Jesus Is Worthy to Open The Scroll?

Who is worthy? The answer was that no created being on or under the earth or in heaven was worthy. Simon Tournay, the doctor of Sorbonne, was not worthy. Nor was any apostle worthy.

Is this why the apostle cried? He might have thought that he was worthy, since he had been invited to heaven. Did he forget that he was brought there to write the book of Revelation? Did he forget that he was just a servant? We do not know, but we do know that God’s servants often forget that it is God who gives us our opportunities because He wants to use us. It is easy to forget that God does not really need us to accomplish His purposes. Moses discovered that when God did not allow him to enter the Promised Land (Num. 20). Moses was unfaithful, and God did not allow him to enter the land. So Moses died in the land of Moab because of his sin, and God used Joshua to take the people into the land. Deuteronomy 34:6-7 tells us that Moses was physically strong and not ready to die, but yet God ended his ministry.

Moses had endured the people for forty years and had waited forty years to enter the Promised Land, but his sin prevented him from getting there. He ended his life with his dream unfulfilled. His ministry was over and God was going to use Joshua. There is a great lesson here for us and it is this: God does not really need you or me to accomplish His ministry. Moses sinned and God used someone else - Joshua. Moses was not worthy. God is looking for faithfulness and holiness.

. . . and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.” And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. (NASB) Rev. 5:5-6

These are the descriptions of Jesus. The Old Testament says that Jesus is the Lion from the Tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:9). He is a descendant of David (Isa. 11:2; Jer. 23:5-6; 33:15-17) from the tribe of Judah (Luke 3:23, 33) and He is the Lamb of God (Isa. 53:7; John 1:29). Who is worthy? Jesus is worthy!

What did Jesus do? Did He worship God the Father before He received the scroll? The answer is found in the next verse.

And He came, and He took it out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. (NASB) Rev. 5:7

No! He did not worship the Father because He is God Himself. Jesus just took the scroll. He did not worship or bow down. Everyone else did but not Jesus. This is another great indication that Jesus is God.

And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. “And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.” (NASB) Rev. 5:8-10

The new song honors Jesus. It praises Him for dying for every person on this earth, and it anticipates the future when we will reign together with Jesus in the 1,000 year kingdom. Remember that Jesus told his disciples that they would eat and drink with Him in the kingdom. Have you ever wondered if we would do anything other than praise and worship God? This passage says that we will be doing more than that in the kingdom. We will have responsibilities to carry out. We will co-reign with Jesus! I hope this sounds wonderful to you. Jesus will include us in His victory and honor. The kingdom will be fun! This will be better than any party. We will be with Jesus.

Then heaven ring out with more praise to God the Father and Jesus Christ. Millions and maybe billions of angels will join in the praise and worship of both God the Father and Jesus Christ.

And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped. (NASB) Rev. 5:11-14

Honor will be given to both of them equally. This is one more proof that Jesus is God. The New Testament clearly teaches that Jesus is God. There is no difference between them.

In our next study, we see what happens as Jesus breaks each seal. We will see what happens as the seals of the scroll are broken and we are allowed to understand the contents of the scroll.

Conclusion.Do you think that heaven and the coming kingdom will be boring? I think it will be wonderful, exciting, and an incredible adventure to be included with Jesus. He has given us this promise . . .

It ill becomes the servant to seek to be rich, and great, and honored in that world where his Lord was poor . . . and despised.

The LORD reigns, let the peoples tremble; He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake! The LORD is great in Zion, And He is exalted above all the peoples. Let them praise Thy great and awesome name; Holy is He. (NASB) Ps. 99:1-3