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Well, you know, we looked at Daniel if you recall back a number of I guess years ago now. Daniel was hard. It’s a complex book. It’s hard because it’s complex and it’s prophetic and there’s symbolic language and apocalyptic language. One of the reasons main reasons that it was so difficult because of the long shadow, the the the concretization of

Really bad theology that is permeated and seep through just our even unknowingly, right? All that we hear and so much about what Daniel is. So it’s difficult for that reason. Revelation as well, as we’ve seen, bears some of these same marks, the complexity and the difficulty, not so much because of the context, that is difficult, but because of

So much confusion, right? Complexity unnecessarily regarding the teaching of the book of Revelation.

Before we hear now the word of God expounded, let’s ask the Lord’s blessing upon that very thing, that He would bless our service and our hearing. Let’s pray. Our gracious God and Heavenly Father, we praise you and we thank you for your mercy. We thank you for this your word. We pray that you would satisfy your promises, even as we are as we are certain that you will to bless us thereby.

That we’re not merely hearing words on a page, but that your spirit attends this word, your word, this powerful word. So we ask, Lord, open our hearts to hear what you have for us as the Spirit leads us. settle our minds and all of the many, many interruptions that we have mentally, Lord, as we

from the from the world around us and from the world behind us and the world ahead. Lord, help us to focus our minds and our eyes and our hearts upon this word and upon what you have to give us through it. So Lord we ask, bless us, give us hearts and minds and posture that is acceptable in your sight. We thank you and praise you.

And we love you for our Savior and all that He did. We ask this for our edification and our enrichment and our growth and our comfort and our protection. But mostly, Lord, we ask it for your glory. We ask it in Jesus’ name. And all God’s people said, Amen. In Revelation 4 and 5, the Apostle John is caught away by the Holy Spirit.

And he’s given this remarkable vision, this glimpse of God’s throne in glory. The glory of the one sitting upon the throne, we read, has the appearance of precious gems were described, which reflect a whole range of colors. All that we see. In this rainbow, circles around the throne, from which flashes of lightning and peals of thunder come.

And surrounding the throne, remember, were twenty-four elders, which are angelic beings, which they represent God’s redeemed people in both the Old and the New Testaments. And they are present before what? The throne, along with these four living creatures, who have six wings, and who are covered with eyes. These creatures represent all of creation, if you remember. And together with the elders, these living creatures.

Worship the one seated on the throne. But they also worship another, the Lamb who was slain, and who alone is worthy to open the scroll that we read about, containing God’s plan for the final chapters of the drama of redemption. And they sing what? A new song, Worthy is the Lamb, just like throughout

History, right? At key moments we see in redemptive history when it is advancing in paramount ways, significant ways, what do we see? Songs birth burst forth. And in scripture, new acts of God call for new songs. Right? We see this in Psalms 33, 40, 144, 149. We see it in Isaiah chapter 42. We see it in Revelation.

God delivers his people from Egypt. And what happens? They sing a new song. Exodus 15. He gives them water in the wilderness, remember, and they sing. Numbers 21. God renews the covenant and commits it to the their memory with the song that we read in Deuteronomy 32. In Numbers 21, spring up, O well. We read at this. We read in Judges 5 the song of Deborah and Barak.

Isaiah 5, the song of the vineyard, Isaiah 26 and 27, an eschatological song, the song having to do with the consummation of all things. And then we see what moving into the new Christ is conceived by the Spirit. And Mary, what? She responds with her magnificat, right? In Luke 1. And going forward in Luke, we see the song of Zechariah, the angelic doxology, the

Simeon, remember, we we we sing at the end of our service, the nuncdominis, right, in Luke 2. In Colossians 1, we have this Pauline Christological hymn in Philippians 2, the Carmen Christi. And following the Spirit’s lead through Paul, right, we said in Colossians 3, and let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

To which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. And let the word of Christ dwell in you richly. To what end? What is the result? Let it dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And then also we see in Revelation 15.

The song of Moses and the Lamb. In Revelation 19, the hallelujah chorus. And then in Revelation 14, and in our passage today, Revelation 5, we have a new song. This morning we’re at the opening, as I said, of John’s second vision in this two-chapter block, chapters four and five.

