The Covenant of Redemption

Revelation 5:1-14 - Riley Boggs

2 weeks ago, as you all know, the Cornerstone youth were here and served us, and the community, in all kinds of ways. One of those ways was that they went to door-to-door in several of the neighborhoods around our church. Before they went out I told them to feel free to engage with people as you see the opportunity open. I knew that some people would be very hostile about anyone even coming to their door, so I wanted them to be aware of that and only press further where they saw opportunity. And so, they went from house-to-house passing out cards about our church and inviting them to come join us on a Sunday, and looking for avenues to talk with people, share the Gospel, and pray with them.

They spent several hours doing this and then we all met back up at the church to debrief and talk about their experiences. Thankfully, they had lots of stories about people being willing to talk with them. So I sat there, listening to story after story. And after a while, there seemed to be a very obvious theme among all the stories. It seemed that every person they talked to had a very similar story to share. Put very simply, the story they shared was this. They were hurting and lonely, and seemed hopeless.

Now I don’t think that the youth just so happened to stumble onto the doorsteps of people in this situation on that particular day. No, I think that you could have dropped them in any neighborhood had in this world and the stories would have been the same. They would have talked with people who have hurts they don’t understand. They would have talked to people who are lonely, who don’t have a community, who don’t have someone who hears them or knows them. They would have talked with people who are hopeless and altogether lost at the point of the life they are living.

The truth is that this is a universal problem because it is the human condition. Our lives, as humans, are plagued by sin and suffering. It’s all around and within. You cannot run from it, you cannot hide from it. And for the unbeliever, for the one who does not know God, who does not know Christ, it seems as if it is all pointless. There see no good ending written for them. They see the world and their time in it as all that there is, and so they are left with utter hopelessness. They strive for happiness and health that escapes them.

In Shakespeare’s tradgedy, “Macbeth”, I think you see this very well. If you don’t know the story, let me give you the short version. There is a Scottish general who is told a prophecy by 3 witches that he will one day be the king of King of Scotland. He tells his wife this and they together plan to kill the current king so that he might assume the role. So, they kill the king, and the guards just so happen to be in the way. And so, like planned, Macbeth becomes king. But, the story doesn’t stop there. Though Macbeth is the king, he is constantly plagued by feeling of insufficiency and paranoia. He’s restless. And as a result, he and his wife end up killing many more people.

Eventually, after the bodies have piled up, he thinks he’s safe. That is until he realizes that another prophecy concerning his demise is beginning to unfold. He and his wife begin to unravel as their downfall seems imminent. Eventually his wife, consumed by guilt and driven to madness, takes her own life. And then, as the prophecy foretold, Macbeth is overtaken and killed.

The reason that I bring this up is because of what Macbeth says when he learns of his wife’s death. He’s in the castle trying to face the reality that it is all about to be over, when the servant comes in. The servant tells him of his wife’s passing and he says this...

“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”

The tragedy of Macbeth is just that, a tragedy. The obvious reason that it is a tragedy is because of the countless lives lost. The less obvious reason, however, is what Macbeth says in that quote. That is, he sees life as utterly pointless. No matter his position, he has never felt at rest. He has searched and strived for things, gotten them, and found himself still discontent and without joy. Until eventually he comes to the realization that life is pointless and hopeless. This is the way the majority of the world thinks, and like the story of Macbeth, it is a tragedy.

For the Christian, however, we know that this isn’t the truth. We know that there is more than what meets the eye. We know that God, from eternity past, has a good plan for His people. A plan that we may not know, may not understand, but is nonetheless good. A plan that is marked by grace and mercy. A plan of redemption and of hope. A plan that makes every moment of our lives not purposeless, but filled with purpose. This morning in our text, by God’s grace, we are being reminded of this very reality.

As a reminder, last week began the second cycle of the book of Revelation and the second of John’s visions. You’ll remember that John is brought, in the spirit, into the throne room of God. He sees God on the center throne, with elders and creatures around Him. And the whole scene culminates in this beautiful picture of worship and adoration of God. It’s a vision of God’s beauty and of His sovereignty.

