Revelation 5:8–14 (ESV) — 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. 9 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.
Well, it happened. My initial intention in this sermon series was to provide a high-level overview of each chapter. I realized that I cannot do that. There are too many gems to stop, pick up, polish, and admire. There are too many truths to unfold that show us the majesty and splendor of our God and Christ. It is like I am digging in the back yard and come across nuggets of gold. I cannot pick up one or two pieces when I see hundreds scattered in the soil.
The purpose of this message today is to gain a reasonable interpretation and understanding of the symbolic picture in our text, so that we can draw from it two applications to put in our lives today.
For those who are new to this sermon series and to those who have been from the first sermon, I want to remind us of the compass we are using to guide us through this book.
The message of Revelation is: God’s government of history to redeem His purified and persecuted church through the victory of Christ, His Son. The focus centers around the Triumph of the Lamb of God! If you fail to see this, you have missed the intent of the book.
A few rules for interpreting this book also need to be reiterated. The more obvious is symbolism. This book is written in symbols—pictures, metaphors, and similes. You cannot interpret everything that John writes literally. If you choose literal interpretations, you will miss the point and the picture of what God is saying to His Church.
As you read through this book, you should ask, “What does this mean? What is this odd picture trying to tell me?” To help answer those questions, the next rule needs to be applied. We cannot read “what we want it to say.” Meaning, don’t insert your interpretation. Learn what it says, not what you want it to say. If you are looking at this book of the Bible to tell you when the end of the World is going to happen, or how it is going to happen, you will be disappointed. That is not the intent of this book.
One more step before we look at our text for today. Last week, we read why Jesus Christ, portrayed as the Lamb of God, is worthy to take the scroll from the Father God and open its seals. I encourage you to read the sermon notes from last week. It will help make sense of this message. Today, we will read heaven’s response to the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Based on the scripture text, Revelation 5:8-14, what picture are we looking at? This picture should not be looked at as a single event. It is not an episode in a series of events, nor an event that happened one day in heaven. Someone will ask, “When did this scene in heaven take place? Was it when Jesus ascended into heaven after the resurrection? Was it before creation? Or when?” My answer is, YES! And YES! All of that.
Again, this is not a picture of heaven at 3:00 on a Thursday afternoon in the year of “such and such.” This is in eternity, where time does not exist. Think of it like this: If someone asked you about your church, Muddy Creek Baptist, would you describe a single worship service? Not likely. Your description would be more of what happens all the time. It would be a description of what we are and what we do, and maybe why we do what we do. It is a more comprehensive description. You may tell of Muddy Creek’s history from 1774. Maybe a piece of a special event that holds a place in your heart. Maybe you’d mention some of our current ministries and plans.
All of this is a picture that you would draw with your words. The picture includes the past, the present, and the future. This is what this picture of heaven is like. In this chapter, as with Chapter 4, we see the past before the creation of man, even before the unfolding of God’s plan of Salvation is executed, when we read of the angel asking, “Who is worthy to take the scroll and open its seals?” We see history in the prophecy of Jesus Christ as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and the Root of David. We see Christ already slain as a lamb for the sins of God’s people.
Today, we’ll see how all of redeemed creation unites to sing to the One on the throne and to the Lamb. This is a symbolic picture in eternity. And we get a glimpse of magnificent glory.
What or who are the characters in this symbolic picture? We start with “The Four Living Creatures.” Revelation 4:8 gives us a more detailed description of these creatures. Remember, this is symbolic language.
In Rev. 5:7-8, we have the inhabitants of heaven described symbolically, like everything else.
Revelation 4:7–8 (ESV) — 7 the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. 8 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”
There are numerous interpretations of what these four living creatures represent. Too many to list. They are a combination of the cherubim of Ezek. 1:18 and 10:17 and the seraphim of Isa. 6:2, 3. The number of wings and faces varies, but it is a composite picture of these human/animal/angel that surround the throne of God. Note their mention in the book of Revelation--4:6, 8, 9; 5:6, 8, 11, 14; 6:1, 3, 5, 7; 7:11; 14:3; 15:7; 19:4. Other scripture references: Gen. 3:24; Ex. 25:18; Ps. 104:4; Ps. 99:1; and Heb. 9:5. Here are some of the interpretative views of these creatures in the picture of Revelation.
