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Who is worthy of owning everything? Who is worthy of claiming the title deed to the earth? Jesus Christ, of course.

Revelation 5:1 starts, “I saw in the right hand of Him the sat on the throne.” That’s significant because we know that at the resurrection of Jesus Christ, according to Psalm 110:1, where was Jesus seated? “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” So, the Lord Jesus is going to have to go very far to receive this from the Almighty, because He’s right there. “In the right hand of Him who sat on the throne, a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.” What is the significance of being written inside and on the back? It was typical of a title deed in the ancient world that it would be written front and back and then it would be sealed. The fact that it’s sealed with seven seals shows something very important. To break the seal, back then, you had to be the person to whom the deed was given.

While weeping and as John admits, he reports in Revelation 5:5 that “One of the elders said to him, “Behold the lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed.” When did Jesus prevail? Obviously, on the cross. “It is finished.” That was Christ’s victory. “He has prevailed to open the scroll and to lose is seven seals. “And I looked,” John says in Revelation 5:6, “and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders stood a Lamb.” Jesus, The Lamb of God, is standing “as though it had been slain having seven horns and seven eyes.” Once again, symbolism is being used. It’s not always describing the actual appearance of the person is describing something about them. And the horn in Scripture is a symbol of strength, power, and authority. And the eyes, intelligence. “So it had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God set out in the earth. And he came and he took the scroll out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne when he had taken the scroll. The four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls of incense which are the prayers of the saints.” Did you ever stop and think that every prayer you pray is on record? And it says here that the prayers are incense offered before God. Before the veil separating the Holy of Holies, the assigned priest would light the altar of incense and the smoke of it would go up. And what was it a picture of? It was a picture of the prayers of the saints.

In Revelation 5:9,” they sang a new song.” Who is singing the new song? Well, it’s the elders and those who are with it, and I include us in that group. They sang a new song. “You are worthy to take the scroll and open a seal for you were slain.” The idea of redemption when it relates to people has the slave market in mind. You’re a slave. You’re standing on the slave block. Redemption means to pay the price to set you free and then you were let go. That’s the idea of redemption. “You have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue.” No group not represented. And notice in Revelation 5:10, “you have made us kings and priests.” Who again are these people? Church age believers. No Old Testament believer was King Priest. 1st Peter 2:9 says, “we are a royal priesthood.” The very fact that these people are singing and saying, “You redeemed us and you have made us kings and priest,” tell us, those are church age believers. Are any believers in the tribulation going to be royal priests? No. Church age only. That’s one of the privileges we have that no one of any other time of history is going to enjoy among many, many of the things that we have in Christ.

Revelation 5:10 concludes, “…and we shall reign on the earth.“ One day I believe each one of us is going to be a lot of certain responsibilities in the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ. And we’re going to exercise authority. John says in Revelation 5:11, “Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures and the elders, and the number of them was 10,000 times 10,000 saying with a loud voice say, ‘Worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.” Now we’ve had the first chorus church sing, second the second chorus is angels. Revelation 5:13 says, “and every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth, and as are in the sea and all that are in them. I heard saying blessing and honor and glory and power be to him who sits on the throne under the Lamb forever and ever.” There is a day coming when every created thing is going to be singing praises to Jesus Christ. In fact, the Old Testament tells us that when the kingdom begins, the mountains and the hills and the trees and the rivers will begin to sing. You might think that this is just imagery. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem and the Pharisees rebuked his disciples, to stop speaking messianic prophecy. Jesus replied, “I tell you of these keep silent the rocks of the earth would cry out. I believe it’s going to happen one day. I can’t wait to see all creation, just joining in and singing, “blessing and honor and glory and power to Him who sits on the throne in the land forever and ever. Revelation 5:14, ends the chapter, “The four living creatures said, ‘Amen!” and the 24 elders fell down and worshiped Him, who lives forever and ever.” That is the last beautiful picture that you’re going to see until Chapter 20.

Gene Cunningham - August 3, 2022

The Power of Perseverance (Part One)

The Power of Perseverance (Part One)

The Power of Perseverance (Part One) 1) Perseverance is the price of victory. In the spiritual war, you and I are engaged in a spiritual war and victory. In that spiritual war, as far as our personal lives is concerned, is going to require perseverance. Revelation 3:10. “Because you have kept my command to persevere. I will keep you from the hour of trial, which will come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth.” This is not talking about the Rapture in that passage. How do I know he's not talking about the Rapture in that passage? Because if he's talking about the Rapture in that passage and you don't persevere, you don't go, which is a false teaching. What is he talking about? The hour of trial he's talking about is not to Israel. The hour of trial he's talking about is to the church and may I suggest, we are in it. if you want to be delivered in this hour of trial, you are going to have to persevere and Rev 3:10. 2) Perseverance is greater than either patience or endurance. Perseverance is greater than either patience or endurance. Whether you look at it in the Greek language or look at it in the English language, patience primarily denotes a mental stamina. In other words, I'm willing to tolerate this. I'll put up with this last patience. We are patient with those who try our patience. Endurance denotes more of a physical perspective. I'm under pain, but I'm going to bear it. What is the difference between perseverance, patience and endurance? The answer is this perseverance not only bears up but perseveres toward a clear goal. There is a goal out there that you are pushing toward. You'll remember, Paul said in Philippians 3:12-14. “It's not as if I have already attained. Neither am I already made perfect. But this one thing I do forgetting the things that are behind and looking forward to what's ahead. I press on to the goal for the prize of the high calling that I have in Christ.” He had a goal in mind. It was not just I'll put up with this It was not just I can take the pain. It's there's a purpose in this and I am driving for the purpose. That is a big, big difference. Perseverance focuses on purpose. 3) Perseverance is a key ingredient of Christian character. Perseverance is a key ingredient of Christian character and can only be developed through trials. There's only one way to get perseverance, and that is to suffer. Paul says in Romans 5:3-4 “Not only this, but we glory in tribulation, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance and perseverance, character and character produces hope.” A good question for us today would be can we really glory in our tribulations? 4) Only genuine spiritual growth can develop true perseverance. only true spiritual growth. Yeah, it takes affliction on the outside, but it takes spiritual growth on the inside. You remember the passage in 2nd Peter 1:5, when he says, “for this very reason, bringing in all diligence, add to your faith, virtue and true virtue, knowledge and a knowledge, self-control, and a self-control, perseverance and a perseverance, godliness…” You ought to be conformed to Christ. Therefore, Paul says, “If we suffer with Him, we shall reign with Him (2 Pet 2:12).” 5) The Greatest Arena for displaying perseverance is prayer What is the greatest arena for displaying perseverance? What is the greatest place that you will ever display? Your perseverance, your suffering, or your fear, where you're at You're ready for it. You're in prayer. Oh, no. You may not always be suffering. You are always to be praying. You may not always be under trial. You ought always to be praying every day. 24 hours, however, minutes and many minutes and seconds. You have all those opportunities to be praying. You'll touch the world with prayer. Ephesians 6:18, “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit. Make sure you're in the spirit. Being watchful to this and with all perseverance and supplication for the saints….”

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