An Exposition of Revelation Chapter 5

Desert Light Church, February 2nd, 2020

Eric Villanueva

 Last week I spoke on “The Sin of Not Praying,” off of the quotation from 1 Samuel 12:23, when the prophet said, “Far be it from me to sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you.”

I was very strong in saying that we should not sin by not praying. What I missed… was to communicate about the grace, freedom, opportunity, and experience of God in praying.

Though I was technically correct, in that sin is falling short (and we all do fall short), I left it as a “do this be good, don’t do this be bad” binary or black-and-white message.

I am more convinced now after that I’ve gone over this that in praying, sharing, showing compassion, encouraging, sharing Jesus, spending time in the word, etc, we can all find areas where we fall short, like I did in that message. But I serve you and God better by pointing to Jesus’ blood covering my shortcomings and not focusing on failure, but in Jesus’ victory that I am called to join Him in. 

God controls destiny, Jesus is worthy to open it up for us, and our prayers make it real on earth and heaven.

Election times appeal to destiny. Politicians promise, “Vote for me, I’ll deliver destiny.” Too many politicians get power and the leave the people hanging with a destiny deficit until the next election and the cycle repeats.

The human soul longs to discover, “What will be my destiny?” A billion dollar horoscope industry says, ‘balls of gas in space deliver destiny,’ but they don’t know us intimately; God does.

“Thou art intimately acquainted with all my ways” (Psalm 139:3).

Others consult the dead through mediums, hoping that the grave has answers.

“for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going” (Ecclesiastes 9:10).

Some claim psychic power, intuition, or the universe will guide. Others believe in reincarnated lives to guide.

Hebrews 9:27 says “And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.”

Some go to spirits, though not the Holy One, to guide destiny. If one knew the destiny of those spirits, “everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” they wouldn’t want to follow them (Matthew 25:41).

Cult leaders say they deliver it. Some think scientists deliver. Others look to apps. Some believe “I create my own destiny!”

“Yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”(James 4:14).

In Revelation 5, the destiny of the planet, my nation, my family, and my life is a closed book in the hand of Almighty God, Jesus the Lamb earned the right to open it at the cross, and…through the prayers of the saints destiny is unveiled and applied to the peoples of earth.

The prayers of God’s people are the “destiny delivery service.”

Deliver destiny by Prayer.

1. Our destiny is in the right hand of God. [1] “Then I saw in the right hand of him”

The right hand signifies power, authority, and privilege. “who was seated on the throne” God, the King of the universe is on duty and in control. “a scroll written within and on the back,” The book is written, complete, and full. sealed with seven seals. It is a closed book. 7 means it is completely closed and what is in it is the completion of destiny. [2] “And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice,” Angel means, “messenger.” The greater the message the greater the power of the angel. “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” The angel, though mighty, couldn’t reveal destiny; a declaration of our highest value among creation; that Only One worthy of us has the right to reveal our destiny. [3] “And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it,” No politician, ball of gas, dearly departed, psychic, created universe, past existence, angel; fallen or good, cult leader, ascended master, scientist, or even oneself deserves or has the power to reveal his or her or anyone’s destiny which is secure in the right hand of Almighty God. “[4] and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.” John, in God’s presence, wept, yes there are tears in heaven!…for now; until He wipes them away in the New Jerusalem.” (Revelation 21:4). Knowing God is in control won’t satisfy the longing to know, “What is my destiny, my family’s, my nation and people, and the planet?” We have to know. Those who don’t know God seek it desperately in inadequate substitutes. So, the 7-sealed book has destiny, but how can we know what’s in that book?

