“Weep No More” | Revelation 5:1–14 (ESV)

[0:00] So we're going to go ahead and get started. Let's open in prayer and we'll go ahead and begin. Father God, we thank you for this time and this opportunity for us to go and open your word.

[0:11] We're going through this book of Revelation faithfully. And we just pray that the words spoken will be understood.

[0:23] And that we, as a church, we will be moved to make a decision for Christ, if we haven't already, to grow in the faith, but also be moved to live it out.

[0:34] We're grateful that we have this Bible in our hands. We're grateful that we can come together, open the word, hear the word being preached this morning.

[0:46] I pray for everyone that is here in person and everyone that is online. Bless them, be with them, and help transform their minds and their hearts.

[1:00] We love you so much. May you be present with us in understanding and in transformation this morning. It is in the name of Jesus that we pray and we all say together, amen, church.

[1:12] So let's turn our Bibles. We're going to go to Revelation chapter 5. And the title that I have for this sermon is Weep No More.

[1:25] It is based off of Revelation 5 verses 1 through 14. As we are turning there, it's going to be in page, I think that's the 1,221 and 22 in your ESVP Bibles.

[1:43] And as we turn there, I want you to keep in mind what we have been going over. We finished the seven churches in Revelation and then we went into Revelation chapter 4, which was the throne, right, the throne room in heaven.

[2:01] We had this scene where John was going through the open door in heaven, right? As I mentioned, it was as though the curtain was being opened and we're seeing behind the scenes what is going on in heaven.

[2:12] If you remember, this is where there was the voice sounding like a trumpet saying, come up here. And there was the scene of the 24 thrones and the four creatures. And we were seeing the connections that were happening within the Old Testament.

[2:26] And it's important for us to recognize the power and the connections and the consistency within the word of God. To know that the prophets had foretold of these kind of scenes is remarkable.

[2:40] It helps us with our understanding of Revelation. It helps us grow in our faith as well. And so when we're opening our Bibles here to Revelation 5, it's important for us to recognize that Christ is the Lamb who was slain.

[2:57] Amen? Right? He is the Lamb. And it is He, we will see in this scene, He is the only one who is worthy to open the scroll. And we'll see the importance of that.

[3:08] There's this scroll and there's seven seals on it. Okay, well, what in the world is the significance of this scroll? What in the world does it mean? To open the scroll is to open then every sealed purpose of God across all of scriptures.

[3:25] To bring it full to completion. What was once seen and prophesied is coming true to completion. Isn't that powerful? That what has been foretold, what has been prophesied about will be seen through to completion.

[3:41] We can see that throughout all of scripture, right? Just with Jesus Christ being born in a manger. Or just like how we went over in the book of Ezra. How Cyrus, a pagan king, was to make a decree for the Jewish people to return back home.

[3:57] That was prophesied. That was a fulfillment. These kind of things are remarkable and it helps us to understand. Look at the consistency. Look at how God is working behind the scenes.

[4:09] We may not understand it. How many of you have heard that saying before that hindsight is 20-20? You don't have to raise your hand. You can just nod your head or not. But hindsight is 20-20, right?

[4:20] You look back and you're like, oh, that's why that happened. I didn't understand it at the time, but I understand it now. I can tell you in my own life, there have been many times where I look back and I'm like, oh, if only I'd known, right?

[4:33] We can all identify with those kind of things, right? And so let's go ahead. Let's go to the next slide. One more. So yeah, we're going to read this together.

[4:46] Are we all there in Revelation chapter 5? Church, let's read Revelation 5 together. It's important for us as a church to not only open the text, but to read it together. So let's begin.

[4:58] 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 how many seals? Seven seals, right?

[5:10] And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals. So we know there's an importance here, right?

[5:21] Verse 3. And no one, where? In heaven or on earth or under the earth, was able to open the scroll or to look into it.

[5:31] Verse 4. And I and John began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Isn't that crazy? It's like there's this important and this sense of weeping that's happening right away.

