Sunday, August 4, 2019

The Revelation of Christ – Part 11: The Scroll and Seven Seals - HOFC


The Revelation of Christ – Part 11:
The Scroll and Seven Seals - HOFC
Pastor Bruce A. Shields
House of Faith Church | www.PS127.org | www.TruthDigest.org

This Document is a Sermon Outline, you may hear the full audio of the actual sermon by following the link Online Audio Files located above for this, and other Full Sermon Audios.  For a complete list of Sermon Outlines, visit TruthDigest.org, or Truth Digest on facebook; for our Official Church website, visit PS127.org, or find us on facebook at House of Faith Church

SERMON INTRODUCTION
The Book of Revelation, or the Revelation of Christ, is the most difficult book in the bible.

Because of this fact, many avoid it, or ignore it all together. Some fear lack of understanding, others afraid to misinterpret, which I guess it is better to avoid than dive in and get it completely wrong.

Many times, when a new believer comes to me for direction, they want to jump right into Revelation and find out what’s to come.

This is equivalent to deciding one day to learn Mandarin and sitting down to author a novel in Chinese that very same day.

Or, a kindergartener learning how to count, and then trying to calculate quantum mechanics calculations.

The words in Revelation have caused much debate on rapture, judgement, even some who claim John was writing about the events in his day in code rather than Jesus Christ revealing to him about the coming events and Judgment.

A special blessing is promised to those who read Revelation.

Although it may be a difficult book, we could all use a special blessing, reading this is good for us all, and with the help of the Holy Spirit, we will take the Revelation of Christ in small portions and gain understanding, little by little.





SERMON SERIES

THE THINGS WHICH ARE – The Church Age (Age of Grace)
Part 4 – Smyrna The Steadfast Church
Part 5 – Pergamos The Immoral Church
Part 6 – Thyatira The Careless Pagan Church
Part 7 – Sardis The Spiritless Church
Part 8 – Philadelphia The Favored Church
Part 9 – Laodicea The Church God Hates

THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE – The Coming Judgment
Part 10 – The Throne of God
Part 11 – The Scroll and Seven Seals
Part 12 – The Lamb is Worthy



TODAY’S SERMON - THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE – The Coming Judgment
Part 11 – The Scroll and Seven Seals

SCRIPTURE READING
Revelation 5:1-4
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”




          I.      INTRODUCTION
a.   The Lord Among the Lampstands
                                     i.   Revelation begins by introducing the Lord
                                    ii.   He stands among the lampstands (the congregations)
1.   The light (fire) of the lampstands is the Holy Spirit
2.   Remember in Revelation 4:5 “In front of the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God.”

                                   iii.   In His right hand seven stars (ministers of the congregations)
                                   iv.   Coming from His mouth a sharp double-edged sword
                                    v.   He holds the keys to death and Sheol (place of departed spirits)


b.   The Seven letters to the Seven churches
                                     i.   After, the Lord tells John to write His words to the seven churches
                                    ii.   This is where we see His double edge sword in action
                                   iii.   Praises, corrections, all from the same Word of Truth (Sword) spoken from the Lord’s mouth


c.   John in Heaven
                                     i.   We then see John is taken (transported/teleported/moved) to heaven
                                    ii.   This is not a vision, a parable, a dream, but a reality

                                   iii.   Revelation 4:1-2 “After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” 2 At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.”

                                   iv.   John was moved to heaven (his spirit) AND the Lord placed him in the future!
1.   He is IN heaven, which is outside of earths dimension
a.   Genesis chapter 1 God created “time”
b.   God is eternal, outside of time, that is where His abode is
c.   Where there is no beginning or end
2.   This is where John was taken
3.   Easily shown events that have not taken place YET in our timeline
4.   John watched the future unfold before him

                                    v.   John looks again at the Throne where Jesus sits


         II.      The Scroll and the Seven Seals
a.   John saw the scroll in Jesus’ Right hand
                                     i.   Remember, the “right hand” is a metaphor for the omnipotence (authority, power) of God
                                    ii.   He held the scroll


b.   Writing on both sides and Seven Seals
                                     i.   There is writing on both sides
                                    ii.   And seven seals
1.   On the seventh day God rested and it became holy
2.   Seven is the number of perfection a symbol of rest
3.   7X7 is the year of Jubilee and forgiveness
4.   Symbolic of reward (Deuteronomy 28:7; 1 Samuel 2:5)
5.   Symbolic of punishment (Leviticus 26:21,24, 28; Deuteronomy 28:25)
6.   Whether rest, forgiveness, reward or punishment, seven means perfection of whatever it is attached to
7.   Seven seals are perfect “seals” which is why no one can open them, except the one who IS perfection


c.   A mighty angel proclaimed
                                     i.   In a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”
                                    ii.   The seals are perfectly sealing the scroll


        III.      No one in Heaven, on Earth or beneath Earth (Sheol) was worthy
a.   No one was worthy to open the scroll, or even read it
                                     i.   In heaven, on earth or beneath earth
1.   No one in heaven or on earth

2.   Beneath the earth? Yes, Sheol, the place of departed spirits.

a.   Sheol is the “lowest parts of the earth (Deut 32:22 ; 1 Sam 28:11-15 ; Psalm 86:13 ; Isa 7:11 ; Ezekiel 31:14-16 Ezekiel 31:18 )
b.   Job 26:5-6 says that Sheol is under the depths of the waters


b.   John wept and wept
                                     i.   Because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside


c.   The Elder said to John, Do not weep!
                                     i.   One of the 24 Elders spoke to John
1.   12 represent the Old Covenant and the 12 tribes
2.   12 represent the New covenant and the Apostles
3.   REPRESENT…not the actual tribes or apostles

                                    ii.   “See, the LION of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, had triumphed.”
1.   Lion – Remember the creatures before the throne?
a.   Seraphim, one with the face of a Lion representing the Lord’s kingship
b.   The Lord is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah

2.   David – The Lord is the Root of David
a.   Remember prophecies told the messiah would reestablish the throne of David
b.   He would be from the bloodline of David
                                                                                                 i.    Both Joseph and Mary were from the Davidic bloodline


3.   Triumphed – He triumphed at the cross!
a.   The Lord did just as He said, He saved us
b.   His perfection fulfilled the Law
c.   He paid the penalty of our sin
d.   Those who accept His sacrifice are “born again” into the new Covenant and avoid the consequences of the Old Covenant
                                                                                                 i.    Death is required for breaking God’s law and sinning against Him under the Old Covenant

                                   iii.   “He is able to open the scroll and its seals”



CONCLUSION – “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”



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