00:00
00:00
00:01
Transcript
1/0
Thank you for selecting this
message by Dr. James Hoffman. Dr. Hoffman preaches
verse by verse through the entire book of the Bible. From all of
us at Living Water of Lapine here in Central Oregon, we hope
that it will encourage you and feed you spiritually. And if
you would like to leave a message after the sermon, our contact
information is found on the sermon page where you found this sermon.
Now may God richly bless you as you listen. At 3.30 p.m. on June 6th, 2007,
a 21-year-old man with muscular dystrophy named Ben Carpenter
drove his electric-powered wheelchair down the sidewalk of Paw Paw,
Michigan. As he approached the street crossing
at the corner of Red Arrow Highway and Hazen Street, A semi-truck
came to a halt at the stoplight there. Ben began to cross the
street from the north to the south in his wheelchair just
a few feet in front of the towering truck. When the light turned
green, somehow, the 52-year-old driver of the truck did not see
Ben in his wheelchair. With Ben still in front of the
truck, the engine roared to life and the mammoth vehicle pulled
forward. When the truck struck Ben's wheelchair,
the wheelchair turned facing forward and the handles in the
back of the wheelchair became wedged in the truck's grill. The wheelchair kept rolling and
Ben wearing a seatbelt was held into his chair. The truck driver
was oblivious to the fact that he had hit the wheelchair. The
truck picked up speed, soon reaching 50 miles per hour. Still, the
wheelchair and Ben were pinned dangerously on the front. While
the driver continued along in his own little world of the truck
cab, people along the road saw what was happening. Everyone
had seen the drama as it was unfolding and they saw the driver
and frantic observers called 911. People waved their arms
and tried to get the driver's attention. Two off-duty policemen
saw what was happening and began to pursue the truck. On the road
behind the truck were two new parallel lines that marked where
the wheelchair's wheels rubber had worn off. Finally, after
two terrifying miles, the driver pulled into a trucking company
parking lot, still clueless to the presence of Ben Carpenter,
pinned to the front of his truck. Thankfully, Ben was unharmed. The frightening picture of a
many ton truck pushing a small wheelchair can serve as a metaphor
for much of the struggles that we have in life. Just as the
truck driver is in a big and powerful position, and such a
person in a wheelchair is in a very vulnerable position. So
we have the forces of power in life. We have the vulnerable
people. To varying degrees, powerful
people have control and vulnerable people are controlled by others. Power is not wrong. In fact,
God gives people power and authority to use it for the good of others. But unfortunately, mankind is
sinful and uses power in all kinds of selfish applications. Our passage this morning in Revelation
chapter five is about the misuse of power. Tragically, the forces
of power that control this world resemble this truck driver flying
down the highway with a vulnerable person pinned to the grill of
their 18 wheeler. Is there anyone capable to stop
the truck? Today's message is titled, Can
anyone stop this truck? So if you haven't done so yet,
open your Bibles with me to Revelation chapter five as we continue our
study through the book of Revelation. Today we open the fifth chapter,
verse one reads this way. Then I saw in the right hand
of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within
and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Now this scroll is a mystery.