[5:47] Verse 5. And one of the elders said to me, said what? 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.

[6:01] Amen. Going to show the significance of Christ, the lamb that was slain, right? The lion from the tribe of Judah. Verse 6. And between the throne and the four living creatures, and among the elders, I saw a lamb standing.

[6:17] As though it had what? Been slain. With seven horns and with seven eyes. What an image, right? Which are the seven spirits of God. There it is again, right?

[6:28] When we talked about the sevenfold, the completedness of the spirit of God, sent out into all the earth. Verse 7. And he went and he took the scroll from the right of him who was seated on the throne.

[6:40] And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders, what did they do? They fell down before the lamb. Each holding a harp and golden bowls.

[6:50] This is a very beautiful verse. Golden bowls, right? What are they filled with? Incense. And what does it say? What is the incense? The prayers of the saints.

[7:03] Isn't that beautiful? To think that our prayers, they matter, and it's as though it is incense in these golden bowls. That's just beautiful language. So it goes into verse 9.

[7:16] They sang a new song saying what? Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain. And by what? Your blood you are ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

[7:32] And you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth. Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders, the voice of many angels, numbering myriads and how many?

[7:49] Thousands of thousands, right? So there's a lot. Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. How many of you have seen a lyric like that? Did we just sing a song like that?

[8:01] Very important for us, especially when we're singing those kind of songs. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain. It's directly tied within Revelation. To receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.

[8:16] Verse 13 then. And I heard some creatures, every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. And 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.

[8:34] Amen. And the four living creatures said, Amen, right? And the elders fell down and they worship. What a scene that's going on in here, right? So how do we begin to understand it?

[8:46] Let's go to that next slide then, right? So we have the scroll written on the inside and on the back sealed with seven seals, right? So you guys have seen a scroll before.

[8:57] And for many scrolls, it may be sealed, right? And you've got to have the appropriate tool. You've got to open it so you can open the scroll, right? Now, I have an image. We'll go in there in a moment. But it's saying, In the right hand of the one seated on the throne.

[9:10] So if you can picture this image, There's someone that is sitting on the throne and he is holding this scroll, right? He's holding it, waiting for the appropriate person to take the scroll and open it.

[9:23] Okay? That's the kind of language that we're... Right? One scroll held openly and it is sealed completely. The fullness of God's sealed purposes. Waiting. It's very important when we think about things that are sealed or things that are binded together.

[9:38] However, very often within Scripture in the Old Testament as well as the New Testament, there are things that we may not understand at the time. But we will understand in the proper time.

[9:50] A perfect example of this is the road to Emmaus, right? Where Jesus is walking with who? He's walking with some of the disciples, right? And they didn't understand what was going on.

[10:00] And what did Jesus have to do? He had to explain to them how the Scriptures pointed to him, right? And that's the kind of scene that you see very often within Scripture. So the scroll is written on the inside and the back, which is tied in with prophecy in the Old Testament.

[10:17] Now, what's so interesting is that the use of the seven seals then is a representation of the perfection of the seals.

[10:27] That's very important, right? When you see seven very often within Scripture, right? The sevenfold spirit, right? Or the seven churches talking about completedness, perfection in that sense.

[10:39] Let's go to that next slide then, right? So we have Revelation chapter 5, verses 2 through 4. Well, was anyone found worthy? Well, the answer was no. And we have to think, when you're seeing the throne room, which is like the control room, everyone is waiting for that proper time.

[10:58] How many of you have been in anticipation for something to happen, right? Maybe you are waiting for graduation, right? Or maybe you are waiting to start your new job. Maybe you're waiting to transition into another season of life, right?

[11:10] It could be any kind of things. That is just very small compared to what's happening. Not saying it's not significant. These things are significant. But it's very different when we're talking about the heavenly realm.

[11:24] That no one was worthy. And yet John is weeping loudly. And what's so fascinating about that is that that word is, when it's talking about weeping loudly, it's a representation of all of the tears throughout human history.