And you recall in Revelation 1, 12, all the way to Revelation 3, John was given this vision, this vision of the resurrected Christ walking amidst his churches. And while that earlier vision shows Christ’s presence with his churches on earth, we move now, we move to the second vision in chapters 4 and 5. And it’s intended to give God’s people a heavenly perspective upon their earthly stresses.

And struggles. Just like the Old Testament prophets Ezekiel, Daniel, and Isaiah before him, John is caught away by the Holy Spirit, caught up and given a vision of God’s throne room in glory, heaven itself. And while the heavenly scene is in many ways beyond our comprehension and it’s beyond description, John’s vision is intended for what? It’s intended to give comfort and encouragement to Christians.

The Christians addressed earlier by our Lord in his letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor, those Christians that the risen Christ had given words of encouragement and admonition and promise. While Christians on earth must face the slander and accusations of those who oppose the gospel, who hate the gospel, and while they struggle to avoid compromising their integrity.

The spirit of the age, with paganism, those who fight pagan influences all around them, and while they struggle against the beast, right? The beast which is that devil-driven Roman government, which is putting Christ’s Christians to death for what? For refusing to confess the divinity of Caesar. And it also kept them from buying and selling in the marketplace. John now gives these same Christians a glimpse of heaven, right? From the churches on earth.

To the perspective of glory. And they needed that, right? The purpose of this vision is to remind them that in all of this, and all their struggles and losses and crosses and pains and strains against these earthly foes, God’s will is being done in heaven. And that one day God’s will will be done on the earth. A glorious reminder that they need and that we need, especially in light of what He’s just told them and what they’re going through. It’s remarkable and awesome.

Amen? It is. Think of it. Think of this, knowing that this would have been a great encouragement to those struggling to fight the good fight of faith under these terribly difficult conditions. They are pressed and persecuted and pounded as they were, keeping the heavenly scene before them, before their eyes, and our eyes should remind God’s people then and now that despite the wrath of Satan against them and his warring.

Despite all of that, God’s people will be victorious. It’s because on Calvary and in the empty tomb, the lamb has already defeated the serpent. Already defeated him. Incredible, glorious, and wonderful. Praise God for this, brothers and sisters. These are high and transcendent and seem so far above and away and

From us, right to imagine and grasp them. But we must. They are true for certain. This is what God is doing and has done. And so in Revelation four, John what he zeroes in on the glory of the one who sits upon the throne, the throne room, describing all around them and the praise of what’s going on. But in chapter five, the focus shifts to the Lamb who was slain, and who alone is worthy to open the scroll. Not only is the Lamb worthy to do this and

And and and has already triumphed over Satan, but one day the Lamb’s triumph over Satan on the cross will extend not just in heaven but to all the earth. And so at the end of the redemptive drama, the history of redemption, Satan and his minions will be cast into the lake of fire, never again to torment the people of God, precious as they are to him.

And so in many ways, Revelation 5 continues this vision of the throne in chapter 4. But again, as I said, the focus now shifts from the glory of the one seated on the throne and the elders and the living creatures who attend him, from that to the Lamb who is the only one worthy to open the scroll. To set of one, he alone is worthy to do this. And so let’s look now at our passage, John 5.

and again recall the focus of this vision moves, right? All of creation in chapter four, represented by these creatures, praises the one seated on the throne, from that to the image of the representatives of the redeemed, praising God, the twenty-four elders, for all of that, again, to God’s recreation of all things, which we see in our passage here today. And we see this pattern intensified, right?

This intensified focus of the Lamb who not only redeems people from sin and death, but who is also the one in whom all things will be recreated by virtue of his resurrection from the dead, of which we have precursor to, right? A glimpse of in his resurrection. That Lamb was slain, but now he is what? Alive forevermore, and will make all things new. As certainly as he was raised from the dead, this will follow.

Recreation. And in this vision, right, if you think about the the like broad panoramic view of redemptive history, creation, fall, redemption, recreation, it’s displayed in summary form here in this passage, in this vision. Because the Lamb alone is worthy, he will open the scroll and its seals, right? And we’ll unfold this in the chapters to follow, chapters six to eight. But the ship the shift emphasizes

Or the emphasis, right? It’s it’s there’s this movement from the one seated on the throne to the Lamb. And it becomes clear in verse one, where John shows that the one upon the throne is holding something in his hand. Again, here verse one. Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And so the first thing that we notice here is that

The scroll that he sees has writing on the front and the back. and on the one hand, this is this reference is likely intended to remind us of something that we’ve already heard and read in Scripture. And that’s the prophet Ezekiel. Right? The prophet Ezekiel. what a blessing to be familiar with the context of Scripture, right? It’s something that you’re so long for as believers, to long to be familiar, layering it in, growing in our familiarity.

