Jesus was worthy

JESUS WAS WORTHY
EDITED BY GLENN PEASE
Revelation5:12 12In a loud voice they were saying:
"Worthyis the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power
and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and
glory and praise!"
BIBLEHUB RESOURCES
Pulpit Commentary Homiletics
The Angelic And Universal Chorus
Revelation5:11-14
R. Green
Now the song bursts out beyond the circles of the redeemed host. "The voice
of many angels,"even"ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of
thousands," bears onwards the same burden of song, "Worthy is the Lamb,"
and the chorus is completed only when it is takenup by "every createdthing
which is in the heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and on the sea;"
and the song ascribes "the blessing, and the honour, and the glory, and the
dominion" unto "him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb," and
that "foreverand ever."

"The whole creationjoin in one
To bless the sacredName
Of him that sits upon the throne,
And to adore the Lamb." The vision is prophetic - it anticipates the final
condition, the ultimate triumph of redemption, the ultimate acknowledgment
of it. It is the song from the redeemed, and declares the widespreadinfluence
of redemption. It is creation's song. All creatures, "every createdthing,"
praises the creating and redeeming Lord.
I. IT IS THE UNIVERSAL RECOGNITIONOF THE BLESSINGS OF
REDEMPTION.
1. The angelic host, forming a semi-chorus, exult in the gracious work of the
Lamb - in which figure must be seenrepresentedthe total idea of redemption
by "the Lamb of God." Angels, who desired to "look into" these things, have
found in them matter for praise. High above the incidents of the human
history rises the image of him to whom all is due.
2. The "greatvoice" of the many angels "andthe living creatures and the
elders" is exceededby that of "everycreatedthing" in heaven, earth, and sea,
even "all things that are in them." This voice of the entire, the grand chorus,
the holy seerheard. It was his to discern the beneficent effectof redemption,
his to catchthe re-echoing song of all things as they praised the holy Name. It
stands as the counterpart to "Godcursed the ground for man's sake."All is
ordered and readjusted. The disturbance by sin gives place to the harmony of
all creation"in him" in whom all things are "gatheredtogetherin one."
3. All is followedby the solemn "Amen," the reverent assentofthe four living
creatures - representatives ofall creature life, not excluding the Church.
II. IT IS CREATION'S TESTIMONYTO THE GLORY OF GOD IS THE
REDEMPTION OF MEN.
III. IT IS DECLARATIVE OF THE UNIVERSAL INTERESTIN THE
HISTORY OF THE REDEEMEDRACE. The angels, who rejoicedover one
sinner repenting, rejoice now in the completedwork of the universal

redemption. They who saw "first the blade," and sang over it, now behold
"the full corn in the ear," and offer their loudest praise to the Lord of the
harvest. Herein is signified the unity of the entire creation. Subtle links bind
all in one. Eachpart is helpful to the other. There is mutual harmony, and
there are mutual dependence and relationship. The whole finds its
termination in a new act of adoring worship: "The four and twenty elders fell
down and worshipped." As is most meet, the praise of all is paid to him "of
whom and to whom and for whom are all things." The Church below may
learn:
1. The certainty of the final triumph of the Lamb in his ownconquering work
of redemption.
2. The identification of the work of redemption with the purposes of creation.
3. The duty of praise to God for this his unspeakable gift.
4. The sympathy of the angelic and universal life in the spiritual careerof the
redeemed. - R.G.

Biblical Illustrator
The voice of many angels round about the throne.
Revelation5:11-13
The greatfestalgathering and song of heaven
J. R. Macduff, D. D.
I. THE COMPLACENCYWITHWHICH CHRIST LOOKS BACK ON HIS
OWN ATONING WORK AND SUFFERINGS.
II. THE PERPETUALEFFICACYOF THE SAVIOUR'S SACRIFICE.
III. THE CONTINUED IDENTITYOF CHRIST'S PERSONAS GOD-MAN
MEDIATOR.
IV. REDEMPTION IS THE GRAND THEME OF ADORATION FOR
UNREDEEMED ANGELS AS WELL AS FOR THE REDEEMED FAMILY
OF GOD.
V. THE PRE-EMINENT DIGNITYAND BLISS OF THE RANSOMED
SAINTS.
VI. THE UNITY WHICH PERVADES THE HEAVENLY RANKS.
VII. THE VISION SEEMS INTENDEDTO PREPARE THE CHURCH ON
EARTH FOR HER OWN SUFFERINGS, AND RECONCILE HER TO HER
APPROACHING TRIBULATION.
(J. R. Macduff, D. D.)
The hymn of the angels and of creation
W. M. Johnston, M. A.
I. First let us understand THE ATTITUDE AND POSITION OF THE
ANGELS. They are round about the throne of God, around the elders — that
is, the Church — and around the living creatures. Theyare, therefore, the

sentinels and the guardians of Divine and human things. So they stand equally
around the emblem of eternalpower, around the fourfold forms of life,
around its drudgery as well as its ambition, and around the Church,
distressedand broken and divided and betrayed. No thought of fear dims the
lustre of their eyes, nor lessens the precisionand the emphasis of their song.
And it is worthy of notice that they secure ample leisure for worship. It is a
lessonthat ought not to be lostupon our hurrying age. Thank heaven, there
are still secludedcorners of our land where the shriek of steam-engines, the
clamour of crowdedstreets, the driving of pulse and brain, is unknown; where
the valleys laugh and sing with the standing corn, where the hilltops are silent
as the seas, andwhere jaded brains may shape some thought of God. But
heaven is busy too, and there is work enough to be accomplished. There are
sinners lostin the wilds of the hill, and in loathsome dens of the city, who will
need to be brought home. There are claims and needs and dangers of the
Church the world over — energies to be cherished, works to be encouraged,
impurities to be purged, sorrows anddisappointments to be assuaged. And
with all these interests in hand their eye is upon the throne, for here only do
angels and men alike behold, and thence only receive the interpretation of life
and the wisdom and guidance for work. And wellwere it, not only for its
honesty, but even more for its progress, if the commerce ofEngland and
Scotlandand Ireland were directed by the laws which abide in God. Only
those who obey can worship, and only those who rightly worship cantruly
live. And so —
II. The centralthought of the angels, like that of the Church, was THE
WORTHINESS OF CHRIST. "Worthyis the Lamb that was slain." And as it
was in the mind of the Church, so here again this worthiness is associatedwith
sacrifice. Formostmen suffer only when they must, and they fail to perceive
that sacrifice atonce tests what we are, and makes us what we ought to be. In
this way Christ's sacrifice provedHis essentialworth, and, beyond this,
proves to-day His permanent worth to His people. It is not His poweralone.
That never elicits adoration. It is the goodnessthat reigns paramount within
Him which men worship and love.
III. THE RESPONSE OF CREATION.The poet of Palestine had said, many
a year before St. John lived, that there is neither speechnor language

throughout the earth in which the voice of the firmament is not heard. "The
songs ofthe spheres" was anothermethod of expressing the same truth. The
sky vibrates with praise as the greatstars stand out in their places. "Earth,
with its thousand voices,"saidColeridge, "praisesGod." And while these call
to man, whateverhis tongue or his worship, man the world round feels that he
must respond. He cannot help worshipping. Under the gaslight, and in the
heated atmosphere of some remote meeting-place in the big town, he may
lustily proclaim that Godis nothing to him. But when the gas is out and the
cheering companions are gone, when he is alone on the mountain-side, and the
thunder booms out its terror above and the lightning flashes death around
him, a voice within answers the voices without, and the infidel is compelledto
pray. And as man must worship, so his worship adopts a more expansive form
than that which angels take as yet (Revelation7:12). His eyes, too, are indeed
filled with the image of the Lamb. What mind can forgetCalvary and Olivet?
But awaybeyond the present fact he contemplates the continuous recognition,
and age upon age he hears the same hymn. And further yet, and fuller, the
worship of the Lamb broadens into the worship of the Godhead. It is offered
to "Him that sitteth upon the throne." And it expresses the spiritual history of
every saint. We see ourselves in this hymn. When first our life lay before us,
and we took it up and placed it upon the altar of God's salvation, Jesus Christ
was all, was everything to us. Then as faith deepenedand threw up the greater
and strongerlife, we saw Jesus in all things. And then we beheld the love of
the Fatherto be as greatand tender as the love of the Son, and the strength of
the Holy Ghostgatheredround us and within us, and God in His blessed
Trinity embracedall things.
(W. M. Johnston, M. A.)
Christ the objectof angelic worship
R. Balmer, D. D.
I. THE HOMAGE HERE REPRESENTEDAS RENDEREDTO THE
SAVIOUR BY THE ANGELIC HOSTS.

1. Angels are the worshippers to whom our attention is more particularly
directed in the text.
2. The nature of the homage which they render Him. The particulars here
specifiedrelate rather to the natural than the moral attributes of our Saviour,
to His greatness ratherthan His goodness;that is, to His prerogatives and
glories which He most obscuredin His humbled state, or of which He then
emptied Himself, as the Scripture expressesit.
3. The ground of this homage. As a person inherently possessedofall Divine
excellencesand glories, the Son of God, in common with the Father, has an
incontestable title to the worship and obedience of the heavenly hosts. He has
a further claim as the author and preserver of their existence, and as the
source and dispenser of all their happiness. It is not, however, on this ground,
strong as it is, that the homage manifested in the text is rendered Him. Look
to the passageandyou will at once perceive that the basis on which the Son of
God is worshipped, both by the representatives ofthe Church and by the
angelic hosts, is His death or sacrifice. Butdoes the death of Christ give Him
any new or peculiar claims to the homage of the heavenly hierarchies who are
not immediately interestedin its benefits? Unquestionably it does, and some of
these claims it is not difficult to discover. His death was not only in itself the
most extraordinary event that ever took place, it afforded incomparably the
most magnificent display that ever was exhibited of generosityand kindness,
of compassionand tenderness. It is an essentialpart of true excellence to
admire excellence inanother, and the admiration ought to be proportioned to
the measure of excellence displayed. What a resistlessimpulse, then, must it
communicate to the adoration and praise of the holy angels, to contemplate
the death of the Sonof God. Recollectnextthe display of the Divine character
and perfections exhibited in the death of Christ, and you will see in it another
reasonto ampel the hosts of heaven to honour and adore Him. Consider,
again, that while the death of Christ contributes so much to advance the
honour of God, it contributes not less to promote the happiness of man. "They
rejoice overone sinner that repenteth." In further illustration of this topic, I
might add that it is the opinion of the great Mr. Howe, and of some other
eminent divines, that angels, though not redeemedby Christ, are confirmed in
happiness in consequenceoftheir union to Him. It is further certainthat in

Him angels and saints are united in one harmonious and happy association,
and that it has pleasedthe Fatherby Him to reconcile allthings unto Himself;
by Him, I say, whether they be things in earth or things in heaven." And these
wonderful arrangements furnish angels with anotherreasonto worship and
serve "the Lamb that was slain."
II. THE ARGUMENT SUGGESTED BYTHEIR CONDUCT TO INDUCE
US TO RENDER THE LAMB A SIMILAR HOMAGE.
1. We have a direct and personal interestin His death. If His matchless love
excites, as wellit may, the admiration even of creatures not immediately
interested, and impels them "to prepare new honours for His name," what
words can express the claims which He has to our admiration, gratitude, and
praise?
2. We are still in circumstances ofdanger. Many and formidable are the
enemies who seek ourruin, numerous and painful are the toils and hardships
we must encounterere we reachour "Father's loved abode." There is one,
and only one, who can protectyou amid your multitudinous dangers, and
bring you to the land which you wish to reach. "Jesus Christ, the captain of
salvation, having been made perfectthrough sufferings, will conduct you to
glory," if only you will confide in Him. What an argument to love and trust, to
adore and praise Him!
3. I might remark that, allowing He has conferredon angels higher capacities
and higher joys, our happiness has been procured by Him at a price far more
costly. To communicate to angels existence and happiness required nothing
more than a simple volition of His irresistible will, a single word of His
omnipotent voice. It was not thus that the happiness of the apostate race could
be restored, that the redemption of our lost world was to be achieved.Lessons:
1. How inconceivablyglorious must heaven be, and how worthy of our earnest
desire and our constantpursuit!
2. How reasonable thatwe should render Divine honours to the Lord Jesus.
3. How important that we cultivate a love to the exercises ofheaven.

