A VERY SPECIAL BOOK – REVELATION 5

INTRODUCTION:

1. The Bible has a lot to say about books.

2. Paul told Timothy that he wanted some books.

3. Acts 19 refers to magical books.

4. Ecclesiastes 12 says something about the making (creation) of books.

5. 2 Kings 22 deals with finding books that are lost.

I. IN REVELATION 5 JOHN DESCRIBES A BOOK. THIS BOOK IS RATHER UNUSUAL.

A. Let’s take a look at how John describes it.

B. Revelation 5:1 – READ.

1. When we see the word “book” we have our own definition.

2. Here is what we would call a book.

3. In the first century what we have was not in use.

4. People used scrolls.

5. It was not uncommon for there to be 2 stick-like cylinders.

6. A cylinder would be attached to each end of the paper.

C. Two cylinders with paper attached to each end would best describe John’s book.

1. John said that this book had writing on the inside.

2. He could even see writing on the “backside” (outside).

3. This was not normal.

4. Normally writing was only on one side.

5. What John says indicates that the information was complete.

6. Nothing needed to be added to the scroll seen by John.

D. This scroll (book) was “sealed with seven seals” – 5:1b.

1. Seals were used as safeguards, just like today.

2. Seals insure that no one tampers with documents.

3. The number 7, as previously studied, indicates perfection.

4. This scroll was thoroughly sealed; 100% protected.

E. When we see a sealed document we wonder about its contents.

F. There was an interest in knowing what this book said.

G. Verse 2 – READ. There was curiosity about this book.

1. Some of us may be interested by the word “strong”.

2. John wrote about a “strong” angel.

3. Does this indicate that some angels are stronger than others?

4. The word has some kind of significance.

5. We cannot determine what the word “strong” means.

6. A strong angel wanted to know who could open the book.

7. Though this angel was strong, he was not the right one to open the book.

8. In fact, finding a person to open this scroll was difficult.

H. Verse 4 – READ.

I. This was no ordinary book. This book required special handling.

J. Someone had to be worthy enough (Verse 2) to open this book.

1. The opening of the book was not a question of ability.

2. Power was important but the stress is upon being “worthy”.

3. Verse 3 says that no one on earth, under the earth, or above the earth was worthy.

K. According to Verse 5, one of the elders spoke to John.

1. This elder said, “There is one who can open the book.”

2. “The Lion of Judah – Jesus – is worthy to open the book.”

3. “Jesus is worthy to loose all 7 seals.”

4. Jesus has all authority and He is worthy because He is the sinless Son of God.

L. John says that he saw Jesus make use of His worthiness.

M. According to Verse 7, the Lord came and took the book.

N. The seals will not be broken until we get to Chapter 6f.

O. For tonight, I want to make this point.

1. When John speaks of opening the book more is meant than unrolling the scroll.

2. The expression “opening the book” indicates the power to:

a. comprehend what is written,

b. disclose that information,

c. and execute what is in the document.

P. Jesus had the power to do all of these things.

Q. Look at how the Lord is described – Verse 6 – READ.

R. This is clearly symbolic for several reasons.

1. Jesus is not a literal lamb.

2. Jesus is not “slain” (dead); He is alive.

3. Slain lambs do not stand, yet John says that this lamb was standing.

4. Lambs do not have horns.

5. The image of a lamb reminds one of Jesus and the cross.

a. Some think that the imagery goes back to the Passover.

b. This is a possibility.

6. The horns mentioned by John symbolize power; strength; potency.

7. How powerful was Jesus? He had 7 horns.

8. Jesus was all-powerful just as He claimed in Matthew 28.

9. John also writes that Jesus had 7 eyes.

10. We may connect these eyes with the word “knowledge”.

11. The number 7 tells us that Jesus is “omniscient” – all-knowing.

12. If Jesus is all-knowing, there is nothing he does not know.

13. Since this is true, Jesus knows when He will return.

14. The 7 eyes are called the 7 Spirits of God.

15. The word “Spirit” conveys the idea of God’s presence.

S. 7 Spirits tell us that Jesus is omnipresent – present everywhere.

T. There is no place where Jesus is not.

1. Bible teachers have spoken of God’s omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience.

2. John says that Jesus has these three attributes too.

II. LET’S NOW TURN OUR ATTENTION TO THE UNUSUAL BOOK THAT JESUS TOOK.

A. What was it?

B. What book is so special and holy that only the Son of God could open it?

C. Here are a couple of tidbits from the grammar in Revelation 5.

1. John said that the book had writing inside and outside.

2. The words that are used not only express location, they also indicate fullness.

3. This book was so full it looked like it could burst.

4. The information in this book was abundant.

D. When John described this book he used the perfect tense.

1. The writing had occurred in the past and had abided until the present.

2. The sealing had been done in the past and the seals were still intact.

E. Tense is also important in Verse 5 – READ.

F. Jesus had “overcome”; past tense; completed action.

1. It is doubtful that this book would describe what Jesus did.

2. When John wrote, what Jesus did on the earth was history.

3. Creatures in heaven and earth were aware of what the Lord had accomplished.

4. The book John saw was tied to the future.

5. Look back to Revelation 4:1b – READ.

6. Revelation 4:1 helps us understand the book in Revelation 5.

G. Wayne Jackson has authored a little commentary on Revelation.

H. He makes an excellent comment about Revelation 5.

1. He says, “Jesus has already won the war.”

2. “Now He is involved with the mopping up campaign.”