2. One can discover destiny at the foot of the cross.

[5] “And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more;” The elder spoke. One of 24, God’s people, 12 tribes and 12 apostles. A cryptic clue, one of God’s people who understands what is happening helps John’s emotions which were disoriented. We need direction from God’s people to put confused emotions back in place. We need God’s people to get emotions re-oriented with truth. The first application is, go to church! Because it is there the presence of Jesus, the answer to John’s emotional torment was and for us still is, “behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” Jesus is a lion, king of beasts, fearsome, unchallenged. He is a root, deep, and sustains life, and gives stability [6] “And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb” In our destiny He is the lamb of sacrifice to us, a baby sheep. It declares His sacrificial love. “Standing, as though it had been slain,” is the crucified position. Destiny at the foot of the cross. Real destiny is to answer the question, “Where do I spend eternity?” The cross and the blood of the cross erases all sin and makes destiny eternal life for those who believe. “With seven horns” 7 horns is total power. “And with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God,” total vision of the fullness of the Spirit. “Sent out into all the earth.” It’s missionary vision, to the whole world. [7] “And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.” Nothing or no one less than Jesus has the power to reveal and determine destiny!

3. Destiny is delivered by prayer and missions.

[8] “And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb,” God’s people and the 4 bizarre angels worship Jesus the Lamb. Only God is worshiped in heaven. Jesus is God. “Each holding a harp;” musical praise. “And golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints”. God included prayers of the saints to make destiny real. Prayers are gold; highest value, and God ordained. Incense is imagery for prayer to God as a beautiful aroma. God forbade His people to use the tabernacle/temple incense recipe for any other purpose (Exodus 30:37). God the Father, Son, and Spirit has a prayer partnership with His saints. The bible shows Prayer, giving, and worship as ministries on earth that also reach heaven (Acts 10:4 The Unveiling 5:8, 8:3), no preaching. Worship here can’t compare. But when a saint of God talks to the Lord, prayer smells wonderful in heaven. [9] “And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood” Only Jesus earned the right for our destiny. His blood is the only price high enough to purchase our expensive, precious souls. “You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,” True destiny is to have a ransomed soul.God on His throne, the standing Lamb, the 7-fold Spirit and God’s praying saints are the agents of destiny. He could have taken the gospel to the world without us, but He chose us to be part of revealing and working out His predetermined destiny. “…even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” (Ephesians 1:4). If God doesn’t need our prayers and service, why does He have us do it? He needs nothing, including our prayers. But He wants not only to save us but to include us in His work of ransoming sinners from the whole world.His desire for us is to join Him in what’s on His heart (John 3:16); all the people of the world. [10] “and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.” We’re priests in prayer by bringing God to people and people to God. We’re royal as He brings His kingdom through our prayers. That’s the meaning of, “Thy Kingdom come” (Matthew 6:10) in the Lord’s Prayer. [11] Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, This verse, as written in Greek, starts angels, creatures, elders, and millions. Through prayers of the saints, the population of heaven goes from 24, 12 Patriarchs, 12 apostles, to billions. The message is that the blood of the lamb, applied to the nations by the prayers of the saints populates heaven with billions. [12] “saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ [13] And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!” [14] And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.” When the missionary task is fulfilled, and it will be, worship remains. What will be is that destiny is from the right hand of God, to the Lamb, crucified on the cross, to the vision of the Spirit, to the prayers of the saints, to the ransomed souls of the nations, billions, in worship of the One seated on the throne and to the Lamb: that is what will be.

Holy One

(By Eric Villanueva)

On the throne He/

is the only, the Holy One/

We are told/

He does hold/

the destiny of man in His mighty right hand,7x sealed but waiting to be revealed/

All of human history and the fate of every nation/

Is no longer such a mystery It is world evangelization/

For the sacrificed/

resurrection glorified/

conquering Lamb/

Slain for every man/

Has given us a look/

So deep inside the book/

that He took/

worthy alone is He/

of my destiny/

To the One seated on the throne and to the lamb be praise/

Glory and honor and power/Forever and ever AMEN!/

Jesus waits/

The prayers of the saints/

To purchase with His blood/

Those from every land/

Give glory to the Lamb/

To the One seated on the throne and to the lamb be praise/

Glory and honor and power/

Forever and ever AMEN