People for God from Every Nation
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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. 7 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. 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.
Introduction
Introduction
Rev 5 - Context
John sees into heaven
Scroll - the future
Beeke,
Revelation The Sealed Scroll: God’s Eternal Plan
The scroll of Revelation 5 symbolizes for us God’s plan. It is His purpose for the entire universe and all creatures in all ages and unto all eternity
Both sides (5:1) - God’s comprehensive decree.
No one but Christ can open the scroll
Those in heaven fall down and worship Christ
New song
Christ is worthy to open the scroll because he was slain
Ransomed people from every tribe...
It is this redemptive work that enables him to open the scroll
This is the purpose of history
Abrahamic covenant - Genesis 12:3 “I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.””
A Diverse People
A Diverse People
Sin is universal
Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
Every people group needs to be reconciled to God
John 12:32 “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.””
The proclamation of John the Baptist
John 1:29 “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
The gospel is to be preached to all people groups
Luke 24:46–47 “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.”
Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,”
The nations will respond
Psalm 22:27 “All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you.”
Psalm 67:4 “Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.”
Our identity is defined by our union with Christ.
Romans 10:12–13 “For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.””
The elect in heaven will include people from every nation
Revelation 5:9 “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,”
Revelation 7:9 “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,”
New status (10)
Ephesians 2:11–13 “Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”
Ephesians 2:19 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,”
Revelation 5:10 “and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.””
Priests and kings
No people - no race on earth that has not been affected by the death of the lamb.
Motivation
Motivation
Some of those to whom Paul would preach had already been purchased by the blood of Christ.
The Moravian missionaries used to say "May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of his suffering!"
We cannot discover a tribe or people who do not contain some for whom Christ has already died.
His blood is effectual, not one drop will be wasted or spilled in vain.
Jesus said in John 10:14-18, " I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, 15 even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. 17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”
Does this not encourage you to share the gospel and to pray for those unreached peoples?
To send and support missionaries to those people?
To pray for missionaries?
To pray that the lamb would receive the reward of His suffering?
God calls his people to go make disciples, but he also goes before them and has a people chosen before his messengers get there.
Because of Christ, the mission is destined for success.
Because of the cross, because of the shed blood of Christ, Missions will be successful.
(13) Every creature sings the praise of Jesus
Our Community
Our Community
H-town
The nations have come to us.
How have you responded?
With a kingdom perspective?
Romans 10:13–15 “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!””
Sons of God and our siblings
The most important distinguishing factor is our relationship to Jesus
Galatians 3:26–29 “for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”
Are you closer to unbelievers at work than you are believers in the church?
Does race seem a bigger barrier than faith?
Application
Application
The response in heaven
Praising God (singing) of this amazing work.
Is that our response on earth?
Opposing God’s purpose
Christ shed his blood for people from every nation.
Do we oppose God’s purpose in our attitude, fellowship, evangelism?
In heaven we will be closer to people from every tribe than some in our own family.
Our church should reflect the heavenly reality.
Hymn: How Sweet and Awful is the Place
(Is He Worthy)
Benediction: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”