Saturday, November 25, 2006
Revelation 5:7-19 ~ Jeff Ludington
Revelation 5:7-14
“A Kingdom of Priests”
RECAP:
· Series: Worship
· Section 1: (chapters 1-3) Church Worship
o 7 Churches of Asia Minor
o Critique of how each church worshipped
o We then critique how we worship
· Section 2: (chapters 4-7) Heavenly Worship
o Chapters 4-5a
o We enter into the Throne Room
o We are introduced to new characters in Heaven
Worship:
· A posture
· A lifestyle
Remember our main verse in this series:
Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.
PRAY:
Vs. 7-8
He (Jesus/the Lamb vs. 6) came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Here we see all three of the main characters we are introduced to:
· The Lamb
· The 4 Living Creatures
· The 24 Elders
“The Lamb who was slain”
Revelation 5:6
“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne”
· We already know that this is Jesus
o This is His primary name in Revelation
o He is called the Lamb 29 times in Revelation
§ 31 times in the Bible
§ 29 of them in Revelation
§ 2 (only others) are when Jesus is baptized
The other two times:
John 1:29-36
John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
· John the Baptist points out Jesus as the “Lamb of God”
· The one who takes away the sin of the World
Back in vs. 7
He (the Lamb from vs. 6) came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
· Jesus takes the scroll from the very hand of the Father
· We see worth, authority, power
· This transfers this sacred scroll to Jesus
Scroll:
· We don’t know exactly what it is
· We do know it is something divinely inspired
· Written by the very hand of God
· No one was found worthy to open it
· Jesus is the only worthy to do this
Back in vs. 8
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb.
4 Living Creatures
· Representatives of the 4 ways Jesus is communicated in the Gospels
· Face of a Lion: Lion of the Tribe of Judah - Matthew
· Face of an Ox: Servant of All: Mark
· Face of a Man: Man who changed History - Luke
· Face of an Eagle: Son of God – John
o Notice the use of Lamb and Son of God in the passage we read earlier
24 Elders
· Figurative picture of the fullness of the Church
o A FULLNESS not the everyone
o Just a representation of all the church
· Followers of Jesus, past, present, and future
· All races, nationalities, languages, …
Fell down before the Lamb:
· This is posture!
· Again, a book full of worship
· They fall down prostrate to worship the One who is worthy
Interesting thing is added here…
Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Harps:
· Stringed instruments
· Much like how we worship
Incense:
· It is even defined for us
· The prayers of the saints!!!
· Prayer is called a fragrant incense throughout the bible
Do you picture your prayers being that welcomed by God?
· Like lighting your favorite candle is enjoyable
· The smell of my car – is enjoyable to me…
· Prayer is enjoyed by God like this!
“The prayers of the saints”
· This is GREAT because it gives us information
· It tells us that people are still living as we see this worship scene in Heaven.
So who are the Saints?
· Are they living people?
· Are they special people?
· Are they like Catholic Saints?
Old and New Testaments agree about Saints:
Psalm 85:8, 34:9-10
I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints - but let them not return to folly… Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
· Here in the OT Saints are called God’s people
· AND, they are told to be faithful
· In other words, they are perfect
· They are just God-followers
Philippians 4:21-22
Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.
Ephesians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.
· They are the church in Phillipi
· They are the church in Ephesus
· They are The Church
· That is you and me!
So, now, who are the Elders again?
· They are those who represent the Church
· Maybe Christians that have died
· Maybe just representation of the fullness of the faithful Church
· The Saints in Heaven
And, who is praying?
· Those who are on Earth!
· The church who is still alive
· The Saints on Earth
2 Corinthians tells us:
“to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”
· So those who have died in faith are worshipping in the Throne Room
· Those who are faithful on Earth are praying!
Vs. 9
And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
· Why is the Lamb tied to worth?
· Because of the blood that was shed that is mentioned here
· This is an OT picture of Christ to come:
· Not a ruling king, but a suffering servant like Isaiah preached about
Passover Lamb
Exodus 12:3-13
Tell Israel that each man is to take a lamb for his family. The lamb you choose must be year-old males without defect. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of Israel must slaughter them. Then take the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses; it is the LORD's Passover. "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn — both men and animals — and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
· To prevent the death of the Jewish people
· They had to slay a lamb
· And it’s blood became a covering for them
Sin Offering - Leviticus 9
· To atone for the sins of people
· A lamb had to be slain
Guilt Offering - Leviticus 14
· To cover the guilt of the people
· A lamb had to be slain
Fellowship Offering
Leviticus 3:6-8
Offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering to the LORD; offer a male or female without defect. If he offers a lamb, he is to present it before the LORD. He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron's sons shall sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides.