This week, that vision continues. You can see this starting in verse 1. John is looking at God, on the throne, and he notices something in His right hand. He sees a scroll that is sealed with seven seals. Now, I’ll explain what I think that scroll is in just a second, but first I want you to see how this scene continues to play out. John sees this scroll and then a mighty angel asks a question. You can see it in verse 2. The angel asks, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” Now this would have been better understood by the culture present during and before John’s time, but sealed scrolls couldn’t just be open by anyone. They could only be opened by one who has been granted the authority, by the author typically, to open it. And so that is what is being asked here. The angel is asking, “Who has the authority, who is worthy, to open this scroll?”

In verse 3 we see that no one answers. John says that no one, in heaven or on earth, was found able to break the seals and open the scroll, and this crushes him. Verse 4 tells us that he begins to weep loudly because no one could open it.

Now this brings us back to the original question. What does this scroll contain? Why does John want it open so badly? Well I think the answer is found by looking back at the book of Ezekiel. You don’t have to turn there, but in Ezekiel 2, starting in verse 8 God says this to Ezekiel. “’But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.’And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.”

Now you can see the similarities between the way that this scroll is described and the scroll we have here in Revelation 5, the main one being that words are written on the front and back. And so, I think based upon this, there is right assumption to be made that the scroll in Revelation 5 contains something similar to what is contained in the scroll in Ezekiel, which is lamentation and mourning and woe. Not only that, but that seems to be how be how both stories scrolls play out. If you were to keep reading the book of Ezekiel, you would see the contents of the scroll play out in scenes of judgment and salvation. The same will be true when we look are able to look at the contents of this scroll later in chapters 6-8. In short, what I think the scroll that is held in the scroll in God’s right hand is His complete plan of redemption. It is His plan for judgment of evil and sin, and the salvation of His people.

But, there is still a problem left unsolved with this scroll, isn’t there? No one, in heaven or on earth, can open it. See this is why John is weeping here. John is seeing this scroll as God’s ultimate redemption plan, and yet no one can open it. And so it follows that if no one can open it, no one can complete it. In other words, John is weeping because this great redemption plan that God has seems to require someone who is able to open the scroll and bring it fruition. He’s weeping because the final judgment of evil and salvation for God’s people seems unsure.

It’s at that moment one of the elders speaks up. He says, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” This leads us to the first point I have for us this morning...

1.) God has a complete redemption plan, and it was always Jesus

From eternity past, God has always had a plan of redemption for His people. It is a plan that is fixed and has never changed. It is a plan that always had Jesus as the Redeemer, who would lay down His life for His people. It is a plan that is still, to this day, and for all eternity, going to play out as it was written. In theology this plan is called, The Covenant of Redemption. It’s the covenant that God made with Himself to bring about the redemption of His people.

For us, this redemption has taken place throughout time and space. If you were to begin reading in Genesis 1, you would see this promise of redemption played out in many smaller covenants with people. People such as Adam, Noah, Moses, and David. It’s all these smaller covenants, or promises, that build and build until eventually Jesus bursts onto the scene. And in that, and His death, burial, and resurrection, the New Covenant is established. A covenant that is better and more full than all those before it. A covenant we, by nature of being in Christ, cannot break.

Now I know that’s a lot, but the reason I’m saying that is because I think that is what is happening here in this vision. This scroll that is sealed with 7 seals, which means it is sealed completely, is this complete eternal plan that God has to bring about final judgment and salvation. And the only person who has is able, who is worthy, to open it is none other than Jesus Himself. In other words, what we are being told here is that God’s plan all along was that Jesus would redeem a people for Himself by laying down His life. And the way in which we are shown that this was indeed the plan all along is because of how Jesus is described. The elder doesn’t just say, “Don’t cry, Jesus can open the scroll.” No, he says that it is the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David who has conquered. That is who can open the scroll. In other words, we are being reminded of the promises made all throughout God’s Word, to God’s people, that have been fulfilled in Jesus.

If you will, turn there with me to Genesis 49. I want you to see this. Genesis 49, starting in verse 8, “Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” Did you catch that? Judah is a lion’s cub and from him shall come a King. That is Jesus! Or as the elder says, “The Lion of the tribe of Judah.”

Now turn to Isaiah 11. Starting in verse 1, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins.” Who is Jesse in verse 1? Well it’s David’s father. And what is being promised here? From the stump of Jesse, One will come who will reign and judge perfectly. Who is that? It’s Jesus! Or as the elder says, “The Root of David!”

