Jesus Christ is Worthy of Our Worship

“And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to remove its seals?’” [1]

“Who is worthy” is the resounding question that the strong angel asks. There is something important written in that scroll. The Lord gave Isaiah the prophet a similar experience.

“The whole vision has become to you like the words of a scroll that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, ‘Read this, please.’ And he says, ‘I cannot, for it is sealed.’” The Lord said to Isaiah that because His people only pretended to worship Him, but were far from Him, their wise men would be unwise; and their prudent men would lack understanding. The Lord would not open His revelation to imposters.

“And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.” [3]

John wants the scroll to be unsealed.

Perhaps, it is a scroll like the one God gave Ezekiel. God gave Ezekiel a scroll with writing on the inside and outside that was full of lamentations, mourning and woes. He told Ezekiel to eat it and then speak to people. After this vision, Ezekiel had words of woe within him which he went about sharing everywhere. [4] Is this scroll full of lamentations and woes? If so, why? Why would God release woes and sadness on people?

God released woes and sadness on the people of Egypt because they were abusing His people. The Lord said to Moses, “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So, I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land…” The Egyptians whipped, despised, insulted, cheated, and slew them without pity. “The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.” [5]

Does the unsealed scroll contain the vision of Daniel? “In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise, having fierce features, who understands sinister schemes.” “He shall cause deceit to prosper under his rule. He shall exalt himself in his heart. Seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future.” [6] Has that future arrived? Is it time to unseal this prophecy?

The scroll was sealed with seven seals. Some think the scroll was the title deed to planet earth.

Before Jerusalem was destroyed by the King of Babylon, the Lord told Jeremiah to purchase land in the city because after a season of tribulation. God would bring forth a new Jerusalem. In the last days, after the devil has a hay day on the earth, the Lord returns to earth to cast the devil and his followers into the Lake of Fire and to bring forth a new heaven, a new earth and a new Jerusalem. [7]

“One of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to remove its seven seals.” [8]

The Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David’s tree are references to Jesus the Messiah!

Jesus is King David’s Son because He is a descendant of David. Jesus is David’s root because He is David’s Creator. The title, “Lion of the tribe of Judah” relates Jesus to prophecies of the Messiah recorded in Genesis 49:9-10, Isaiah 31:4, and Hosea 11:10. The title. “Root of David” relates Jesus to a prophecy of Messiah recorded in Isaiah 11:10.

The lion is an image of strength, kingliness, vigilance. A lamb is an image of tenderness and vulnerability. Dr. Adrian Rogers said, “Jesus is a lamb to those who believe in Him but a lion to those who reject Him.”

“And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.” [9]

Jesus appeared to John as a Lamb that was slaughtered and yet standing. Isaiah prophesied of the Messiah 700 years before His arrival, saying, “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was like a Lamb led to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.” [10]

This Messiah does not minimize the moans of mistreated people. He hears their cries in heaven. Standing after slaughter means He was resurrected. The Lamb had the marks of sacrifice on it. He is also omnipotent (seven horns) and omniscient (seven eyes). In the Bible, eyes suggest knowledge and wisdom. Horns suggest power. [11]

“Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” [12]

The moment the Lamb takes the scroll, the four cherubim and 24 elders bow and worship Him. Various cults deny the deity of Christ, but it would be blasphemy for anyone to worship Jesus Christ if He was not God.

Heavens does not lack musicians. Worship in heaven is accompanied with harp music.