When we hear something we think, Ezekiel, the scroll, right? In the opening chapters of Ezekiel. Because there it was the prophet, he was to preach the contents written on the scroll to the people of Israel, and he was commanded then to what? Do you remember? To eat the scroll.

The symbolic act referring to what? His preparation to preach the context. Consume this. Get it into you. This is what you will have to deliver. But the scroll that John sees is sealed. And somebody must be found worthy and able to open it. And this sets in motion the great drama of this vision. The failed search, the concern.

The tears not finding someone who can do this.

There’s great reduct great drama, this lament. And what’s this about? People living in John’s day were removed, we’re not in that century, but they would have immediately understood the significance of the fact that the scroll was sealed. Okay, scrolls often served two functions in the first century at this time. Right? Official documents or last will and testament.

When an official document was sealed with a seal, wax, the seal was made with the person who wrote it their like personal mark, their official insignia, something usually from like a signet ring you’ve probably seen in movies set in the hit in pain in the past, or his official seal, right? Of his his role. And this is to ensure the authenticity of the seal, but also the authority of

Of the sealed document’s contents. Right? It’s authentic and it has authority because of whose the seal is. And the seal safeguarded privacy. It ensured that only someone who had recognized authority could open the document and read its contents. And so if the heavenly scroll is the last word.

In testament, this might explain the double the writing on both sides, right? Which is common in the Roman era, the practice in legal documents. And what’s more, a will had to be witnessed and sealed by seven witnesses. So we have the sevenfold spirit of God who represents or who is present before the throne that we read about. And so the terms of such wills.

like this could be executed upon the death of the testator. Roman Paul actually talks about this in some detail in his writings. But in this case, the seven seals contained in the scroll are about to be opened by the Lamb who was slain, and who by virtue of his death for his people is counted worthy to do so. Right? And so the author the the Lamb is not only the author of this heavenly scroll

But by virtue of his death, he alone is worthy to open it and to execute its instructions. But what is this mysterious scroll all about? And what why is it that no one can be found who is worthy to open it? Some like logical questions we might have reading a cursory glance. When we read in verses two to four, this very fact, who is worthy to open it, causes great concern, great

Friction and stress. He says, and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice this very question: who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll? But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside. And he says, I wept. I wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. So have we seen in our

Old Testaments, a particular old testament reading this morning from Daniel, verse four of chapter twelve. The angel tells Daniel, but you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end.

Alright, so we have this historic account of the seal being commanded to close up and seal the words until the end of time. Despite the instructions given by the angel, Daniel remains confused, right? Perplexed about the meaning of these verses. And he asks of these things, and he and he asks the angelic of the angel, starting in verse 8.

So I asked my Lord, What will the outcome of all this be? And he replied, Go your way, Daniel. Because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless and refined. But the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand. Go your way, Daniel. If you remember when we

discussed that is this glorious like settling and contentment in praise to a God who is sovereign in the comfort and contentedness and assurance and peace that we have because of that. But those who are wise here and who understand from this verse in Daniel are the same ones whom to whom Jesus says have been given ears to hear.

Right? He who has ears to hear, right? The refrain from these seven letters. And having been been given these ears, it’s time for the scroll to be opened and its content to be revealed to God’s people who struggle upon the earth against the beasts, against the pagans, against the Jews, all the forces coming against them. You see, Daniel’s prophecy was to be sealed until the time of the end, because the old testament saints, what? They couldn’t possibly have understood.

How God would bring about in detail and specificity the blessings of the messianic age without a direct knowledge of the person of the Messiah, the person and work of Jesus Christ the Lord, but with the resurrection and ascension of Christ and session of Christ. Now accomplished facts, they’re done. The time of the end has finally come. So the ceiling until X has come.

Time of the end. And once Jesus conquers death and the grave, human history, the history of man now enters into its final phase. And therefore, it’s truly time for that which was sealed in Daniel’s day until the time of the end to be revealed. And so with the coming of Christ, right? We know the broad swaths of history and the glorious gospel and the work and the outworking of God’s plan. With his coming.