· To have fellowship with their God
· A lamb had to be slain
Here we see a picture of the faithful, in fellowship with God in Heaven,
· They are face to face with their Creator
· And in the center of the Throne
· Is a lamb who has been slain!!!
A new perspective brings on a new song:
“And they sang a new song!”
Vs. 10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.
Who? Who are made to be kings and priests???
· Who are we talking about as kings and priests to serve God?
· Who is to reign on Earth?
· US!!!
When?
· NOW!!!
Kings and Priests:
· Is us down here
· We who are still alive
· WE are called to be kings and priests to serve our God
· WE are to reign here on Earth!!!
1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10
As you come to him (Jesus) rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
This is our call here on Earth!
· To be the priests here to others
· So many of us are still not living like this
What is the job of a priest?
· A priest is a mediator/connector
· To connect God to Humanity
· And to connect Humanity to God
Romans 15:14-16
I am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. I have written you quite boldly as if to remind you because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
· Paul says he is convinced that you are competent
· And that priests are called to share the Gospel
The Gospel is how we connect God and Humanity!
Share the Gospel:
Close with intro to response:
· Anoint people with oil.
Leviticus 14:12-18
The priest is to take the male lamb and offer it as a guilt offering. 13 He is to slaughter the lamb in the holy place where the sin offering and the burnt offering are slaughtered. Like the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest; it is most holy. The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. The priest shall then take some of the log of oil, pour it in the palm of his own left hand, dip his right forefinger into the oil in his palm, and with his finger sprinkle some of it before the LORD seven times. The priest is to put some of the oil remaining in his palm on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering. The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed and make atonement for him before the LORD.
· Tonight I want to treat you according to your calling
· We at Emerge want to call you priests
· We want to anoint you for the job you are called to
Doxology:
Vs. 11-14
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.
· Worship breaks out in Heaven again at the foot of the Lamb!
· Time and time again the WORTHINESS is mentioned
Do you tonight know that Jesus is worthy of your worship?
What is our posture?
What are we called to do?
“A Kingdom of Priests”
RECAP:
· Series: Worship
· Section 1: (chapters 1-3) Church Worship
o 7 Churches of Asia Minor
o Critique of how each church worshipped
o We then critique how we worship
· Section 2: (chapters 4-7) Heavenly Worship
o Chapters 4-5a
o We enter into the Throne Room
o We are introduced to new characters in Heaven
Worship:
· A posture
· A lifestyle
Remember our main verse in this series:
Romans 12:1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.
PRAY:
Vs. 7-8
He (Jesus/the Lamb vs. 6) came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Here we see all three of the main characters we are introduced to:
· The Lamb
· The 4 Living Creatures
· The 24 Elders
“The Lamb who was slain”
Revelation 5:6
“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne”
· We already know that this is Jesus
o This is His primary name in Revelation
o He is called the Lamb 29 times in Revelation
§ 31 times in the Bible
§ 29 of them in Revelation
§ 2 (only others) are when Jesus is baptized
The other two times:
John 1:29-36
John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God." The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"
· John the Baptist points out Jesus as the “Lamb of God”
· The one who takes away the sin of the World
Back in vs. 7
He (the Lamb from vs. 6) came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
· Jesus takes the scroll from the very hand of the Father
· We see worth, authority, power
· This transfers this sacred scroll to Jesus
Scroll:
· We don’t know exactly what it is
· We do know it is something divinely inspired
· Written by the very hand of God
· No one was found worthy to open it
· Jesus is the only worthy to do this
Back in vs. 8
And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb.
4 Living Creatures
· Representatives of the 4 ways Jesus is communicated in the Gospels
· Face of a Lion: Lion of the Tribe of Judah - Matthew
· Face of an Ox: Servant of All: Mark
· Face of a Man: Man who changed History - Luke
· Face of an Eagle: Son of God – John
o Notice the use of Lamb and Son of God in the passage we read earlier
24 Elders
· Figurative picture of the fullness of the Church
o A FULLNESS not the everyone
o Just a representation of all the church
· Followers of Jesus, past, present, and future
· All races, nationalities, languages, …
Fell down before the Lamb:
· This is posture!
· Again, a book full of worship
· They fall down prostrate to worship the One who is worthy
Interesting thing is added here…
Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Harps:
· Stringed instruments
· Much like how we worship
Incense:
· It is even defined for us
· The prayers of the saints!!!
· Prayer is called a fragrant incense throughout the bible
Do you picture your prayers being that welcomed by God?
· Like lighting your favorite candle is enjoyable
· The smell of my car – is enjoyable to me…
· Prayer is enjoyed by God like this!
