The Lion And The Lamb Series

Jesus – The Lamb that was Slain

Revelation 5 - A Worship Service

HOLY HOLY HOLY 1st service vs. 1,2 2nd service vs. 1,2,3

Welcome & Announcements – Ronnie / Rocky

Scripture: Revelation 5:1-7 – Greg Smith

PART 1: Revelation 5:1-7

THE LION AND THE LAMB

These verses of Revelation 5 set the scene for an amazing Worship Service in Heaven. Instead of merely studying and talking about this Heavenly Worship Service today, we’re also going to JOIN IN WORSHIP of the Lamb that was slain.

First, let’s look at the Vision of Heaven that was given to the Apostle John. In Chapters 2 and 3, John wrote 7 letters to 7 churches. These letters were dictated to John by Jesus Himself. Then, at the beginning of Chapter 4, John’s Heavenly adventure really takes off.

After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” Revelation 4:1

It must have been hard for John to find human terms to describe what he saw in the throne room of heaven. If you’ve ever tried to imagine what Heaven will be like, the first place you should look is Revelation chapter 4.

John describes a throne encircled by a rainbow that resembled an emerald. The One seated on the throne resembled jasper and carnelian (both deep and brilliant red stones). From the throne came flashes of lightning and peals of thunder. And before the throne was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

John used earthly terms to describe eternal reality. The best he could do is compare Heaven to the most dazzling jewels and the most powerful manifestations of nature.

Then in Chapter 5, the action begins. John sees a scroll with 7 seals. This image was familiar to John’s readers. Important documents were usually stamped with an official seal. That seal could only be broken by a person with authority.

The scroll John sees in Heaven contains information about the future of the entire planet. The seals need to be broken to make way for the triumphant Second Coming of Christ. But no one can be found who is worthy to break the seals. John is so anxious to know the secrets contained in the scroll that he begins to weep. Then one of the elders comforts John and says, “…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.” Revelation 5:5

But notice that when John looks, he does not see a Lion. Instead John sees “A Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne.” Revelation 5:6 The elder saw a Lion, but John saw a Lamb standing at the center of the very throne of God.

It’s not surprising that the heavenly elder saw Jesus as the LION while John saw him as the LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN. The elder was familiar with Jesus in His Heavenly glory. John knew Jesus from His earthly ministry. The Lion of Judah represents Jesus in his second appearance when he will “rule with a rod of iron.” The Lamb represents Jesus as he was in his first coming.

Consider this:

· The Lion refers to His 2nd coming. The Lamb refers to His 1st coming.

· The Lion symbolizes His majesty; The Lamb symbolizes His meekness.

· As a Lion He is Sovereign; As a Lamb He is Savior.

· As a Lion He is Judge; As a Lamb He was judged.

· The Lion represents perfect power; the Lamb represents perfect peace

· The Lion represents the government of God; The Lamb represents the grace of God.

Isaiah 11:6 gives us a prophecy that one day, in the coming Kingdom of God, the lion will lie down with the lamb. John’s vision shows us that on the throne of God, the Lion IS the Lamb. John was looking at the Lion of Judah who was also the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

Think of Jesus – the LION and the LAMB as we worship him together…

*LION OF JUDAH (2nd service only)

SHOUT TO THE LORD Bb/C

Responsive Reading: Revelation 5:8-10 – Music Team

Leader: The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song:

Music Team: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”