Right, that coming his coming seven hundred years after Daniel, if we do the timing. That which was sealed will now be open. That which was longed for, anticipated. But we still have to answer the question, right? This critical question: what is on the scroll and why is no one able to open it? What’s on it and why can’t it be open?

In the first question, right, if we answer it, we’ll also be able to answer the second. And given the fact that the scroll in Ezekiel’s vision, this connection that we clearly have, has to do with God’s what? His covenant promises to his people. And given the fact that in Daniel, his prophecy is sealed until the time of the end, has to do with the resurrection of the dead and the redemption and purification of God’s people, the saints.

Given these two factors, we have every reason to believe that the scroll mentioned in John’s vision, we’re being driven to conclude, it describes events that are associated with the final chapters of redemptive history. The history of man. So the main theme, right? When we think about it, we’ve mentioned this a number of times, the main theme of Revelation.

Is about God and his glory and his victory and so much more. And it and that glory being made manifest for all to see through the redemption accomplished by the Lamb. And also we need to keep in mind that big picture of redemptive history, that macrospective view. Remember, God promised that Adam would reign over the earth if he obeyed, kept the terms of the covenant. Remember, do this and you shall live.

Adam did not. And as a result, what happened? Eats from the forbidden tree, the fruit, he’s plunged the entire human race into sin and misery, death, bringing God’s curse upon all creation.

Jesus Christ, therefore, right? That’s the bad news. Christ came as the remember second and last Adam. That’s the good news, the one who will undo all the damage worked out upon the human race by the fall. So the scroll surely contains information about how this final redemption of all things will come about and come to pass. In the scroll

Contains the record of future things that must take place so that God’s will done in heaven will be done upon the earth. In like God’s dealing with man, all of them, the contents of the scroll is covenantally charged, is covenantally defined. Because the things to be revealed will not only tell God’s people about God’s dominion over all the earth and his promised.

Covenantal inheritance, remember, way back for all of his people. The scroll will reveal details of this judgment of God on all those who have broken the covenant who are under the covenant curse. And the themes of blessing and curse reappear again and again. And so we can surely assume that the scroll is this covenantal declaration.

Covenant declaration or testament, if you will, not as good of a a word to use, but more properly, covenantal declaration of the Lamb, specifically as to how God will bring all of redemptive history into its glorious and final conclusion, the climax. This had been given to Daniel, but the angel said what? No, Daniel. To be sealed until the time of the end. Since the scroll has information about the final chapters.

Of the history of redemption, it can only be opened by human. And since all the promises contained in it are related to God’s promises of a redeemed people, because of human sin, that renders all of man what? Unworthy. There’s none worthy to open the scroll because of sin. It’s only Christ.

Jesus the Lord, the Lamb who was slain, who is both God and man, he’s able to earn that promised inheritance. Because of what? We talked about this in the midweek study. Fulfilling what God demands of his people under the covenant of works and their restatement in the Ten Commandments. Right? He paid and he obeyed. His obedience.

Is so glorious and meaningful, imputed to us. But this explains why it is that only Christ, Jesus Christ, is worthy to open the scroll, and that no one else is, because he alone kept God’s law perfectly and is without sin. Right? He obeyed and then he paid. And so as for the reason why John weeps, right? He weeps about the possibility of remaining sealed and not finding anyone, he’s weeping.

God’s people will not have access to the contents unless it’s open. This is a broken heart for John indeed. But once the seal is open, God’s people are what they’re allowed to see, God’s promises, his purposes, rather. In the final chapters of Redemptive History. And so in the midst of their earthly struggles and their war with the beast, they will see and understand God had a purpose for everything which will come to pass, and that God.

His will cannot be thwarted. Again and again and again we have to remind ourselves this. It cannot be thwarted. He is sovereign. He is omnipotent. His way will be done. And despite the the the wars waged upon the saints, his will truly will be done. And so God’s eternal decree, that which he has decreed to come to pass, it will be done. His will will be done.

And so it’s it’s it’s surely you can understand glorious news when John says in verse five, one of the elders said to me, Do not weep. See the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed. He is conquered, he is able to open the scroll, and it’s seven seals. Something worth not skimming over, right?

