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The Paradoxical Savior’s Victorious Church
Revelation 5:1-14
Today we celebrate our anniversary. We marvel at God’s work amongst us. Our church has grown, there are men who desire the ministry, and young people excited for spiritual things. I’ve heard many people gush - wow, this will be good for the church. Even your weak pastors have been praised. Yes, we thank God for your kind words. But I want to remind us all today - don’t look to man! Pastors, elders, enthusiastic youth are all weak. We will fall! People also suggest good ideas to improve the church. And yes, this shows our desire for God’s kingdom! But we must remember - God alone grows the church. These good ideas may not actually be God’s way for our church. We may look to strong and able men - but we forget that tiny David beat Goliath.
This is the Christian paradox. God became a weak man. A king became a servant. A judge paid the penalty for sin. God’s method for church growth? His Son’s death. When a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it bears much fruit. This is the paradoxical principle. But churches can forget this principle. The 7 churches of Revelation had serious problems. One was strong but lost her first love. Two served hard, but were worldly. One was known for life, but was actually dead. And the last was rich, but spiritually lukewarm. Their growth and works had blinded them to their sins. And Jesus called them to repent. Why? Because repentance brings true growth and revival. It’s paradoxical.
But these churches also faced intense persecution. They cried for relief in Revelation 6:10 - “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” In times of trial, some churches avoid persecution by watering down the gospel or having a moderated view of sin. Or some confront persecution by fighting their persecutors. Neither were the ways of Christ. Why? When we empty the gospel of truth and weakness, we empty it of power. Remember Christ won when they killed him. Today, we see this wonderful paradox in a vision. And this vision gives hope to the church. In this vision, we see 3 things. Firstly, God has an infallible destiny for the salvation and judgment of mankind. Secondly, Christ is the paradoxical king that triggers that destiny. Thirdly, the church lavishly worships Christ for their destiny.
Firstly, God has an infallible destiny for the salvation and judgment of mankind. The weak and persecuted church needs hope. And God has provided it in a future destiny - verse 10 says that Christ has “made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” But this victorious destiny is not yet at its final culmination. We’re saints, but still sinners. We’re already saved, but not yet glorified. We’re kings, but the church is still persecuted. One day we’ll rule on the earth as the victorious and triumphant church. This is our hopeful and infallible destiny.
In verses 1-2, John described a vision. He saw a scroll being held by the right hand of God, written on the inside and outside, and sealed with 7 seals. This scroll contained the details of God’s final, authoritative, comprehensive, and vital will for mankind. The scroll was in God’s right hand. Now, God has no body, so the phrase right hand symbolizes right and might, as in the right hand of authority. So a scroll in God’s right hand symbolizes the infallible will and purpose of God - what he authorized to happen. Then there was writing inside and outside of the scroll. Scrolls were made of papyrus and were written on the inside. But if the contents were of an important legal nature, writing over 2 scrolls was inappropriate. So after writing on the inside, the scribe would write on the outside to contain everything. So this scroll represented God’s authoritative and comprehensive destiny for the world. And it was sealed with 7 seals. To authorize and protect the contents, a scroll would be sealed with wax. But here, there were 7 seals. This shows its vital and important contents. But also its inviolability - it wasn’t open yet. 7 is the biblical symbol of perfection - like 7 days of creation, 7 times blood is sprinkled on the altar, 7 churches of Revelation, the lamb having 7 eyes, 7 horns, and 7 Spirits. So this scroll was perfectly sealed. This means that God’s destiny for the world couldn’t be fulfilled. A will can only be fulfilled when it’s opened and its content read. So God’s final destiny for mankind was still sealed. And it was such a perfect seal no one could take it from God and open it.
Verse 2 says, “And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” Verse 3 says - “no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.” God lives in light inaccessible, beyond the crystal sea, surrounded by thunder and lightning, and a trillion angels. Who can reach God, take his perfectly sealed scroll and open it? Just as the seals were perfectly strong, as all men were completely weak. No one could open it or look at it! So John wept. He was disappointed! Verse 4 - “And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.” His continually sobbed because unless it was open, God’s final perfect justice and salvation couldn’t come to pass. Man would continue to struggle with sin; the church would continue to be persecuted. Now, John was about to die - he’d seen how Christians had suffered. He’d seen how false teaching had gripped the church; how God’s people struggled with worldliness. Who’d win? Would Caesar win? Would the devil win? Would false prophets win? Would worldliness take over the church? Unless the scroll was opened, no resolution would come. All the persecutions, wrongs, and injustices wouldn’t be dealt with. But with an open scroll, all wrongs would be righted, all rewards will be given. Peace would reign. That’s why John cried - no peace or resolution. But his disappointments would be lifted.
