the days of Noah.
g. Following proper Biblical interpretation of letting scripture
interpret scripture will easily reveal that the angels of the churches
are not pastors, but a special work of some of God’s angels.
4. Angels appear as men, but they are not men.
a. Genesis 19 – two angels came to Lot – this could very well be
Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit of God, but there is no record that
these two are humans, rather that the two came from God.
1.) Genesis 18:1 states that the LORD appeared to Abraham, and
verse 2 states that three men stood by Abraham.
2.) Genesis 18:16 states that the men rose us and looked toward
Sodom, while verse 17 records what the LORD said.
b. An angel went before and behind Israel, but Moses led them.
1.) Exodus 14:19 - And the angel of God, which went before the
camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the
cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them:
2.) Exodus 32:34 – God told Moses to lead Israel because his
angel would go before him.
3.) These passages reveal the truth of God’s plan of leadership.
a.) There are angels God has placed to lead and protect all his
local churches into total truth.
b.) God has also placed pastors to oversee his churches, as a
physical representative of himself.
c.) This is a very responsible position, as every pastor is
accountable to God for how he conducts himself.
4.) God knows his people need a physical leader they can see.
c. I Chronicles 21 – An angel destroyed Jerusalem because David
numbered the people. It was not a man who was destroying Jerusalem.
d. Daniel 6:22 – It was an angel that shut the lion’s mouth, a
man did not do that.
e. Matthew 13:39 – Angels, not men, shall sever the wicked from the
just.
f. Acts 12 – Peter is let out of prison by an angel, not a man.
g. Over and over again angels appear in the form of men, but they are
not men.
5. Angels are always created beings, send from God as messengers to
humans.
a. Each church of the Lord Jesus Christ as a special type of
"guardian" angel which watches over their welfare, protecting
them from Satan’s assaults and guiding them into all truth.
b. Organizations that call themselves churches, but are not true
churches, do not have this special type of "guardian" angel
watching over them.
c. Each church should also have a special messenger from God called a
pastor who should be a "pastor/teacher" (Ephesians 4:11),
leading the people to a closer walk with Christ.
d. This principle compares to Exodus 32:34 – An angel went before
and behind Israel, but Moses led them.
6. Angels are very prominent in the pronouncements of the coming
judgment.
a. Revelation 5:1 – a strong angel seeks someone worthy to
open the seven sealed book.
b. Revelation 5:11 – millions of angels proclaim the worthiness of
Jesus Christ to open the seven sealed book.
7. It is interesting that angels do not open the seven seals – Jesus
does.
a. The opening of the seven seals by Christ.
1.) Revelation 6:1 – The lamb opens the first seal.
2.) Revelation 6:3 – "he" opens the second seal.
3.) Revelation 6:5 – "he" opens the third seal.
4.) Revelation 6:7 – "he" opens the fourth seal.
5.) Revelation 6:9 – "he" opens the fifth seal.
6.) Revelation 6:12 – "he" opens the sixth seal.
7.) Revelation 8:1 – "he" opens the seventh seal.
b. The opening of the seals are events that take place, not plagues.
8. Angels protect God’s children and worship God.
a. Revelation 7:1 – Angels hold back the coming judgments.
b. Revelation 7:2 – Angels protect the people of God.
c. Revelation 7:11 – Angels worship God.
9. Angels blow the seven trumpets of God’s judgment.
a. Revelation 8:2 – Seven angels are given seven trumpets.
b. Revelation 8:3,4,5, and 6 – An angel is in control of the
prayers of the saints just before the judgment begins.
c. Revelation 8:7 – The first angel sounds his trumpet.
d. Revelation 8:8 – The second angel sounds his trumpet.
e. Revelation 8:10 – The third angel sounds his trumpet.
f. Revelation 8:12 - The fourth angel sounds his trumpet.
g. Revelation 8:13 – An angel preaches the everlasting gospel.
h. Revelation 9:1 - The fifth angel sounds his trumpet.
i. Revelation 9:13 - The sixth angel sounds his trumpet.
1.) Revelation 9:14,15 – The four angels which hold the River
Euphrates are loosed.
2.) Revelation 10:1 – a mighty angel comes down from heaven with
a little book in his hand.
3.) It is interesting to note that everything the angels do is
recorded for us, but the voices of the thunders is not recorded for
us.
4.) Revelation 10:5,7 – an angel proclaims there will be no more
delay in the judgments of God, but when the seventh angels sounds, the
mystery of God should be finished.
5.) Revelation 10:8,9, and 10 – John eats the little book out of
the angels hand.