And I know that there are some here, and I'm probably one of
them, who do not like to have a good mystery spoiled by someone
who is familiar with the mystery that would tell us about it before
we have a chance to read the book or see the movie. So, spoiler
alert, I'm about to tell you what this
scroll is. But no, wait, no, wait, actually,
before you cover your ears, on the other hand, you might want
to listen up because I think it'll help you understand Revelation
chapter five as we walk through these verses. and it will also
help you understand the rest of the book that we are studying
here, the book of Revelation. The scroll that is in the right
hand of God is the mystery of God. It answers questions that
men have been asking for generations, which no one has been able to
answer. Why can't we solve the great problems of mankind. We hear much these days of the
progress that humans have made, tremendous technological advances,
the wonders that science has produced. And we put a big smile
on our face and pat our backs and say, we're right on the verge
of perfection. Right now, we're in the midst
of a presidential race, and one party is saying that we are on
the verge of perfection, and the others say, no, we're not,
we're far from it. And each candidate works very hard to create the
illusion that your vote for them is a vote to solve mankind's
problems. But when we look back on history,
we find that the truly great problems, the ones that we wrestle
with every day, are the same that men and women were wrestling
with since the very dawn of time. The problem of war, of conflict
between human beings, the problem of crime, evil, prejudice, these
have always been with us. As far back in history as you
can go, no one has made any advance on solving them. They are with
us just as they have been since the beginning. Why can't we get
a handle on these? Why can't we solve such problems? You know, the chief theological
question of all time is this, what's going on here anyway? You ever feel that way? Things happen in your life, you
can't understand them? They seem to be without meaning
or reason. Is this world a pagan wilderness
of suffering and pain where might makes right? Will there ever
be justice? Will there ever be true righteousness? Vindication for all the evil
that I see? Mercy? You might say with disgust,
What's going on here anyway? Can anyone stop the truck? What's going on here is the question
this scroll mentioned in Revelation 5, 1 answers. And all the other
contents of Revelation chapter 5 is answering, can anyone stop
this truck? How will God ever straighten
out this mess and fulfill his promise of a golden age, when
men will live in a world without war, without bloodshed, without
hatred, without prejudice, without sorrow, death, tears, when all
this will be taken away? How is it to be brought about?
Men have been dreaming of a world at peace, a utopia on earth for
centuries. But no one has found the answer.
But if this scroll is not opened, all of the answers that are written
on it will not come to pass. Hope is defeated. The world is rapidly degenerating
into a morass of wickedness and violence before our very eyes. Now the price for Earth's redemption
was paid long ago on Calvary's cross. However, the earth is
still bound. It is still in the grip of the
power of the evil one whose truck is pushing us down the road at
increasing speeds beyond 55 miles per hour. Our actual redemption
must still be accomplished. Using perhaps a closer analogy
to our passage of Revelation chapter five, the situation of
the yet to be redemption is as though man had purchased attractive
land. And this particular man has clear
title to it legally. But he's kept from occupying
it because unlawful squatter has settled on it. He has to
first convince the squatter to stop his unlawful behavior. In
this glorious fifth chapter of Revelation, the rightful owner
is preparing to finish the task of taking back what is rightfully
his. The description of the scroll
that we see here in the restriction of the person who can open it
is exactly like a first century land deed. Legal documents were
sealed, often with seven seals. imprinted with the verifications
of seven witnesses. The wax seals would have to be
broken to loose the strings beneath them, which wrapped the scroll
and guaranteed that it had not been opened or altered until
the proper person did so. The form was used for contract
deeds and wills, became increasingly common in Roman documents of
that period. And some Palestinian Jewish documents
of this sort have been recovered today. Scrolls were normally
written on only one side of the papyrus sheet, called the recto,
where fibers were horizontal and easier for writing. But the
scroll, this particular one, is so full and it's written on
both sides. These pieces of papyrus or vellum
could be as long as 30 feet. A page would be written upon,
folded, signed, and then sealed with clay wax. Then the writer
would proceed with the next portion of it, fold it, and then sign
it by a witness, and then seal it again. And as the scroll was
later then unfolded, and it could only be unfolded by its rightful
heir, The seals would be broken and each section of the scroll
would then be revealed. This scroll, or this title deed,
reveals how the rightful heir, who does open it, will regain
his rightful inheritance. We're about to see that Christ
will do this by means of divine judgments, about to be poured
out upon the earth. Jesus Christ created the earth,
he redeemed it, and it belongs to him. The opening of the scroll
of God's purpose is, it's not just about finding someone morally
good enough to do this job, but about finding the rightful heir
who has the authority to open the scroll in the sense of putting
it into effect. The earth has been in the hands
of the invader, Satan. He seized it from Adam. Today,
the earth is under Satan's power and influence. He is driving
the truck. Let's read on in Revelation chapter
five, picking up now with verse two, verses two through four.