There was one worthy enough to open the scroll. That’s the second point - Christ is the paradoxical king that triggers that destiny. In verse 5, one of the 24 elders told John to stop weeping because there was someone to open the seal and trigger God’s purposes. And we see his powerful qualifications - he could open and reign. Verse 5 - “behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” This person who’d open the scrolls by breaking the 7 seals was the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David. Now, these are 2 Old Testament titles. When Jacob blessed Judah, he said that future kings would come from him. So the Lion of Judah was the ultimate king of all Israel. David came from the line of Judah, and his family ruled Israel. But David’s dynasty was cut off when the Babylonians came. Judah was destroyed - that royal tree cut down. But Isaiah 11 prophesied that a shoot or little branch - like a root - would emerge from that stump. There’d be a new king. So this royal lion would take the scroll, break the seals, and trigger the resolution of all things. The angel told John in verse 5 to behold - to look up. And John did. Verse 6, John looked. But he didn’t see a lion or some reigning king - he saw a lamb. What a paradox. It’s like Goliath who called for a champion to fight him, and then he saw David. A paradox. The lion was a lamb!
And this was the amazing thing. We see how he’s described. Verses 6-7 - “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 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.” We see the lamb standing. The 7 horns signify he had all strength - perfect power. He also had 7 eyes. He’s all wise - he sees all things. His wisdom is perfect. And he was all perfect - he had the 7 Spirits of God. Now, we know this is Jesus. He’s all powerful.
But we continue to see the paradox. Pain qualified him to reign - he conquered by dying. This lamb had been slain. John could see the marks on his body. Like how Jesus’ disciples saw the scars on his hands, feet, and side. But these scars were significant. This Lion triumphed and conquered not by fighting, but by dying. This is a paradox displayed throughout his life. At his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus rode on a lowly donkey - not a warhorse. While he wore royal purple at his trial, he wore nothing at his crucifixion. He was crowned not with gold, but with thorns. Isaiah 53 says he had no form or comeliness - no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised. But it was by his stripes we are healed. You see, the lion conquers - by being a lamb that dies. And this slain lamb, verse 6, was in the midst of the throne. But he’s strong. Verse 7 says, he was able to take the scroll from God. He’s powerful! What a paradox! Christ earned the right to rule and judge because he suffered. And he’s able to trigger events that will right all wrongs.
Thirdly, we see the result of what he has done - the church lavishly worships Christ for her destiny. We see in verses 8 onwards, a description of the triumphant worship that follows - “And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and 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.” We see that when Christ took the scroll, the 4 heavenly beasts and 24 elders fell down before him. Now, he hadn’t even opened the seals yet. The destiny of mankind was not set in motion. But they still fell down and worshiped. It was immediately after him taking the scroll. Why? Because finally, someone could set in motion God’s plan. The wrongs could finally be righted! Finally, someone who could reward the suffering saints and punish sin. And these were the angels closest to the throne of God. So not only was worship immediate, it was intimate. But the worship was also cosmic and comprehensive. Verse 11 says that it wasn’t only the 4 beasts and 24 elders, but it was the angels round about the throne - “the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.” These are expressions to denote an innumerable company. The angels are uncountable - trillions of them. But then in verse 13, we learn that every creature also worships - “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.” And their worship involved every part of them. It was physical - they fell down. It was verbal - they sung a new song; he heard their voices saying. Verse 14 says they said Amen. It was also eternal - verse 14 says they worshiped him that liveth forever and ever. Why? Because the lamb was about to bring resolution to all the weakness, sins, and wrongs in the world.
Here, we see the reasons for the triumphant worship. They worshiped because Christ gave them final victory. In verse 8, the beasts and elders took their harps and the golden vials of incense representing the prayers of the saints. Now, what do these things mean? Clearly, the incense refers to the prayers of the saints. And we already saw what they prayed. Revelation 6:10 - “How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth?” But these heavenly creatures also took the harps to sing a new song. Why harp and new song? When Judah was taken captive and brought to Babylon, they were mocked and told to sing the songs of Zion. But how could they? They were defeated, there was no victory, and so they hung up their harps. Psalm 137 tells us this. But here, they took up their harps to sing a new song. New songs are expressions of praise for God’s redemption. In Exodus 15, during first exodus when the Egyptian army was drowned, Miriam took up the timbrel and sang a song of praise because they had been delivered. In Isaiah 42, which describes the second exodus - the return from Babylon - a new song was also sung. God’s people were delivered from Egypt and Babylon. But here, this is the final exodus when the saints are delivered from persecution and a sinful world. The first two exoduses were amazing, but the final one is more spectacular. Christ was about to deliver them to heaven - the better Promised Land! And the fact that all creation worships - in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea - shows that Christ not only delivers his people, Christ’s death reverses the effects of the curse.