6.) Revelation 11:1 – An angel commands John to measure the
temple.
j. Revelation 11:15 – The seventh angel sounds his trumpet.
10. Revelation 12:7, 9 – An interval is here recorded concerning the
role the angels have played in protecting Israel and Christ in the past,
and how they will protect Israel during the tribulation period.
11. Revelation 14:6 – An angel flies through heaven, preaching the
everlasting gospel.
12. Revelation 14:8 – An angel proclaims the destruction of Babylon.
13. Revelation 14:9 – Another angels proclaims the judgment of God
upon all who take the mark of the beast.
14. Revelation 14:19 – Angels gathers the vine of the earth and cast
it into the winepress of the wrath of God. Jesus is the one who treads the
winepress, not angels, or people.
15. Revelation 15:1, 6, 7, 8, and 16:1 – The seven angels are given
the vials of the seven last plagues from God, with instructions to pour
the vials upon the earth.
a. Revelation 16:2 – The first angel pours out his vial. (This is
the only time the word "angel" is not used, but implied.)
b. Revelation 16:3 – The second angel pours out his vial.
c. Revelation 16:4 – The third angel pours out his vial.
d. Revelation 16:5 – The angel of the waters proclaim the justice
of God in his wrath.
e. Revelation 16:8 – The fourth angel pours out his vial.
f. Revelation 16:10 – The fifth angel pours out his vial.
g. Revelation 16:12 – The sixth angel pours out his vial.
h. Revelation 16:17 – The seventh angel pours out his vial.
16. Revelation 17:1, 7, 18:21 – An angel shows John the judgment of
the great whore.
17. Revelation 19:17 – An angel calls to the fowls of the air to eat
the bodies of those slain at the Battle of Armageddon.
18. Revelation 20:1 – An angel puts the devil into the bottomless pit
for 1,000 years.
19. Revelation 21:9, 12, and 17 – An angel shows John the New
Jerusalem.
20. Revelation 22:6 – A repeat of Revelation 1:1, explaining that an
angel is to reveal the last day judgments of God.
21. Revelation 22:8 – John erroneously worships the angel that showed
him all the coming judgments of God.
22. Revelation 22:16 – Jesus sent his angel to testify the book of
Revelation in the churches.
II. It seems anybody who thinks they are worthy can step forward.
A. Satan is not eligible.
1. His desire is to destroy this world, but not in righteous judgment.
2. Satan’s history is one of trying to destroy, but never in
righteous judgment.
B. The worthy one must do two things: open the book, and loose the seals.
1. Jesus personally opens the book and looses the seals.
2. Angels bring the rest of God’s judgments.
C. Any created being, or any man, or any thing can step forward.
D. Isaiah 29:11-12 - And the vision of all is become unto you as the
words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned,
saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed: 12
And the book is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I
pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned.
E. It is not a question of strength, ability, knowledge or anything else.
It is a question of worthiness.
1. Nobody has the strength, ability, or knowledge of Christ, but only
Christ is worthy.
2. He is worthy because all the universe belongs to him, and he is
answerable to nobody.
3. He is worthy because he has willingly come to the earth, leaving his
glory behind and taken upon himself the form of a sinful man, yet without
sin, taken our sins upon himself, died in our behalf and given his
righteousness to unworthy sinners.
Verse 3 - And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was
able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
I. Apparently the only creatures eligible to open the book are humans, or
men.
A. There is only three places men can be:
1. In heaven – by transfiguration, or by death because they are
saved.
2. In the earth – because they are still alive.
3. Under the earth – because they have died lost and gone into hell.
4. There is no such place as purgatory.
B. No man in heaven.
1. Saved and already dead and ascended into heaven.
2. The verse states man, therefore it is not given to any angel the
privilege of opening the seven sealed book.
3. If an angel were eligible, even a strong or mighty angel would not
have the strength or ability to open the book.
C. No man in earth.
1. Saved or lost and still living on the earth.
2. No man of high or low intellect, high or low ability, worshipper or
God or otherwise stepped forward to open the book.
D. No man under the earth.
1. Lost and already dead and descended into hell.
2. No fallen angel stepped forward with the strength or ability to open
the book.
3. Satan himself, with all his trickery and wicked ability, is able to
open the book.
II. They were not able to look upon the book.
A. It is one thing to open the book, but it is an entirely different
thing to look upon the book.
B. It would not take much worthiness to look upon a book written by a
man.
C. But no man in heaven, in earth, or under the earth is able to even
look upon the book of judgments God will bring upon this earth.
Verse 4 - And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to
read the book, neither to look thereon.