The four beasts [Living-beings] are emblems of nature or the earth, or of the creation. Another, they are the creative powers of God Himself, by means of which He exercises a sovereign sway throughout creation (like the lightnings, etc.). Another, the beasts [Living-beings] as representatives of the fourfold powers of God, and the four Fundamental Forms of Divine Providence.
Another view is that the Cherubim are “symbolical representations of the sovereign glory of God, keeping His holy law, overthrowing all that is hostile to Him, but rescuing all that have His laws before their eyes.” Another view is the ox as expressive of the spirit of sacrifice; the lion as expressive of the spirit of irruptive victorious courage; the human figure as expressive of the spirit of human and humane sympathy; and the eagle as expressive of the spirit of ideality, of striving after the realization of the ideal.
Robert James Utley, Hope in Hard Times - The Final Curtain: Revelation, tells us that the church father, Irenaeus, in the early Church used these four different faces to describe the four Gospel writers (church tradition finally settled on John, eagle; Luke, human; Mark, ox; Matthew, lion) but this is too speculative and allegorical. These composite creatures are symbolic, not literal. Knowing the OT emphasis on maintaining God’s orders of creation, a composite human and animal creature would be Levitically unclean. This is not historical narrative of actual things and events, but a highly symbolic genre seeking to describe ultimate, spiritual truths; in this case God as the ever-living One (vv. 8, 9) the Holy One (v. 8), and the creator of all things (v. 11).
There are more views if one wants to research on their own.
I tend to lean towards a simpler interpretation. What we have are four creatures with the face of a lion, an Ox, a man, and an eagle. In Jewish rabbinic literature, these animals are listed as the strongest of the different orders of God’s creation. Since John was the one to see and interpret the symbolism, it makes sense that he, a Jew, would see these creatures in a way he could understand. This scholarly view is that they represent all animated creatures. Different types or categories of creatures. These four creatures represent God’s creation, and as under God’s sovereign rule, they cannot but give their Creator praise. Revelation 5:13 (ESV), “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!” Yes, all of creation, once it is renewed, will worship Him.
These creatures, each “full of eyes in front and behind”. This may refer to the eyes of each of the four faces or it may be a biblical metaphor of God’s omniscience (cf. Rev. 4:8; Ezek. 1:18; 10:12).
Next, we read of “Twenty-Four Elders.” George Eldon Ladd, in his book, A Commentary on the Revelation of John, interprets them as a body of angels who help execute the divine rule in the universe.
The preponderant interpretation is that the twenty-four Elders represent the Old and New Testament Church, or the Twelve Patriarchs of Israel, and the Twelve Apostles. I add to this view that the reference name adds to this interpretation. “Elders” is the title of the leaders of the Church (referring to pastors, overseers, and bishops, depending on the context).
The Apostle Paul told Titus to appoint Elders in every town, that is, in every local church in each town in Crete (Titus 1:5). In Acts 20, the Apostle Paul “called the Elders of the church” from Ephesus to meet with him.
The Greek word Paul used, as did John and Peter (using the noun form of the word) in their letters when speaking of the shepherds of the church, is “presbyteros”. In Revelation, “elders” in “The Twenty-Four Elders” use the same Greek title, “presbyteros”. So, I believe that “The Twenty-Four Elders” represents the Church, the corporate unity of saints from the Old and New Testaments.
Our text says, “The Four Living Creatures and the Twenty-Four Elders fell down before the Lamb”. This is holy reverence. Holy reverence is expressed in worship by all creation and the church, which is distinctively separated because the church is the holy, redeemed people of God. Only the Church is redeemed and called the Bride of Christ.
Psalm 95:6–7 (ESV) — 6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker! 7 For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.”
Now that we have looked at the symbolic characters, what are they doing? What do we see in this picture? We see the eruption of praise in heaven. In chapters 4 and 5, we read of five songs. In this chapter, the songs of praise escalate. First, a song of praise from “The Four Living Creatures and the Twenty-Four Elders.” The next song comes from a choir of innumerable angels: “myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.” The third song of praise (5:13) includes “every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, …” This third song is sung by all. The escalation of heaven and earth to the One who sits on the Throne and unto the Lamb.