Revelation five, verses two through four. And I saw a mighty angel
proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the scroll
and break its seals? And no one in heaven or on earth
or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into
it. And I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy
to open the scroll or to look into it." Well, the question at this point,
nevermind is, who is the rightful heir? It simply is, who is worthy
to open it? Now, in some ways that might
seem a little bit easier to find somebody who's worthy to open
it than who simply is the rightful heir. Who among us is capable
of leading us into solutions to the problems that have been
with us for centuries? Who is smart enough? Who is moral
enough? Who is worthy? Through the centuries, there
have been many volunteers. Nebuchadnezzar in the Old Testament claimed
to be able to do so. He boasted of how cleverly he
had built the great city of Babylon, but his empire soon fell apart.
Alexander the Great thought that he could accomplish it. At the
age of 32, he wept, he actually wept, because he had no more
worlds to conquer. But a few months later he drank
himself to death and his empire too was gone. Julius Caesar led
legions across the face of Europe and crossed the Swiss Alps and
then the Tiberius River trying to establish a world in which
Roman peace, Pax Romana, would be prevalent. But it too fell
ultimately to the assault of barbarians from the north. Charlemagne
and France tried to do the same thing, so did Napoleon, Hitler. They thought they were establishing
something that would last and bring this worldwide peace, but
they all failed dismally. Today we see ISIL trying the
same thing. Even the best of men among us
could not do it. We revere the name of George
Washington and the wisdom of our first president, but he was
not able to bring about world peace. Abraham Lincoln, with
his mighty heart of compassion for the North and the South,
was not able to solve the basic problems of humanity. Whom else
should we add to this list? No wonder John wept. He wept
and he wept. He says, because no one could
unseal the scroll or even look inside. No one knew how to go
about it. None of the leaders of the earth
have a clue how to solve the issues that divide mankind and
keep us from loving one another. John wept because he knew that
this scroll represented the title deed to the earth and that as
long as it was left sealed, Satan will continue to squat here and
drive the truck at pell-mell speeds. John wept bitterly. This word wept is a very strong
word in the Greek. It means an unrestrained emotion. John wept because failure to
find someone to complete the earth's redemption meant that
this earth in its curse is destined forever to death. But then John learns that the
problem is already solved. Verse five. And one of the elders said to
me, weep no more. 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 gives hope. Jesus wipes
away tears. Jesus is mighty to save. Jesus
lives, hallelujah. Jesus is identified here as the
lion of the tribe of Judah, which reminds us of the way that Jacob
blessed Judah in Genesis 49, verses eight through 12. Judah
is a lion's cub. He is crouched as a lion. Jesus
is also identified here as the Root of David, which recalls
the promise that we read in Isaiah 11, verse one, there shall come
forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse. This one, the Lion
of Judah and the Root of David, which are titles for the Messiah,
has conquered. Because he has conquered, he
can open the scroll and it's seven seals. known the end of
history, he can make all of God's promises come true. John has
no more reason for his weeping. Now you and I can take a couple
of things from what we've read so far. First, let's look at
Jesus when we are discouraged. Maybe you're like me, maybe you
watch too much news. There's a lot to be discouraged
about in this world. But as we see all of the Bible's
prophecy being fulfilled, and we've been looking at a lot since
we have started our study in the book of Revelation and seen
the fulfillment of so many specific prophecies. And because of Jesus,
there is hope. This world will experience full
redemption. The rightful owner is going to
take repossession. Satan's truck is gonna come to
a stop. Second, let's be sensitive to others
and encourage others with the greatness of the power of Jesus. Let's look to Jesus when we're
discouraged and let's encourage others with the truth that Jesus
has conquered and he's coming back to take possession again
of the earth. Now, isn't that a much better
hope than politics? Doesn't even compare. What do you think of when you
think of victory? God has redefined victory in
Christ. If you think of a crucified Savior,
dead, buried, raised on the third day, then you know what victory is. Is this victory your victory?