I. If the book represents only the judgment of God, why would John
weep if the book could not be opened?
A. The judgment of God is included in the seven sealed book, but the
blessings of God upon all believers is also included in the book.
1. Revelation 5:9.
a. Redemption is included in the book.
b. When Christ steps forward to open the book, the twenty four elders
rejoice (with the prayers of the saints) because Christ has redeemed his
people from every nation.
c. Our position as kings and priests will only be fulfilled when the
seven-sealed book is opened.
2. The redemption of all things spiritual, physical and material is
included in the book, which involves the removal of all sorrow from the
"after-life".
a. Revelation 7:14-17.
1.) Blessings to those killed during the tribulation period is
included in the book.
2.) They shall hunger no more, and God shall wipe away their tears.
b. Revelation 11:15-19 – God is finally taking control over the
kingdoms of this world, putting an end to wickedness.
c. Revelation 18:20 – Saints are commanded to rejoice over the
destruction of pagan Babylon, for God is avenging us on her.
B. When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, he not only became lost, he
also lost the "title deed" to the earth, giving it to Satan.
1. A part of the judgments on the earth in the tribulation period is
God taking back from Satan that which Adam lost.
a. Luke 4:6 – Satan has received authority from God to rule over
the kingdoms of this world, but that authority is not forever.
b. During the tribulation period, Christ will regain control of all
the nations of this world, who were given to Satan for a time.
2. God will claim all the souls that have trusted in him for eternal
life.
3. God will also claim all the earth for his own, returning it to the
rightful owner.
Verse 5 - And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion
of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to
loose the seven seals thereof.
I. It is fitting that one of the elders declares Jesus Christ as being
worthy to open the seven-sealed book.
A. The twenty four elders represents the redeemed of all the ages.
1. It is very appropriate that one of the redeemed point out Jesus
Christ as worthy to open the book.
2. The redeemed understand the power of God in redeeming them from
their personal sins, and the power of God in righteously judging the
wicked.
B. No other created being understands the worthiness of Christ like
believers.
1. Angels do understand the "external" parts of redemption,
but know nothing of being redeemed from the guilt and consequences of sin.
2. Animals no nothing about God, or his eternal redemption, as they do
not have souls, as men have souls.
II. The worthy one.
A. Genesis 49:8-12 – The lion of the tribe of Judah.
1. Genesis 49:1 – Jacob, on his deathbed, gathers his children around
him to give the blessings of God, and tell them what will happen in the
last days.
a. The last days are not just the end of their life.
b. The last days referred to are at the end of this world, at least
3,700 years away.
c. These blessings concern the present physical blessings upon the
tribe of Judah, and the spiritual blessings that shall come.
2. The prophecy of Genesis 49:8-12 concerns Judah, the fourth son of
Jacob.
3. Genesis 49:8 – all the tribes will praise the tribe of Judah.
a. The tribe of Judah will be praised above all the other tribes
because the promised Messiah will come through that tribe.
b. Judah will be victorious over his enemies: as Christ will have
victory over Satan, as described in Genesis 3:15.
c. A prophecy concerning that the kings of Israel shall come from the
tribe of Judah, before whom all the other tribes will bow.
1.) There was a split in the nation of Israel, but that division
will not be permanent.
2.) When God restores the nation of Israel to her former
prosperity, there will be one king – Jesus Christ, the eternally
righteous one.
d. All the children of Jacob shall recognize the holy position of
Judah when they understand the promised Messiah comes through that
tribe.
e. It must be pointed out that Judah is not recognized as better than
the other tribes, only that they have been appointed to this position.
f. Psalm 18:40 states, Thou hast also given me the necks of mine
enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me.
1.) This Psalm was written by David when God delivered him from all
his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
2.) This passage reveals the "short term" fulfillment of
Genesis 49:8, which shows the passage will be fulfilled in the
"long term".
4. Genesis 49:9 – Judah is described as an old lion with the strength
and agility of a young lion, just as Christ is the ancient of days,
not the ancient in days.
a. Judah is described as the lion, who is the king of the jungle.
b. The lion’s whelp is the young lion, the cub.
c. Judah is not wild and untamed, as the descendants of Ishmael –
Genesis 16:10-12 states, And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I
will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for
multitude. 11 And the angel of the LORD said unto her, Behold, thou art
with child, and shalt bear a son, and shalt call his name Ishmael;
because the LORD hath heard thy affliction. 12 And he will be a wild
man; his hand will be against every man, and every man’s hand against
him; and he shall dwell in the presence of all his brethren.
d. When Judah has executed judgment or obtained food, he rests and
relaxes in his strength and is contented.
