Rev.#17~5:1-14=pt 4~ WORTHY IS THE LAMB 8-8-09
Today we’ll continue our study of this great book of prophecy,” THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST”.
Let me say that here in Revelation 5 is a vision of Christ (5:1-7) and the expanding circles of His worship in heaven.
First, we see the worship of Jesus Christ in heaven by those immediately around the throne (5:8-10); then we see worship throughout all heaven (5:11-12); finally, we see worship throughout the entire universe (5:13-14). it spreads to all creation.
Last time we left of with verse 5, here in chapter 5:- lets read the verses again and then we’ll move on Lord willing.
1And 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.
2And I saw a strong angel** proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy** to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?”
3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.**--many men in the passed have been willing as they tried to conquer the world, but none was worthy.
4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not:{ behold,}** the Lion of the tribe of Juda,** the Root of David,** -off spring—Rev. 22:16- hath prevailed** to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
--v 5-one of the elders--
--They are called “elders” which is the Greek word presbuteros. In the New Testament this is a technical term for officers and leaders in the church.
But as John was looking on the scene he didn’t see a Lion, instead he saw a Lamb as it had been slain-- this is a great spiritual truth.
Jesus is called “a lamb” 29 times in the Book of Rev. it conveys the idea of a pet Lamb.
But in chapter 6: 16-17 this LAMB is bringing wrath.
Rev.6:16-17 we see what the people in the Tribulation will be crying aloud--And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
No dear heart, the next time He appears to this world it’ll not be a little meek Lamb, He’ll not turn the other cheek, He’ll not be spit upon and made fun of, they’ll not pluck out His beard this next time, their going to witness fury like they’ve never dreamed of.
REV. 6: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
He’s returning with vengeance, woe unto the earth dwellers at that time.
Cleansing is by “the blood of the Lamb” (7:14). The church is “the bride of the Lamb” (19:7; 21:9).
All through out the O.T. when a sacrificial lamb was offered, it was a picture and a type of THE LAMB OF GOD that was to come.
There in Genesis 3: 21 we read of the 1st sacrifice, and it was also provided by God, an innocent animal had to give it’s life, it shed its blood in order for Adam and Eve to have a covering, type of sin covering, 21Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.
When John the Baptist saw Jesus in JN.1: 29 he cried out-
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin** of the world”
He is the Savior. He is not only the Messiah; He is also the Savior. He is the Lamb of God.
He takes away sin. He is the almighty Savior because He takes away the sin of the world. He is a continual Savior because He “taketh” away—present tense, “is taking away.” Anyone the world over can come to Him at any time.
(Gen. 22:7–8) is fulfilled here, Isaac said, “… Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering …” John tells us that Jesus is the Lamb.
--
What the Old Testament lamb could not do, the Lamb of God is doing. The sin of the world. Not to the Jews only, but even the entire world.
--But lost sinners must receive Him as their personal Savior.--
------------------------------
6And I beheld,**[v-5] 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.
Zechariah 4:10 For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet**[building] in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth.
The seven eyes represent the fullness of Christ’s divine wisdom and discernment.
The number seven represents the fullness of Christ’s power in defeating His foes. The horn is a biblical symbol for power and authority.
His eyes are the seven Spirits of God, that is to say, the seven manifestations of the Holy Spirit) that communicate to Christ all that transpires.—the 7 attributes of God are--
Isaiah 11:1-4 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse,** and a Branch** shall grow out of his roots:
2And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;
3And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
4But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
The Lamb is all-knowing as well as all-powerful.
All who reject the Lamb, will have to face the Lion in judgment, and as all of us can understand facing a lion would be a terrifying experience.—there are people that will make fun of us so called Bible thumpers today because of our faith in Jesus Christ and His Word, but one day these will be confronted by the Lion in judgment.
There is no more dreadful thought than to have to face the “Lion” in judgment because you have rejected the “Lamb.”
The 1st time He came was to seek and to save the lost,
But His second coming will be different.
Then He comes to deal with His enemies and to fulfill His promises of blessing to His own. . There is coming a time when all men must deal with the “Lion,” either as the One for whom we have watched and worked and prayed, or the One that’s been rejected.
Had you rather have the Lion to be for you or against you?
-----------------
7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Jesus Christ, the Lion-Lamb, boldly approaches the throne of God the Father.
He exercises His sovereignty by coming and taking the scroll out of the Father’s right hand.
This reviles to us a transfer of authority from the Father to the Son to reveal the future and to execute judgment.
----------
8And 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.
This transfer results in an outpouring of praise for the Lamb because it signaled that Christ would begin judging as the Tribulation begins in chapter 6- -18 as HE is opening the 7 sealed book.)
While the four beast-living creatures, and 24 elders, the entire N.T. Church fall down to their knees in worship, only the elders had harps and bowls.
Ø They used the harps to praise God in song.
Psalm 33:2 Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery-an instrument of the harp kind- and an instrument of ten strings. 3Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.-
Psalm 98:5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
Throughout the Bible the harp is used in Scripture more than any other instrument to praise God.
All types of instruments will be used in heaven to worship God. Here on earth as well.
Psalm 150:3-6 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. 5Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. 6Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
----This entire 150th psalm begins with, Praise ye the LORD, and ends with- Praise ye the LORD.
-----------------
9And 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; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
This new song that the elders sing celebrates the act of deliverance through Christ. They praise Christ because He died for the sins of man and has set man free from sin and death and the punishment to come.
Romans 5:9 tells us that being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
In these verses we see without any doubt who the Elders are, their the N.T. church only, {the world over} the O.T. saints are not included as their not resurrected until the Tribulation is over. Dan. 12:1-2—and also the Tribulation Martyrs are resurrected at this time as well. Rev.20:4
-----------------------------
11And 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;
There is not a world in the Greek language for “million” that’s why we see this terminology.
The angels don’t sing the song of redemption which was sung by the 24 elders in Verse 9-10, , and the reason is, angels have not been redeemed.
Ø But the angels do declare that Christ is worthy to receive seven things: listen-
12-13 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.
1. They are praising Christ for his power. He is the one who is able to open God’s book and carry out and execute God’s will throughout the universe. He had power on earth to do miracles, cast out demons, and raise the dead, but he never used his power to make things easier for himself.
2. They praise Him for his riches: He has double claim on the wealth of the universe: first by creation, then by redemption.
3. They praise Him for his wisdom: His wisdom is the wisdom of God. He is the embodiment or the example of God’s Wisdom. He is omniscient, seeing & knowing all things. He knows all about God & heaven, and all about us and our world with all its temptations and trials.
4. They praise Him for His strength: no one or anything can stand against Him. He not only has physical strength but strength & might as the power of truth and as an attribute of God. All he has to do is speak the Word and His will is done.
5. They praise Him for his Honor: This includes the reverence and respect due Him for all He is and all He has accomplished in the plan of God.
6. They praise Him for His glory: His own glory is the light of heaven. In Him is no flaw or defect whatsoever.
7. They praise Him for His blessing: The Greek word for blessing is praise. We speak good words of thanks and praise for all He is, and all He has done, for all he has given, for all he has promised. So He is worthy! He is exalted because He humbled Himself (in contrast to the pride of satan & human dictators.)
All the blessings that heaven and earth can give are due Him.
This includes the brightness, splendor, and radiance of God who dwells in the light. Christ had that glory once but left it behind to be born in a manger.
In John 17:5 Jesus prayed "And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
He has now been given that glory back and will return to earth in that same glory.
---------
13And every creature** which is in heaven,-=and on the earth, -and under the earth, -and such as are in the sea,-[4] and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, [4] be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
---------
14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
