Revelation 5:1-5 (KJV)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. 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? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

Last week we were transported into Heaven and saw – in the center of Heaven – the Throne of God and Him sitting on it. We saw all Heaven praising the Lord, led by four “Beasts”. Around the Throne we saw 24 “Elders” which I believe is representative of the redeemed of Christ, the Church. Throughout Heaven there is nothing but praise to God:

Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty
Which Was, and Is, and Is to Come

The ever Present and Great I AM is worthy to be worshiped, for it is He Who

Has created all things,
And for HIS PLEASURE They WERE and ARE created

We were transported to Heaven to get our bearings, to make us understand that all things were created by God for His glory.

Colossians 1:16 (NKJV) For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

Our bodies were created THROUGH Him and FOR Him.

Romans 11:36 (NKJV) For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

God made us for Himself. God created us for His glory. He did not create us to do as those at the Tower of Babel did, saying:

Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the Heavens
and let us make a name for ourselves (Genesis 11:4)

God made man to live in His name, to cherish Him, to center our lives in Him. Our Father Abraham understood the difference between what satan calls us to and what God calls us to. God told Abraham:

Go from your country, from your kindred, from your father’s house to a
place that I will show you. And I – the Great I AM – will make you a
great nation, andI will bless you, and make your name great. (Genesis 12:1-3)

What is in Heaven is life as it was meant to be. We are to live to glorify God. We are told this repeatedly throughout Scripture:

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV) Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Matthew 5:16 (NKJV) Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

God created the world and all that is in it – every person, every creature, every living thing – to His glory and honor and praise. When Adam turned from God and to the serpent he committed an act of treason. When God sent His Son to die for Adam’s transgression, offering salvation through Him humanity was given a choice. Receive Christ, and be redeemed from sin. Or refuse to repent and receive Him, and choose instead the consequences.

Rejecting Christ The World Is Due Judgment!

Revelation 5:1 (KJV)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.

In God’s right hand is a biblios, a scroll. The severity of what is in God’s hand is seen by the fact that it is first of all in His RIGHT hand, the hand of authority and power. It is God Who is going to impose judgment on His treasonous creation. Secondly the biblios is sealed with seven seals. Seven is the number of God in Scripture. We “rest” on the seventh day, recognizing and praising God for all He has done. In John’s day Roman law dictated that all “wills” be sealed with seven seals, making the document inviolable. The biblios was full of writing:

Ezekiel 2:9-10 (NKJV) Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.

much like that which God showed Ezekiel. However John could not read the words. The seals kept the words hidden.

Revelation 5:2 (KJV) And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

John sees as strong angel who asks – in a very loud voice:

Who is worthy to open the book, to loose the seals?

Notice that first of all the strong angel does not attempt to open the book of judgment. Strength will not unleash judgment on the earth. “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord” (Zechariah 4:6). A single angel killed 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in a single night. This is a STRONG Angel, but he will not attempt to open the Book of Judgment. Who is worthy to loose the seals?

Notice also that this Book of Judgment is in ALMIGHTY GOD’S hand, and yet He Himself – though He holds the judgment in His hand – will not open the Book. Why is this? We find this so strange, but it is not strange. Though the Father is WORTHY, it is not His place to open the Book of Judgment. Within the Trinity of God there is order, authority, and submission. Yes, SUBMISSION.

The Father sent His Son

1 John 4:14 (NKJV) we have seen and testify that
the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.

The Son submitted, and came to pay for our sins.
When we submit to the Son, the Father sends the Spirit

Galatians 4:6 (NKJV) Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son
into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

John 14:16 (NKJV) I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper,
that He may abide with you forever—

The Father sent the Son to die for our sins. The Father sent the Spirit to indwells us when we received His Son. But now the Father is on the throne, and in His right hand judgment ready to be unleashed on creation. “Who is worthy” the angel cries? The Father is worthy, but it is not His place to open the Book of Judgment.

Revelation 5:1-5 (KJV) And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

A search began throughout all of creation and all of Heaven. No man was able. No angel could open the Book of Judgment. The world was in chaos, the Church in glory, but judgment could not come. It looked as if satan had won the day. John said:

Revelation 5:4 (KJV) And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

John wept, and mourned, for it seemed as if evil would go unpunished. But then we read:

Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

One of the elders – a picture I believe of the Church – said “John, stop crying! There is One Who is worthy.” Who will open the Book of Judgment and release its contents on the earth? It is none other than Jesus Christ.

