Preached by Pastor Steven Mays on July 12, 1998
At Faith Baptist Church of Laurens, South Carolina.


The Revelation Series

WORSHIP THE LAMB

REVELATION 5:8-14

REV. 5:8-14

    8 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 odours, which are the prayers of saints.
    9 And they sung a new song, saying, 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;
    10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
    11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
    12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
    13 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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
    14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.


BY WAY OF REVIEW...

  • IN THE BEGINNING OF CHAPTER FIVE WE SAW THE LORD TAKING THE SCROLL, WHICH WAS THE TITLE DEED TO THIS WORLD, AND MADE REFERENCE TO WHAT ALL OF THAT MEANT AND IMPLIED. WE'VE ALREADY REFERENCED THE TIME FRAME OF CHAPTER FIVE AS RIGHT AFTER THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH AND JUST AS THE TRIBULATION IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

    IN REV. 4 THE PRAISE IS GIVEN TO THE FATHER ON THE THRONE, IN CHAPTER 5, PRAISE WILL BE DIRECTED AT THE LAMB BEFORE THE THRONE.

      HE IS THE LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH... HE IS SHILOH

      Gen 49:10 The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be


    NOTICE THE WORSHIP AT THE THRONE... ONCE THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS GIVEN THE SCROLL OF AUTHORITY, OF DOMINION, AND OF POWER WORSHIP BEGINS TO POUR OUT LIKE A FLOOD.


    I.) IT BEGINS AT THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE

      8 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 odours, which are the prayers of saints.
      9 And they sung a new song, saying, 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;
      10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
      11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
      12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.



    THOSE PRAISING HIM...

    1. THE FOUR BEASTS.. AS WE ALREADY SAID IN CHAPTER FOUR, ARE :

      FOUR LIVING CREATURES..

    THESE ARE IDENTIFIED AS the SERAPHIM IN IS. 6. these angels cannot fully appreciate redemption like we do because THEY are not redeemed yet the word of god says they have a desire to look into and comprehend salvation. 1 Peter 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. EVEN WITHOUT BEING PERSONALLY REDEEMED THEY ARE STILL WORSHIPPING THE REDEEMER. GOD HELP US WHO ARE REDEEMED TO DO THE SAME!~

    2. THE 24 ELDERS...

      8 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 odours, which are the prayers of saints.
      9 And they sung a new song, saying, 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;
      10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
      11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
      12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.


    WHY THE NAME ELDER?

    A name frequently used in the Old Testament as denoting a person clothed with authority, and entitled to respect and reverence Gen 50:7

    WHO ARE THESE 24 ELDERS? - THIS CHAPTER THROWS A LOT OF LIGHT ON THEM. THEY ARE WASHED FROM THEIR SINS, OUT OF EVERY KINDRED, TONGUE, NATION AND PEOPLE, AND THEY ARE NUMBERED. OBVIOUSLY THE LAST DESCRIPTION WOULD PROHIBIT THIS BEING ONLY 24 PEOPLE. THERE ARE A LOT MORE TONGUES, AND NATIONS, THAN THAT. 100,000,000 AND MILLIONS MORE… (THOUSANDS OF THOUSANDS)

    NOTICE WE ARE TOLD IN VERSE 10 THAT THE LORD JESUS MADE THEM KINGS AND PRIESTS AND THEY ARE TOLD THAT THEY WILL REIGN ON EARTH. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A REFERENCE TO THE MILLENNIUM. I WOULD THINK THAT MORE THAN 24 PEOPLE WILL BE REIGNING WITH CHRIST DURING THE 1000 YEAR REIGN.

    FORGETTING FOR A MOMENT WHO THESE ELDERS ARE, LET'S NOTICE WHAT THEY ARE SAYING... ....Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

    NOTICE THEIR WORSHIP IS OCCOMPANIED BY HARPS AND GOLDEN VIALS FULL OF THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS. NOTICE WHAT THE PSALMIST SAID ABOUT THIS....

      Psalms 92:3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.
      2 Chronicles 30:21 ¶ And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the LORD day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the LORD.
      Psalms 150:4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.

    IN VERSE 9 ... And they sung a new song, AS WELL AS REV. 14:3, WE SEE THAT THE WORSHIP IS ACCOMPANIED BY SINGING. (YOU'LL NOTE THAT IN REV. 14:3, THEY ARE WORSHIPPING BEFORE THE BEAST, NOT WITH THEM, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHAT IS GOING ON HERE IN REV. 5:8-9) Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts...

    LET US EXAMINE OUR WORSHIP IN SONG ON SUNDAY MORNING IN SERVICES.... GOD HELP SOME WHO WON'T OPEN THEIR MOUTH AND WORSHIP. HE IS WORTHY! WE DON'T HAVE TO BE IN CHURCH TO SING UNTO THE LORD BUT IF WE CAN'T SING UNTO THE LORD IN CHURCH WE'VE GOT PROBLEMS. GOD HELP US TO LEARN TO WORSHIP.

      Ps 33:3 Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise.

      Ps 40:3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.

      Ps 96:1 O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.

      Ps 98:1 <<A Psalm.>> O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvelous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.

      Ps 144:9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.

    Ps 141:2 Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

    LET US NEVER BE ASHAMED TO RAISE OUR HANDS AND WORSHIP GOD. HE IS WORTHY AND THIS TYPE OF WORSHIP PLEASES GOD. THIS IS AN ACT OF WORSHIP THAT DEMONSTRATES OUR SUBMISSION AND HUMILITY BEFORE GOD. SOME OF US ARE TO WORRIED ABOUT APPEARANCES TO TRULY WORSHIP GOD IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH.

      Ps 63:4 Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name.

      Ps 134:2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.

      1Tim 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

    ONE INTERESTING NUMERIC NOTE.. LOOK AT VERSE 12... THE PROCLAIMED THAT HE WAS WORTHY TO RECEIVE

      12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

    HIS PRAISE WAS SEVENFOLD.. OR COMPLETE OR PERFECT... IN THE LIGHT OF HIS OPENING THE SEALS ON THE BASIS OF HIS WORTHINESS WE SEE AGAIN A SEVENFOLD WORTHINESS....


    II.) IT CARRIES OUT TO THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE UNIVERSE

    13 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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
    14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

    THINK ABOUT IT.. AT THIS TIME EVERY THING LIVING WILL HAVE TO GIVE HIM PRAISE...

    NOTICE THESE VERSES.

      Ps 96:11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
      Ps 96:12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
      Ps 96:13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

    CAN YOU GIVE GOD GLORY TODAY…. DO YOU GIVE HIM PRAISE?

    WHAT A DAY IT WILL BE WHEN EVERYTHING IS GOING GOD THE GLORY AND WORSHIP HE IS DUE.

      Ps 148:2 Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
      Ps 148:3 Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
      Ps 148:4 Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
      Ps 148:5 Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.

    I AM CONCERNED THAT MANY FOLKS WHO PROFESS TO KNOW GOD, WILL NOT LIKE HEAVEN. THEY DO NOT ENJOY SINGING, THEY BECOME VERY NERVOUS AND UPSET WHEN SOMEONE SHOUTS DURING WORSHIP, THEY ARE OFFENDED WHEN PEOPLE RAISE THEIR HANDS UNTO THE LORD. THEY FEEL FUNNY ABOUT BOWING DOWN BEFORE HIM. HEAVEN MAY BE A VERY UNENJOYABLE EXPERIENCE. GOD HELP US TO EXAMINE OUR WORSHIP. IF IT IS WANTING LET US CHANGE FOR THE GLORY OF GOD.





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