Or are you hoping to win some other kind of victory? One of the elders calls John
to look at the lion. But when John looks, he sees
something entirely different. Look at verse six now. And between the throne and the
four living creatures and among the elders, I saw a lamb standing
as though it had been slain with seven horns and with seven eyes,
which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. So John is told to behold the
lion. Regularly in ancient literature,
lions functioned as images of great strength, the courageous,
powerful rulers of the animal kingdom. Jewish texts use the
image of a lion for courage and power in general. So John turns
expecting to witness a powerful hero. Instead, he sees a lamb. And the word that is used is
used in the diminutive. It literally means a little helpless
lamb. Lambs were the most vulnerable
of the sheep and sheep were among the weakest of creatures. Now here is the central paradox
of Revelation and of Christian faith in general. Jesus conquered not by force,
but by death, not by violence, but by martyrdom. The lion is a lamb. The Revelation 5-6 doesn't only
have the paradox of number one, a defeat that is really a conquest. It is also the paradox of number
two, a slain lamb that is standing. Listen, dead things don't stand. They don't live. But Jesus lives. The paradoxes continue. Jesus
is metaphorically described as a lamb, a sacrificial animal,
but he has seven horns. The Bible regularly uses horns
as a symbol of military might. And the number seven is used
in the book of Revelation as that of completeness, totality. So here is the paradoxical image
of an animal sacrifice, this meek little lamb, and yet he
is endowed with the fullness of military strength. That's what the seven horns signify. Jesus came to earth the first
time as a lamb. He'll come again as a conquering
lion. If you do not identify with him today as the sacrificial
lamb who became the sacrifice for your sin, then you will identify
with him in defeat when he returns as the conquering lion. Jesus is also described as having
seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into
the earth. This means that Jesus has the spirit fully and it means
that he is fully appraised of all that is happening. Nothing
escapes his notice. Now look at verse seven. I want
to prepare you, prepare to be astonished. Verse seven. And he went and took the scroll
from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. That
is breathtaking audacity. Now in verse three, we saw no
one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open
the scroll or to look inside of it. And yet here we have just
read that Jesus marches right up to the father who was seated
on the throne. Surrounded as we saw in the previous
chapter by the four living creatures crying, holy, holy, holy. And in full view of the 24 elders,
he takes that scroll. Crucified, dead, buried, raised. Now he assertively takes the
reins of history. He stops the truck. That's what this symbolizes.
Jesus takes the scroll that describes the events of the end whereby
all wrongs will be set right. All injustices accounted for. All crimes avenged. He takes it from the right hand
of the Father. And the Father doesn't resist him. The four
living creatures don't object. The 24 elders don't stand in
his way. This symbolic action shows that
Jesus will take full control of history. Jesus ultimately
controls your destiny. He ultimately controls the destiny
of every individual on this planet. And in response to this action
that begins in verse eight, it continues through the rest of
the chapter. It should be our response, worship of Jesus. Verse eight, and when he had
taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell
down before the lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full
of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 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 you
ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and
people and nation. And you have made them a kingdom
and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth, 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, 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. 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. And the four living creatures
said, amen. And the elders fell down and
worshiped. Well, the story continues on
into chapter six as Jesus begins to open the scroll. But let's
note here why this massive celebration by the heavenly host and the
creatures of the world is taking place. Jesus has taken control
of the world's destiny. Jesus takes the scroll and everyone
bursts into celebration. Have you contemplated The fact
that Jesus is in control of the way that your life will turn
out? Have you thought about the fact
that Jesus is in control of the way that your kid's life will
turn out? Jesus is in control of their
destiny. And we can join in this worship
celebration because there is no better way for the world to
be than under the control of Jesus. The great comfort of our lives
is the fact that Jesus is good and that he has taken hold of
the scroll. He is in control. Now here's
what makes this worship scene all the more remarkable. It's
the Father's silent approval of this worship given to Jesus.