4. This subjectsuggests a testby which we may ascertainwhether we are fit
for heaven. To ascertainyour meetness forheaven you have then only to
inquire whether you take delight in devotional exercises andin holy pursuits
and enjoyments.
5. This subjectshows us the folly of the irreligious. Think of heaven with all its
joys and splendours. Contrastwith this hell with its horrors, a place of outer
darkness and of gnashing of teeth.
(R. Balmer, D. D.)
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.
The worthy sacrifice ofChrist
T. Adkins.
I. CONTEMPLATE CHRIST AS HE IS REPRESENTEDUNDER THE
CHARACTER OF A LAMB. The lamb is an appropriate symbol of innocence
and meekness.Neverwere the lamb-like virtues brought to so severe a test,
and never were they so strikingly portrayed. A recluse in his cell may reason
justly on the duties of forbearance and forgiveness, but it is difficult to carry
into practice the dictates of sober solitude, yet Jesus gave not only the theory
but the practice of every possible virtue.
II. MEDITATE ON THE DEATH OF CHRIST.
1. He was slain decretively in the purposes of Jehovah.
2. He was slain emblematically by the sacrifices under the Levitical
dispensation.
3. He was slain instrumentally by the hands of the Jews.
4. He was slain really by the justice of God for the sins of His people.
III. CELEBRATE HIS PRAISE.
1. He is worthy of the trust and confidence of His people.

2. He is worthy of the adorationand praise of the redeemed spirits above.
3. He is worthy the adorationof the purest intelligences of the universe.
4. He is worthy of the final conquestof the world.
(T. Adkins.)
Christ the Lamb slain
John Russell.
I. THE WONDERFULPERSON ofthe glorious sufferer will furnish occasion
of unceasing admiration to the great multitude before the throne.
II. The multitude before the throne will have occasionto give glory to the
greatRedeemerwhen they contemplate THE MYSTERIOUS NATURE OF
HIS SUFFERINGS.
III. Similar acknowledgments willbe calledforth when the saints in heaven
remember THEIR SINS as the procuring cause of the Saviour's sufferings.
IV. The sufferings of the Redeemerare consideredby the multitude before the
throne as the result of A PLAN CONTRIVED BYTHE INFINITE WISDOM
OF GOD in His eternalcounsels.
V. The sufferings of the Redeemerare consideredby the multitude before the
throne as the genuine effect of His OWN UNCONTROLLED AND
SOVEREIGN PLEASURE. To Himself alone, and to the free exercise ofHis
own goodwill, this act of grace and humiliation must be referred.
VI. The sufferings of the Redeemerare consideredby those who stand around
the throne as affording THE BRIGHTEST MANIFESTATIONOF THE
DIVINE PERFECTIONS.
VII. The sufferings of the Redeemerpresent new occasionofadmiration and
triumph to the multitude before the throne, because therebyREDEMPTION
IS COMPLETELYPURCHASED.

(John Russell.)
Glory ascribedin heavento the Lamb
J. Dixon.
1. The sacrifice of Christ has had the effectof developing the hidden
perfections and glories ofGod in what may be consideredtheir Christian and
evangelicalaspect, both in the Church above and in the Church below,
consequentlyall glory is due to Christ upon this principle.
2. The elementary state cud high reward of heaven is the result of our
Saviour's work, and consequentlythe glory must be due to Him.
3. The relationship in which the triumphant Church will stand to her Lord
will induce these sentiments, and leadto this triumphant song. In what
relationship does He stand to us here? "Godwith us." In what relation does
He appear to the Church above? "Godwith them."
(J. Dixon.)
The worthiness of Christ to receive man's riches
Homilist.
I. BECAUSE HE IS THE ORIGINAL PROPRIETOROF IT. The gold that
any man holds in his hands is his in a very secondarysense;his property a few
years ago was in the possessionofothers, and a few years hence it will pass
from him into other hands. All material wealthbelongs to Christ.
II. BECAUSE HE HAS ENABLED YOU TO PROCURE IT. Why have you
wealth more than others? Has it come to you through heirdom, legacy, or
your own industry? In either case you have it through Christ.
III. BECAUSE HE GIVES YOU THE QUALIFICATION TO ENJOYIT.
Who gave you the unmiserly spirit, the bodily health, the mental capacityby
which you can enjoy your riches?

IV. BECAUSE HE WILL MAKE THE BEST USE OF IT.
1. The best use of it for yourselves. There is no better investment. Your
contributions to Him serve you in many ways.
(1)Serve to test your character.
(2)Serve to detach you from materialism.
(3)Serve to ennoble your character. It is a greatthing to be trusted, to be
thrown upon your honour. Christ trusts you.
2. The best use of it for the world. When you are gone Christ's Church will be
here working with the means you have entrusted to it, and working to spread
truth, virtue, and happiness through the world.
(Homilist.)
Praise a duty
J. R. Miller, D. D.
No other duty is enjoined so often in the Scriptures as praise. The Bible is full
of music. The woods in the summer days are not so full of bird-notes as this
sacredbook is of voices of song. Christian life can realise the Divine thought
for it only by being songful. The old fable of the harp of Memnon, that it
beganto breathe out sweetmusic the moment the morning light sweptits
chords, has its true fulfil. ment in the human soul, which, the instant the light
of Divine love breaks upon it gives forth notes of gladness and praise.
(J. R. Miller, D. D.).
The Lamb opened one of the seals. &&&
Revelation6
The development of goodand evil in human history

D. Thomas, D. D.
I. The development of GOOD in human history.
1. The good is embodied in a personal life. "He that sat," etc. "Grace and
truth came by Jesus Christ." He was the Right — incarnate, living, acting;
and this, not only during His corporeallife here, but in all His disciples
through all times.
2. The good embodied in a personallife is aggressive in its action. "He went
forth," etc. Wherever the sunbeams break, darkness departs;so with the
right, it is always conquering. In its aggressivenessit moves —(1) Righteously.
The "horse" is the instrument it employs to bear it on to victory. The good is
not only pure in its nature and aims, but pure in its methods.(2)
Triumphantly. The "bow" carries the arrow, and the arrow penetrates the
foe.(3)Royally. "There was givenunto Him a crown." Right is royal, the only
royal thing in the universe, and the more perfectly it is embodied the more
brilliant the diadem. Hence Christ is crownedwith glory and honour, "exalted
above all principalities and powers," etc.
II. The development of EVIL in human history.
1. War (ver. 4). The spirit of murder burns throughout the race. The "red
horse" is ever on the gallop.
2. Indigence (ver. 5). Famine generally follows the sword.
3. Mortality (ver. 8). With every breath we draw some one falls.
4. Martyrdom (vers. 9-11).(1)A martyr is one who dies for the truth.(2) He is
one who in heaven remembers the injustice of His persecutors.(3)He is one
who in the heavenly world is more than compensatedforall the wrongs
receivedon earth. In heaventhey have —
(a)Purity.
(b)Repose.
(c)Socialhopes.

5. Physicalconvulsion (vers. 12-17).(1)Our earth is constantly subject to great
physical convulsions.(2)These are always terribly alarming to ungodly
men.(3) The alarm of ungodly men is heightened by a dread of God. "The
wrath of the Lamb." A more terrific idea I cannot get. It is an oceanofoil in
flames.
( D. Thomas, D. D.)
A white
The going forth of the gospel
James Durham.
1. That the preaching of the gospelcomethnot by guess amongsta people, but
is sent and ordered as other dispensations are, and hath a particular
commission. It is one of the horses He sendeth here. So, Acts 16., the Spirit
putteth them to one place, and suffereth them not to go to another place.
There is not a sermon cometh without a commission.
2. That the successofthe gospelgoethnot by guess. The gospelhath its end as
well as its commission(Isaiah 55:10; 2 Corinthians 2:14).
3. The gospelis most mighty to conquer when Christ armeth it with a
commissionand doth concurtherewith (2 Corinthians 10:4).
4. From this description of the horse and his rider and his employment,
observe that the greatend of the gospel, where it cometh, is to subdue souls.
Thai is the end of a ministry, to bring souls in subjection to Christ (2
Corinthians 10:5). And it hath its end when Christ's arrows are made
powerful to pierce hearts (Ephesians 4:8; Psalm68:18).
5. The gospelconquereth more or less whereverit cometh. When Christ is
mounted He is going to conquer, if it were but to take one fort or one soul
from Satan.
6. Taking this conquestand flourishing estate of the gospelto relate to the first
times thereof when it came into the world. Observe that most frequently the

gospelat its first coming amongsta people prevaileth most, and hath more
sensible successthan at any other time. So was it when it came first to the
world, its victories were swift and speedy, increasing more for a few years at
that time than afterwards in many generations.
(James Durham.)
Conquering, and to Conquer
The Redeemer's conquests
J. Parsons.
I. THE ADVERSARIES OF OUR REDEEMER.
1. The powers of darkness.
2. All men in an unrenewed and unconverted state.
3. False systems ofreligion, which, although perhaps assuming the name of
Christianity, are hostile to its spirit and design.
II. THE INSTRUMENTSWHICH OUR REDEEMER EMPLOYS.
1. The publication of His Word.
2. The agencyof His Spirit.
III. THE VICTORIES OF OUR REDEEMER.
1. They are founded upon His right to universal domain.
2. They are continuous, and widely extended.
3. They are essentiallyconnectedwith the diffusion of pure and perfect
happiness.In conclusion:how important it is —
1. That you should yourselves surrender your hearts in personalsubjection to
the Redeemer's power.
2. That you devote your energies to the further extensionof His empire.