1.) "Stooped" refers to Judah kneeling down, or bowing
down with contentment and rest.
2.) "Couching" refers stretching himself out, reflecting
his contentment with great power, strength, and calmness.
3.) Judah will arise when necessary, but as he desires, not as
others desire of him.
5. Genesis 49:10 – Authority shall remain with Judah, because Christ
is represented by that tribe.
a. The sceptre (authority to rule) shall not depart from the tribe of
Judah.
1.) He sceptre is a rod in the hand of the king, and the rod of the
shepherd.
a.) Esther 5:2 declares, … So Esther drew near, and touched
the top of the sceptre.
b.) Moses carried a shepherd’s rod, which was greatly used of
God in performing miracles in Egypt.
c.) King David knew about the shepherd’s rod and the kingly
sceptre.
2.) There will always be a king in the tribe of Judah, which
represents Jesus Christ and his coming authority to rule.
3.) Numbers 24:17 declares, I shall see him, but not now: I
shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob,
and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of
Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.
a.) The children of Sheth is said to be the descendants of Seth.
b.) Some think (because the word "all" is used) the
children of Sheth are the children of the tumultuous one, or all
rebellious people.
4.) There is no Biblical record of a Jewish king holding a sceptre,
but the point is about authority, not about the symbol of
authority.
5.) There will be more said about this point later when Revelation
5:2, the root of David, is discussed.
b. A lawgiver from between his feet.
1.) Not only shall authority remain within the tribe of Judah, the
actual ruler shall be from that tribe.
2.) There were many from the tribe of Judah that ruled, even during
the times of the judges, under the Babylonian captivity, after the
captivity up to the time of Christ: the Sanhedrim.
3.) The feet are the feet of God, who watches over, guards,
protects, and ensures that Judah remains in this position.
4.) Psalm 60:7 states, Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver.
a.) This Psalm was written by David when it seems God has
forsaken Israel.
b.) God assures David he has not forsaken his people and give
reference to how he is using each tribe for his eternal glory.
5.) Judah, being the "lawgiver" tribe, leads Israel
through the wilderness.
c. Until Shiloh come.
1.) Shiloh is the Messiah, or the peace that comes because of the
Messiah.
2.) The Jews were looking for the Messiah to return Israel to
political, economic and worldly prosperity, yet Christ came to give
Israel a new heart, so they could rule and reign with him.
d. The gathering of the people.
1.) The Jews understood this phrase to mean the nation of Israel
would gather to the Messiah.
2.) They did not see that their unbelief would cause God to turn
from them to the Gentiles, who would flock to Christ and his
teachings.
3.) John 12:32 states, And I, if I be lifted up from the earth,
will draw all men unto me.
4.) John 11:52 declares, And not for that nation only, but that
also he should gather together in one the children of God that were
scattered abroad.
6. Genesis 49:11 speaks of the victory of Christ as he takes vengeance
upon the rebellious.
a. The latter part of verse 10 and verse 11 and 12 speak concerning
Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel.
b. The gathering together speaks not only of Israel following Christ
when he came physically, but the greater meaning is the spiritual
following in the millennium and eternity.
c. Binding his foal and the ass's colt speaks of the triumphant entry
of Christ into Jerusalem.
1.) Zechariah 9:9 relates this prophecy concerning Christ, Rejoice
greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold,
thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly,
and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.
2.) Matthew 21:5 gives the fulfillment of this prophecy, Tell ye
the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and
sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.
d. Washing his garments in wine and his clothes in the blood of
grapes speaks of Christ treading the winepress of the wrath of God
alone.
1.) Isaiah 63:3 prophecies, I have trodden the winepress alone;
and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in
mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be
sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.
2.) Revelation 19:15 gives the fulfillment of prophecy, And out
of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the
nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth
the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
7. Genesis 49:12 – Eyes red with wine and teeth white with milk
speaks of the purity of Christ while He judges the wickedness of mankind.
a. The eyes of Christ being red does not speak of him being drunk.
b. His eyes are red with wine only when he gives himself over to his
divine wrath.
c. White teeth reflects the purity of Christ.
B. The root of David.
1. Letting scripture interpret scripture, we see that Jesus Christ is
the root of David.
a. There are only two verses in the entire Bible that speak of the
"root of David".
1.) Revelation 5:5 is the first verse that uses the phrase.
2.) Revelation 22:16 is the second verse, I Jesus have sent mine
angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root
and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star.
b. Isaiah 11:10 speaks of the root of Jessie, which contains David: And
in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an
ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall
be glorious.