The elders present the prayers of the saints to God. God regards their prayer as a sweet-smelling incense, as if set in precious golden bowls. David said to the Lord, “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” Incense has a pleasing aroma. It ascends to God. The prayers of holy people smell good to God. Incense needs fire before it is of any use. The fire alludes to the Holy Spirit who appeared as tongues of fire on heads of praying people on the Day of Pentecost. [13]

“And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.’” [14]

The song honors the price of redemption: “for You were slain.” The song honors the work of redemption: “You redeemed us.” The song honors the destination of redemption: “You redeemed us to God.” The song honors the cost of redemption: “By Your blood.” The song honors the scope of redemption: “every tribe, tongue, people, nation.” The song honors the outcomes of redemption: “Kings and priests to God.” [15]

Jesus Christ is the Redeemer “who disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it (the cross).” On the cross, Jesus cried out, “It is finished.” When Jesus died on the cross, He removed our sin. Sin was the devil’s gateway to destroy us. Jesus disarmed our enemy by removing our sin. [16]

His wrath comes upon those who said, “We will not have this King to reign over us.” His wrath comes upon all who reject His sacrifice for their sin. They rejected the only cure for the deadly disease of sin. Jesus said, “The Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son.” [17]

Jesus is the Savior of repentant sinners. Jesus is the Judge of unrepentant sinners. Some people disregard Jesus. Other people use His Name to curse. When we die, we meet Jesus either as a Lion or a Lamb. A Savior or a Judge!

Look at your knees. Stick out your tongue. Every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. [18] That includes your knees and tongue, as well as mine.

Some politicians persecute Jesus, but they cannot dethrone Him. God sits in heaven and laughs at the coup attempts of kings to overthrow Him. It is impossible to dethrone God. The devil already tried that and failed. [19]

“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was 10,000 times 10,000, and 1,000’s of 1,000’s, saying with a loud voice: ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’” [20]

Daniel had a similar vision from the Lord during a scroll opening. “A fiery stream issued and came forth from before Him. A thousand thousands ministered to Him: 10,000 x 10,000 stood before Him. The court was seated, and the books were opened.” [21]

The host of heaven are preparing for war on evil. Countless angels join in, declaring the worthiness of the Lamb because of the redemption He accomplished. They don’t mumble God’s praises. They speak loudly. Millions of voices praising Jesus Christ! They give Him honor, glory and blessing!

Then, John heard every creature praising Jesus. “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, I heard saying: ‘Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!’ Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the 24 elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.” [22]

Wherever Jesus is present and working, there is praise and worship.

Let us pray for those who hate Christ. The devil “has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the Gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” Jesus Christ is the only One in whom there is salvation. There is salvation in no other Name. Eternal salvation is not obscure. No, the Lord has revealed it to us in the Bible. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved. [23]

Long ago the Psalmist wrote, “The redemption of their souls is costly... that he should continue to live eternally, and not see the Pit.” “Their inner thought is that their houses will last forever, their dwelling places to all generations; they call their lands after their own names. Nevertheless man, though in honor, does not remain; he is like the beasts that perish.” “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave, for He shall receive me.” [24]

God keeps the promises that He made in His holy Word the Bible. “Our God shall come and shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people: ‘Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.’” [25]

The Lord Jesus is going to gather to Himself all who professed His Name as their Lord and Savior but cast from His presence those who rejected Him. Thus, it is good to pray to God as David did when He asked the Lord, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me by Your generous Spirit.” [26]

[1] Revelation 5:1-2
[2] Isaiah 29:11, 13-14
[3] Revelation 5:3-4
[4] Ezekiel 2:9-3:1
[5] Exodus 3:7-8; 7:5
[6] Daniel 8:23, 25-26
[7] Jeremiah 32:9-15; Revelation 12-13, 19-21
[8] Revelation 5:5
[9] Revelation 5:6-7
[10] Isaiah 53:7
[11] Zechariah 3:9, 4:10; Psalm 18:2; Daniel 7-8
[12] Revelation 5:8
[13] Psalm 141:2; Acts 2:3-4
[14] Revelation 5:9-10
[15] Notes from Sermon by Adrian Rogers
[16] Colossian 2:15; John 19:28-30
[17] Luke 19:27; John 5:22
[18] Philippians 2:10-11
[19] Psalm 2; Revelation 12:7-12
[20] Revelation 5:11-12
[21] Daniel 7:10
[22] Revelation 5:13-14
[23] 2 Corinthians 4:4; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10
[24] Psalm 49:8-9, 11-12, 15
[25] Psalm 50:3-5
[26] Psalm 51:10-12