Don't Look Now, But There's A Lion Among Us.

Don’t look now, but there’s a Lion in our midst.

Rev 5:1-6

5 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.

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.

John is receiving a revelation of things to come –

How many know something is a coming.

Things not only concerning the church, but also the end of time it self as we know it.

V1 He mentions a book, (what’s so special about this book?)

It describes how this world is going to be judged & gives us a picture of how going is going to triumph over evil

V2-3 An angel, a strong angel cries out and says who is worthy to open the book, who is worthy, to loosen the seals

John said I wept much because no man was able to open the book—Notice no man—

I know of one this morning that can do what no man can do!!!!

While John is weeping, , while he is broken is spirit for he feels no one can do what need to be done

One of the elders places His hand upon his shoulder & says weep not john FOR THE LION OF THR TRIBE OF JUDAH HATH PRVAILED

IN other words there’s no need to weep any more john – for there is a loin in our midst.

There are 3 things I want to bring out about the lion

1. IT IS THE COVERING OF THE LION

This title Lion of the tribe if Judah goes back to Jacobs final blessings of his sons before his death –It is in that blessing he calls Judah a lions whelp (young lion)

Gen 49:9

9 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?

Many of the modern day Jews as well as some biblical commentaries believe that some coat of arms was painted upon each tribe’s standard, flag or banner—

Which had reference to the blessing they had received

Each one identified each tribe

Judah bore a lion

Dan a serpent

Nathalie a hind, or female deer

Benjamin a wolf

So every tribe has its own standard (a banner on a pole)

The whole encampment of Israelites at Sinai was organized and each tribe assigned its place in which to march and to camp

The leadership of Judah among the tribes was prophesied by Jacob and this tribe was assigned first place in the order of marching

What a sight it must have been

Illus when they marched

Each tribe in is proper order

Judah leading –Holding up the standards

Can’t you see the enemies of God as the would look down upon the vast number of people

But the one thing that catches their eye – is who is leading

It is what they are carrying in the front – IT’S A LION THEY ARE MARCHING UNDERNEITH THE BANNER OF THE LION

The word cover means to: place something over or upon-

It means to protect or to shield

AS I thought of them marching – I thought of the scripture

Isa 59:19

19 So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.

What I believe this is saying to you & I when the enemy of your soul rises up against you, like a flood to wash you away, (your faith, your trust, your hopes, & dreams) there is one that is going to lift up a standard, a holy banner & on that holy banner is a the covering, the protection of the Blood of the Lion of Judah

Church rejoice—there is a lion in our midst

He that hath delivered can still deliver

He that hath saved can still save

He that hath healed can still heal

Give him praise and Glory

Remember what John said –There is no man able to open the seals