2. The genealogy of Christ.
a. Matthew gives the genealogy of Christ through the man, Joseph, the
step-father of Christ.
b. Luke gives the genealogy of Christ through the woman, Mary, the
mother of Christ. (Mary is not the mother of God!)
3. Jesus is said to be the root, or the hidden strength, instead of the
visible vine.
a. Natural man did not see Jesus, as he is a root out of dry ground.
b. Isaiah 53:2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant,
and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and
when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
c. All of the elect receive strength and nourishment from Jesus, who
is the root.
d. Jesus supplies everything: including justification, redemption,
sanctification, and glorification.
C. Christ has prevailed to open the book and loose the seals thereof.
1. The word "prevailed" indicates there is a conquering.
a. Christ has conquered death, hell and the grave.
b. Christ has unconditionally loved the world, gave his life and took
his life to himself again as undeniable proof that he has eternal life
and can give eternal life to as many as he has called.
c. Christ has conquered Satan and all his forces.
2. Christ is able to look upon the book, open the book, and loose the
seals of the book.
a. The only one able to bring judgment on the earth is one who is
also able to bring redemption.
b. Each person, and each nation has the responsibility to accept the
redemption Christ freely offers, or suffer the consequences of their
rejection.
3. Revelation 5:9 – The song of the twenty four elders reflects the
worthiness of Christ to open the seven sealed book.
Verse 6 - And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the
four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain,
having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth
into all the earth.
I. John beholds the lamb of God in the midst (middle) of the throne and the
four beasts and the twenty four elders.
A. Christ is the center of everything.
1. The throne represent God the eternal Father.
2. The four beasts, the four living creatures, represent Jesus Christ,
as revealed in Revelation 4:2.
3. The elders are the twenty four elders, who represent the nation of
Israel and the apostles of the church.
B. What John saw.
1. The lamb is standing.
a. Not falling down, or laying down, even though the lamb had been
slain.
b. The standing lamb reminds me of Mary, who stood at the cross of
Christ, John 19:25.
c. The words are "as it had been slain", not "as if
it had been slain".
1.) The death of Christ was very real, not symbolic.
2.) The fact of the lamb standing (as it had been slain) clearly
speaks of the resurrection of Christ from the dead, proving that he
has eternal life, which is freely given to all who repent and believe.
2. The lamb has seven horns and seven eyes, whose interpretation is
given in my notes in Revelation 4:5.
a. A short definition of the seven horns is the seven-fold
manifestation of the power of God, as reflected in Joshua 6, the only
place in the Bible where the seven horns of God are mentioned.
b. A short definition of the seven eyes is the all-seeing eyes of
God, who watch everything, determining the proper time to bring to pass
that which he has predetermined, as reflected in Zechariah 3:9 and 4:10,
the only passages in the Bible where the seven eyes of God are
mentioned.
3. As is noted in Revelation 5:6, the seven spirits of God are the
seven horns and the seven eyes.
a. These are sent forth into all the earth to bring to pass that
which God has pre-determined.
b. These are sent forth into all the earth to check on the progress
of God’s determination.
II. John probably expected to see a lion, instead, he saw a lamb.
A. The lion, Jesus Christ, is the lamb of God.
B. There are innumerable verses in the Bible that refer to Christ as the
lamb of God.
1. The Old Testament sacrifices of the sheep, lamb, bullock, goat, or
whatever; always represents Christ, the perfect eternal sacrifice.
2. The New Testament refers to Christ as the lamb of God.
a. John 1:29 declares, The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto
him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the
world.
b. John 1:36 states, And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he
saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
3. Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies,
therefore when John the Baptist referred to Christ as the lamb of God,
they understood perfectly to what he was referring.
Verse 7 - And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that
sat upon the throne.
I. The right hand of God is described in my notes on Revelation 5:1.
II. This verse proves the divinity of Christ, because he is the only one
that is worthy to take the book, much less open the book, or to loose the
seals.
Verse 8-10 – The reaction of the twenty four elders
Verse 8-10 – And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four
and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and
golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a
new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals
thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of
every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our
God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
I. It is very interesting that the scriptures divide the worship of the
various categories of God’s creation.
A. Revelation 4:8-11 speaks of the worship of the four living creatures and
the twenty four elders.
1. Revelation 4:8-9 relates the worship of the living creatures, which is
separate from the worship of the twenty four elders, and initiates their
worship.
2. Revelation 4:10-11 relates the worship of the twenty four elders,
whose worship God as creator.
a. The twenty four elders cast their crowns before the throne, relating
they have crowns because of the power of God working in their lives,
making them faithful.
b. The living creatures do not have crowns, as they are created beings
representing Jesus Christ.
