JCSLK #80 Jesus The Lamb Slain - Revelation 5

 

JCSLK #80 Jesus The Lamb Slain - Revelation 5

Review

Outline of the Book found in Rev 1:19 Write the things which thou hast seen (Ch.1) and the things which are (Ch 2-3 conditions in Churches) and the things which shall be hereafter (Chapter 4-21, the future)

Chapter 1 is the vision of Jesus standing with His Churches and holding His pastors in His Hands.

Chapter 2 and 3 are the letters to the Seven Churches in Asia, Ephesus to Laodicea.

Chapter 4 and 5 are the opening scenes of the throne room of heaven, those on the throne and surrounding the throne. Chapter 4 our focus is on the One who sits on the throne and the praise of heaven is given to God the Father, the Creator of the Universe.

Now in Chapter 5, our focus and the praise will shift from the One who sits upon the throne to the one who stands before the throne, The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Lamb of God, slain as from the foundation of the world.

Chapter five begins with a book and a search.

 The Seven Sealed Scroll – Revelation 5:1-4

1 And I saw in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

 John Sees The Book

John sees in the right hand of God the Father, a book. This is a scroll, books or codexes, which are pages bound on one edge, did not yet exist. This scroll held in the hand of God the Father on the throne, is the title deed to all of creation and to all things within creation. It is sealed with seven seals and only the rightful owner could break the seals.

We have an example of a sealed title deed and will in Jeremiah 32:9-10 And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle’s son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances.

Only the rightful heir could break the seals of the scroll. These seven seals on the scroll of Heaven, symbolize the completion of God’s plan for the ages, especially for the return of Israel to Jesus, their Messiah. 

As John watches this scene playing out before him, he hears a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book.

 Envision John’s Vision

Following the worship and praise to God the Father, He holds out a seven sealed scroll and all of heaven turns their eyes upon it. We look upon this scroll realizing it’s importance because it is held out in the Father’s right hand. He is offering it to anyone who is worthy, to take and open the scroll, to take rightful possession of the Universe.

The mighty angel calls, “Who is worthy to open this book?” It is a challenge for a champion to step forward and by His strength, power and righteousness, claim what the right to open the scroll and claim the title.

Heaven holds its breath, but no one steps forward, no man or angel is found, who is worthy, no champion steps forward. None can be found that has the right or the power to take that scroll from the right hand of God the Father.

When John sees this, he is devastated and begins to openly, deeply weep. All of heaven is looking for its champion, the world looks for its creator, mankind looks for their redeemer, but it seems there is no one worthy to open the book.

We can picture this as the second scene of this throne room pageant. We have been caught up with John, we have beheld the throne and God who sits upon the throne, wrapped in shining beams of light, we have heard the 4 Living Beings sing, “Holy, holy, holy” watched as the 24 elders knelt and offered their crowns. We heard the opening songs of glory. But then, the celestial pageant suddenly pauses, it halts, wait and searches. Where is the One who is worthy? Where is the champion who can open the book?

And we like John are emotionally torn apart, all we have seen, all the praise, all the excitement, all the anticipation, but now it stops, nothing can continue, until One that is worthy can be found. Look at verse 4 again.

The Sacrificed Savior – Revelation 5:4-7

4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

 John Sees The Lamb

“Look, there!” says the elder to John. See in the very center of the throne room, look for the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the root of David has appeared. He has prevailed, conquered, and overcome and now He is here. The One who is worthy to open the book.

John looks, expecting to see a Lion, but instead he sees a Lamb once slain but now living again. John knows who this is, we know who this is, Jesus has entered the throne room of heaven and all eyes are  focused solely on Him as He reaches out and takes the scroll from the Father’s hand.

This is the moment when the Father gives all he has promised to the Son, because of His sacrifice on the cross. In Psalms. 2:8 scripture records “Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen [nations] for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession”

This is the moment when we see Jesus as the “Heir of all things” in Hebrews 1:2-4 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; 4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

He and He alone, has earned the right to be the beloved “Kinsman-Redeemer” as Boaz was to Ruth, giving His own life to set us free from the bondage of sin and to redeem us and all of creation as our the inheritance of those who were created in His image.

This scroll gives to His Son the right to claim as His own, all of fallen creation. The next few verses tell us why Jesus alone is worthy to open the book.

First, He Is Worthy By His Title.

He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Revelation 5:5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

The reference to Genesis 49:8–10, Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father's children shall bow down before thee. Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto Him shall the gathering of the people be.

