Song of the Lamb
Notes
Transcript
V.1:
This chapter is basically an introduction to chapter 16.
Both chapters deal with the final judgments, and with these judgments, God's wrath is complete.
These judgments will prepare the way for the return of Christ.
When Christ returns and establishes His throne, He will rule in righteousness, and there will be no more need for judgment.
When Christ returns He will rule in righteousness, with no more need of judgment.
When Christ returns He will rule in righteousness, with no more need of judgment.
Isaiah 32:1-4
Isaiah 32:1-4
Behold, a king will reign in righteousness, And princes will rule with justice. A man will be as a hiding place from the wind, And a cover from the tempest, As rivers of water in a dry place, As the shadow of a great rock in a weary land. The eyes of those who see will not be dim, And the ears of those who hear will listen. Also the heart of the rash will understand knowledge, And the tongue of the stammerers will be ready to speak plainly.
What a day it will be when the wrath of God is complete and righteousness rules.
V.2:
What a remarkable scene this must be, the glow of a fire amid the brilliant glass-like sea.
All the while adorned with the entire company of God's martyrs, playing harps and singing praises to God.
This is the same sea of glass seen in revelation chapter 4.
This is the same sea of glass seen in revelation chapter 4.
Revelation 4:6
Revelation 4:6
Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.
I can only speculate as to the significance of the fire.
Perhaps it symbolizes the martyrs passing through the fire.
I don't really know, but it's a remarkable scene.
V.3:
Like the song of Moses which Israel sang immediately after their crossing of the Red Sea (Exodus 15:1-21), this is a song of victorious deliverance.
These believers have overcome the antichrist, and they sing this song of the Lamb.
Notice how often praise of God is wrapped in song.
Thank God for music. What a way to celebrate our Lord.
It's amazing how music can lift you up when you are feeling down.
There may be times when you don't feel like singing, when things are so bad that singing praises to God is the last thing on your mind.
This is exactly the time you'd be making a mistake to not sing praises to God.
Think about Paul and Silas in acts chapter 16
Thanks to Adrian Rogers for the following illustration:
If Paul and Silas had not been filled with the Holy Spirit, and refused to sing, it might have gone something like this:
Paul: Silas, you awake?
Silas: Of Course I'm awake, how could anybody sleep in this filth?
Paul: Well you don't have to get huffy about it.
Silas: I have a headache.
Paul: So do I!
Silas: Well Paul, you got us into this mess.
Paul: Wait a minute! I want you to know that I could have had a position teaching at the University of Tarsus. I sold the Damascus tent company for almost nothing to get into this preaching thing. What have you done?
Silas: I have been following you, and I think you are one of the worst leaders I've ever known.
Jailer: Just as I thought, these are a bunch of phonies. What they have is not real, it's no different than what I have. - Adrian Rogers
Thankfully, they didn't react that way. They were filled with the Holy Spirit and they sang hymns!
The result was completely different.
Paul and Silas singing praises to God resulted in the salvation of the jailer.
Paul and Silas singing praises to God resulted in the salvation of the jailer.
Acts 16:22-30
Acts 16:22-30
Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. And the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
There is never a bad time to sing praises to God.
His works are great and marvelous. This is a tribute to God's amazing work of creation.
God’s works are great and marvelous.
God’s works are great and marvelous.
Psalm 139:14
Psalm 139:14
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
Psalm 19:1
Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.
God is just and true.
God is just and true.
Exodus 34:6
Exodus 34:6
And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
Deuteronomy 32:4
Deuteronomy 32:4
He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
Christ is King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
There is no place where He will not be worshipped.
V.4:
He is to be feared. There is very little fear of God today, even among our churches.
However, if you are a believer, and you think you can live however you want without God sending trouble your way, you'd be wrong.
The Holy Spirit makes sin very unpleasant for believers. God is to be feared.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
God's Holy and perfect character demands that He judge.
When the judgment is complete, He will set up His millennial kingdom, and all will worship Him.
When the judgment is complete, He will set up His millennial kingdom, and all will worship Him.
Psalm 66:4
Psalm 66:4
All the earth shall worship You And sing praises to You; They shall sing praises to Your name.” Selah
Isaiah 66:23
Isaiah 66:23
And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord.
His holy name will be glorified.
VV.5-7:
This imagery brings us back to the time of the Exodus in the wilderness when the Ark of the Covenant resided in the Tabernacle.
Here, from the dwelling place of God, we see seven Angels.
The angels’ garments are reminiscent of the high priest’s clothing.
Their adornment of bright linen and gold represents holiness and purity.
The smoke that fills the Temple is the manifestation of God’s glory and power.
With them they bring the most severe judgments from God, and there is no escape from this judgment.
V.8:
John saw the Temple filled with the glory and power of God.
The key to God’s eternal glory and power is his holiness.
The key to God’s eternal glory and power is his holiness.
Revelation 4:8
Revelation 4:8
The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”
God’s glory is not only his strength but also his perfect moral character.
God will never do anything that is not morally perfect.
While this reassures us that we can trust him, it also places a demand on us.
Our desire to be holy (dedicated to God and morally pure) is our only suitable response.
Only through the life changing power of Jesus Christ is this possible.
We cannot make ourselves holy or pure.
If we could, there'd have been no reason for the sacrifice of Christ in the first place.
But it was necessary, because we cannot make ourselves righteous.
We cannot make ourselves righteous.
We cannot make ourselves righteous.
Romans 3:20
Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Galatians 3:21
Galatians 3:21
Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.
Ephesians 2:8-9
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
It is only Christ who can transform us.
It is only Christ who can transform us.
2 Corinthians 5:17
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
When judgment is complete, and God's wrath is finished, It will be a glorious time for the saints.
Holiness will no longer be an issue, because we will all be clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
But if people don't hear God's word, all they will know is Gods wrath.
Faith comes by hearing. . .