Precious Blood 5 - R.C. Sproul

Let's move now to Revelation chapter 5.  John's given us the initial glimpse into Heaven where He sees the throne of God with all of its glory, with all of its majesty, and then in chapter 5 he says, "Then I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne, a scroll written within and on the back.  Both sides of the scroll were used for this written information."                

The scroll was sealed and shut and locked from view, not with one seal, beloved, but with seven seals.  It was sealed as tightly as it could be sealed, to be hidden from the gaze of any creature from the view of any human being. 

Now John is trembling in excitement when He sees this scroll, the mystery of the ages contained inside.  He says, "and then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, a loud voice, WHO IS WORTHY?  WHO IS WORTHY TO OPEN THIS BOOK?"  John hears this announcement, this question, Who is worthy? In anticipation, he looks around the scene of heaven and he's waiting, beloved, for a worthy one to step forward and to open this sealed book. 

First there's the joy of anticipation, and then a moment of consternation because to John's horror he writes "but no one was found in all of Heaven who was worthy."  Listen as he describes his response.  "I began to weep.  I began to have tears trickle down my cheek as I softly wept in disappointment."  No,  he said, "I began to weep loudly."  He's sobbing, beloved.  Why?  Because  no  one was found worthy to open the scroll or even to look at it. 

But then suddenly one of the elders said to John, "John, stop crying.  Put your handkerchief away.  Weep no more for behold the lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed.  He has conquered.  He is able to open the scroll and the seven seals."  Now his manifold disappointment instantly changes into radical excitement.  He can't wait for the entrance now of the lion of Judah who will step forward and grab that scroll and with the power of his claws rip open the seals and expose this holy book.  So he looks and he looks, and he looks for the lion. 

He said between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a lamb, not a lion, and not just any lamb, not just an ordinary lamb, not a common lamb, but I saw a lamb standing as though it had been slain...  Seven horns, seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out to all the earth, and this lamb which was slain, dear ones, went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne.  When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures, the 24 elders, fell on their knees before the lamb.  Each one was holding a harp and golden balls full of incense which are the prayers of the saints, and they started to sing...