(J. Parsons.)
The future triumph of our King
J. Clayton, M. A.
I. THE ILLUSTRIOUS PERSONAGEDESCRIBED.
1. His spotless charchter. "A white horse."
2. His warfare. "A bow."
3. His exaltation to regaldignity. "A crown."
4. His gradual conquest. "Conquering and to conquer."
II. SENTIMENTSAND REFLECTIONSSUITABLE TO THE SUBJECT.
1. We should cultivate and cherish the most exalted estimate of the personof
Jesus Christ.
2. The imminent peril in which those are placed who continue among the
adversaries ofJesus Christ.
3. Are you among His true and faithful subjects?
4. Strive, by every means in your power, to advance the extent and glory of
His dominion.
(J. Clayton, M. A.)
The Conqueror
W. M. Punshon, D. D.
Behold the combat beyond all others important, the combatbetweenChrist
and Satanfor the human soul.

I. THE CAUSE OF STRIFE — the soul. A colony of heavenhad been taken
by the powers of hell, and the effort to restore it to allegiance was the main
cause ofthis celestialwar. The domination of Satanover the human soul is
despotic, degrading, and destructive.
II. THE BATTLE. The Divine Saviour strongerthan the strong man armed as
our champion. The first grapple seems to have been the temptation in the
wilderness, the next in the performance of miracles, the next the death
grapple, the last the rising from the dead and ascensioninto heaven.
III. THE VICTORY. It was complete, it was benevolent, it was unchanging.
The attack which the Saviour made upon the enemy was such as to tear away
the very source and energies ofhis power. In the time of the Lord's victory we
do not see traces ofcarnage, norhear orphans wailing the dead; but a voice
breathes the comfortable word, "Theyshall not hurt nor destroy in all My
holy mountain." The triumphs of the Saviour brighten with the lapse of time.
Time cannot tarnish their lustre, nor death itself destroy.
(W. M. Punshon, D. D.)
COMMENTARIES
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(12) Saying with a loud voice . . .—The secondchorus: the chorus of angels—
“Worthy is the Lamb,
That hath been slain,
To receive the power.
And riches, and wisdom, and might,
And honour, and glory, and blessing.”

The doxologyis seven-fold. We have noticed (Revelation1:6) the increasing
strength of the doxologies in which the redeemedtake part. This, though a
sevenfoldone, does not interrupt that advance of praise;for in this chorus the
redeemeddo not take part. The definite article is prefixed to the word
“power” only; in the doxologies ofRevelation4:11; Revelation7:12 it stands
before eachword. This has led some to view the single article as prefixed to all
that follows, and to regard all the words as though they formed one word.
May it not, however, be used to give emphasis to the “power”?None, above or
below, was “able” (same word as “power” here)to open the book (Revelation
5:3); but the Lamb has conquered to open it, and the chorus proclaims the
Lamb worthy of that power. Some have thought that the seventerms of the
doxologyrefer to the sevenseals which the Lamb is about to open. This seems
strained. The notion of completeness is common to this seven-fold blessing and
the sevenseals;this is the only connectionbetweenthem.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
5:8-14 It is matter of joy to all the world, to see that God deals with men in
grace and mercy through the Redeemer. He governs the world, not merely as
a Creator, but as our Saviour. The harps were instruments of praise; the vials
were full of odours, or incense, whichsignify the prayers of the saints: prayer
and praise should always go together. Christ has redeemedhis people from
the bondage of sin, guilt, and Satan. He has not only purchased liberty for
them, but the highest honour and preferment; he made them kings and
priests; kings, to rule over their own spirits, and to overcome the world, and
the evil one; and he makes them priests; giving them accessto himself, and
liberty to offer up spiritual sacrifices. Whatwords can more fully declare that
Christ is, and ought to be worshipped, equally with the Father, by all
creatures, to all eternity! Happy those who shall adore and praise in heaven,
and who shall for ever bless the Lamb, who delivered and setthem apart for
himself by his blood. How worthy art thou, O God, Father, Son, and Holy
Ghost, of our highest praises!All creatures should proclaim thy greatness,
and adore thy majesty.

Barnes'Notes on the Bible
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain - See the notes on
Revelation5:2, Revelation5:9. The idea here is, that the factthat he was slain,
or was made a sacrifice for sin, was the ground or reasonfor what is here
ascribedto him. Compare the notes on Revelation5:5.
To receive power - Poweror authority to rule over all things. Compare notes
on Matthew 28:18. The meaning here is, that he was worthy that these things
should be ascribedto him, or to be addressedand acknowledgedas possessing
them. A part of these things were his in virtue of his very nature - as wisdom,
glory, riches;a part were conferred on him as the result of his work - as the
mediatorial dominion over the universe, the honor resulting from his work,
etc. In view of all that he was, and of all that he has done, he is here spokenof
as "worthy" of all these things.
And riches - Abundance. That is, he is worthy that whatevercontributes to
honor, and glory, and happiness, should be conferredon him in abundance.
Himself the original proprietor of all things, it is fit that he should be
recognizedas such; and having performed the work which he has, it is proper
that whatevermay be made to contribute to his honor should be regardedas
his.
And wisdom - That he should be esteemedas eminently wise;that is, that as
the result of the work which he has accomplished, he should be regardedas
having ability to choose the bestends and the best means to accomplishthem.
The feeling here referred to is what arises from the contemplationof the work
of salvationby the Redeemer, as a work eminently characterizedby wisdom -
wisdom manifested in meeting the evils of the fall; in honoring the law; in
showing that mercy is consistentwith justice; and in adapting the whole plan
to the characterand needs of man. If wisdom was anywhere demanded, it was
in reconciling a lost world to God; if it has been anywhere displayed, it has
been in the arrangements for that work, and in its executionby the Redeemer.
See the notes on 1 Corinthians 1:24; compare Matthew 13:54; Luke 2:40,
Luke 2:52; 1 Corinthians 1:20-21, 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 1:8;
Ephesians 3:10.

And strength - Ability to accomplishhis purposes. That is, it is meet that he
should be regardedas having such ability. This strength or powerwas
manifested in overcoming the greatenemy of man; in his control of winds,
and storms, and diseases, anddevils; in triumphing over death; in saving his
people.
And honor - He should be esteemedand treatedwith honor for what he has
done.
And glory - This word refers to a higher ascription of praise than the word
honor. Perhaps that might refer to the honor which we feel in our hearts; this
to the expressionof that by the language ofpraise.
And blessing - Everything which would express the desire that he might be
happy, honored, and adored. To bless one is to desire that he may have
happiness and prosperity; that he may be successful, respected, and honored.
To bless God, or to ascribe blessing to him, is that state where the heart is full
of love and gratitude, and where it desires that he may be everywhere
honored, loved, and obeyed as he should be. The words here express the wish
that the universe would ascribe to the Redeemerall honor, and that he might
be everywhere loved and adored.
Jamieson-Fausset-BrownBible Commentary
12. to receive power—Greek, "the power." The remaining six (the whole
being seven, the number for perfection and completeness)are all, as well as
"power," rangedunder the one Greek article, to mark that they form one
complete aggregate belonging to God and His co-equal, the Lamb. Compare
Re 7:12, where eachof all sevenhas the article.
riches—bothspiritual and earthly.
blessing—ascribedpraise:the will on the creature's part, though
unaccompaniedby the power, to return blessing for blessing conferred
[Alford].
Matthew Poole's Commentary

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain; the Lamb mentioned Revelation5:6, with
sevenhorns and seven eyes, viz. Jesus Christ.
To receive power, and riches; he is worthy of those horns he weareth,
emblems of power and strength given unto him; for all powerwas given him
in heaven and earth.
And wisdom; and of those seveneyes he hath, i.e. of the spirit of wisdom,
Isaiah11:2, the riches of grace and wisdom.
And strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing;and of all the homage,
glory, praise, blessing, and obedience, which people can give him. I know not
whether there be any thing in the observationmade by some, that the number
of things here mentioned, of which the Lamb is worthy, answereththe
number of the sevenSpirits of God, before mentioned.
Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible
Saying with a loud voice,....To signify their zeal, fervour, and affectionfor
Christ, and to make a free, open, and public acknowledgmentof him, and that
all might hear of his worthiness, and of the praise and glory that were due
unto him:
worthy is the Lamb that was slain; they address him as the Lamb, and not as
the Lord of lords, and their Lord; and speak ofhim as having been slain, and
celebrate the virtue and efficacyof his sufferings and death, and ascribe his
worthiness to receive glory and honour thereunto; but do not add, as the
living creatures and elders do, "and hast redeemedus to God by thy blood";
because, thoughthey were the subjects and objects ofconfirming grace by
Christ, yet not of redeeming grace:it follows,
to receive powerand riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour,

and glory, and blessing; as the book has sevenseals to be unloosed, and Christ
had sevenhorns of powerand ability to loose them, and fulfil the things
containedin it, and seven eyes to look into it, and discoverand revealwhat is
in it, so here are "seven" words made use of, to express the praise that was
due unto him; a like number is used by the angels in Revelation7:12; and
when he is said to be worthy to receive these, it is not to be understood of his
receiving the things themselves, but of the praise of them; and that these are
to be observedin him, and to be ascribedto him: power belongs to him, as he
is the mighty God; and as the Saviour and Redeemerof his people; and as
risen from the dead, and as exaltedat God's right hand, and made or declared
Lord and Christ; having all powerin heaven and in earth: "riches" may well
be ascribedto him, who has all the perfections of deity in him; whose are the
heavens and the earth, and the fulness thereof; and who, as Mediator, is heir
of all things, and has both the riches of grace and glory in his hands:
"wisdom" also is his; he is wisdom itself, he is the only wise God; and he is the
author of all wisdom, natural and spiritual; and, as Mediator, he has the spirit
of wisdom and knowledge resting on him, and the treasures ofboth hid in
him: and "strength" may be well attributed to him, which he has shown in
making and supporting all things; in saving and redeeming his people with a
mighty hand and outstretchedarm; and in subduing and vanquishing all his
and their enemies;and in giving strength to them to discharge their duty,
resisttemptations, oppose corruptions, and do their generationwork:
"honour" is due to him, as the Son of God, he being to be honoured equally as
the Father;and who, as man and Mediator, is crownedwith glory and
honour: "glory" is what ought to be ascribedunto him, even the glory of true
and proper deity, and also the glory of salvation;and who, as Mediator, had a
glory promised him, and which was due unto him upon his having finished his
work, and which he now enjoys: wherefore "blessing" is to be given to him,
who is God over all, blessedfor evermore, in himself and the perfections of his
nature; in whom all spiritual blessings are, and in whom all the nations of the
earth are blessed;and to whom praise and thanks are to be rendered, for the
blessings ofpardoning, justifying, and redeeming grace, and for all other.
Geneva Study Bible

Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to {d} receive
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and
blessing.
(d) To have all praise given to him, as to the mightest and wisest
EXEGETICAL(ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)
Expositor's Greek Testament
Revelation5:12. For similar arrangements in Jewishdoxologies, seeGfrörer,
ii. 146–8;and, for ἰσχ. τιμ. δόξ. see Daniel2:37 (LXX). τήν groups togetherthe
sevenwords of the panegyric; honour and glory and praise are due to one
whose victorious death has won him the power of bestowing incalculable
riches on his people and of unriddling the future, againstall opposition
(Weiss). The refrain of δύν. is heard in Revelation11:17, and δόξα had been
already associatedwith “wealth” and “power” (Ephesians 1:18 f.) or
“wisdom” (2 Corinthians 3:7 f., Revelation4:4, etc.)in Christ (contrastIsaiah
53:2 LXX). The actof taking the book (Revelation5:7) suggests the general
authority and prestige of the Lamb, which is acknowledgedin this doxology.
The order in 12, 13 is the same as in Psalm103:20-22, where the angels are
followedby creation in the worship. When God’s creatures and servants
magnify, praise, and bless him, yielding themselves to his dominion, and
acknowledging that to him all the strength and wealthand wisdom of life
rightly belong, God is honoured. Christ was glorifiedby God (cf. Acts 3:13,
Romans 6:4, John 17:1) at the resurrection, when God’s powerraised him to
eternal life; he is glorified by men in their homage and submission to him as
the sole medium of redemption and revelation.
Cambridge Bible for Schools andColleges
12. power, &c.] Lit. the power. Notice that the praises ascribedare either
sevenfold, as here; fourfold, as in the next verse; or threefold, as in Revelation
4:11, Revelation19:1 (true text).
Bengel's Gnomen

Revelation5:12. Ἄξιος) Ἀρνίον is neuter; whence many have written ἄξιον:
but ἄξιος regards the meaning itself.[70]—ΤῊΝΔΎΝΑΜΙΝ ΚΑῚ
ΠΛΟῦΤΟΝ, Κ.Τ.Λ.)The sevenfoldsubject of their acclamations answersto
the sevenseals, in the first four of which are contained visible things, in the
remaining three, invisible things, subjectto the Lamb.
[70] Hence the margin of Ed. ii. reckonedamong the better supported
readings that of ἄξιος, though in the Ed. maj. it was numbered among the less
supported.—E. B.
A reads ἄξιος; Rec. Text, ἄξιον.—E.
Pulpit Commentary
Verse 12. - Saying with a loud voice;a greatvoice (RevisedVersion); λέγοντες,
"saying," is irregular construction, and to be referred to angels as being a
nominative understood. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain; that hath been
slain (RevisedVersion). Again, as in ver. 9, the worshippers give the reason
for considering Christ worthy to receive their adoration. It is because he had
been slain and thus redeemedthe world. To receive power, and riches, and
wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. The sevenfold
nature of the adoration attributed to the Lamb is probably indicative of its
complete and perfect nature. (On the meaning of λαβεῖν, "to receive," to take
as a right what is offered, see Thayer-Grimm.) Power(δύναμις)is the ability
to perform which is inherent in one's nature. Strength (ἰσχύς) is the attribute
by which that poweris put into operation;it frequently denotes physical
strength. Riches (cf. John 1:16, "And of his fulness have all we received;" also
Ephesians 3:8, "The unsearchable riches of Christ;" also James 1:17, "Every
goodgift and every perfectgilt is from above, and cometh down from the
Father of lights;" also Acts 17:25, "He giveth to all life, and breath, and all
things "). The whole sevenfoldascriptionis spokenas one, only one article
being prefixed. In this respectit differs from Revelation4:11 and Revelation

7:12, where we have "the glory" and "the honour," etc. (see on Revelation
4:11).
Vincent's Word Studies
Power, etc.
Rev., "the power." Compare the ascription in Revelation4:11, on which see
note, and notice that each separate particularthere has the article, while here
it is attachedonly to the first, the power, the one article including all the
particulars, as if they formed but one word. On the doxologies, seeon
Revelation1:6.
Riches (πλοῦτον)
Not limited to spiritual riches, but denoting the fulness of every gift of God.
James 1:17; Acts 17:25. Only here in a doxology.
Blessing (εὐλογίαν)
See on the kindred word εὐλογητὸς blessed, 1 Peter1:3.
PRECEPT AUSTIN RESOURCES
ALAN CARR
Revelation5:8-14
SWEET SONGSIN HEAVENLY PLACES
Intro: This passagefinds us still in Heaven in the presence ofGod and of the
Lamb. The church has been raptured, perfectedand safelydelivered home to
Heaven. The landing has been safe! Revelationchapters 4 and 5 find us in

Heaven’s courtroom. Godis preparing to judge this world. But, before He
does, there is a pause for praise in glory. It is that worship service that we
have been looking at for the last few weeks.
In these verses, Heavenis unable to contain itself and all the residents of
that fair land burst forth in rejoicing and praise to God and the Lamb. There
is praising, singing and there is music. This the first mention of music in this
book, but it will not be the last.
Music is a vital part of our lives. From the time the alarm clock sounds in
the morning, we are surrounded with music. The radio and televisionare all
about music. We have music in our cars, in our homes and at our places of
business. Music is used to move the minds of people. When a restaurant is
busy, for example, they might play fast music. When fast music is playing,
people eatfasterand clearthe tables sooner. Music canset the scene in a film
and let you know whether you should be afraid, sad or happy. Music is an
important part of our lives.
It is also an important part of our walk with the Lord. Eph. 5:19 and Col.
3:16 speak about the vital role music plays in our relationship with the Lord.
Thank God for music that honors Him!
This passageseems to indicate that music will be one of the things that will
follow us from earth to Heaven. The music in Heaven will but serve to make
Heaven sweeter.
In these verses, John takes us into Heaven and gives us front row seats at
the concertof the ages. Let’s go in, take our seats and listen to the hosts of
Heaven as they lift their voices in praise and worship of God and the Lamb.
As the Lord gives liberty, I want to preachon the thought of SweetSongs In
Heavenly Places.
I. v. 8 THE SINGERS OF HEAVEN’S SWEET SONG

A. The Identity Of The Singers – The four beasts and the twenty-four elders
make up this heavenly choir. When the Lamb takes the book they begin to
praise His name. Remember, these four beasts representall of createdlife.
The twenty-four elders represent every one of God’s redeemed ones. They
picture all the saints of God, in His presence, singing His praises. (Ill. These
twenty-four elders are us! What they are doing is what we will be doing on
that day!)
B. The Involvement Of The Singers – What are these redeemedones doing?
They are doing what they do every time we see them in the Revelation:they
are on their face in the presence oftheir Redeemer, offering Him their love,
their praise and their worship, Rev. 4:10; 5:8; 5:14; 7:11; 19:4.
Let there be no mistake about it, when we arrive home in Heaven, we will
be busy praising the One Who died for our sins on the cross! We will all
praise Him when we get to Heaven! (Ill. We ought to be doing it now – Heb.
13:15;Psa. 107:21.)
C. The Instruments Of The Singers – We are told that these worshippers
have certain items in their possession. Theyuse these items in their worship
of the Lord.
1. Instruments Of Praise – The harp was used to accompanythe people of the
Lord as they praised God and sang His psalms, 2 Sam. 6:5; Psalm 92:1-4;
Psalm150:3.
It appears that instruments will accompanythe singing and the worship in
that land. I thank God for the ones who play the music in our services. What
a blessing they are! Some of the rest of us will be able to make beautiful music
to the glory of God when we arrive home.
2. Instruments Of Prophecy – The harp was also associatedwith prophecy, 1
Sam. 10:5. Elisha prophesied while a man played on a harp, 2 Kings 3:15.
The harp is also tied to prophecy in 1 Chron. 25:1.
The worshippers in Heaven are praising God because He is about finish
the fulfillment of all His prophecies. Theyworship Him because He has
promised it and He is about to bring it all to pass.

3. Instruments Of Prayer – The “goldenvials full of odours” are said to be
full of “the prayers of the saints.” These worshippers come before the Lord
with all the prayers of the redeemedthrough the ages. These prayers have
ascendedinto God’s presence with a sweetaroma. Theseprayers that were
offered in faith are about to be answeredin power.
Ill. Jesus told His people to pray this prayer: “Our Father which art in
heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth,
as it is in heaven,” Matt. 6:9-10. God’s children have prayed that prayer for
at leasttwo thousand years. And, for two thousand years evil has reignedin
this world. Godhas been hearing those prayers and He had not forgottena
single on of them. They are about to be answeredin a demonstration of His
power.
That is why Heaven praises God! He is a God Who hears and answers the
prayers of His children! Nota single prayer that prayed within the scope of
His will ever falls to the ground unheard and unanswered, 1 John 5:13-14;
James 4:2-3. But, every one will be answeredin His time and in His way.
I. The Singers Of Heaven’s SweetSongs
II. v. 9-10 THE SUBJECT OF HEAVEN’S SWEET SONG
(Ill. Down here, people sing about everything under the sun! If you listen to
secularmusic, you know they make up songs about everything! The church is
just about as bad. I heard a song one time that has a line that goes like this:
“We are bound togetherin all we do by the Holy Spirit and Elmer’s Glue.”
That is silly! Church folks will sing songs about mama and her Bible; daddy
and his hands; “The Little Brown Church In The Vale”;angels holding up
ladder, etc.
While many of the songs people sing in the church are about as spiritual as
a worm wrestle, there are others that are helpful to our hearts. But, isn’t it

true that most of the songs we sing are less about glorifying the Lord than
they are about encouraging our own hearts?
In Heaven every song will have the same theme. In Heaven, every song
will be about Jesus. Everysong will glorify Him: Who He is and what He has
done. Let’s examine this “new song” that they are singing in Heaven.)
A. v. 9a TheySing About The PersonOf The Lamb – They lift their voices
and sing “Thouart worthy!” The song of Heaven declares the worth of the
Lamb of God. He is the focus of the song. He is the objectof their praise.
They lift up His Name because He is worthy to be praised.
By the way, Jesus is just as worthy of praise today as He will be when we
arrive home in Heaven! He is still Lord. He is still God. He is still our
Redeemer. He is worthy of every Amen!”; “Hallelujah!”; and “Glory to
God!” He receives. He is still worthy of every saint who stands to say, “I love
Jesus and I thank Him for saving my soul!” He is worthy!
Our problem here is that our praise is diluted by the twin problems of
pride and evil. We don’t praise Him because we are afraid of what someone
else might think. And, we don’t praise Him because we are usually not in a
position to feel the touch of His Spirit.
If we could just lose our pride and deal with our sins, the Lord would
come close to us and remind us of the worth of the Lamb and we would offer
up His praises. Whetherwe ever graspit or not down here, Jesus is worthy to
be praised.
B. v. 9b They Sing About The PassionOf The Lamb – They sing because the
Lamb was “slain”. Thatword means “to butcher”. It brings to mind the
brutality of the death Jesus endured for you and me, Isa. 52:14;Isa. 53:4-6.
Heaven praises Jesus becauseHe went to the cross and bore the sins of the
guilty so they we might be saved. Heavenpraises Him because He died for
them!
That is a worthy refrain for us to pick us here on earth! I can’t think of a
better thing to sing about than the death of Jesus! I love those old songs about

the Lamb and the blood! Praise God, when I hear Heaven sing about the
Lamb, I am tempted to join right in!
At The Cross
Alas! and did my Savior bleed,
and did my Sovereigndie!
Would he devote that sacredhead
for such a worm as I?
Was it for crimes that I have done,
he groanedupon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
Chorus:
At the cross, atthe cross where I first saw the light,
And the burden of my heart rolled away,
It was there by faith I receivedmy sight,
And now I am happy all the day!
DownAt The Cross
Downat the cross where my Savior died,
Downwhere for cleansing from sin I cried,
There to my heart was the blood applied;