WHAT – you say! JESUS CHRIST will open the Book of Judgment? The JESUS CHRIST Who loves everyone, who loves to save sinners, who left the ninety and nine to find the one lost sheep. JESUS? I cannot believe this. Beloved, you had better believe it. Jesus told us while He was on the earth:

John 3:35-36 (NKJV) The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

If Jesus is received as Lord and Savior then His punishment at Calvary – a punishment for the sins of the world – is imputed to our account. Jesus died for our sins. Jesus suffered for our wrong doing. Through His Blood we receive forgiveness of sin. But if Christ is rejected then

Hebrews 10:26-31(NKJV) … there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

Jesus told us:

John 5:22-23 (NKJV) For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son, 23 that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

Who is worthy to open this Book? It is Jesus Christ. He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:9), and the root of David (Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:5; 55:15; Matthew 22:42-43). Jesus is announced as a LION. But when John looks for the LION he sees instead …

Revelation 5:6 (KJV) 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.

… a LAMB, or literally the Greek arnion or LITTLE LAMB. The Little Lamb – a picture of our loving Savior, meek and gentle in His first Advent, died in our place. The Prophet saw Him:

Isaiah 53:7 (NKJV) He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth;

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

John 1:36 (NKJV) …“Behold the Lamb of God!”

1 Peter 1:18-19 (NKJV) knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.

In His first Advent Jesus came as the Lamb of God, but in His second Advent as the Lion of Judah, the judge of all creation. The Father is sitting, but the Lamb is standing. Notice that Jesus is in the midst of the 24 elders.

Christ is in the midst of His Church.
Lo, I will never leave you nor forsake you!
Where two or more are gather, THERE AM I in your midst!

The Lamb has seven horns – symbolic of the fulness of His power.
All power is given into His hands.
The Lamb has seven eyes – symbolic of His omniscience.
He sees everything, and knows all.

Revelation 5:7-8 (KJV){Jesus} came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 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 odors, which are the prayers of saints.

Though Christ is the Lion of Judah, it is as the Lamb that He takes the Book of Judgment from God’s hand. He is worthy because He paid for this Book. He bled for this Book. He died for this Book. By taking the Book from the Father’s hand you see a transfer of authority and power. What is about to occur brings celebration in Heaven. The worship leaders and the Church fall down before Jesus. They have harps and – notice this – GOLDEN VIALS of prayers. The prayers of God’s Heaven are about to be answered. Christ will set in motion a series of judgments that will wrestle the world from satan’s grasp, that will destroy the traitors of creation, and restore God’s order on the earth.

Revelation 5:9-10 (KJV) 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 want you to notice that in Heaven there is no racism or bigotry. The redeemed sing together to the Lamb, praising Him. They are from every KINDRED, and TONGUE, and PEOPLE, and NATION. The Lord uses four different words here to show that God’s Church and God’s Heaven is populated by people of every different color and nationality. The one common factor that unites them all is the Blood of Jesus.

What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus;

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Oh! precious is the flow

That makes me white as snow;

No other fount I know,

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Dr. Thomas Constable notes “… Christians will be part of Christ’s kingdom when He sets it up on the earth, and we will serve as priests in it. Priesthood involves immediate access into God’s presence for praise and worship, as well as the privilege of priestly service. The … reason for praise is the blessing of His people, in allowing them to “rule (reign) on the earth” (during the Millennium and thereafter). ”

I have heard churches – large and small – in one accord singing to Jesus. This makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. But what John hears is greater. We read:

Revelation 5:11-12 (KJV) And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; 12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing.

The Angels join in to sing with the Church and the Beasts. There are literally millions of voices – human and angelic – singing praises to the Christ. There are no voices raised to David Buffaloe, Joseph Smith, or Mohamed or Buddha. Then other creatures join the chorus:

Revelation 5:13-14 (KJV) And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped him that liveth for ever and ever.

John says that he heard even the animals of the earth singing in praise to Jesus and the Father. Praise Him! Praise Him for His salvation unto us. And praise Him that judgment has come to the earth. God will restore Paradise through many judgments.

Every one released by the hand of Christ!

May God bless the reading and preaching of His Word.