[11:40] So not only do we have to factor in the fact that our tears matters in the eyes of God, but our prayers do as well. This image of being as incense in a golden bowl is very powerful and a very beautiful, very comforting kind of language.

[11:55] So we have to think of that. If you've seen incense or you've used incense, you can think about that. And so we think of how the angel is saying, who is worthy to open the scroll?

[12:07] No one in heaven, no one on earth. John is weeping loudly. Well, you would think about it. Well, why is John just crying over a document? We've got plenty of documents all over the place.

[12:18] So why would, you know, I have a document right here. Why would someone be weeping over a piece of paper? Well, it is the contents. It is a representation of all of the promises of God.

[12:31] That God will see to it, to fulfillment, all of the things that he has promised. That's way more weight to the single scroll. And that's very important here.

[12:44] And so there's this searching. Let's go to that next slide then. And weep no more. Three words here, right? Some of you may think of the language within scripture, be not afraid, right?

[12:56] Do not fear. Fear not. All these different things. In this sense, very similar kind of language. Weep no more. Why? Because the lion is here, right? The lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered.

[13:10] Amen. Like when I read that, I just want to say amen. That's what we've got to learn here, right? And so what's interesting in this is that John is looking for a lion, and yet he's seeing a lamb.

[13:22] This is a very common thing that we find within scripture where people are looking or they're expecting a certain kind of thing to happen, but yet something else happens. For example, when Christ is going through, I mean, we're in the Lenten season.

[13:38] When we talk about Palm Sunday and Easter, we have to think for a moment how they expected someone who would overthrow the Roman government, right? They had that expectation of a warrior.

[13:49] It's not to say that Christ isn't a warrior, but at that time, he had this sense of humility, right? They had this expectation of Christ, and it wasn't the case. And so in the case of John, he's looking for a lion, and he sees a lamb standing as though it had been slain.

[14:04] And there's so many. I mean, we could go on with all the kinds of verses and how it is connected, right? A sheep that goes to the slaughter, like it mentions in Isaiah, is one example. And so it's very interesting.

[14:18] John was looking for the lion, but he saw the sacrifice. You know, what I think of in this, a very similar time within scripture, how many of you know the story of Doubting Thomas, right?

[14:32] Where he wanted to see the what? Right? He wanted to see the wounds, right? And he was doubting. And in those moments, Christ himself showed him. What an incredible scene that's happening.

[14:46] Now, similarly, he's looking and he's seeing the lamb as though it had been slain. Now, seven horns and seven eyes showing perfection upon perfection. And so we have, I mean, the Genesis 49 one we're not going to go to there is talking about the lion of Judah.

[15:05] We have Exodus 12, which is talking over the Passover lamb. And as I mentioned in Isaiah 53, the one that was led like a lamb to the slaughter.

[15:16] So you just see these kind of connections and it just helps us with our understanding. Let's go to that next slide then. The wounds are still visible, right? Like how I was talking about with Doubting Thomas, right?

[15:28] So that's very important for us. He was shown the wounds in his hands and John is also seeing the wounds of Christ. Let's go to the next slide then. So worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals for you were slain.

[15:43] We think of the sacrifice, the fact that Jesus Christ, right? We think of the entire gospel story, the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, right?

[15:55] And because of that gospel story, this is how we see in Revelation that it is Christ and it is only Christ who is worthy. Amen, right? A lot of these statements, we could just say amen, right?

[16:06] A resounding amen. And so these golden bowls of incense, right? The prayers of the saints. And just as it mentions that by your blood, you ransomed people for God.

[16:16] Just like when we celebrate communion, the sense of the new covenant in Christ's blood. And so this scene then, let's go to that next slide then. That's okay.

[16:29] Just leave it there. That's fine. The four creatures, the 24 elders, right? They are falling down. They're holding their harps in the golden bowls full of incense. We have to think worthy is Jesus Christ for he is the lamb.