Glory to His Name!
I am so wondrously savedfrom sin,
Jesus so sweetlyabides within;
There at the cross where He took me in;
Glory to His Name!
Oh, precious fountain that saves from sin,
I am so glad I have enteredin;
There Jesus saves me and keeps me clean;
Glory to His Name!
Come to this fountain so rich and sweet,
Castthy poor soulat the Savior’s feet;
Plunge in today, and be made complete;
Glory to His Name!
Chorus
Glory to His Name, glory to His Name:
There to my heart was the blood applied;
Glory to His Name!

(Ill. There has been a move in recentyears to modify the hymnbooks and
remove old songs that talk about the blood! Many major denominations have
already done this! The Southern Baptists tried it many years ago, but Dr.
W.A. Criswelland some other godly men took a stand and demanded that the
songs about the blood be left alone!
If you remove the blood, you remove the only hope for salvationthat we
have, Heb. 9:22! Thank God for the blood! It is the theme of Heaven’s music,
it should be ours as well!
C. v. 9-10 They Sing About The Purpose Of The Lamb – Heaven sings about
the Lamb and about His redemption. Those in Heaven remember where they
were when the Lamb redeemed them. They know what they have become
because ofthe blood of the Lamb.
They remember when they were lost sinners headed to a devil’s Hell.
They remember the day Jesus died for their sins and rose againfrom the
dead. They remember how He came to them in their sins and how He saved
them by His grace. Theyremember how He redeemedthem and took them
into His family. They know what they were, and they know what they are
now, because ofHim!
They praise Him because the colorof the skin didn’t matter. They praise
Him because the depth of their sin was no issue to Him. They exalt Him
because He has exalted them! They praise Him because He took a bunch of
Hell-bound; Hell-deserving sinners, saved them by His grace and reconciled
them to God. He has takenthem to Heaven where they will reign with Him
forever.
Heaven has the right perspective when it comes to praise and worship!
We could use a little more of that down here. Look at all He has done for us!
Look where He is taking us! Look at how He blesses us! Praise His Name;He
is worthy to be exalted and glorified!

(Ill. Stop for a minute and think about what you were, where you were headed
and what you deserved. Now, think about what Jesus has done in your life!
He has savedyour soul; reconciledyou to God; receivedyou as a sinner and
transformed you into a saint; lifted you out of your sins and made a king and
a priest; and He is going to let you reign with Him one day soon. Praise His
Name, He is worthy of all the love, adoration and worship we canmuster.
And, He is worthy of is all right now.)
I. The Singers Of Heaven’s SweetSong
II. The Subject Of Heaven’s SweetSong
III. v. 11-14 THE SCOPE OF HEAVEN’S SWEET SONG
(Ill. When Heaventakes up the refrain and begins to praise the Lamb, all of
creationblends in its voice, offering up praise to the Creatorand Redeemer.)
A. v. 11-12 CelestialBeings Praise The Lamb – John tries to tell us how
many angels begin to praise the Lord, but the number was too greatfor him
to fathom. Ten thousand was the largestnumber known to the Greeks. John
says it is as many as you canimagine times that many againand many
thousands more besides that.
What are these angels doing? They are praising their Creator. Did you
notice that it says the redeemedones “sung” v. 9; but the angels “say” v. 12? I
cannot think of a single verse in the Bible that says that angels cansing.
Every time they praise the Lord, they say. Even at the birth of Jesus, the
angelic host saidwhat was on their minds, Luke 2:8-14. The only verse that
even comes close to saying they sing in Job 38:7; and the word “sang” inthat
verse means “to shout out, or to give a ringing cry.”
What’s the point? Well, music is made up of two kinds of chords. There
are minor chords and there are major chords. Minor chords make up the
music of sorrow, pain, suffering and bereavement. Minor chords express
suffering, heartache and misery. Many of the sounds of nature are in the

minor chords keys. Then, there are the major chords. These are the chords
of victory, exaltation, triumph and praise.
We humans know about the struggles oflife. We know about the touch of
the Master’s hand. We know what it is to be redeemedby His grace lifted out
of sin and its prison. We know what it is to have no hope and then to be given
a “new song”, Psa. 40:1-3.
The angels, onthe other hand, have never had our experience with sin and
redemption. All they know is glory, triumph and victory. They have never
been given a song, but we have, praise the Lord. But, what they say they get
exactly right! They also declare the worth of the Lamb! They praise Him for
Who He is.
B. v. 13 CreatedBeings Praise The Lamb – Here is an amazing verse. While
Heaven is consumed with the praises of the Lord, the earth is busy ignoring
God and continuing its slide into the flames of Hell. When this worship
service breaks out in Heaven, every creature in the universe joins in to praise
the Lamb. Think about it! Every lost sinner, every devil of Hell, even Satan
himself will lift their voices together and give their praise to the risen Lamb of
God! They will not be able to help themselves, but will bend their knees and
lift their voices in praise! The Bible said that it would happen, Rom. 14:12;
Phil 2:9-11, and it will! What a day that will be when a God-denying; Christ-
rejecting world will praise the Lord Jesus Christ.
You will notice that they do not praise Him for redemption. They cannot
for they have never experiencedit. They praise Him for Who He is. What a
day when all of creationcannotcontain itself and begins to praise the Lord
Who made it and Who redeemed it.
C. v. 14 ConvertedBeings Praise The Lamb – When all of this takes place,
the four beasts says “Amen!” They say, “So it is and let it be so!” When they
join in, the twenty-four elders cannotcontain themselves and they fall down
before the Lamb in spontaneous, openworship.

Conc:I don’t know about you, but I think we ought to sing today! Let’s geta
hymnal and stand and sing “All Hail The PowerOf Jesus’Name!”
It may be that you just want to come and praise Him for Who He is and
for all that He has done. It may be that you want to be savedor to confess
some sin and get things right with Him. Whateverthe need, you mind Him
today!
ALAN CARR
Rev. 5:8-14 HEAVEN’S CONCERT
Intro: After the Lamb takes the book, all of Heavenbursts into a song of
praise. (Ill. Music’s power in our everyday lives. Music has the power to move
us – James 5:13; Eph. 5:18-20;Col. 3:16) All of the emotions knownto man
can be experiencedand expressedthrough the medium of music. Let’s take a
few moments tonight to visit this Heavenly Concertat the throne of God. The
admission is free, the atmosphere is glorious and the company is beyond
compare. After all, we are going to be here some say soon!
I. v.8 THE BASICS OF HEAVEN’S MUSIC
Who? The 4 beasts and the 24 elders.
The Instruments –
A. Harps - (Symbolic of praise) Ill. We will be able to play in Heaven!

(Ill. Little boy with broken arm asks doctor, "WillI be able to play the piano
after I getmy castoff?" Doctorsays, "Certainly!" Boysays, "You must be
some doctor." Doctorasks,"Why?" Boyresponds, "Well, I couldn’t play
before!")
(Ill. Old Testamentprophets often prophesied accompaniedby the music of
harps – 2 Kings 3:15)
There is a 2-fold purpose for music in the church:
1. The preacher and the people are prepared for the ministry of the Word of
God.
2. The heart is lifted from the mundane and the worldly in
worship.
B. Bowls – (Symbolic of praise) (Ill. The symbolism of incense in the presence
of God. It pictures the sweetsmellof our prayers ascending up before the face
of God!)
(Ill. Our praying is never in vain! It ascends up before the Lord and it honors
Him!)
(Ill. We should sing now for His glory and we should be actively involved in a
lifestyle of praise and prayer!)
II. v. 9-10 THE LYRICS OF HEAVEN’S MUSIC
(A New Song)
(Ill. Chap. 4 The song of praise was for creation. In chap. 5, the song is praise
for redemption!)
A. The theme of their song is Jesus!(Ill. They take their time to praise the
Lamb.) Jesus ought to be the centerpiece ofall that we are and do. (Ill. Col.
1:18) Does He have the preeminence in your life?
B. Their song is a ballad – A song with a story!

1. About the Powerofthe Lamb – 9a
2. About the Passionofthe Lamb – 9b (Ill. Slain – sphazo – to butcher, or
slaughter) (Ill. The brutality of the death of Christ – Isa. 52:14)
3. About the Purpose of the Lamb – 9c (Ill. Blood – It is what redeems us,
keeps us and presents us holy before the presence ofGod – Heb. 9:22)
(Ill. Hymnals – Some would like to remove the blood from their singing,
others already have! In Heaven, however, the Bloodof Jesus is the theme of
the praise. There will not be a single one there who is not blood bought and
blood washed. Give me that old-time, blood religion!)
C. Made us Kings and Priests – v. 10 In other words, we are members of the
royal family. We also have the obligation of offering up sacrificesto His glory.
(Ill. Praise – Heb. 13:15; Performance – Rom. 12:1-2)
III. v. 11-14 THE DYNAMICS OF HEAVEN’S MUSIC
A. v. 11 – (Ill. The number of angels)(Ill. The Temple had about 4,000
musicians and rotating choir members.) Just pause to imagine the sound of
Heaven’s greatchoir of the redeemed.
B. v. 12 – Their sevenfold anthem of praise.
1. To receive power – Dynamic power
2. Riches – Plentitude – (All things – Col. 1:18)
3. Wisdom – Totalintelligence
4. Strength – Force
5. Honor – Reverence
6. Glory – Doxology
7. Blessing – Eulogy
(Ill. Notice, He alone is "Worthy." None else deserves praise and worship.
Jesus alone is worthy! Are you giving Him these things? He receives them in
Heaven, He ought to receive them from His people who inhabit the earth!)