B. Revelation 5:8-14 declares the worship of (1) the four living creatures,
(2) the twenty four elders and (3) the angels.
1. Verse 8-10 relates the worship of the four living creatures and the
twenty four elders.
2. Verse 11-12 relates the worship of the angels.
3. Verse 13 relates the worship of every creature; whether they are in
heaven, on the earth, under the earth, or in the sea.
4. Verse 14 records the different worship of the living creatures, and
the twenty four elders.
C. Revelation 11:16 declares the worship of the twenty four elders when the
kingdoms of this world are declared to be the kingdoms of God.
D. Revelation 19:4 declares the worship of the twenty four elders and the
living creatures when the bride of Christ is presented.
II. It is very interesting to note the progression of the reality and the
diminishing of the symbolism.
A. The living creatures are not mentioned when Jesus is present because he
is the reality and the living creatures are the symbol of that reality.
B. The twenty four elders begin to take a "back seat" when the
redeemed become more prominent.
1. Revelation 4:4 – The twenty four elders are sitting in the place of
worship, but there is no mention made of any of the redeemed.
2. Revelation 4:9-11 – The twenty four elders worship God in
creation, but there is no mention made of any of the redeemed
worshipping.
3. Revelation 5:8-10 – The four living creatures, and the twenty four
elders worship God in salvation and the giving of rewards.
a. The worship of the twenty four elders in these verses is initiated
by the four living creatures.
b. The living creatures also initiate the worship of the twenty four
elders in Revelation 4:9-10.
c. The reason for the four living creatures initiating the worship of
the twenty four elders is because the living creatures represent Jesus
Christ, and all the redeemed should be motivated by Jesus Christ, or by
the symbol of Jesus Christ.
4. Revelation 11:16 – When the seventh trumpet sounds the twenty four
elders get off their thrones, fall down on their faces and worship God.
a. There is no mention made of the redeemed, therefore the twenty four
elders continue to represent them.
b. The rapture has already taken place, but as the tribulation
continues, there are vast multitudes of redeemed living on the earth.
5. Revelation 19:1 – After all the tribulation is over and all the
redeemed are gathered into heaven, Jesus Christ is praised because of his
victory over the anti-Christ and his kingdom.
a. Revelation 19:4 – The twenty four elders fall down and worship
God.
b. Revelation 19:5 – It is at this point that a command is given (by
a voice out of the throne of God) that all the servants of God worship and
praise God.
c. Revelation 19:6-9 – The vast multitude of people worship Jesus
Christ, who reigns, and because the marriage of the lamb is finally come.
1.) It should be noted that the bride does not introduce herself, but
is introduced by the vast multitude of redeemed in heaven.
2.) All the saved are not in the bride, any more than every woman is
my bride.
3.) The bride is selected by Christ, just as I selected my wife.
C. The worship of the angels does not change, but remains constant.
III. The worship of the living creatures and the twenty four elders.
A. All fall down before the lamb to worship.
1. It is very significant that all the twenty four elders have harps,
with which to worship God.
2. As will be seen when the scriptures which mention harps is discussed,
God takes that which men devise for evil and use it for his own purposes.
B. Only the twenty four elders have the harps and the golden vials.
1. Harps with which to worship (either paganism or holiness).
a. The evil use of the harp.
1.) Genesis 4:21 – Jubal, the brother of Lamech (the first to have
two wives, and to voice his rebellion against Cain’s judgment [Genesis
4:19-20 and 23-24]) was the father of all that handle the harp and
organ.
a.) The music played on these organs and harps glorified man, not
God.
b.) God will take that which is used for paganism and use that to
glorify himself.
2.) Daniel 3 records that Nebuchadnezzar commanded the people to
worship his golden image when they heard the harp (and several other
instruments) play.
b. The harp used in worship.
1.) I Samuel 16:23 – David played on a harp to cause the evil
spirit of the Lord to depart from King Saul.
2.) There are many Biblical records of the harp being used in the
worship of God.
3.) Revelation 14:2 states, And I heard a voice from heaven, as
the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I
heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps.
a.) These are the 144,000 of Revelation 7:1-8.
b.) They sing a new song only they can learn.
c.) Their trials during the tribulation have given them this right
and authority.
4.) Revelation 15:2 relates, And I saw as it were a sea of glass
mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast,
and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name,
stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
a.) These are those that lived and died during the tribulation
period.
b.) They are standing on the special "sea of glass" in
the very front of the throne of God, which is empty in Revelation 4:6.
c.) They sing a special song of Moses, declaring how Christ is
victorious and will be recognized world-wide as all nations come and
worship at his feet.
c. Revelation 18:22 – The harp will no longer be used in pagan
worship.