We don't read that the father has any objection to this heavenly
host turning their eyes upon Jesus and lavishing all this
praise upon him. Listen to who God says is holy
and who is only to receive worship like this. Isaiah 42 verse eight
says, I am the Lord, that is my name, my glory I give to no
other, nor my praise to carved idols. God allows Jesus here to receive
glory with him. This is nothing less than stunning.
Jesus walks right up to the father, lays hand on the scroll, and
heaven responds by praising Jesus. And is there any way that John
could have been more clearly communicating that Jesus is God,
a very God, to take history and to receive worship like this. In verse eight, we read that
the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before
the lamb. Prostration was particularly
a sign of worship before gods and kings in antiquity. The Jews
reserved it only for God himself. Jesus has the authority to take
the commission from the Father to implement his plan for the
world, the plan found in the words of the scroll. They're proclaiming the worth
of the lamb. And they are saying that he is worthy to receive
anything that could be given him in his honor, He will abuse
no power. He will misuse no wealth. He
will do good with his power and might. He will respond rightly
to and is worthy of honor and glory and blessing. The scene here is of a kingdom
of people who have recognized the great and glorious Lord and
Savior, Jesus Christ. and they bow before Him in worship.
Throughout the book of Revelation, there are scenarios where the
curtain has been drawn back for us to peer into the realm of
the eternal kingdom of God. And every time that happens,
there are people, angels, and creatures worshiping Him, adoring
Him, blessing Him, praising Him. It is the call of the people
of God. to be a worshiping community. And here in chapter five, we
see that people from every nation, every tongue, every tribe, who
have been called to be worshiping our God. Now, I just have to
do this. I have to throw in a quote of
Jai Vernon McGee here. He says, My friend, I do not
want, or I do not know why you want to go to heaven if you do
not want to worship and praise him down here. That was a terrible imitation
of, I apologize for that. We'll park the Bible bus right
here. Listen, we deplete ourselves
and our kingdom activities by the measure with which we fail
to worship God. The picture that Revelation gives
us is that people are called from every nation, every tongue
to be this worshiping community. You know, I think if our church
is known for anything, it's probably our mission zeal. I love that
about our church. But let me read to you what a
favorite author of mine, John Piper, has written. He's written this. Missions is
not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exist because worship
doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions,
because God is ultimate, not man. When the age is over and
the countless millions of the redeemed fall on their faces
before the throne of God, missions will be no more. It is a temporary
necessity, but worship abides forever. Worship, therefore, is the fuel
and the goal in missions. It is the goal of missions because
in missions, we simply aim to bring the nations into the white
hot enjoyment of God's glory. You know, everybody worships
something. Everybody. and it enslaves. A very surprising source recognized
this and gave a speech about it. American writer and intellectual
David Foster Wallace was at the top of his profession. He was
an award-winning, best-selling novelist who committed suicide
in 2008. But before his death, He gave a now famous commencement
address, and he said this to the graduating class. Get a load
of this. In the day-to-day trenches of
adult life, there is actually no such thing as atheism. Everybody
worships. The only choice we get is what? To worship. And pretty much anything
you worship will eat you alive. If you worship money and things,
if they are where you tap real meaning in life, then you will
never have enough. Worship your own body and beauty
and sexual allure, and you will always feel ugly. And when the time and age start
showing, you'll die a million deaths before they finally plant
you. Worship power, you will feel weak and afraid, and you
will need ever more power over others to keep the fear at bay. Worship your intellect, being
seen as smart, and you will end up feeling stupid, a fraud, always
on the verge of being found out, and so on. But I say, and what our passage
declares very clear to us today is this, worship Jesus because he is redeeming the world. He is about to make the truck
stop. Let's pray.
Who Can Stop This Truck?
Series Revelation
If you ever feel as though the world is out of control and sinks daily into a greater moral morass, this message will encourage you. We need to remind ourselves that Jesus will soon take control.
| Sermon ID | 88161455129 |
| Duration | 40:22 |
| Date | |
| Category | Sunday Service |
| Bible Text | Revelation 5 |
| Language | English |
Add a Comment
Comments
No Comments
© Copyright
2026 SermonAudio.