Take God’s word in, bear, reflect, slow down, ponder, pray. Not only is he worthy Christ to open the scroll, but the elders go on to describe this land, this lamb who was slain in terms of his messianic glory. He is the lion of Judah. Genesis forty nine foretells this. He’s the root of David, predicted in Isaiah eleven. He is the resurrection of Judah.

From the dead, and in that resurrection, he has triumphed over humanity’s greatest enemy, death in the grave. Death where is your victory? Grave where is your sting? Therefore, because Jesus has fulfilled the glorious messianic prophecies, God’s chosen, his chosen one overcoming his enemies, and then exercising his judgment upon them. He alone is worthy.

To open the scroll and it seals. And so the language here used by John is very important. You know, Christ’s triumph is not something that lies ahead in the distant future at his second advent. It’s very important to understand that. His triumph is not something which lies ahead in the future. But because of the cross and the empty tomb, his victory over Satan is already an accomplished fact.

Right, that correction in many people’s thinking, back closer to the foundation, has great effects on the future and how you work things out.

He is the conqueror. And with the unsealing of the scroll, the time has now come for the conquering one to execute his judgment on behalf of his people. And the nature of these things is what? These judgments, what is the nature of them? They’ll be revealed when the seals are open, as we’ll see. And when Christ’s victory over Satan is explained in chapter 6.

Through eight, and having heard the declaration of this elder, back to our chapter, John now describes what happens next. He says in verse six, Then I saw a lamb. What are the lamb? He says, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by four living creatures, the four creatures and the elders.

Right? Not only do the elders and these living creatures that we read about in chapter 4 worship him who sits on the throne, they also worship the Lamb. And the fact that he is the Lamb who was slain not only ties this right, his redemptive work to all of God’s promises that have been made throughout redemptive history, like the Passover or the shedding of the blood of sacrificial animals. Like Isaiah said, God’s suffering servant, he is like

A sheep who was led to the slaughter. And when you think about this, it’s it’s interesting. You know, the lamb conquers by dying. Right? It seems so like old hap for us in normal. This has permeated all of literature and so much of man’s storytelling and creation. We cannot let this become old hap, right? This is a very

Paramount thing that we believe and comprehend and understand and praise God for, right? The lamb conquers by dying. A lamb, it says, I’ve been slain. Standing in the center. And this is this very point explains why it is that unless we are granted understanding of these mysteries by the Spirit, and he gives us ears hear.

The things here in the book will remain utterly mysterious to us. He is needed, or the Spirit’s activity is needed. And so, apart from the eyes and ears of faith, it’s impossible to comprehend that Christ’s victory, that ultimate victory, must come through his death and resurrection. And so John also describes the Lamb in this way: He had seven horns and seven eyes.

Which can sound strange, right? So you children if you’re reading this or hear this, you know, being read to you, Jesus had seven horns and seven eyes. But of course it tells us which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. The horns are his power, the eyes are his his his all he sees er he sees all. The conquest, right? Think of the horns conquest, the conquest. And remember the seven, right, when it’s used throughout

Revelation, book of Revelation symbolizes perfection or fullness or completeness. In the horns, again, the fullness of triumph over death and the grave. And so the seven eye reference to the Lamb, which are the seven spirits of God, are drawn once again from the third and fourth chapters of Zechariah. Remember that glorious book that we went through. Seven lamps and seven eyes and his prophecy there, Zechariah. Our Old Testament pictures.

Of the blessed Holy Spirit, who is all powerful and all all sin. But before the coming, the breaking forth of the Messianic Age, the sevenfold spirit we read, appears before the throne. And now after the conquest of the Lamb and the dawn of the new creation, the Holy Spirit now goes forth to the ends of the earth to what? Execute his will.

As it is in heaven, to execute his sovereign decree. And in this, John sees what? He sees the spread of the kingdom of God going forth, going out, going further to the ends of the earth, and the fact that the Holy Spirit will empower his church to preach the gospel as the means by which Christ’s kingdom will advance.

He’s already declared to be worthy to open the scroll. The Lamb is. And he came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. Again, there’s echoes here. Echoes from Daniel 7. We can’t escape. Right? Let me read from Daniel 7. Starting at verse 13. Right? I know this is a lot. I know it’s thick. I know it’s it’s it’s rich. But Daniel says this, in my vision at night I looked.