2. Golden vials – the prayers of the saints.
a. There are only two verses in the entire Bible that speak of golden
vials.
1.) BLESSING – Revelation 5:8 records, And when he had taken the
book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the
Lamb, hav1-ing every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours,
which are the prayers of saints.
a.) It is notable that God retains the prayers of his saints and
will answer them correctly as he directs.
1) The importance of praying is often neglected, as the
"passive" activity of praying is often not related to
power.
2) People are more prone to desire the (so called) power of
"active" ministries; rejecting the "passive"
activity of prayer.
3) If believers would seek the face of God more diligently, God
would reveal himself to them more.
b.) Each believer needs to understand that God does not forget any
of their prayers, but retains them for all eternity.
c.) There is no mention made of the "station of life" of
the people who pray.
1) The rich, powerful and famous are equal to the poor, weak, and
infamous when it comes to prayer.
2) The 90 year old, physically debilitated woman, who hobbles
around is often more powerful than the physically strong 25 year
old, 6’4" man.
d.) Revelation 8:3,4 states, And another angel came and stood at
the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much
incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon
the golden altar which was before the throne. 4 And the smoke of the
incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before
God out of the angel’s hand.
1) The prayers of the saints are revealed as being fulfilled at
the opening of the seventh seal, which takes place after
Christ is revealed in his wrath at the opening of the sixth seal,
and the wicked people of the earth know they are fighting God and
desire the rocks and mountains to fall on them to hide them from the
face of the God and the wrath of the Lamb.
2) There is no doubt the prayers of the redeemed for vengeance,
as related in the opening of the fifth seal, has much to do with
Christ answering their prayers and bringing his eternal, permanent
judgment on the nations.
3) Malachi 3:16-18 is further proof that the prayers and
righteous conversation of those that fear the Lord are retained and
honored by God.
2.) WRATH – Revelation 15:7 records, And one of the four beasts
gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God,
who liveth for ever and ever.
b. The cup of wrath spoken of in the Old Testament is different
from the vials of wrath during the tribulation period.
1.) The meaning of the word "cup" is cup, or a kind of owl,
an unclean bird, while the meaning of the word "vial" is a
broad shallow bowl, or a deep saucer.
2.) The wrath of God during the tribulation period, revealed by the vials
relates to the permanence of destruction, while the Old Testament cup
of wrath speaks of the vengeance of God, but the nations
shall not be permanently destroyed.
a.) Jeremiah 25:15 states, For thus saith the LORD God of Israel
unto me; Take the wine cup of this fury at my hand, and cause all the
nations, to whom I send thee, to drink it.
b.) This scripture refers to Jeremiah 25:12-16 where God declares
his vengeance upon the nation of Babylon because they held Israel
captive for 70 years.
1) It is amazing, and might seem unfair to us, that God caused
Babylon to take Israel captive (because of their rebellion against
him), then judges Babylon for being against his people.
2) It might seem unfair to us, but Genesis 12:3 (And I will
bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in
thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.) will be
fulfilled.
c.) Jeremiah 25:16-17 speaks of the madness of those nations that
drink of the cup of the wrath of God.
1) Hebrews 12 gives the proper response to the judgment and
chastisement of God, which is humble ourselves and repent of
whatever sin we have sinned.
2) All people have a choice when confronted with the judgment and
vengeance of God – get mad or get glad.
d.) Jeremiah 25:18-26 gives the names of all the nations that shall
drink of the cup of the wrath of God.
1) The first nation mentioned is the nation of Israel.
a) I Peter 4:17 states, For the time is come that judgment
must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what
shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
b) Judgment begins at the house of God because the
responsibility of being a good example to the rest of the world is
upon the children of God, whether they are in the nation of
Israel, or in the church of God.
2) The nations who face the judgment of God are named in Jeremiah
25 to set that judgment apart from the judgment of all
nations, which is described in the book of Revelation.
c. The cup of the wrath of God in Jeremiah is the forerunner of
the vial of wrath during the tribulation period.
1.) Jeremiah 51:7 states, Babylon hath been a golden cup in the
LORD’S hand, that made all the earth drunken: the nations have drunken
of her wine; therefore the nations are mad.
a.) Revelation 17:4 describes the great whore, Mystery Babylon the
Great, And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and
decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup
in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
b.) Note the definite connection between Old Testament Babylon and
New Testament Babylon, which is also called "The Revived Roman
Empire".