[16:45] He was slain and by his blood, he ransomed people from every tribe and language and people and nation. What a beautiful type of language that kind of echoes what we find even in the most basic of verses, John 3, 16, right?

[16:59] For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes shall not perish but have everlasting or eternal life, depending on your translation. And so 10,000 times, 10,000s of angels join.

[17:13] That's a lot of angels. So it's showing a multitude. A ton of angels there are praising. They're joining in. And then it talks about how every creature in every realm, right?

[17:24] They under, I always think it talks about the earth and under the earth, right? Or even in the sea, that kind of language. In other words, they all fall to worship. So the question then, we have read the text and we've seen what's going on within the scene.

[17:38] What in the world then does this mean? Let's go to that next slide then, right? So the first thing then is that scripture has been building towards this scroll, right? Just as scripture has been building for this sense of Jesus Christ coming to earth and his earthly ministry, his miracles, his teachings, right?

[17:58] The significance of walking on water, the fulfillment of prophecy, all these different things, the death, burial, and resurrection, all of those things were prophesied about. And it's very interesting that this scroll has that kind of significance.

[18:13] It's very fascinating, right? The second thing is that Daniel sealed it and Christ opens it. He alone is worthy. Now, the most significant things, if you want to get ahead in your Bibles, turn to Daniel chapter 12.

[18:25] We'll go into there, right? It's very, very interesting. And then the third is the golden bowls, right? Your prayers are in the room, right? They're in the throne room. They're in the control room.

[18:36] They matter to God. And that's a very powerful thing, right? So the scroll in God's right hand. Let's actually go to that next slide then. I have this image here.

[18:47] If some of you have been on Facebook, I made a 3D rendering of the throne room just kind of in efforts to kind of have a nice visualization of what's going on here.

[18:57] And it's a little hard to read. I understand that. But you have this kind of scroll. You've seen the kind where it's the two and they roll it out, right? And they read from the scroll. And you have the seven seals. Now, we're not going to go so much into the seven seals that will be after Easter when we go into Revelation chapter 6 here.

[19:14] But the idea is that it's one scroll and seven seals, one worthy lamb, right? You have authority and conquest, peace removed, the scales of debt. And it's a lot in there.

[19:26] But what's important for us at this point before we have the opening of the seals is the importance of the scroll, okay? So that's something that's very fascinating.

[19:39] And after the service, I will publish probably later today or Monday, have the kind of a 3D rendering for you guys to look in how it's connected with scripture.

[19:49] And we'll use this kind of image when we go into Revelation 6. So let's go to that next slide then. Now, what's very interesting is that when we're looking at the significance of this scroll, there are six accounts that point to this one scroll.

[20:08] Very interesting, right? So the Messianic scroll, which is referenced in Psalm 47 and mentioned in Hebrews, in the scroll of the book is written of me, which is referencing Christ, right?

[20:21] The sealed vision. The vision of all of this is like a sealed book. That's in Isaiah, right? The both side scrolls. Remember, we just read that when we were talking about the Revelation 5, right?

[20:36] Written within and on the back, sealed with the seven seals. A scroll written within and on the back. Words of lamentation and mourning and woe, right? So there's a direct reference within there. The title deed is actually a very common one that people look at when they're looking at Jeremiah and how it's showing that the scroll is a representation of the deed, right?

[20:57] How it's paid in full, right? How Christ pays for all of our sins and it's a representation of that. There's also in Zechariah, now this is a wild one, the flying scroll, written on it both sides, just like what we find in Revelation 5.

[21:12] And then, of course, Daniel, seal the book until the time of the end. Let's go to that next slide. Don't want to overwhelm you with that, but it's six accounts that point to the single scroll. And that is a very powerful thing.

[21:23] Six accounts showing what is going to happen. So in Daniel 12 here, how many of you have your Bibles turned to there? If you don't, that's okay. The main ones are up there, right? And so what's interesting is that there's all these things that's happening and basically God is saying, be quiet, Daniel.