And so there John is, being told that it is the Lion of the tribe of Judah who can open the scroll. But then, something almost unexpected happens in verse 6. John turns and he doesn’t see a Lion, but a Lamb. A Lamb that is standing, but bears the marks of a Lamb that has been slain.

Man, how beautiful of a picture is this. Somehow the vision get’s even more rich, more beautiful. There’s one more thing that we need to see. Turn to Isaiah 53. I won’t read the whole chapter, though we probably should, just look with me starting in verse 5. “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.”

Jesus is the Lamb of God, pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities. The perfect sinless sacrifice, slain for us. On the cross, He bore our sins and our shame. He took the punishment that we deserved. He paid it all. He laid down His own life. This was the plan all along. God, in His great kindness, made a plan that brought redemption to us through His Son Jesus.

One thing about this vision that I find so amazing is that the John says the Lamb, Jesus, looks as though it had been slain. It was obvious that the Lamb had been sacrificed. And yet, the Lamb was standing. And not only standing, but standing in a glorious and might way. Not like a meek Lamb who it weak and feeble, but like a Lamb who has and will conquer. That’s the exact image that I think we are supposed to see here, and the second point for us.

2.) Jesus has all authority and will complete the work He began

I assume that everyone in here has seen a lamb before, or at least I hope so. If not, hop in my parents car after this and become enlightened. I say that because I doubt any of you all have ever seen a lamb with the features we see here at the end of verse 6. John says that this Lamb, which is Jesus, has seven horns and seven eyes. Now you all should be prepared for this kind of thing, as I’ve said it every week, but this is one of those moments where we have to remember that rule from week 1; Interpret symbolically, unless forced to interpret literally. By the way, I plan to continue harping on this week after week, because eventually we will get to some places where you’ll want to not abide by this rule because it radically changes how you’ve always read this book. I’m just trying to prepare us for those moments.

The horns here are a symbol of strength, the eyes a symbol of knowledge and wisdom, and the number 7 means complete, or fullness. So what we have here is a Lamb who yes, that bears the marks of sacrifice, but who also stands with all power and strength and knowledge and wisdom. And then sort of tied into is this the reference to the Spirit of God, the seven spirits, who are sent out into all the earth. It’s this multi layered symbolic portrayal of the conquering Lamb of God who holds all authority in heaven and on earth. It’s a picture a King Jesus.

For the middle scripture reading I had us read then end of Matthew 28, which we know as the great commission. I had us read that because there, before His ascension, we see Jesus Himself declare His authority over all things. And the timing of when He said that matters. He didn’t say it before His death and resurrection, but afterwards, and that’s important. It’s important because it’s actually in His death, burial, and resurrection that He establishes Himself as King.

And not only that, but it’s the cross where Jesus gains the authority, so to speak, to open the scroll here in Revelation 5. Notice in verse 5 that the elder says that it is because Jesus has conquered that He can open the scroll and it’s seals. In other words, Jesus’ sacrifice and triumph over sin and death is what grants Him the authority to open this scroll. Or another way of saying it, Jesus death, burial, and resurrection, was God’s plan for salvation for His people. And not only that, but He is the One who will open the scroll and complete the work He began.

This might sound a bit confusing a first, but I think next week as begin to see each of these seals opened, it will begin to be more clear. It will become more clear because it will be Jesus who is revealing these scenes of judgment. And we’ll talk about this more when we get there, but the visions of judgment are not intended to scare us. They are intended to bring us hope and reassurance. Now that might sound a bit strange at first, right? Why would visions of judgment bring us hope? Well it’s because the visions of judgements are intended to remind God’s people that He will bring about final judgement against evil. It’s not that these judgements await those who are in Christ. Rather, they are scenes that are playing out between the 2 comings of Christ, and are reminding God’s people that King Jesus will have the final say.

I’ve mentioned this before, but we can be tempted to try and have redemption and salvation, without judgement. And I think the reason for this is that most of haven’t endured true hatred or evil because we follow Jesus. We haven’t seen people taken from their families and killed for their faith. It’s just not the culture we live in. But let me just say, the culture we live in is not normal. For the majority of history, and in many places in the world today, Christians are being severely persecuted for their faith.