And there before me was one like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven. And he approached the ancient of days, was led into his presence. And he was given authority, glory, and sovereign power.

He goes on, all peoples, nations, and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. John and Daniel are describing the same thing. The fact that the Lamb is worthy enables him to come before the Lord, to approach God’s throne, and to open the scroll and it seals.

Which will demonstrate his authority and his power over all, over all the earth, and establish that kingdom which shall have no end, which shall never be destroyed. And when the lamb draws near, you see, to the one seated on the throne, heaven worships him. Right? There’s this reflexive worship, it worships him. John says, when the Lamb had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb.

Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowl bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Right? There are some significant things here, right? The lamb possesses, right? We know we we draw from this that same glory and authority as does the one sitting on the throne. And when heaven worship the lamb, they’re worshiping God, the second person of the Trinity, the Lamb’s majesty and glory.

Are truly co-equal with the one seated on the throne, from which we draw the specific, detailed doctrine that we do. No mere creature could possess such glory. Equal, on par with the Father, with the one sitting on the throne. So it’s it’s this is nothing less than the glory of God. And also the elders

Right, remember these beings who represent the redeemed and the living creatures who represent creation fall down before the Lamb and worship him. Again, pointing to the fact that Christ’s glory and his worthiness are equal to that of the fathers.

Because the host of heaven would never bow down before any creature or any created thing in this way, on par, in equal with that of the Father. And so later in the book of Revelation, we’ll see that the prayers of the saints rise to heaven. And we see this throughout Scripture, throughout the New Testament. The prayers going up, going up to heaven. In chapter 6 and chapter 8, the saints pray for the vindication of the martyred.

believers, those who have been put to death for their faith, and they cry out for judgment upon the ungodly. And the fact that these prayers ascend to God’s throne and to the Lamb reminds us that the opening of the scroll is connected in a way to their vindication. The judgment yet to come and contained in the scroll will in part be brought about will bring about the vindication of the saints. And with the elders

Holding the instruments in their hand and singing. Right? What is what does this scene like remind us of? What does it remove when we see this?

But does it not bear reflection to the Levitical priests, commissioned to lead the people in the praise and worship of Yahweh?

And they sang a new song. You are worthy to take the scroll, 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. The glory there, you were worthy, because you were slain, and with your blood you redeemed, you purchased men for God from every tribe. Language.

People and nation. He goes, and you have made them to be a kingdom of priests to see our to serve our God and they will reign on the earth. I remember earlier, He loved us, He freed us, He made us be a kingdom of priests to serve our God. And here again, He made them to be a kingdom of priests to serve and they will reign. And throughout the Old Testament, a new song is sung.

As an expression of praise to God for granting his people victory over their enemies. And given the worthiness of this Lamb, the Lamb who was slain, the new song, what it commemorates his victory over sin and death, as well as the breaking forth, the beginning, the inauguration of the new creation.

Him sometimes captured these things greatly, clearly, pristinely, accurately, truthfully. Jesus died for his chosen ones, and in doing so, what does it say? Purchased a people from every tribe, language, people, and nation. Glory is the king, is what? Vested with an everlasting kingdom which extends to the ends of the earth and sur encompasses.

His elect from every nation. The Father decreed, the Son died, and the Spirit applies to those decreed, right? And because Jesus has conquered, what? Death, the grave, all of his people participate in his kingdom rule by virtue of the new creation, specifically the new birth in Christ, which John will later call the first resurrection. Behold, if anyone’s in anyone is in Christ,

New creation, right? This has a connection here. This is the the the thread, this is what this is pointing towards. All those who are in Christ and sit to reign with him. They do so because his death has no hold upon them.

The beast may kill them, but they will reign with Christ, nevertheless. Slow down as we read. Pray. Grasp this. Meditate upon the glory of this. It’s so important, brothers and sisters. We always want to read. We’re distracted. We’re familiar with it. We do it out of it. Slow, reflect. What’s going on here? Praise.

your Savior for this, for the for his work and all that he’s done, and all that he promises, and all will certainly come to pass. So when he comes back at the end of the age, his people truly will rule with him. In the new heaven, the renewed heaven, and the earth in the age to come. And when the new song of redemption is sung, the whole of heaven worships the Lamb. John says they say, I looked and I heard the voice of many angels

Numbering thousands and thousands and myriads and ten thousands, they encircled the throne of the living creatures and the elders. These are the angels and legions of heaven who return to earth with Christ on the day of judgment. But before the death, dreadful day of judgment, what do they do? They worship the Lamb along with the elders and the living creatures, and they say, What? With a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb.

