Worthy is the Lamb of God!!!

Revelation 5

Worthy is the Lamb of God!!! Have you ever thought about how your prayers can be incense in the bowl placed before the King of Kings as worship?
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The incense revealed in Revelation 5 represents prayer. For centuries, God’s people have been praying, “Thy kingdom come”; and those prayers are about to be fulfilled. Saints on earth do not pray to or through the saints now in heaven; our praying is to the Father and through the Son. But the prayers of God’s people play a vital part in God’s governing of the world. Our prayers should be, not just requests of personal blessing and provision, but an element of worship to the Lamb of God who was sacrificed on your behalf. Is your worship being led by an active and vibrant prayer life?

“O Lord, I call upon you; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to you! 2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice! 3 ​Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! Psalm 141:1–3 (ESV)

“Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.” Revelation 5:1–4 (ESV)

The scroll represents the title deed to creation, for Jesus Christ alone is the rightful Heir. Satan offered Him the whole world in return for one act of worship, but Jesus won the right to receive the scroll when He gave Himself on the cross. Have you placed the scroll of your life in His hands?

“And one of the elders said to me, “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.” 6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth, Revelation 5:5–6(ESV)

Warren Weirsbe writes, “The Lamb is Jesus Christ who was slain as a sacrifice for sin; He is both Lamb (John 1:29) and Lion, the Savior and the Sovereign. He is also the Root of David, for He existed before David and brought David’s kingly line into being. As Lamb, Jesus offers salvation; as Lion, He judges those who reject Him. Marvel at the many aspects of His person and work!”

“...knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you.” 1 Pet. 1:18–20 (ESV)

“And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” Revelation 5:7–8 (ESV)

“The four living creatures are difficult to identify. All we can say for certain is that they are created beings because they worship God. They seem to be a combination of the cherubim in Ezekiel 10 and the seraphim in Isaiah 6. Verse 7 describes cherubim and verse 8 pictures seraphim. These angelic beings are guardians of the throne of God. The cherubim seem to be associated with burning judgment and the seraphim with burning purification.
The description in verse 7 parallels the way Christ is presented in the Gospels:
lion—Matthew—King;
calf or ox—Mark—Servant;
man—Luke—Son of Man;
eagle—John—Son of God.
The living creatures sing ceaselessly of the holiness and eternity of God. Most manuscripts actually have the word holy nine times here, a strong trinitarian touch.” (Believer’s Bible Commentary)

“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,​10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.” Revelation 5:9–14 (ESV)

In Revelation 5:9, we see the mention of redeemed people in heaven being from every tribe and language and people and nation which portrays the ethnic, linguistic, and national diversity that will be present in eternity—including the visibility of all of creation and creativity. Difference and diversity are not problems to be solved; they were part of God’s plan from the beginning. God delights in the variety and beauty of His creation. God’s creativity is evident in all life both here on earth and even more so in eternity for those who are in relationship with His Son Jesus.

He is worthy of our worship, not only because He is Creator but even more because He is our Redeemer. See how the circle of praise grows until every creature worships Him. Heaven is a place of worship, so begin to get ready now to join in the praise!

Are you lifting praise to the Lamb of God? Do you see his power and authority from John’s pen here in Revelation?

Know and sing today, “Worthy is the Lamb!” The creatures and elders were now joined by countless thousands of angels, all proclaiming Christ’s worthiness. Even the unsaved—those “under the earth”—will praise the worthy Lamb.

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