Jacob under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit prophetically gave the scepter, a king’s symbol of office, to Judah and made Judah the tribe of the kings. Jesus is the final fulfillment of that Kingly prophecy.

The elder also named Jesus, The Root of David, which means that the greatest King of Israel, David and all of David’s line came into existence through Jesus. Humanly speaking, from the physical DNA side, Jesus came from David, but on God’s side, the supernatural side, David had come by plan, purpose and protection of Yeshua, Jesus, the Son of God. The Messiah could be both David’s Lord and David’s son, because the Messiah was both God and man.

 Jesus is also Worthy By His Position

Revelation 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb

Jesus stands before the throne of God, in the place of honor, in center of the four living creatures, and in the center of the elders so that all of the throne room and all of heaven must focus on Jesus. This the place of greatest honor and Jesus stands in that honored place.

Jesus is also Worthy By His Sacrifice.

Revelation 5:6 …stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 

This vision of the Lamb, with its throat cut and the wound still showing, is not meant to be beautiful, but meaningful in who and what it symbolizes.

When this day does come for all of God’s children, we will not see a lamb but instead will see Jesus in all his glory, but still He will bear the wounds of His sacrifice. He born them after the resurrection and here we see He will bear them in Heaven.

As Fanny Crosby wrote, “I shall know Him, I shall know Him, And redeemed by His side I shall stand;
I shall know Him, I shall know Him By the print of the nails in His hand.”

 The churches under persecution in John’s day, needed to see Jesus in a way that only they would understand. He was the slain lamb of God, sacrificed for our sin, but He is also the Lion of Judah coming in Power. John sees the symbol of seven horns and seven eyes. Seven the number of perfection. Here it symbolizes omnipotence in the seven horns and omniscience in the seven eyes, and omnipresence in the seven Spirits in all the earth. The church then needed to see Jesus this way and we need to see Him that way today.

These attributes of omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence are the attributes of that only God can possess, therefore in this vision we see Jesus, the Lamb God, who is very God of very God, God who took on human flesh, to come and dwell on the earth, died for us but then overcame sin, death and the grave to ascend back to Heaven.

Jesus alone was worthy to open the book and claim the title-deed of heaven and earth, because only Jesus died for the guilt of mankind, only Jesus suffered in our place, only Jesus rose again. Only Jesus laid down his life and then, proving He truly was God the Son, took that life back by His own strength and power.

 Finally, Jesus is Worthy By His Action

Revelation 5: 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. Jesus steps to the throne and takes from the hand of God, the scroll, claiming the title to all of creation and the right to be the Eternal King of Heaven and Earth.

Jesus reaches out and takes the book from God the Father and none question His right to take the scroll from the hand of God, for He has proven Himself worthy. This action shows his worth.

John’s Pain Turns to Praise.

 Can you imagine the emotions John must have gone through? Sinking down to the depths of despair but then soaring to the heights of praise. At first, it seemed that no man was found and all the sacrifice, all the persecution, all the loss of family and friends, all the hope was in vain and worthless, but then, “Behold, the Lion of Juday!” Decades ago, John had been at the Jordan river when he heard John the Baptist say, “Behold the Lamb of God.” Then he looked where the Baptist was pointing and he saw the man Jesus.

Now he hears “Behold the Lion” and he looks and expects to see Jesus as a powerful lion, but when he looks he does not see a lion, but instead he once again sees the Lamb.

A Lamb once slain, but now living, wounded, but standing before the throne with seven horns and seven eyes. This could not have been what He was expecting but it was exactly who he was expecting. This is Jesus, God the Son slain for the sin of mankind, but now alive and possessing all power and all wisdom and able to be everywhere at all times with His own.

 John knows who this is, the churches he wrote to, know who this is. You and I know who this is. This is Jesus, Creator, Savior, Lord and King. Jesus who was and is and is coming again. Jesus, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. The Romans wouldn’t recognize him and a lost world won’t be able to see Him but John, the churches and the children of God, will know their Lord, Savior and King when He comes to take possession of creation.

The Apostle Thomas went from hopelessness to worship. My Lord and My God. John 20:26-29 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

 The Songs of The Savior - Revelation 5:8-14

 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

 John Sees The Singers

The Elder’s and Angels Song. In the this song, we experience the full spectrum of devotion, service and worship.