C. v. 13 The entire universe, Heaven, earth, Hell, begin to praise Jesus the
Lamb! (What a day that will be! However, what a tragedy it will be for fallen
man. They must bow, but it will avail them nothing – Phil. 2:5-11!)
D. v. 14 The beasts are at a loss for words and simply say, "Amen – So let it
be." The 24 elders fall before Jesus (Again!) and worship the eternalLamb of
God.
(Ill. All music will leave you at someone’s feet. Eitherat the feet of Jesus, or
the feetof Satan. Where does your music leave you?)
THE SONGS OF HEAVEN
Dr. W. A. Criswell
Revelation5:8-14
3-11-62 10:50 a.m.
On the radio you are listening to the services ofthe First Baptist Church in
Dallas. This is the pastor bringing the eleveno’clock morning message
entitled, The Songs of Heaven. In our preaching through the Bible, we have
come to the climactic book, the Apocalypse. And, in preaching through the
Revelation, we have come to chapter 5, the last part of the chapter. And if you
will turn to it in your Bible, you can easilyfollow the messagein the Words of
the Holy Scriptures. Revelation, chapter5, beginning at verse 7:
And the Lamb came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat
upon the throne.

And when He had taken the book, the four cherubim and the four and twenty
elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden
bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of saints.
And they sing a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to
open the seals thereof:for Thou wastslain, and hast redeemedus to God by
Thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the
earth.
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne
and the cherubim and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand
times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
And they said with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive
power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and
blessing.
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 honor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb foreverand ever.
And the four cherubim said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down
and worshipped Him that liveth forever and ever.
[Revelation5:7-14]
This is the worship of Godin heaven, and these are the doxologies ofthe
redeemedcreationand of the hosts of angels.
Now, a little summary of the messagesofthe last two Sundays, which are the
messages deliveredfrom the first part of this chapter 5 in the Revelation. The
scene in heaven opens with God upon the throne; and around the throne of
God, the enthroned redeemed, the four and twenty elders;and in the midst of
the throne on the steps upward on eachside, the four cherubim. And then, in

the right hand of God, on the palm of the hand of the Almighty, lies a seven-
sealedbook. Thatbook is a sign of a forfeited inheritance. It is sealedwith
sevenseals significantof the encumbrances upon that inheritance. Then there
is a voice of a strong angel, whose trumpet-heralding question penetrates to
the farthestcorners of God’s universe – in heaven, in earth, in the unseen
world. "Where is there one," says the angel, "who is able to come and to take
that book of the forfeited inheritance that lies in the hand of God and open the
seals thereof? Where?" [Revelation5:2]. Searchwas made in heaven, in
earth, under the earth, in the unseen world, and no one was able – oudeis –
not even one. And no one in heaven, in earth, in the unseen world was able to
open the book or to loose the seals thereof. And when that tragedy facedthe
divine and holy seer, the sainted apostle John, he bursts into lamentations and
open crying. That meant that the inheritance God made for Adam’s seedwas
forever forfeited, forever lost. No redeemercould be found to buy it back.
Sin, death, hell, Satanare to reign forever. But in the midst of the weeping
and the audible lamentation of the holy seer, there came one of the elders, one
of the redeemedwho said, "Weepnot: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah,
the Rootof David, the Lamb of God, hath prevailed to take the book"
[Revelation5:5], to break the sevenseals, to castout the usurper, sin and
death and hell and Satan, and to give to Adam’s lostrace the lostinheritance,
our redemptive creation, the new heavenand the new earth.
And when the Lamb of God comes, He alone who is worthy and able, our
Kinsman-Redeemer, when He comes to take the book, then all creationburst
into exuberance and triumphant joy. And there follows the worship of glory,
the song of heaven, here in chapter 5, encompassedin three incomparable
doxologies. First, the cherubim and the four and twenty elders lead off. Then
they are joined by the hosts of heaven, the angels. One of the most expressive
Greek phrases you will find in the Book;the angels and the number of them
was chiliades chiliadon muraides muraidon – the innumerable thousands
upon ten thousands, multiplied by tens of thousands and thousands of
thousands [Revelation5:11]. And then the paean of praise rose on and
gathers force and momentum, and wider and wider did it extend, until
everything that Godhas createdjoins in the paeanof praise and adoration.
And every createdthing in heaven, and every createdthing on earth, and

every createdthing in the sea, and every createdthing that God made I heard
I say, "Blessing, andhonor, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth
upon the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever" [Revelation5:13] – into
the always ofthe always. "And the four cherubim said, Amen, and the
redeemedof God, the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped Him
that liveth [forever and ever] – world without end" [Revelation5:14]. What a
remarkable scene! Now we are going to speak ofit three ways: first the
worship of the redeemed, then the worship of the angels, and third the songs,
the doxologies theysing. First, the worship of the redeemed: "And the four
and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having everyone of them harps,
and goldenbowls full of incense, whichare the prayers of the saints"
[Revelation5:8]. That is, at this climactic, and all-meaningful and significant
moment in all human story, when the Lamb of Godis invested with the
kingship of the universe, and when the inheritance is to be bought back for
Adam’s fallen race, and the usurper castout, when the Lamb who only is
worthy, takes the book to break the seven seals andto castout Satanand sin
and death, then these four and twenty elders God’s redeemed, bring to
remembrance before the Almighty God all that the prophets have spoken, and
all that God’s saints have prayed – the burden of their intercessionthrough
the years, the harp and the golden bowl of incense, the prophet with his harp
and the high priest with his bowl of incense, the sayings and the promises and
the utterances ofthe prophets, and the prayers and burden of longing and
intercessionofGod’s people.
Now, I want to show you these things if ever I have time. And, so many times
peopled will sayto me, "Preacher, you saythings and then you just go off and
leave us. We don’t know where you get those things." Well, I can’t stopor
we would be here forever. And I am afraid I am going to die as it is before I
get through preaching through the Book. And certainly as one of my
teenagers said, "The Lord Jesus is going to come for sure before you get
through the Revelation." Butjust to show you where I getthat, the harp is a
sign of the prophet. For example, in 1 Samuel10:5, the prophet Samuelsays
to Saul:

And it shall come to pass, when thou art come thither to the city, that thou
shall meet a company of prophets coming down from the high place with the
psaltery,with a harp before them; and they shall prophesy: And the Spirit of
the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and thou
shalt be turned into another man.
[1 Samuel 10:5-6]
The prophets coming with harps. All right – again, in 2 Kings, chapter 3, the
spirit of prophecy was not upon Elisha. And as he stoodbefore the two kings,
Elisha said, "And now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass when the
minstrel played upon his harp, that the hand of the Lord came upon him.
And he said, Thus saith the Lord," [2 Kings 3:15-16].
There is a ministry in the prophetic deliverance of God’s message. There is a
ministry in the singing that is ordained of God. Elisha said, "The Spirit of
prophecy is not upon me; bring a minstrel, bring a minstrel." And it came to
pass as the minstrel played, that the Spirit of the Lord came upon His
prophet. The singing, Godordained that in the sounding of those notes, and
in the plucking of those chords, and in the making of that melody, God’s
Spirit would move.
Then again, we must hurry. In 1 Chronicles 25:1: "MoreoverDavid" as he
divided them into courses, andthen he speaks ofAsaph and of Heman and of
Jeduthun, "who should prophesy with harps." Isn’t that remarkable? In
that incomparably glorious service that David prescribed for the worship of
God in the temple, these courses, Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun should prophesy
with harps. Then in the third verse, "Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp,
to give thanks and to give praise to the Lord" [1 Chronicles 25:3]. Just once
again. In the forty-ninth Psalm: "I will incline Mine earto a parable: I will
open My dark saying" – I will open these things God has given me to say –
"upon the harp" [Psalm:4].
Isn’t that remarkable, God’s Spirit moving in the songs ofthe minstrel? Why,
a man would have to be a dead man, a man would have to be made out of

brass, a man would have to be composedout of solid iron, not to be moved in
his spirit when God’s unction falls upon the choir as they sing the praises and
the glory of God. "And unto Him be power, and honor, and blessing, and
glory, and to Him that sitteth upon the throne" [Revelation5:13]. These
things are marks of the Spirit of prophesy. And that’s why here in the hands
of the elders, every one of them had a harp. It calls to mind all that God has
spokenas they prophesied through His prophets, and as He gave visions to
His seers, andas He delivered His word and His messagethrough His God-
filled and God-anointed servants. So there in these doxologies – there are the
elders having in their hand eachone a harp, that is bringing before the
remembrance of God all that the Lord God hath saidthrough His holy
prophets.
And then, and eachone with a golden bowl full of incense, which are the
prayers of the saints;and I don’t need to speak of that. As the high priest
went in and the people outside praying, the high priest went in and carried his
bowl of incense;and as the smoke of it and the perfume of it ascendedup to
heaven, so the prayers of God’s people poured out before the greatthrone of
the Almighty. In that bowl, in that golden bowl, the intercessions,the
pleadings, the burdens, the agonyof all God’s children through all of the
centuries;For didn’t He teachus to pray, "Thy kingdom come"? And these
prayers are not lost. Apparently, they fall to the ground: "Thy kingdom
come" [Matthew 6:10], and the kingdom doesn’t come;and "Thy will be
done," and everyone’s will in the earth is done exceptthe will of God; and
violence is rampant and darkness and error fills the land; but still God’s
children praying, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done."
It is a part of the elective purpose of God that His children pray. And it is a
part of the effectivenessofprayer that at this greatand final and
consummating moment, every prayer of every saint is brought anew and
afreshbefore the Lord God, as the four and twenty elders pour out before the
throne of the Almighty these bowls of the incense, of the intercession, and the
burden and the agony of God’s sainted children through the centuries and
through the ages [Revelation5:8]; so in heaven, as they worship, and as they
pour out their bowls of prayer, and as they bring to God’s mind the promises
that He has made to the prophets.

