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Source: https://www.sermonindex.net/speakers/larry-steers/revelation-5/
We'll read John again, only in the book of Revelation, and we'll come to chapter 5. The book of Revelation, and we're reading in chapter 5. This chapter speaks for itself. I'm going to read the whole chapter.
Then I will make a few comments on the chapter. This chapter presents one of the great high points of the eternal ages. So we'll read from verse 1. Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I went much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
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. 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.
Not the usual title for the Lamb here. 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. And he came, and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts, and the 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.
Then the anthem of heaven, 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.
And hast made us unto our God, kings and priests, and we shall reign on or over the earth. 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 thousands, and thousands of thousands, 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, and everything else, that's not recorded, and every creature which is in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I say, creation now responding, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.
And the four beasts said Amen, and the four and twenty elders fell down, and worshipped him that liveth forever and ever. And that's all that we are going to read, and you don't expect that I'm going to answer all your questions on this chapter, because there's much of the chapter that I won't even touch.
I heard someone make a statement one time that the Bible has more to say about hell than it does about heaven. Sometimes maybe we will put a little question mark over some statements like that, because this Bible does say much about heaven.
And if you can't read Revelation chapter 5, and have just a little touch of heaven in your soul, then you're kind of out of touch with God. Because the two chapters, chapter 4, chapter 5, will take you into heaven.
And so when you come to the end of the third chapter, and you commence chapter 4, you have John upon earth being summoned up to heaven. There's one word that is used, and that is the word ascend. That's one word.
Abinio means ascend, come up hither recorded in your Bible. So I would take John in that verse, chapter 4 and verse 1, to be representative of the saints of this period of time, now summoned up to heaven.
I'm only making a suggestion here, you'll understand that, but when the Lord descends from heaven with a shout, voice of the archangel and the trump of God, that shout may be given to us in chapter 4 and verse 1, ascend.
And we're going to respond to the shout, to rise to meet the Lord in the air. And then in chapter 4, chapter 5, we're going to be ushered into heaven, heavenly scenes. There's a word in chapter 5 that will divide the chapter into four sections.
It's the same word. And so you'll notice the word in verse 1, I saw, that's the word. Then you'll notice the same word in verse 2, I saw, that's the same word. That is the Greek word oida, and it simply means to take in knowledge by observation, by seeing.
And then you have the same word in verse 6, translated different in your Bible, I beheld, it's the same word. Then you'll have it again when you come down to chapter 11, I beheld. And so there are four scenes that rise before the eyes of John here.
He says, I saw a book, verse 1. That book takes on a tremendous importance in this chapter. And then you'll notice that he says, I saw, verse 2, an angel, an angel of sovereign strength. And then John says in verse 6, I beheld a lamb.
Then when you come to verse 11, he says, I beheld, and there's a heavenly congregation. And they're going to join. I believe with all my soul that every believer is going to be there. Something that we can look forward to.
We're going to hear and join in the anthems of heaven. Surely we love the words, was it of Robert Murray McShane? When the praise of heaven I hear, loudest thunder in my ear. Not till then, Lord, shall I know, not till then how much I owe.
But to notice, John says, I saw a book. Now I know that there have been many books written on the book of the Revelation. So I'm only going to give you my simple thought here. And so I take it that the one who opens the book will have the sovereign right to put into effect all of God's purposes for this earth and even for the universe.
And so the book becomes very important. And as John is looking at the book, he notices where it is. It is in or on the right hand of the one who sits upon the throne. And I would have to conclude that the throne sitter is God.
And so you have God, you have the Lamb, and we have reference made to the Spirit of God in this chapter as well. And so as John is looking, he sees this book on the right hand. And no doubt the same as Daniel's Ancient of Days.
And on the right hand, there's a book. But notice the book. John says, I saw a book. John's taking in the book. And so John says that this book was a book of finality. It is written. The decrees of the book will not be altered.
They will never be changed. There's a finality to the book. It is written. We would gather here by the hand of God himself. And no one can change what is written in the book. There's a finality of the book.
It is written. Then you will notice that there's a fullness to the book. It's written within and on the backside of the book. In other words, the decrees of the book are fully written. And then you will notice there's a firmness to the book.
It is sealed. And it is sealed with seven seals. That's the firmness of the book. No unauthorized person will ever put their hand upon this book. And so John is looking at the book sealed with seven seals.
Then there's a challenge by a strong angel. And the angel is an angel of sovereign strength, proclaiming with a loud voice as a herald. I would gather from what follows that what that angel proclaims is a proclamation that will fill the universe.
And what is the proclamation of the angel? The angel proclaims, Who is worthy? That should thrill us. Because we're going to notice there's only one person who is worthy. Just one. So the angel says, Who is worthy to take the book and to loose the seals thereof?
And the proclamation of that angel fills the corners of heaven. So the redeemed that are in heaven, unfallen angels that are in heaven, and amongst the congregation, the host of souls in heaven, no one found worthy.
The proclamation of the angel will reach this earth. Sinners that are left behind, that the rapture will be upon earth. And a little remnant of the nation of Israel upon this earth. But the proclamation of the angel will reach earth.
And no one upon this earth will be worthy to take this book and to open it. Then you might wonder about this. But this proclamation will reach the lowest hell. Can I just say a little word here relative to the gospel?
I'm going to leave time, a lot of time for that in just a moment. But souls in hell will hear the proclamation of the angel. They will understand that the one who is worthy, that they have rejected. That they have turned their back upon.
That they have said no to the Lord Jesus Christ. And in the bowels of hell, they will hear the proclamation of the angel. Proclaiming the worth, the greatness, the value of the son that they have rejected.