[21:40] It's not the proper time. It's a very kind of funny, weird, and kind of wild thing that's going on. So I'll read a little bit of it. At the time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people, and there shall be a time of trouble, such as has never there been, was a nation till that time.

[21:57] At the time your people shall be delivered. Everyone whose name shall be found written in the book, right? And that's actually referencing the book of life, right? Many of those who sleep in the dust shall awake, some to everlasting life, talking about the resurrection right there.

[22:11] And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above, and those who turn away to righteousness like stars forever and ever. Verse four is an interesting one. But you, Daniel, shut up the words.

[22:25] Shut up the words and seal the book until the time of when? Until the time of the end. That is wild. That is an amazing connection that's happening right there.

[22:36] Until the time of the end. Now, then I, Daniel, looked. Behold, two others stood, one on the bank of the stream and one on the bank of that stream, right?

[22:47] And someone said to the man clothed in linen who was above, how long shall it be till the end of these wonders? I heard the man clothed in linen who was above the water. So, right, this vision that's happening, but it's very similarly tied in here.

[23:00] It goes on in verse eight. I heard, but I did not understand. Right? I heard all these things. I'm like, I have no idea, God, what in the world you're going for.

[23:11] Right? And so, oh my Lord, what shall be the outcome of these things? Well, he'd like to know and so would we, right? What's going to be the outcome of what's going on in the end times?

[23:24] Right? What's going to happen in Revelation? And what does he say in verse nine? Go your way, Daniel. Get out of here, Daniel. Right? It's kind of intense right there.

[23:36] Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end. Now, that to me is the most powerful connection to what we find within Revelation.

[23:48] What a fascinating and powerful connection that that very scroll that's being sealed up by Daniel is going to happen, is going to be revealed.

[23:58] It's going to be opened within Revelation. So that's just a very powerful thing in there. Let's go to that next slide then. Right? And so what's also interesting, this is a very fun fact for you Bible scholars, right?

[24:09] There's only two accounts where there's mentioning of the binding and the sealing up of the word. Right? So in Daniel, it's saying seal the book until the end.

[24:20] Right? Seal it up. Right? That makes sense. And then in Ezekiel, it's talking about scroll written on the front and the back. But in Revelation 22, you don't have to turn there. But because there are words of prophecy that's being written, right, in Revelation, it actually says, do not seal up the words of this prophecy for the time is near.

[24:41] And there's only two times within Scripture where you see that kind of language being presented. Now, I don't know about you. That's pretty amazing, right? Now, a fun fact also for you history buffs is that, Vir Dignis, Caesar was typically greeted as, you are worthy.

[25:01] But what's interesting in Revelation here, at the time, who are they saying is worthy? It ain't Caesar. It's Jesus Christ, right?

[25:12] Now, that's a very powerful statement, especially in the early church. And we have to think of even now, right? The Lamb receives every tribe and nation.

[25:24] It's not a political statement. It is a proclamation of who Jesus is. Very, very powerful. Let's go to that next slide then. And so we have the golden bowls, right?

[25:34] Your prayers are in the room. Every prayer. This is such a beautiful kind of language. One other thing. I want to pause on that.

[25:46] When I mention Daniel and the sealing of the scroll, we know Revelation to be apocalyptic literature, right? And it is known in the language to be the unveiling of things.

[26:00] So truly, when we think of the imagery of Revelation, it is the unscrolling, the unveiling of what God has in store. And it's a very remarkable thing, right?

[26:11] So that's how tied in this connection with Daniel and with Revelation is. Now, going over to these prayers, these golden bowls, I find great comfort in this.

[26:23] For every tear you have shed, for every moment you have prayed to the Lord, for it to be held in the golden bowl, in a golden bowl, before the throne room, is a very powerful kind of imagery.

[26:39] Now, for many of us, if we're going to be real here, we've all had times where we've prayed or we've cried out to the Lord before. Might have been in distress, right?

[26:51] To call out to the Lord. It might have been a moment of vulnerability. I can think of a time when I might have mentioned this story, maybe, maybe not. When my wife and I, we were married for four years before we had children.