I often marvel at these modern spiritualizers, liberals, who stand up in their
professor’s chairs and who stand up in their pulpits, and they say, "All of
those things spokenby the prophets, we are not to expect Godto fulfill them.
Those greatthings that the men of Godsaid back there in the Old Testament
under the aegis and unction and power and baptism of the Holy Ghost, we are
not to expectthem to be fulfilled!" Ah, how different is our covenant-keeping
God who remembers every promise that He made and who, in this greatand
final and climatic hour, will bring to pass every word that He said. That’s the
part of the adorationand the worship in glory, bringing to the remembrance
of the Almighty the harp that prophesied and the goldenbowl full of prayers.
Then the worship of the angels: "And I beheld, and heard the voice of many
angels round about the throne,and the number of them was ten thousand
times ten thousand times ten thousands and thousands of thousands"
[Revelation5:11]. Everywhere in the Word of God, angels are unnumbered.
They are innumerable. In the center of the throne, the Lamb of God, and
around the throne, the four cherubim and the four and twenty elders. And
then beyond, beyond, beyond as far as eye could see, the innumerable and
celestialhostof glory and it is significant. Theirintroduction here, this is the
first time the heavenly host, the angels are mentioned. And it is unusual how
it is done. Forlook, when the elders sing, they sing directly to the Lamb:
"Thou art worthy,Thou art worthy,ForThou hast redeemed us,And Thou
hast made us,kings" [Revelation5:9-10], and directly they sing to the Lamb.
The angels, in keeping with their inferior – isn’t that an astonishing thing?
God’s redeemed, greaterthan the angels – the angels, in keeping with their
inferior stationof service, the angels do not address the Lamb directly. But
they speak ofHim. "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and
riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing"
[Revelation5:13].
And another thing which is an astonishing thing to me! Angels never sing.
Never. Now, I thought that through. I’m going to preachon that for a little
bit. For when I stumbled into that, it was an amazing discovery! And, I’ve
already made up my mind before I saythese things that I’m going to keepon
saying about angels singing just the same, even though it isn’t true. It just
kind of fits. So from now on, as from here past, I’m going to speak ofangels

singing, the celestialchoirs – talking about the angelic host. But actually,
angels never sing. Well, I just never was so surprised in my life! And I said,
now that’s not so. So I turn in my Book andI said, "Theysang when Jesus
was born." Isn’t that right? All of my life, and all of everybody’s lives that I
have ever known about, have always spokenaboutthe angels singing when
Jesus was born: "Glory to God in the highest." You know, the angel’s song.
So I turned, and I say, if it isn’t there again. "And suddenly, there was with
the angela multitude of the heavenly hosts saying, Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace" [Luke 2:13-14], just like it is over here in the Book of the
Revelation. And there was a greathost of angels, "saying with a loud voice"
[Revelation5:12]. Neverin the Bible, never in the Bible do the angels sing.
Never. They always say. They’re in a doxology, they’re in a chorus, they’re
in a recitative, they are all togethersaying. But never in the Bible do the
angels sing. Well, that was an astonishing thing to me!
So I got to reading, and Ia gotto studying, and I got to probing, and I got to
trying to find out, and this is the best that I canfind. Always, the redeemed
sing; God’s blood washedsing; God’s children sing; but angels don’t sing.
About the best I can find out is this: music is made up of major chords and
minor chords. And the minor chords speak of the wretchedness, andthe
death, and the sorrow of this God-fallen creation. And most of nature moans
and groans in a plaintive and minor key. The sound of the wind through the
forest; the sound of the storm; the sound of the wind around the house –
always in a minor key. It wails – the sound of the ocean, moaning in its
restlessness, in its ceaseless trouble. Even the nightingale, the sweetestsong of
the birds, is also the saddest. Mostofthe sounds of nature are in minor key;
the wretchedness, the despair, the hurt, the agony, the travail of this fallen
creation. But an angel knows nothing of it; nothing of the wretchedness,
nothing of the despair, nothing of the fallen. The angels know nothing of it.
The major key and the major chorus and the major chords are chords of
triumph and victory. He hath taken us out of the miry pit. He hath takenus
out of the stubborn clay. He hath set our feetupon the rock, and He has put a
new song in our souls and new praises on our lips. An angelhas never been
redeemed. An angel has never been saved. An angelhas never fallen and

then bought back to God. That’s the only thing that I could think of or find,
why angels never sing. It’s God’s people who sing.
We look before and after,
And pine for what is not:
Our sincerestlaughter
With some pain is fraught.
["To a Skylark," by Percy Bysshe Shelley]
Just thinking in my mind of a stanza out of Shelleythat I haven’t thought of
since I was a boy. Our sweetestsongswith deepestsorrows are fraught.
Somehow, it is the sorrows oflife, and the disappointments of life, and the
despair of life that make people sing. Either in the blackness ofits hour or in
the glory of His deliverance;that’s why the redeemedsing and the angels just
speak of it. They see it. They watch it. But they know nothing about it. For
it takes a lost and fallen man who’s been bought back to God, who’s been
forgiven of his sins, who’s been redeemed;it takes a savedsoul to sing!
Now we must hurry. May I speak lastly of the songs that they sing; the three
doxologies here in this chapter? Now I want to show you something in the
Book. Leaving out the doxologyof the angels who don’t sing, and following
just the songs of the redeemed, I want to show you how they grow, and they
grow, and they grow, and they grow. All right, the first one is in the first
chapter of Revelationand the sixth verse, and it is a twofold doxology:"Unto
Him that loved us, and washedus from our sins in His own blood, and hath
made us kings and priests unto God and His Father;to Him be glory and
dominion forever and ever" [Revelation1:6]. A twofold doxology – "To Him
be glory and dominion foreverand ever." Now, the next doxologywill be
threefold. Turn to Revelation, chapter4. Revelationchapter4 and the last

verse:"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power"
[Revelation4:11]. The next doxologythat the redeemedsing is threefold:
"Glory and honor and power." Now the next doxology that the redeemed
sing is fourfold, in Revelation5 – the one we are speaking ofnow – [verse] 13,
"All did I hear saying, Blessing, andhonor, and glory, and power," a fourfold
doxology. Now in chapter 7 and verse 12 is a sevenfoldand final doxology;
"Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and
honor, and power, and might, be unto God, our God forever and ever.
Amen." As the Revelationprogresses,and as the redeemed are made more
aware of what God hath done for them, the doxologies grow andgrow and
grow in glory, in majesty, in adoration, in wonder, in reverential awe and
worship.
Now let’s look at these three here just for a moment. The first one, and you
have it translated, "and they sung" – present tense, emphasizing the intensity
of that singing: "And they sing a new song" [Revelation5:9]. There are two
Greek words for "new" – neos is new in type; kaine, kainos, is new in
character, in kind. And this word is kainen– they sing a "new kind" of a
song. Theysing a song the world has never heard before. Song – you know
there are three Greek words for "song"? Apsalmos is a psalm; a humnos –
isn’t it strange how these Greek words are in our language? – a humnos is a
sacredsong;and an ode, o-d-e, they pronounce it "ode";and an ode is a song
in general, and this is it. "And they sing a new ode, they sing a new song,
saying…" And, there are four things in their song. They sing – "this thing is
for the glory of God" – redeemedus to God. That’s the first chapter of
Ephesians. I wish you would read that and see how all of this, the redemption
of us, the saving of our souls, the new creation, for the glory of God. And
second, it’s by the cross – "Thou wastslain and hast redeemed us by Thy
blood" [Revelation5:9]. And third: it is illimitable – "outof every kindred,
and tongue, and people, and nation" [Revelation5:9]. And last, "And Thou
hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the
earth" [Revelation5:10]. And yet, when I say that there are so many, and
practically all of the liberals, there are so many that say how crass, and how
crude, and how carnal, and how sensual, and how unspiritual that we should
look for a kingdom and that we should be realpeople in it, and that we should

be kings and priests unto our God, and that we should reign upon this earth –
a real resurrection, a realbody, a real redemption, a realearth, a real Christ,
a real kingdom and God’s people living in His presence, a real life! "How
crass,"they say, "and how carnal and crude and how unspiritual." Yet, on
my word, as I study the Book, these things are the avoweddisclosures and
revelations of the Lord God Almighty. We’re going to be realpeople, real
people. You’re going to be you; and you’re going to be you; and you’ll be
you; and all of us will be ourselves. And we shall live in redeemedbodies, like
the body of our Lord; and we shall be realpeople; and we shall reign upon the
earth – the song of the redeemed;then the greatdoxologyof the angels.
And now I close with the ascription of praise. Look at it. The number four is
the number of the world. And these four ascriptions here are very
significantly and signally setapart. Eachone has an article in front of it.
"And I heard everything in heavenand earth and in the sea and under the
earth, I heard all creationsay, ha eulogia,"you’ve gotan English word
"eulogy" – ha eulogia. And I heard them say, "blessing" – ha eulogia. And
then the secondone – ha time, honor. Then the third one – he doxa, and you
have got a doxology – he doxa. And then, he kratos – blessing and honor and
glory – kratos, power. Eachone setapart. That is, all creationpraising God.
"Every creature in heaven, in earth, under the earth, and under the sea, heard
I them saying, Honor, and glory, and power, and blessing unto Him that sits
upon the throne, and to the Lamb forever and ever and ever" [Revelation
5:13].
And, hereafterin the book, it will be the Lamb and the Lord God Almighty,
togetherhere in praise. In the next chapter, togetherin wrath; in the next
chapter, chapter7, togetherin consolation;in chapter 19, togetherin triumph,
and in chapters 21 and 22, for the Lamb and the Lord God are the light of it,
and they are in the temple of it in this celestialcity. And they are the
refreshment of it and the sovereigntyof it.
And I’ve often said – I hope sometime I will have opportunity, I’ll have
opportunity to defend this, to explain this – the only God you will ever see is
the Lord Jesus. The only God you’ll ever feel is the Holy Ghost. And the only
God there is, is the one greatLord GodAlmighty. And when you get to

heaven, don’t you get in your mind you’re going to see three Gods. You are
not going to do it. When you get to heaven, you’re going to see the Lord God
Almighty, Jesus Christ. And, we’re going to worship Him and adore Him,
and we’re going to look into His face, and He is going to be our Lord and our
King. And, we shall love Him, and worship Him, and sing to Him, and serve
Him, world without end.
‘Tis the church triumphant singing,
Worthy the Lamb.
Heaven throughout with praises ringing,
Worthy the Lamb.
Thrones and powers before Him bending,
Incense sweetand voice ascending.
Swellthe chorus never ending,
Worthy the Lamb.
Every kindred, tongue and nation,
Worthy the Lamb.
Join to sing the greatsalvation,
Worthy the Lamb.
Loud as mighty thunder roaring,
Floods ofmighty waters pouring,
Prostrate atHis feet adoring,
Worthy the Lamb.

Harps and song forever sounding,
Worthy s the Lamb.
Mighty grace o’ersin abounding,
Worthy the Lamb.
By His blood He dearly bought us,
Wandering from the fold He soughtus,
And to glory faithful brought us,
Worthy the Lamb.
Sing with blest anticipation,
Worthy the Lamb.
Through the veil of tribulation,
Worthy the Lamb.
Sweetestnotes, allnotes excelling,
On the theme forever dwelling,
Still untold, though ever telling,
Worthy the Lamb.
[Anonymous, "’Tis the Church Triumphant Singing"]
"And they sing a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to
open the seals thereof:for Thou was slain, and hastredeemed us to God by
Thy blood out of every nation, and kindred, and people, and tongue;and hast
made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign upon this earth"

[Revelation5:9-10]. That’s what they sing in glory. God sanctifiedto us that
love, that adoration, that worship, even now, evennow.
THE WORTHINESS OF THE LAMB
Dr. W. A. Criswell
Revelation5:1-14
3-4-62 10:50 a.m.
On the radio you are listening to the services ofthe First Baptist Church in
Dallas. This is the pastor bringing the 11:00 o’clock morning messageentitled
The Worthiness of the Lamb. In our preaching through the Bible we have
come to the Revelation. And, in preaching through the Revelation, we have
come to chapter 5. In your Bible, you caneasilyturn to the place, and you can
follow the messageas easily. Chapter5 of the Book ofthe Revelation:
And I saw in the right hand of Him that saton the throne a book, a book
written within and on the backside, sealedwith seven seals.
And I saw a strong angelproclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to
open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
And no one in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open
the book, neither to look thereon.
And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and to read the
book, neither to look thereon.
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weepnot: behold, the Lion of the tribe of
Judah, the Rootof David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the
sevenseals thereof.