“The prayers of the saints”
· This is GREAT because it gives us information
· It tells us that people are still living as we see this worship scene in Heaven.
So who are the Saints?
· Are they living people?
· Are they special people?
· Are they like Catholic Saints?
Old and New Testaments agree about Saints:
Psalm 85:8, 34:9-10
I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints - but let them not return to folly… Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.
· Here in the OT Saints are called God’s people
· AND, they are told to be faithful
· In other words, they are perfect
· They are just God-followers
Philippians 4:21-22
Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar's household.
Ephesians 1:1
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus.
· They are the church in Phillipi
· They are the church in Ephesus
· They are The Church
· That is you and me!
So, now, who are the Elders again?
· They are those who represent the Church
· Maybe Christians that have died
· Maybe just representation of the fullness of the faithful Church
· The Saints in Heaven
And, who is praying?
· Those who are on Earth!
· The church who is still alive
· The Saints on Earth
2 Corinthians tells us:
“to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord”
· So those who have died in faith are worshipping in the Throne Room
· Those who are faithful on Earth are praying!
Vs. 9
And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
· Why is the Lamb tied to worth?
· Because of the blood that was shed that is mentioned here
· This is an OT picture of Christ to come:
· Not a ruling king, but a suffering servant like Isaiah preached about
Passover Lamb
Exodus 12:3-13
Tell Israel that each man is to take a lamb for his family. The lamb you choose must be year-old males without defect. Take care of them until the fourteenth day of the month, when all the people of Israel must slaughter them. Then take the blood and put it on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the houses; it is the LORD's Passover. "On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn — both men and animals — and I will bring judgment on all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.
· To prevent the death of the Jewish people
· They had to slay a lamb
· And it’s blood became a covering for them
Sin Offering - Leviticus 9
· To atone for the sins of people
· A lamb had to be slain
Guilt Offering - Leviticus 14
· To cover the guilt of the people
· A lamb had to be slain
Fellowship Offering
Leviticus 3:6-8
Offer an animal from the flock as a fellowship offering to the LORD; offer a male or female without defect. If he offers a lamb, he is to present it before the LORD. He is to lay his hand on the head of his offering and slaughter it in front of the Tent of Meeting. Then Aaron's sons shall sprinkle its blood against the altar on all sides.
· To have fellowship with their God
· A lamb had to be slain
Here we see a picture of the faithful, in fellowship with God in Heaven,
· They are face to face with their Creator
· And in the center of the Throne
· Is a lamb who has been slain!!!
A new perspective brings on a new song:
“And they sang a new song!”
Vs. 10
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.
Who? Who are made to be kings and priests???
· Who are we talking about as kings and priests to serve God?
· Who is to reign on Earth?
· US!!!
When?
· NOW!!!
Kings and Priests:
· Is us down here
· We who are still alive
· WE are called to be kings and priests to serve our God
· WE are to reign here on Earth!!!
1 Peter 2:4-5, 9-10
As you come to him (Jesus) rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him - you also are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
This is our call here on Earth!
· To be the priests here to others
· So many of us are still not living like this
What is the job of a priest?
· A priest is a mediator/connector
· To connect God to Humanity
· And to connect Humanity to God
Romans 15:14-16
I am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another. I have written you quite boldly as if to remind you because of the grace God gave me to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles with the priestly duty of proclaiming the gospel of God, so that the Gentiles might become an offering acceptable to God, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
· Paul says he is convinced that you are competent
· And that priests are called to share the Gospel
The Gospel is how we connect God and Humanity!
Share the Gospel:
Close with intro to response:
· Anoint people with oil.
Leviticus 14:12-18
The priest is to take the male lamb and offer it as a guilt offering. 13 He is to slaughter the lamb in the holy place where the sin offering and the burnt offering are slaughtered. Like the sin offering, the guilt offering belongs to the priest; it is most holy. The priest is to take some of the blood of the guilt offering and put it on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot. The priest shall then take some of the log of oil, pour it in the palm of his own left hand, dip his right forefinger into the oil in his palm, and with his finger sprinkle some of it before the LORD seven times. The priest is to put some of the oil remaining in his palm on the lobe of the right ear of the one to be cleansed, on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot, on top of the blood of the guilt offering. The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one to be cleansed and make atonement for him before the LORD.
· Tonight I want to treat you according to your calling
· We at Emerge want to call you priests
· We want to anoint you for the job you are called to
Doxology:
Vs. 11-14
11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. 12 In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" 13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.
· Worship breaks out in Heaven again at the foot of the Lamb!
· Time and time again the WORTHINESS is mentioned
Do you tonight know that Jesus is worthy of your worship?
What is our posture?
What are we called to do?