[27:07] You see my five little ones and you think, what a blessing. Four years of prayer and prayerfully waiting upon the Lord. We thought, maybe foster care, maybe adoption, maybe we'll explore these different things, but we were just faithful to the Lord.

[27:26] And I remember in the time of vulnerability and crying out to the Lord, my wife and I, we were on our way home from a friend's house and it was like, well, when are we going to have kids?

[27:37] All of our friends are starting to have kids. That's not fair, God. I remember I cried out to him. I said, Lord, give me a sign. Be very careful when you ask God for that, by the way.

[27:48] Okay. Had I known, right? Hindsight being 20-20. Had I known. I don't regret having my children. I love them dearly. But you think about it.

[28:00] It was in that moment of vulnerability that two weeks later, Amber and I found out that she was pregnant with Aaron. Four years of waiting. That was the hand of God in the proper time.

[28:14] Why it didn't happen within the first year, I don't know. But all I know is I trusted in God for his divine timing. And in the same way, when we look at this kind of imagery, when you cry out to the Lord, when you pray to him, or even when you thank the Lord, whatever kind of prayer you are praying, know that it matters in the eyes of God.

[28:33] Very, very powerful. Let's go to that next slide. The third thing is how should we live, right? We've observed the text. We've learned the lessons. And now what do we do about this? Next slide then is believe that the lamb was slain.

[28:48] This is important language. I want you to know that I always try to tie this into the gospel message. Because the gospel needs to be proclaimed.

[28:59] And if someone does not believe in the Lord, there always needs to be an opportunity for someone to make a decision for Christ, to believe in the Lord and be saved. It's very important. So that's why I put that kind of language.

[29:10] Believe in the lamb that was slain. Understand the significance of Christ. One answer to the question of who is worthy.

[29:22] One name. One lamb. That's the most significant thing for us to know, right? The second is to worship the lamb that was slain and to proclaim the lamb that was slain.

[29:34] Right? When we see this scene where all of these creatures, angelic beings are worshiping the Lord, they're continually praying God.

[29:44] We have to think as we are here on the earth, how do we embody, how do we live out this faith in our everyday living? In our words and in our actions. How do we do that? Let's go to that next slide then, right?

[29:56] Right? One answer, right? Like I was already saying, one answer, one name, one lamb. Jesus. We can just say amen to that, right? That needs to be a t-shirt, right? The door is open and it's important for us to choose Christ and we've got to choose wisely.

[30:12] As we have seen within Revelation, we're seeing the curtain that is being opened and it's important for us to recognize, not only in Revelation, but in all of Scripture, how it applies to our life, that God gives us time, but not forever.

[30:26] And that's why it is so important for us to make a decision for Christ, to believe in Him. Make that decision. It's important. It's only the greatest decision you'll ever make that will affect your life here on earth as well as your eternal life.

[30:39] Let's go to that next slide then. So 10,000 times 10,000, right? Every creature is worshiping Christ. If every creature in heaven is worshiping the Lord, we need to do the same.

[30:52] Now, how we do that, how we live that out, I understand. We have obligations. We have things that go on. It's the question of how do you embody that? How do you live it out? Embody worship into your daily life, right?

[31:03] Like I mentioned, your words and your actions. And the four living creatures, they worship God without ceasing and so should we. Let's go to that next slide then. Now, this third one, right?

[31:16] You ransom people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. What a beautiful and very powerful kind of language that goes to show the extent of the grace of God.

[31:30] That grace is freely available. And it is available for you. Receive it. Make that decision. Believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

[31:41] And begin your life being transformed. Let God mold you into the person that he wants you to be. Because I got to tell you, the path that God will put you on will be a remarkable one.

[31:54] He will take you places and have you go through experiences that are unlike anything than what the world has to offer. And as we receive salvation, by golly, we've got to share it.

[32:07] Think about the debt being paid, right? Did John seal up the vision? No. He left it open so that we could read it and we could understand it.