And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four cherubim, and
in the midst of the elders, stooda Lamb as it had been slain, having seven
horns and seveneyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the
earth.
And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that satupon
the throne.
[Revelation5:1-7]
As I said last Sunday morning, I wish it were possible that the pastor could
preach the three sermons of lastLord’s day and today and next Sunday at one
time. For all of them concernone greatsublime celestialscene, the
redemption of this creationof God. But there is no such opportunity.
Consequently, it is more difficult for us to see the panorama of it all, broken
up as it is in these three parts. Last Sunday morning, we spoke on the seven
sealedbook. NextSunday morning, we shall preach on the songs ofthe saints
and of the redeemedand of the antiphonal responses ofthe muriados
muriadōn, the uncounted millions of millions and multiplied millions of the
innumerable of God’s hosts in heaven. Menare numbered. The cherubim
are numbered. The elders are numbered. The electare numbered. There is
never a number to God’s heavenly hosts, the angels in glory. And their song
and what they saywill be the sermon next Sunday morning.
Last Sunday morning, we spoke of The Seven-SealedBook. "And I saw, epi,
upon, I saw lying upon the palm of the hand of God a scrollwritten within
and on the backside, sealedwith sevenseals" [Revelation5:1]. And that book
represents a forfeited inheritance. And those sevenseals, the book, the scroll
rolled and then sealed, and then rolled and then sealed, and rolled and sealed;
and rolled and sealed, until finally, the seventh sealsealedthe entire scroll.
Then when it is opened, one sealbroken and that much of the scrollunrolled
and to view, and then the next sealbroken, and that one unrolled, until finally
when all sevenseals were broken, the entire scrollwas open to view. That
book is a book of the forfeiture of an inheritance.

The inheritance is what God createdfor us, for Adam’s seed. And we lost it in
sin and transgression[Genesis3:1-6;22-24]. And a usurper took it: sin, and
death, and hell, and Satan, and iniquity, and judgment, and wrath, and the
curse took awayour inheritance as it is unto this day. And according to the
law and to the customs of the ancient Jewishpeople, the sign of a forfeited
inheritance was a sealedbook. And the fact that it has seven seals emphasizes
the encumbrances that are upon this inheritance. And an interloper, an
intruder, an alien, an enemy has taken it, and that book of redemption awaits
a goel, "a kinsman redeemer," a worthy, qualified and legalkinsman to buy it
back and to restore it to its rightful owners. And when that book of
redemption lies in the hands of One who is worthy, and those seals are
opened, then is castout in the judgments of God that follow the breaking of
those seals, then is castout that interloper and that intruder and that alien
and that enemy until finally the whole purchasedpossessionis redeemed. And
sin, and hell, and death, and Satanare castinto the lake of fire, forever
destroyedand forever destroyed[Revelation20:10-15], and God creates forus
this new heavenand new earth and gives us back the inheritance that we lost
in Adam and in sin [Revelation21:1-22:21]. Thatis the seven-sealedbook
that lies in the hand of God. It is the symbol of a forfeited and lost
inheritance. It represents the encumbrance laid upon the property, awaiting
one to redeem it, to buy it back, to retrieve it, to lift those deeds of montage
and possession.
Now, we begin with the sermon this morning. "And I saw a strong angel
proclaiming with a loud voice, Who, who is worthy to open the book, and to
loose the seals thereof?"[Revelation5:2]. All the moral and intelligent mind
and eye of God’s universe is focusedupon that sealedbook. And, the voice of
the strong angelcalled, saying that the time has come. If there is a legal
representative, if there is a qualified goel, if there is a kinsman-redeemerwho
is worthy and able to buy back this inheritance, then let him step forward, for
the time has come to redeemthe purchased possession.
And the voice of that strong angelpenetrates to the farthest corners of glory,
and it searchesthe entire earth, and it reaches downinto the realm of the
departed dead. Where is one? And the searchis made in heaven. Where is
one? And the searchis made in earth. Where is one? And the searchis made

in the netherworld. Where is one who is able to come and to lift these title
deeds, and to retrieve this mortgaged inheritance and to buy it back from the
interloper and the intruder and the alien and the enemy who now possesses it?
"Who," says the large and strong and mighty angel, "Who is worthy to open
the book, and to loose these sevenseals and to rid the inheritance of these
heavy and weighty encumbrances?" [Revelation5:2]
Then the word in the next verse, "And oudeis in heaven, and oudeis in earth,
and oudeis under the earth, was able to open the book" [Revelation5:3].
There was no one able to open the book, nor to look thereon. Now these
words, the way thOSE Greeks built them up, like the Germans built them up,
these words are expressive. You have it translated here, "And no man in
heaven, Nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book"
[Revelation5:3]. The way they build up that oudeis, the Greek wordfor
"no," "not," is ou, and de is a little participle meaning "even," and the Greek
word for "one, the cardinal number one is heis. So, ou de heis, they put them
togetherand made a word oudeis, "not even one." Searchwas made in
heaven and "not even one" in all heaven was able or worthy. When the angel
and the principalities and the powers and the archangels and all of the orders
and ranks of heaven, when they lookedat that sealedbook and saw written on
the backside the qualifications of those who were worthy and able to break
those seals, they shrunk back in shame and in inability, and they were mute
and dumb, and all heaven turned silent. And, ou de heis, oudeis, and not even
one was found in all of that netherworld. Nor Moses norElijah nor Abraham
nor all who have ever parted before and gone into that other earth, not one,
ou de heis, not even one could be found in the whole realm of the dead, in the
whole realm of the spirit world, not one could be found who was worthy.
And, ou de heis, nor was there even one that could be found in the earth. Not
one, not one [Revelation5:3].
The way that sentence is framed, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to
loose the seals thereof?"[Revelation5:2]. The way the thing is framed you
would say that there were those who had attempted it, who had soughtto
achieve it. And, if that sentence is so framed, then a question is asked. It
could refer to that. It is certainly historically true. For during the ages and
ages since Adam lost his inheritance [Genesis 3:22-24], there has been the

constantattempt of men to buy it back, to win it back, to find that highest
good, and to give to us that lost inheritance, this utopia for which our souls do
long for. The arts of civilization have sought to do it. All of the political
science ofthe centuries, all of it, has sought to do it. These revolutions, these
different forms of government, trying to find some way to bring back to
humanity that lost inheritance. Philosophy, men’s finest thinking, has sought
to think it through. And man-made religionhas sought to buy it back.
Through the centuries, through all of the story of mankind, that attempt has
been made. Who is worthy, who is able; to buy it back, to give us back, this
lost inheritance? Who? And not even one in heaven above, in the earth
beneath, or on the earth that now lives, not one was found able to open the
book or to look thereon[Revelation5:3].
Then this expressive saying in the Greek language as Johnwrites it, "And I
wept much" [Revelation5:4]. The emphasis is upon the distress, and the
agonyof heart, and the grief of the seeras he breathlesslywaited for someone
out of heaven or out of the netherworld or on the earth for someone to come
forward and to redeem this lostinheritance, God’s destroyed creation. And
as he waited, there was no one found, not in the earth, not in heaven, nor
under the earth, there was no one found [Revelation5:3]. And the seerwrites
it in a way. You can see the deep agony of his soul. "Kai ego, and I, then the
personalpronoun is also in the verb, and I, I eklaion, and I burst into open
lamentation and audible sobs" [Revelation5:4]. You find that same and
identical verb in its imperfect tense, just like it is here in the Revelation, in
Luke 19:41, "And when the Lord was come near, He beheld the city, and
eklausen, the same, same imperfect verb, and he audibly lamented over it."
He burst into tears, looking upon it. That is John’s description of the agony of
his soulas he breathlesslywaited for some qualified redeemerto come
forward and to take that possessionand to give it back to a lostand destroyed
humanity [Revelation5:4]. And as he waited, and as he waited, and as all
heaven was breathless and hushed and silent, there was no one, no one who
came forward, who was able and worthy to take the book of the mortgage
deed of God’s creationand to redeemit back to those to whom it rightfully
belonged. And John, as he waited and as no one came forward, and John
burst into audible lamentation and tears [Revelation5:4].

These are the tears of all God’s people through all of the centuries. Those
tears of the apostle John are the tears of Adam and Eve, driven out of the
garden of Eden [Genesis 3:24], as they bowed over that first grave; as they
wateredthe dust of the ground with their tears over the silent and still form of
that son, Abel [Genesis 4:8-10]. Those are the tears of the children of Israelin
bondage as they cried unto God in their affliction and in their agony[Exodus
3:7, 9]. These are the tears of God’s electthrough the centuries as they cried
unto heaven. These are the sobs and the tears that have been wrung from the
heart and the soulof God’s people as they look on their silent dead, as they
stand beside their open graves, as they experience, in the trials and in the
sufferings of life, those heartaches and those disappointments indescribable.
Deathis the curse that sin and transgressionhas laid upon God’s beautiful
creation[Ezekiel18:4; Romans 6:23]. And this is the damnation of the hand
of him that holds it, that usurper, that interloper, that intruder, that alien,
that stranger, that dragon, that serpent, that Satan, Devil.
"And I wept audibly" [Revelation5:4], for it meant that consignedforever,
this earth, in its curse. Forit meant that death and sin and damnation and
hell should reign foreverand ever and the sovereigntyof God’s earth should
remain foreverin the hands of Satan. "I wept much because ou de heis," not
even one in heaven, in earth, under the earth, was found worthy to open the
book and to loose those sevenseals, andto castout these who curse and damn
our earth. "I wept."
"And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, behold" [Revelation
5:5]. "And one of the elders";why, I thought it was a strong angel
proclaiming with a loud voice. No, and it is one of the elders. "Blessedare
they that mourn: they shall be comforted" [Matthew 5:4]. "And one of the
elders," one who himself had knownwhat it was to be regeneratedin his
heart, one who himself had known what it is to be redeemed, his body raised
out of the dust of the ground and out of the heart of the earth. And one of the
elders, one of the redeemed, one of the blood-bought, "One of the elders saith
unto me, Weepnot: behold, behold" [Revelation5:5]. And that has been the
cry of the church through all of these centuries, "Weepnot, weepnot. Lift up
your eyes. Lift up your heart. Raise your soul. Look! Behold, behold!"
That is what the prophets saw when they lookedforward to see His day, and

Jesus was worthy

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