Who was slain to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise. This is a glorious scene, and it points ahead to the great and glorious day yet to come. For as the chapter and its focus upon the Lamb comes to a close, John’s vision of the throne is extended from the present to

To the time of the end, when this universal acclaim is offered to Christ by a redeemed creation at the very end of the age.

To bring this to a close, it says this. 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 forever and ever. And the four living creature living creatures said what? Amen. And the elders.

fell down in worship. See, John not only sees the worship of the Lamb in the present, he also sees that worship of the Lamb by a redeemed creation, which takes place at the end of time.

And so what? This the vision of the heavenly throne ends, bulf creation, and all the gods were deemed, worshipping the one seated on the throne and throne and the lamb. And so we think and we we look at Daniel’s vision was sealed, and Ezekiel and Isaiah, when they saw the throne, their visions were incomplete, right? They were forte pictures, complete, yet complete, I should say. Because they did not see the Lamb who was slain.

It’s only after Christ has come, only after he has died for our sins, only after he was raised for our justification that we can fully understand the meaning of the new song.

I don’t think that’s a new song.

That song, the new song, centers upon what God has done in Christ to free us from our sins and

To make us those who were redeemed, those whom He loves, those who were made a kingdom of priests, and to ensure us, listen now, that one day we will rule with Christ upon a redeemed earth. And so, in the midst, brothers and sisters, of all our all of your and my earthly struggles, in the midst of all that you go through relationally.

Right? We’re broken creatures. We’re sinful. We’re saved sinners, but we’re still broken. And in the midst of all that, wherever that assault comes, wherever that that stress and that strain comes from.

Let us always keep in mind this vision of John before our very eyes, knowing that even as God’s will is now being done in heaven, one day it will be done upon the earth gloriously. And until it is, let us what, brothers and sisters? What isn’t that remarkable? It’s incredible and it’s glorious. And the more that we reflect and we slow down and we let the Lord

Show us from this text, and as we pray it orient our minds and our postures toward glory for his praise, filtering all of our prayers through this very thing. How much would your life be changed? Right? How much would this affect you to grow you? To trust, to believe.

To not doubt, to live with confidence and the peace. If we fully believe this, if we greater believe this. Incredible. But until it is, until that will is done on earth as it is in heaven, let us join our voices, dear Christian, to that multitude in heaven, singing, worthy is the Lamb who was slain. All praise to our God and King.

The Lord Jesus. Let’s pray together. Heavenly Father, we do praise you. We thank you for your goodness towards us. You are Almighty and our loving God. We delight to give you that praise. And truly you are worthy. You are worthy.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your provision in our lives and for our beloved Savior who gave his life for our sins and who rose again for our justification. We pray, Lord, that you would continue to strengthen us, to protect us and move us forward in this life, sanctifying us, growing us, transforming us into the image of our Savior who died for us, for who loves us, whom we love and are united to.

We pray, Lord, help us to walk in Him in this pilgrim life. Help us to know and believe and trust in your strength, knowing that you are good.

And that you love your people. Help us to know that you are working in us your sovereign will, that you are doing just that, changing us to the image of Jesus. We ask, dear Lord.

She would continue to bless this church.

Place in our hearts a longing, truly, an increasing longing for your name to be spread. That we would long to delight in your ways and to a life of true faithfulness, Lord, to you. Help us truly to move, change us, grow us, that our lives would reflect the profession of our mouths. Strengthen us, we pray, dear Lord, all of us.

To show the love and grace that we’ve been shown, the mercy and the tenderness and the kindness and the patience that we’ve been shown to others and to invite others to hear of your mercy and your holiness, to have an encounter with the Savior and to be confronted with Him. The only hope in this world and the next. For all this and more we pray, Lord, you know our hearts, you know our needs. We rejoice with confidence.

And who you are and who you have made us to be, sons and daughters of the King. We ask this in Christ’s name. Amen.

Let us rejoice now, brothers and