It will reach the lowest hell. So the proclamation of this strong angel will fill the universe. Who is worthy to take the book and to loose the seals thereof? When no one is found worthy, John now observing this scene and hearing the proclamation of the angel.
He's viewing a scene that is yet to come. But John begins to weep. John weeps because he knows, at least perhaps this, that if that book is not opened, then the rebellion of this earth will continue. So John begins to weep.
And then the angel, or is it one of the elders, puts his hand upon John and I said, I'm not going to tell you everything about the chapter. I'm not going to tell you who the angels are or who the elders are.
But one of the elders puts his hand upon John and says to John, Weep not. Then we have a tremendous description of the Lord Jesus Christ. He says, Weep not, for the Lion of the tribe of Judah. And that title, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, would emphasize the majesty and the might of the Lord Jesus Christ.
That's one of the great titles of the Lord Jesus in the Bible. He is the Lion, the mighty beast of the jungle. The title now is used as a type of Christ. And the title that is ascribed to him as the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
He's of the tribe of Judah. There's probably a chapter in your Bible that you don't read very much. It's a very vital chapter. That's Matthew chapter 1. And in Matthew chapter 1, we are given the genealogy of the only man who has the right to the throne of David.
That's why that genealogy is there. That's why it is so important. In one instance in that genealogy, it was reduced to one infant child, Josiah. When a godly woman by the name of Josieba, her genealogy wasn't so great, but Josieba must have had a sense of the fear of God.
And puts her own life on the line and rescues Josiah and protects him from the vengeance of a sinful woman. That genealogy gives the Lord Jesus Christ the right to the throne of David. Something about monarchy that those of us up north in Canada maybe understand a little about, but you have to have a genealogy to claim a throne.
Sometimes we wish that Prince Charles didn't have that genealogy, but he has it. There's one man, one living man, who has the genealogy that gives him the right to the throne of David. That's the Lord Jesus Christ.
And that genealogy is given in detail in Matthew chapter 1. Then we are told here that he is the root of David. That's interesting, because as being of the tribe of David, he's David's son. But he is also the root of David.
As the root of David, David sprang from him. So he was before David. And so in the two titles here, the tribe of Judah and David's son, we have the eternal character of the Lord Jesus Christ. No beginning, no end of days, just maybe on the side.
Sometimes there's quite a discussion that brethren have about what is the most perfect type of Christ in the Old Testament. I know some go to Joseph. I kind of think maybe Melchizedek. Because it is said about Melchizedek, without beginning or end of days.
He had a moment of birth, but that's not recorded. He had a moment of death, but that's not recorded. And so he is presented to us as one who has no beginning, no end of days. That's the Lord Jesus Christ, who is presented here of the tribe of Judah.
And then the root of David. He hath prevailed. Where did he prevail? Great battle was fought at Calvary. As a history teacher, I have taught and studied some of the great battles that have occurred on the battlefields of men.
But the greatest battle ever fought never was fought in Alamein or on the banks of Normandy or any other battlefield of a man, of armies of men. The greatest battle that was ever fought was fought by a man hanging upon a cross outside the walls of Jerusalem.
Sometimes we sing a hymn. And perhaps we don't just enter in to the significance of what we sing. Some of our hymns express tremendous truth. When most in Satan's awful power, O Lord thy... I forget the words.
When most in Satan's awful power, the Lord on the cross, when he was defeated, the words of the hymn have escaped my mind, but that's alright. The thought is that Satan in all of his power was arrayed against the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary.
And Satan was defeated. And so it says, he hath prevailed. He has conquered his enemy. He has triumphed. He has prevailed. And so now John sees the lamb in the midst of the throne. There stood a lamb.
And I said that word lamb is unique here because it really is a diminutive lamb. A little lamb. That's the emphasis here. The little lamb that was slain. Now he's standing in the midst of heaven's congregation.
In this great congregation with all eyes upon him. He will occupy our attention, our every thought. All are looking upon him. And this diminutive lamb came and took the book. If I can make reference to an old writer, not a more modern one.
I think Walter Scott, perhaps in his book on Revelation, suggests that there are two great mountain peaks in the Bible. He suggests one of them is Calvary. And the other is here. When he came and he took the book, the only one who was worthy.
And before the great congregation of heaven, he takes the book. And you have never heard an anthem upon this earth like you are going to hear in heaven. Can I quote Robert Murray McShane again? When the praise of heaven I hear, loud as thunder in my ear.
When we witness this scene, when he comes and he takes the book, we're going to be reminded of the Lord Jesus Christ. And we're going to be reminded of the sacrifice of Calvary. And we're going to burst into that anthem of heaven.
Unto Him who is worthy to take the book. Who was slain and has redeemed us to God by His blood. That will resound in the corridors of heaven as we join to sing that anthem. Expressing and explaining and expounding the worth of the Lamb.
I wonder, this morning, we gather to remember Him. Our soul touched a little when we thought about the Lamb. Well, here's the Lamb again. And what a moment that it's going to be when He takes the book.
Just to remind you before I sit down, He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah that will suggest His majesty and His power. And as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, He has the power to open the book. He is the Lamb, the Dominion of the little Lamb.
And that would suggest His meekness and His gentleness. And because of His meekness and gentleness, He has the right to open the book. We're reminded here of His eyes, of His intelligence. He has the wisdom to open the book.
And then we are reminded of the horns of His power. He has the power to carry out the decrees of the book. What a statement. He came and took the book. The only one who can take the book and to go open it.
And then to put into effect all of God's decrees. And He will do that perfectly. Relative to this earth, He came and He took the book.