2.) Jeremiah 51:8 describes the sudden destruction of the great
nation of Babylon, which symbolizes the sudden and complete destruction
of Pagan Babylon during the tribulation period, as revealed in
Revelation 18.
3.) It is a fact that the nation of Babylon existed, was against
Israel and was destroyed in the Old Testament, then restored as a world
power (Pagan Babylon), as revealed in Revelation 13:3-4, and is finally
destroyed, as recorded in Revelation 18.
a.) God has kept Israel throughout all their years of dispersion
through the nations of this world, and has brought them together in
the end of the world to once again form the nation of Israel.
b.) In these last days, God has allowed Babylon to be restored as
Pagan Babylon, as the warfare against Israel continues.
c.) The Old Testament and the New Testament scriptures are
indelibly connected.
4.) The Old Testament nation of Babylon was destroyed, but the
paganism of that nation was not destroyed.
a.) The paganism represented in the nation of Babylon existed
before that nation, and will continue to exist when that nation is
destroyed.
b.) In the end days, paganism will be restored to his former
fleshly glory, as Satan finalizes his earthly kingdom in a national
reality with a world-wide king.
c.) Revelation 18 describes not only the destruction of the
representation of paganism, but paganism itself.
d.) Sin, in the heart of every man, will not be destroyed until the
end of the millennium, as described in Revelation 20, and God
establishes his eternal kingdom on the new earth, as described in
Revelation 21.
5.) It is amazing to see the blindness of men, who worship Satan and
the Anti-Christ because they restore Babylon as a world power, but do
not see the power of God in his restoration of Israel as world leader.
a.) This fact should be proof enough that sin and rebellion lies in
the heart of man, who will not change until God acts upon that man.
b.) It is indeed grace that is freely given to fallen mankind that
brings "whosoever will may come" to Christ in saving faith.
C. The new song.
1. Statements about the new song.
a. Those who pray will sing.
1.) Every child of God prays to God – really prays.
2.) In the book of Revelation, every child of God will also sing –
even those who cannot carry a tune in a bucket!
b. The word "saying" in verse 9 explains the words used in
the song.
1.) The Bible never records that angels sing, they always
"say" when they glorify God.
2.) The word "saying" is used in Revelation 5:12 to reflect
the worship of the angels.
3.) God has graciously reserved singing to humans – none other of
God’s creation sings to him.
c. The new song is really the old, old gospel story of salvation,
grace, mercy and eternal life.
1.) This song relates the worthiness of Christ to open the
seven-sealed book because he was slain and brought redemption.
2.) There are no new word to describe the blessings of God upon us.
3.) The old, old song is new every time we sing it.
2. Revelation 5:10 – The song of redemption.
a. The worthiness of the lamb.
1.) There is no mention of the worthiness of any of the redeemed, but
all glory and honor is directed toward the lamb of God.
2.) Only Jesus Christ is worthy to take the seven sealed book and
open it.
3.) His worthiness to bring eternal judgment and blessing is directly
related to the redemption he has provided.
b. Jesus was slain, yet he freely gave himself for our justification.
1.) Acts 2:23 states, Him, being delivered by the determinate
counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands
have crucified and slain:
2.) Romans 5:16-18 declares, And not as it was by one that sinned,
so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the
free gift is of many offences unto justification. 17 For if by one man’s
offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of
grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus
Christ.) 18 Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all
men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift
came upon all men unto justification of life.
c. Jesus has redeemed us by his blood.
1.) Ephesians 1:7 declares, In whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
2.) Colossians 1:14 states, In whom we have redemption through his
blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
3.) Hebrews 9:12 confirms, Neither by the blood of goats and
calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place,
having obtained eternal redemption for us.
d. All different kinds of people have been redeemed.
1.) Salvation is not just for the Jews, or the white men, or red men,
or black men.
2.) Revelation 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great
multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and
people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb,
clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
3.) It is interesting that there are those out of every nation,
kindred, people and tongue that will reject Christ.
a.) Revelation 11:9 states, And they of the people and kindreds
and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an
half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
1) The people who see the bodies of the two witnesses laying in
the streets of Jerusalem, shall rejoice with a great rejoicing
because they believe they have won over God.
2) They will send gifts to one another and be very merry.
3) On the third day, life will come again into the two witnesses,
and they will bodily ascend into heaven, and then the inhabitants of
the earth will have great fear.
b.) Revelation 14:6 confirms, And I saw another angel fly in the
midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them
that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue,
and people,
3. Revelation 5:11 – The song of rewards.
a. Different versions of the Bible say different things.
1.) The NIV (New International Ve |