And for them, they don’t for a second try to have salvation with judgement. Do you know why? Because it seem impossible. They know that if complete and finally salvation is too take place, then King Jesus must return and bring an end to the evil that has plagued them their whole lives. They long for justice. So when they come to texts like this, where Jesus is reminding the church of what judgement that will come against evil, they read it with joy. They know that salvation has come in Jesus and it will be brought to it’s final consummation by Him as well.

By the way, that is what I think is meant by the mention of the golden bowls of incense that are called the prayers of the saints in verse 8. I think that it is a reminder God hears the prayers of His people as they cry out amidst persecution and suffering. He wants us to know that He hears us when we pray, and that He will indeed make all things right.

For our final point this morning, I want you to see the response to Jesus taking the scroll. In verse 7 He takes the scroll and then starting in verse 8 the response begins. And what you’ll notice about the response is that it keeps zooming out. It starts small and then gets larger and larger and larger. Before we get into it, let me just give you the final point for us.

3.) All of creation ought to worship Jesus, the Savior and King

The worship of Jesus, the Lamb, begins in verse 8 with the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. Then in verse 11 the camera zooms out and we see thousands upon thousands of angels worshipping. And then finally, in verse 13, the camera zooms out even further and we see every creature, in heaven and on earth and under the sea and in the sea, praising the Lamb of God.

And in between each one of the expansions of worship, we get new song. It begins in verse 9 by declaring that Jesus is worthy to open the scroll because He laid down His life for His people. A people that is not defined by ethnicity or location, but a people of every tribe and tongue and nation. And these people are not just redeemed, but they are priests to God, who shall reign with Jesus in His eternal kingdom and on Earth. Now that reigning on Earth is not one where we reign like other Earthly kingdoms. Rather, it is a reigning where we delcare the good news of Jesus and see the enemies strongholds broken. A kingdom that exists in the hearts of men, that cannot be overtaken. In that way, we reign.

Then in the second expansion, in verse 12, Jesus is again praised for being the Lamb who was slain. And then we have this declaration of just how worthy He is. He is worthy to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing. In other words, He is worthy of it all! And then finally, in verse 13, He is praised for being the Lamb who not only was slain, but who sits at the right hand of God, and is again deserving of all blessing and honor and glory and might, eternally.

What we have here is a clear and obvious picture that Jesus is the Savior and He is the King. He is the culmination of God’s eternal redemption plan for us, and for all who are dead in their sin. To a world that is broken and cursed and hopeless, God sent His Son to lay down His life for them. He did not have to, was under no obligation to. He needed nothing from us. And yet, out of His great love, He poured out His wrath on the only One who was not deserving of it, Jesus. This Jesus, the Son of God, took on flesh and entered a world of sin and pain, why? For you. For us. For anyone who would trust in Him. Bearing our sin and shame on the cross, dying the death we deserve, but then conquering it all in His glorious resurrection. We have been made alive in Jesus. Have gone from hopeless, to hopeful. Lost to found. Broken to redeemed. Dust to glory.

We have all of this, and yet, the vast majority of the world does not worship Him. They deny Him, and hate Him. They brush off this whole Jesus thing as a mere suggestion. But they have missed it, haven’t they? Worshipping Jesus is not an option, it is a command. He is rightfully worthy and deserving of the praise of the whole world, and no doubt, one day He will receive it. Until then, we go out and declare the good news of Jesus Christ. Declaring what He did, but also who He is. That is, He is the King. And the call is not only to repent of your sins and trust Him, but to submit to Him as the King. To bow before Him in humble adoration because He indeed is worthy to open the scroll.

This morning, my hope is that you have seen and been reminded of how glorious Jesus is. The Lion of Judah, the Lamb who was slain. Our Savior, our Redeemer, our Mediator, our Friend. Praise Him, honor Him, worship Him, all the days of your life.

As the great hymn puts it…

“Oh for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise
The glories of my God and King
The triumphs of His grace”

“My gracious Master and my God
Assist me to proclaim
To spread through all the earth abroad
The honors of Thy name”

“Jesus! the name that charms our fears
That bids our sorrows cease
’Tis music in the sinner’s ears
’Tis life and health and peace”

“He breaks the power of canceled sin
He sets the prisoner free
His blood can make the foulest clean
His blood availed for me”

“He speaks, and listening to His voice
New life the dead receive
The mournful, broken hearts rejoice
The humble poor believe”

“Glory to God, and praise and love
Be ever, ever given
By saints below and saints above
The church in earth and heaven”