And the way they were delivered was not by God fighting for them, but God dying for them. Christ was specifically praised and worshiped because of his paradoxical act. Verses 9-10 - “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 the earth.” Christ delivered them by dying - thou wast slain. But the consequence of this dying was 2 fold - he redeemed us to God, and he made us kings and priests to God and we shall reign forever. In the first exodus, God redeemed them by the death of the first born, and delivered a people from Egypt, and made them his people - a kingdom of priests. Here, he redeemed them by the death of his Only Begotten, and delivered a people from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation, and made them his people - a kingdom of priests. While the first exodus only contained the Israelites and some other stragglers, the last exodus involved the Israel of God from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. And he purchased them for God. Dearly beloved, not only do we belong to God, we will rule in the New Heavens and New Earth - without sin, weakness, imperfection. And this could only be achieved by Christ’s death and weakness. And this work he did qualified him to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing, verse 12. These 7 - count them - 7 accolades refer to his perfect excellencies. This is what we shall, in perfect future victory, praise him for.
Dearly beloved, what are some lessons we can take from this message particularly as we celebrate another anniversary? There are 3 immediate applications to consider. Firstly, as we’re reminded in our pastoral voice - God must be big in our eyes, and we must be small. It’s not that we don’t thank God for people, but our praises must be directed to him. Man is weak. There was no man worthy to open and to read the scroll - even to look at it. While there will always be intelligent men, capable men, eloquent men, enthusiastic men, they are in the end, only men. There is only one Son of Man - only one Lion of Judah, the root of David, that is worthy to be praised. Apollos planted, Paul watered, but God gave the increase. Noah built the ark, but was a drunkard. Abraham was the father of many nations, but was a liar. Moses was called the meekest man alive, but was hot tempered. Samson delivered the Israelites, but he was a fornicator. David was king and a man after God’s own heart, but he was a murderer. Solomon had a great kingdom, but was an idolator. Jonah was a prophet, but a racist. Jeremiah suffered as a prophet, but he was a complainer. John and James were enthusiastic disciples, but they explosive and ambitious. Peter was bold, but emotionally unstable. Paul was faithful, but was an intolerant man. Therefore, we must look at ourselves and repent because we have looked to man, and repent because we have assured ourselves of our own strength. But no man is worthy. But if we like the church of Revelation rely only on our merits, we will never see the deadness, the lukewarmness, the worldliness in us.
Secondly, therefore, we follow Christ’s way of paradox. The way to be great is to be a servant of all. The way of humility, patience, love, sacrifice, self-denial, preferring one another, bearing with revulsion, being misunderstood, turning the other cheek, washing one another’s feet - this is the way of growth. If we grow in these things, the Lord would be pleased to bless us. Dearly beloved, in what way do we need to remember Christ’s way of paradox? The men we select for office, the virtues we display, the mindset change we must have, the words and attitudes we must cultivate. Thirdly, we must have hope in and praise Christ for our final destiny. We are already victorious, but not yet. We are also holy, but not perfectly. We are strong in his might, but not on our own. We struggle with sin now. We struggle with persecution. We struggle with the flesh. But one day we will be perfectly victorious, holy, and strong. Dearly beloved, if we know how weak we truly are - only then can we praise Christ for dying for us. Only when we are convinced of the paradoxical way, can we truly praise him. That he alone may receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing,
- God Has an Infallible Destiny for the Salvation and Judgment of Mankind
- God’s final, authoritative, comprehensive, and vital will
- The church’s disappointment if it is not fulfilled
- Christ Is the Paradoxical King that Triggers that Destiny
- His powerful qualification to reign
- His pain qualified him to reign
- The Church Lavishly Worships Christ for Their Destiny
- The description of a triumphant worship
- The reason for such triumphant worship
But how all of us feel we have the right to rule and pass judgment when we have not learned surrender? That we have the right to pursue our own desires and ways, when Christ died so that we can be rescued from that?
If that is where the lamb is, are we going to stand there? Are we going to be worshiped? So church of God, may we learn afresh, the paradox of Jesus, the paradox of the gospel, and learn to die to self that we may exalt Christ.
All of us are sinners even though we are saints. Noah - drinker, Abraham - liar, Sarah - lot - compromiser, jacob - deceiver, Moses - hot tempered, Gideon - idolatrous. Samson - lustful, David - murderer. Solomon - hedonistic. Jonah - racist, Jeremiah - complaining. John and James - explosive and ambitious. Peter - emotionally erratic. Paul - intolerant leader. No hall of fame.
God chose the foolish things to shame the wise.
No one is worthy. Only Christ is worthy. To point to Christ alone.
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Mark Chen, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2023, Rev. Mark Chen
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