What is this building up of praise about? What is the center of this picture? The adoration in heaven centers on the redemptive sacrifice of Christ on the cross. Heaven erupts in praise around the Lamb who saves! The Center of eternity is Christ, the Cross and the Resurrection. Why? Because THAT changed everything. THAT brought the lost sheep of God back into perfect union with God. THAT defeated sin and death. THAT fulfilled the promises of God and the Heart of God towards sinners. THAT reversed the curse on Creation! THAT is the reason heaven erupts in praise.
The first song, verse 9, Christ is worthy “for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God”. The second song, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,” is about his death on the cross to redeem us. The third song, “To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb”– referencing Christ as the sacrifice for our sins.
Let’s make sure we polish this gem really well so that the light of the Gospel shines from it and through it. First, notice that Christ is praised for being “slain.” Richard Phillips put it this way,
“He did not die from an unavoidable tragedy, but died as a voluntary act of sacrificial love for his people. Ancient history lauded the philosopher Socrates, when he willingly submitted to unjust execution out of the principle of loyalty. American children extol the name of Nathan Hale, the Revolutionary War patriot who regretted that he had only one life to give to his country. Socrates died for a principle and Nathan Hale died for a cause. But the Christian has an even higher reason to love and adore God’s Son, Jesus Christ, since we can say, “He died for me.” He said, “I lay down my life for the sheep.… No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:15, 18). Therefore, when people ask who killed Jesus Christ, the best answer is that Jesus willed his own death, for the sake of the people he loves.”
That is important to your faith. Jesus’ life was not taken from him; he purposefully went to the cross. This was his intention. He came to die. This was the plan that was set in eternity past. (c.f. Acts 2:23.)
Second, Christ’s death on the cross “ransomed/redeemed/purchased” a people for God. The Greek word used in the song (Rev. 5:9) is “agorazo”, and it has the general meaning of purchasing, but often had the specific connotation of ransoming a prisoner or slave out of bondage. Here we see the essence of what Jesus Christ accomplished on the cross: at the cost of his own blood, which evidenced his death, Jesus delivered his people from the bondage and condemnation of sin.
There is a teaching out there that has tarnished this gem of the Gospel. What do you do with a tarnish on a gemstone? You polish it to remove it. I want to deal with it and make sure we (MCBC) do not have this blemish distorting the light of truth. The false teaching says that the ransom that Jesus paid for our salvation was paid to Satan. This false teaching says that to get us back to God, Jesus had to pay off or purchase us from Satan by dying on the cross. This is a mistaken idea, a dangerous one. This view warps and distorts the Gospel Message in the Bible.
How does it distort the Gospel message? First, the devil never had the true right to possess God’s people. Second, it is sin that separates us from God. It was sin, not the devil, that had to be dealt with to bring us back to God. Adam’s sin in the Garden separated us from God. Our personal sins build on that separation. (Romans 5:18-19) This erroneous view of redemption holds a false reason for our need for Jesus to die on the cross for us. It holds an unbiblical view of man’s separation from God. It also sees God subjected to Satan. God wanted His people, but Satan wouldn’t give them to Him until he (the devil) was paid off. This would be a sad belief if it were not so damning a belief.
The Bible tells us that Jesus’ blood on Calvary was the sacrifice that satisfied the justice of God. Righteous justice demanded death as the penalty for sin (Gen. 2:17; Rom. 6:23). Jesus foretold that “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28). Paul therefore wrote, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses” (Eph. 1:7). This false teaching would contradict the scriptures to say that it is not an unclean heart that keeps us from God, it is Satan. But the Bible says that each person's heart needs to be cleansed from sin. Our hearts are unclean--polluted, and therefore all that comes from an unclean heart is polluted.
Consider if I worked on the engine of my car and my hands were covered in oil, lubricants, and gas. Everything I touched would be contaminated and stained. Even if I went in the house to bake a loaf of bread for the elderly neighbor, though my heart had sincere intentions, the cake and everything I touched would be stained with oil and gasoline. That is how we are. Our hearts are polluted with sin. Everything we do is stained by the sin in our hearts. If my heart is not clean, even my good intentions are polluted. This is why a person can do all the religious works and good deeds they are able to do in a lifetime, yet they are still not acceptable to God. Their good words/deeds only prove their sin-stained hearts. They need a new heart from Jesus. Then their good deeds will shine and glorify the God the Father.