3. Heaven and earth knew about the Lord’s victory.

4. How would Jesus continue to deal with his enemies?

5. What would be in store for the future?

6. What would happen to the suffering saints?

7. What would the Lord do for those who were being persecuted?

8. What would finally happen to Rome?

I. John says in Revelation 5, “God has a plan.”

J. “This plan is complete. I saw it. It was full of details.”

III. THIS MATERIAL EXPRESSES A VERY USEFUL AND IMPORTANT POINT: ONLY GOD

KNOWS THE FUTURE. THIS BOOK IS ABOUT FUTURE ACTIVITIES AND ONLY THE

LORD IS ABLE TO HONOR THIS BOOK.

A. We sometimes say that the future is in God’s hands.

B. This is exactly what Revelation 5:1 says, “The book was in his right hand.”

C. Strong angels did not have access to this material – Verse 2.

D. They could not open up this book and see what was coming.

E. No person on earth, under the earth, or in heaven was worthy to open it.

F. Only God is worthy and capable of declaring the future.

G. This teaching did not originate with the book of Revelation.

H. Long ago God used Isaiah to issue a challenge.

1. This challenge was very specific.

2. It is found in Isaiah 41:21-23 – READ.

3. God’s challenge was, “Predict the future.”

4. Why would God issue this type of challenge?

5. It was issued because God alone knows the future.

I. Along with Isaiah 41 and Revelation 5, we should mention Acts 19.

1. There were some people who were using “magical arts”.

2. These people even had books on the subject – quite a few books.

3. I infer from what is said that the books contained tables, formulas, and charts.

4. Part of the information in these books was likely designed to tell the future.

5. Acts 19:19 says that the people not only gave up their books, the books were burned.

6. The value was 50,000 pieces of silver.

a. These people learned that the future rests with God.

b. We are not privileged to know the future.

c. Not even angels are given this insight.

J. Most of us would like to know the future. We are curious.

1. What will our lives be like in 5, 10, 20 years?

2. What will happen with the stock market?

3. Would it be best to move or stay where we are living?

4. Is staying with our job the right course?

5. What will our children be like?

6. Will we have children? Will we get married?

7. How will problems turn out?

K. Man’s interest in the future is so strong that it has been exploited.

1. Astrologers rake in money because they claim to have knowledge of the future.

2. So-called psychics beg people to call in and get a report on their future.

3. Palm readers promise to tell us about the time to come.

4. Business must be good for some of these people.

5. I checked one phone book and found 4 listings – one of which was quite long.

6. I checked another phone book and found “Barbara, The Gray Witch”.

a. She offers crystal ball readings.

b. Seances are available through her as well as tarot readings; channeling; and

counseling.

c. She is a spiritualist who also offers psychic parties, hypnosis, and telepathy.

L. The world will pay for people to give them a future prediction.

M. God declares that the future belongs to Him.

N. It is for this reason that we have a variety of New Testament passages.

O. Consider some verses that should be familiar to us:

1. James 4:13-15

2. James spoke of people who said, “Tomorrow we will go to this city or that city …”

3. James said, “Wait a minute. There may not be a tomorrow.”

4. Only God knows about tomorrow; we are vapor that appears for only a little while.

5. James taught that the future belongs to God.

P. Jesus spoke of a rich man who had plenty.

1. This man decided to build bigger barns to hold what he had.

2. This man had laid future plans.

3. Maybe this man had even made arrangements for the construction.

4. The rich man did not realize that he had no earthly future.

5. That very night he died.

Q. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus spoke about the future.

1. Matthew 6:34 says, “Be not anxious for the morrow.”

2. We cannot control the future.

3. We cannot know the future.

4. Why spend energy on the topic?

R. This is what a man who had unsurpassed wisdom wrote:

“Boast not thyself of tomorrow, for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” Proverbs 27:1

S. God alone knows the future and this makes sense.

T. Some years ago a woman entered a police station.

1. She told the police that her son had been shot. She killed him.

2. She said that her son had lost his mental health.

3. An astrologer predicted that her son would never recover.

4. To save her son from a horrible future, she killed him.

U. If we knew the future, how could we function?

V. Knowing the future would have a negative impact on hope.

W. We would not look forward to better times because we would already know what was in store.

X. If we consider the implications of knowing the future – it would be frightening.

Y. God has revealed just enough of the future to us to give us what we need to know.

Z. The rest is in His hands. Thank God for that.

CONCLUSION:

1. The worry in our lives is reduced because God handles the future.

2. Our worries can be reduced even more if we are children of God.

3. Are you a child of God? Are you faithful?