Do
Not Weep, Jesus has Triumphed
and I
wept much that no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to into into
it.
Then one of the elders said to
me, "Weep not; lo, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has
conquered,
so that he can open the scroll and its
seven seals." Revelation 5:4-5
When I think about the Book of Revelation, I think of music.
If you want to understand the mood of apocalyptic books like Revelation,
think of the black hymns of slavery. You will understand the tone of the book.
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen.
Nobody knows my sorrow.
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Glory hallelujah.
or
I got a robe, you got a robe, all God's chillin got a robe.
when I get to heaven gonna put on my robe
gonna shine all over God's heaven, heaven,
gonna shine all over God's heaven.
And one that we sing with the children is right in line with Revelation:
My God is so big, so strong and so mighty
there's nothing my God cannot do.
The mountains are his, the valleys are his
the stars are his handiwork too.
My God is so BIG, so strong and so mighty
there's nothing my God cannot do.1
The Book of Revelation used to be one of every preacher's stock and trade
for sermons. People loved them and preachers loved expounding their version
of what it all meant. I can see why, but that is because I enjoy anything
speculative and mysterious. And I think its a pity we hear so little from
this amazing book. So here is one brief venture into apocalyptic literature.
The Revelation of John is written against the backdrop of severe persecution.
It was written to believers in churches of what is now modern Turkey. Most
of those towns and churches are gone, but interestingly, one of them in the
town of Izmir, survives today. That is the church in the city of what was
then called Smyrna . To them God said,
"Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I
tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will
suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death,
and I will give you the crown of life."
Interesting, isn't it that this is a church that survived where none of
the rest did.
It is easy to get caught up in the dramatic language and strange symbolism
and forget that it is God's word to us as well and that what God says is true.
We may not always understand it perfectly, but it is true nonetheless. And
what God says is going to happen, will happen as sure as the sun comes up
every day.
The scene in Revelation opens with John on the island of Patmos worshipping
God when he is caught up in the spirit and shown an amazing series revelations.
First he sees a scene of seven candlesticks which are the seven churches
of Turkey who were the recipients of the letter. Each is addressed in turn
for the first three chapters.
When the fourth chapter begins, the scene is of heaven and its glory.
At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne
in heaven with someone sitting on it.
And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian.
A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.
Surrounding the throne were twenty-four other thrones, and seated on
them were twenty-four elders. They were dressed in white and had crowns of
gold on their heads.
From the throne came flashes of lightning, rumblings and peals of thunder.
Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of
God.
Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear
as crystal.
In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they
were covered with eyes, in front and in back.
The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox,
the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle.
Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with
eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying:
and these are the words we used in our call to worship today:
“Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.”
“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
and by your will they were created
and have their being.”
Remember who this is addressed to: a group of severely persecuted believers
against whom the entire might of Rome was arrayed. What chance would they
have?
Isn't it better to capitulate and spare themselves any further pain and
sorrow. Besides, its obvious the battle is lost.
It would have been obvious to someone living under Caesar, that you cannot
hope to win against the might of Rome at the zenith of its power.
But consider history:
Who conquered Rome?
The church conquered Rome. Rome did not conquer the church of Jesus.
Yes they suffered, but Jesus words were true: You will suffer for a while,
but be faithful. I will give you a crown of life.
In the next scene, a book is held in the hand of the One who sits on the
throne.
He asks, "who is worthy to open the scroll?"
It appears there is no one.
What scroll is this?
This is the scroll in which contains God's response to all the evil of the
world.
This is the map forward, but no one can open the scroll.
John finds himself weeping.
Why?
John is a pastor at heart more than anything else and his people are undergoing
severe testing.
The scroll holds the answer.
But no one can open it.
Is there no answer to the suffering of the world?
Think of it yourself:
Is there no answer to what we see around us?
What evil do you have in mind?
Name any.
Name it all.
What if there was no remedy?
Suppose sickness and suffering, and cruelty and violence had no response.
What if it was just too strong.
What if you thought that while there might be an answer to it, the solution
was unavailable because there was no one worthy to receive it.
Wouldn't that make you want to cry.
And you don't have to be so global.
What if the suffering in your family had no response. What if evil is just
stronger than good.
What if the good do die young for no reason at all.
What then?
What if you are a slave in a foreign land and there is no one who will lift
a finger to help you, no one strong enough to stand against such horrible
oppression?
Who will you turn to?
That is John's predicament.
And then...
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.”
There is someone who is strong enough to both take the scroll and open it.
To the slave for whom no one will lift a finger, he knows who to turn to.
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Nobody knows but Jesus.
Nobody knows the trouble I've seen
Glory hallelujah.
But Jesus does know.
Jesus has the scroll and the answer to it.
and
My God is big, so strong and so mighty
There's nothing my God cannot do.
So what is your predicament?
You think no one knows or no one can help?
You are wrong. Jesus can.
Jesus does.
Jesus will.
There is one thing above everything else about Revelation that you need
to know.
God will triumph.
What God says will come to pass.
Count on it.
Preached July 19, 2009
Dr. Harold McNabb
West Shore Presbyterian Church
Victoria, British Columbia
Notes
1. "My God is So Big", words and music by Ruth Harms
Calkin
Online Resources Consulted
http://www.preachingtoday.com/
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