Let's bring this message home where it belongs to us today. First, let’s make sure we understand these two truths in God’s word. The church's adoration in heaven centers on the redemptive sacrifice of Christ’s cross. And, the Church is the extension of Heaven on earth. And every Christian belongs to His Church.
My first Application: Since heaven erupts in praise, which fills heaven, then we, who are citizens of heaven, should join them in heavenly praise. Since the church is the extension of heaven, we should join them in praise and fill the earth with heavenly praise. If the saints in heaven are rejoicing and erupting in praise to the redemptive story, then we should be erupting in praise and joining them.
When we sing hymns of praise, sing unto the Lord. He is your audience! We have an audience of One.
My Second Application is illustrated by a story from Richard D. Phillips about becoming the new pastor of a particular church. Here is what he said:
“I decided to preach a series of sermons about redemption. After several weeks, a member came up to me after the service to complain bitterly about my emphasis on sin and salvation through Christ’s blood. He protested, “If you keep preaching on sin and Christ’s blood, you are going to ruin this church!” I pointed out to him that according to the Bible, the single most important reason why Christ came to earth was to die as a ransom for his people’s sins. “Preaching about Christ’s blood may ruin your church,” I said, “but it will not ruin Christ’s church.” In fact, if we bear witness to the excellence of Jesus in many ways, yet neglect to proclaim the redemption of his cross, we fail to testify to the gospel, and our worship deviates from that in heaven.
The application is that, since heaven is Gospel-Centered, we should be Gospel-Centered. What does it mean to be Gospel-Centered? It means exactly that. The Gospel is the center of everything you are, do, and pursue. Since the Gospel is the center focus of heaven, then we, who are ambassadors of heaven, are to be Gospel-center. As the moon reflects the sun’s light into the night, so the church should be reflecting the light of the Gospel into this spiritually dark world.
To be Gospel-Centered is to be Gospel-Driven, to be Gospel-Intentional.
MCBC is and will remain a Gospel-centered, Gospel-driven, and Gospel-intentional church. This means the Gospel defines us, drives us, and unites us. And it makes us heaven-bound.
We are not social-driven. We are not money-driven. We are not driven to promote our name. We are not people-driven—to please man. We are Gospel-driven. What does that mean? This means we are intentional about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel message of life WITH Jesus Christ and FOR Jesus Christ is what guides who we are and what we do, and therefore WHY we do what we do.
It also means we are committed to the Purity and Truth of the Gospel. It means that we are not here to please people with a watered-down version of the Gospel. We are here to please our Savior and Lord.
I know there are churches that are driven to have the best music, or best building, or best media presence. They want to have a favored reputation with unbelievers. There are churches that are politically driven. They are up to their shoulders in politics—either religious or civil. That is not Gospel-Driven. We will not be.
A Gospel-Driven Church drills into the soul. It puts the souls of people as the priority target. It knows the resurrected power of the Gospel, and nothing can stop the resurrected power of the Gospel! When I say Muddy Creek Baptist Church is Gospel-Driven, I mean you and me individually and corporately as a church. Each of us should be Gospel-Driven. The Gospel drives our lives. It drives our lives because we have come to know that it is the power of God to save (Rom . 1:16). It is the power of God to forgive, to heal hearts, relationships, and brokenness. It is the power to change sorrow to joy; to comfort the hurting and grieving; to rescue a life that is spiraling out of control and give it a new life.
It also means that we are driven to learn how the Gospel of Jesus Christ is lived out in our lives and how to share it with others. And when we step into the next life, we find the same Gospel-driven life. We don’t miss a heartbeat. The Gospel driven life here continues into full mode in the next life.
The Gospel determines a person’s next life. If the Gospel is not your life now, it will never be. If the Gospel is what you stand on in this life, it will continue in the next. If the Gospel is not in your heart and in your life, you are not ready to step out of this life. You are not ready for the next life.
Being a Gospel-centered and driven Church means we are different. It means we hold up the cross of Christ as our banner and message. It is the place in history, in all eternity, where all history stands and falls. The Gospel is the One power that man must give an account to. I call you to be Gospel-driven. Let the power of the Gospel change you from the inside out.
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