First, praise and prayers are united as the elders and the angels sing a new song. They take up their harps and they pour out their golden vials of fragrance, which is praise and prayer combined in their song for the Savior. This song is a…

A Song of Worship. Now think with me for a moment about this song, sung by the elders. It is first of all, a song of worship. The word worship means to ascribe worth. And in the song, they proclaim Jesus as worthy of praise.

A Song of The Gospel. The song they sing is a Gospel song! “Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us by Thy blood.” It contains the good news of Jesus dying in our place and redeeming us by His death on the cross.

A Song of Missions. The song they sing is a song about God’s grace to all the world. The elders sing that they have been redeemed “out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”

Mark 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Go everywhere and preach to everyone. And then one day, all those created ones who heard and believed the Gospel will be praising Jesus in heaven because God’s children went, and the Lord’s church sent, and kindred, peoples, tongues and nations heard and believed.

Finally, It is a Song of Thanksgiving. It is also hymn of thanksgiving for who we are in Christ “a kingdom of priests.” Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, we have been made a kingdom of priests and in that new role we will rule with Him for all eternity. How can you thank Him for that except to join in this heavenly choir of the redeemed and sing, in your perfect redeemed voice before the throne.

The Worship Service of the Ages

Now to get a glimpse of this worship service for the ages, through the eyes and ears of John. Let’s go back to chapter 4 and watch the crescendo build until it fills all of heaven and earth

The 1st Song Rev 4:8-9 Four Living Creatures Sing of God’s Holiness

..and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever.

And then the crescendo begins to slowly grow and strengthen in the …

2nd Song Rev 4:10-11 Now the 24 Elders Sing of God’s Power

The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Then the praise rises higher and louder for now we hear the…

3rd Song Rev 5:8-10 the 4 Living Creatures and the 24 Elders Join to Sing. Worshipping the Lamb who has Redeemed them. 

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

But the crescendo is not finished rising upward, for now comes the sound of the…

4th Song in Revelation 5:11-12. 10k x10k angels, the living creatures and the elders sing “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.”

And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

When John says he heard many angels, he looks up and somehow by the power of the Holy Spirit he knows how many are praising the Lamb and he gives us the number, 10,000 x 10,000 and thousands of thousands. That means that now in this praise service for the Lord Jesus Christ, the voices of over 100 million angels join in worship with the Seraphim, and the elders. Singing, Worthy is the Lamb.

And you may think well what can top that? 100 million angels and all the host of heaven should lift us in praise higher than we can ever been lifted, higher than we can imagine, but no, it is still not high enough for the Lord, the Lion of Judah, the Lamb of God, the Root of David. For then in the...

5th Song Revelation 5:13 All Creatures of Heaven and Earth sing

And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

John sees and hears in his vision, all of heaven and all of earth joining together to worship God the Father and Jesus, God the Son. They sing in celestial harmony, divine melody, “Blessing and honor and glory and power to the Father and to the Son.”

​ Praise Ye The Lord

Perhaps the writer of the 150th Psalms in the inspiration of the Holy Spirit gives us a prophetic glimpse of this heavenly scene in this Psalms of ascending praise.

Psalms 150 1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power. 2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 6 Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Conclusion

 Singing With the Heavenly Choir

When I was in High School I joined a community choir learning to sing Handel’s Messiah. I was pretty confident since I sang every Sunday in our little church choir, how hard could it be? So I walked in, signed up, grabbed by copy of the cantata and seated myself in the tenor section. I felt pretty good. Then we opened the cantata and I looked at the notes I was supposed to sing. The tenors often sang notes higher than the Sopranos. I mean they were up there, somewhere in the stratosphere. I couldn’t even imagine what they sounded like but I tried that first week and I failed miserably, next week I sat with the basses and pretended I could sing as low as they did. I couldn’t and we all knew it. I went a couple of more times and then dropped out.

Our beloved Bro. Harry Smith is always telling us he can’t carry a tune and in that Messiah choir, I felt the same way. I found I couldn’t handle Handel. But one day… one day… one bountiful, blessed, beautiful day, both of Bro. Hary and I are going to sing in perfect harmony, hitting all the high notes and swooping down to nail all the low notes of this Celestial Cantata of Christ being sung in the throne room of Glory. We’ll sing that the new song of Moses and the Lamb but it will still tell the old, old story of Jesus and His love.

We will sing it because we will have experienced it. We will be worthy of that choir because Jesus was worthy and by His shed blood, He has made us worthy.

This morning make sure He has made you worthy by accepting His gift of grace, mercy and forgiveness.