[32:21] And so in the same way, just as John was called to not seal up the vision, but to have it open for the time is near, may we respond by living and loving like Jesus and sharing in the gospel message with other people.

[32:38] And how we do that is by talking 1 Corinthians 15, 1 through 4 is a very easy way. If that's not, just believe in the Lord and be saved. Talk about how Jesus has changed your life.

[32:50] Tell in your, tell your testimony. If you feel insecure about that, then you can talk about someone else's story that you may know. I constantly talk about the gentleman who was very aggressive and angry and an atheist, who was married to a Christian, became a believer, became baptized and was on this path.

[33:13] I mean, within five years, you wouldn't even recognize the guy. He's the kind of guy you didn't want to be with. He's the kind of guy that, you know the type. They have a very hard shell, but a soft inside.

[33:26] Well, God worked on his heart and transformed him from the inside out. I tell that story. I won't give the name, but I'll tell you the story of that. We can think of many different stories within Scripture, within our own experiences.

[33:42] So you have to ask yourself the question, who will you tell this week? It's important for us to share the gospel message. And what an incredible time for us to do that.

[33:53] To speak of what we have seen, what we have heard, and what we have experienced. Just as it says in Acts 4.20. We have to proclaim that the Lamb was slain.

[34:07] With that language, we can just proclaim that Jesus lives. I mean, what an incredible time to invite people to church or to invite them to speak of the gospel message.

[34:18] We have Palm Sunday coming up next week, and we have Easter. That is the time to share in the gospel message. Maybe there's someone you know that hasn't been to church in a long time.

[34:28] Maybe there's someone you know that hasn't been to church at all. Do you realize, statistically speaking, that about a fourth to a third of people are churched?

[34:39] Meaning they attend some sort of church. Or they say they are Christian. The other two thirds are either de-churched or unchurched.

[34:50] What's the difference? De-churched are the ones that have been hurt, or they've just walked away. And unchurched don't know the Lord at all. How important is it for us to seek after the two thirds?

[35:04] Just as we are to seek those. If you're coming from another church, that's fine. But I'm more interested in someone who needs healing, restoration, and transformation.

[35:16] I'm also interested in people that don't even know the Lord at all. Because they're out there. And our heart has to melt for those kind of people. Everybody needs the Lord.

[35:29] And it's our duty to share in the gospel message with others. And so in closing, the scroll is no longer sealed.

[35:41] The Lamb takes it from the right hand of God. And the wounds that He displays are proof that the price was paid. Just as it says, Jesus paid it all. And every prayer that you have prayed is in a golden bowl that is before the throne of God.

[35:58] Daniel was told to seal it and wait. But John was told not to seal it. Let us remember that the time is here and the time is now. What flows from the scroll, every seal, trumpet, bowl, it flows from the hands of the Lamb who is worthy.

[36:19] Let us weep no more. For the Lion of Judah has conquered. Let us believe in Him. Let us worship Him. And let us proclaim His name.

[36:30] Amen? Let's pray together. And Father God, we thank you for this time and this opportunity to go over Revelation 5. What a remarkable chapter within Revelation. We know that Revelation can be confusing and mysterious.

[36:43] But we pray that we may understand. And that we may be transformed because of it. There's so many things we do not understand. But there's also many things that we do understand.

[36:53] These wonderful connections within the Old Testament. And even with parables and these different parts within Scripture. is remarkable because it testifies to your power and to your glory.

[37:05] And when we read these kind of things. The apocalypse. The unveiling. The opening of the scroll. May we understand the significance of Jesus Christ. The Lamb that was slain.

[37:16] The one who is worthy to open the scroll. I just pray that we may worship the Lamb that was slain. May we believe in the Lamb that was slain.

[37:29] May we worship him. May we proclaim about the Lion of the tribe of Judah. We love you so much, Lord. And we thank you once again.

[37:42] It is in the name of Jesus Christ that we pray. And we all say together, Amen, church. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.