The Slain Lamb Stands

The Scroll in the Hand of God. (1)

There are two things in verse 1 that we must identify.

We must identify who it is that is sitting on the throne.

Chapter 4 helps us because chapter 5 is continuing through the same scene.;

Look back at verses

Revelation 4:9–11 NASB95

And when the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him who sits on the throne, to Him who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

The identity of the one who sits on throne is identified by the way those around the throne treat him.

They give glory.

They give honor.

They give thanks because he is self sustaining.

They worship.

They tell us why.

Verse 11

He is worthy.

He is Our Lord.

He is our God.

He is Creator.

Second thing we need to identify in verse 1 is the scroll.

The Scroll here is a scroll that is privileged information.

If we look into chapter 6, we will see that the scroll contains the future for all mankind.

The redemption of those in Christ.

The destruction of all those outside of his grace.

So, we have identified God as the one on the throne. But then this scene turns ugly.

No one Worthy. (2-3)

God is holding this scroll.

It is sealed seven times.

seven- number of perfection.

perfectly sealed

Sealed up with seven seals.

Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 5

They often took the form of necklaces or rings and were closely guarded. The seals were impressed upon wet clay or hot wax. The images on each seal were unique to their owners and served to identify property, safeguard against fraudulent transactions, and ratify official documents and rulings.

Including the Future.

This seal closed up tight the revelation of the future of mankind. John is left in the dark without the opening of the seal. We are left in the dark.

This

And here is where the scenes turns ugly.

Revelation 5:2 NASB95

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?”

This angel proclaims with a loud voice because it is an urgent request.

But no one is found.

Look at verse 3.

Revelation 5:3 NASB95

And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.

There is a search and the search apparently comes up empty.

No one is found able.

There is a universal inadequacy.

To open the Scroll or to look into it.

They look everywhere for someone and no one is found.

Think of the people they looked to.

Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Gideon, Samson, Samuel, Moses, Aaron, Caleb, Joshua, Job, Daniel, David, Solomon Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum Mary, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul, Billy Graham, Billy Sunday, Jonathan Edwards, John Bunyan, David Jeremiah, every man that has ever lived.

Othniel

2. Ehud

3. Shamgar

All these people fall short.

4. Deborah

5. Gideon

Not one worthy.

6. Abimelech

None of us, worthy.

Why?

We could go back through that list and name the faults and failures of all those men.

The main failure is the day they took their last breath on this earth was their last physical day on this earth.

They did what dead people do. They stayed dead.

Every single one.

If death conquered them, then they certainly aren’t able to reveal how death will be conquered.

They aren’t worthy.

The very best of us, ain’t good enough.

They find no one.

Revelation 5:4 NASB95

Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it;

Stop your weeping (Verses 5-7)

Illustration: Kid in Walmart.

This is no ordinary weeping. This is no ordinary crying.

This is weeping that overtakes him.

This is weeping that continued.

Rev

Why?

Because no one is worthy.

Unless the terms are met and unless someone is found, God’s purpose of final salvation and judgment will not come to pass.

which means the pain is still here.

The persecution is still here. Those is China, India, Russia. Those who have been persecuted for Christ’s sake.

The sickness is still here.

We fall to this world.

But if the seal is opened and there is someone found to reveal this will. There is hope for the one who overcomes.

WEEPING THAT CAN ONLY BE STOPPED BY ONE THING.

So imagine this scene for a moment…

Revelation 5:5 NASB95

and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”

John in the midst of his weeping:

Is told to Stop.

Is introduced the only one who is worthy.

Through two OT allusions.

Lion of tribe of Judah

Compared Judah to A Lion, and he spoke of one who would come from the line of Judah.

powerful

king

The root of David.

He reiterates the point. This is the King of Kings.

But how? How has he conquered? How has the Lion conquered? How has the of David CONQUERED?

John hears about a Lion

John looks up through his weeping.

He looks and sees a Lamb .

5 observations about this Lamb.

The Lamb stands between the throne.

No one gets near there.

ANgels hide their faces.

Jesus is standing in the middle of it.

Which tells us something. This man is God.

The Lamb beaars the mark of the conflict that led to his death.

Here is where we have to bring what we just learned forward.

The Lamb is standing, but the Lamb was slain.

The slain Lamb stands.

This has never happened before.

Because not only was no one found to be worhty to open the seals.

But also, there was a never a sacrifice worthy until the Lamb gets back up.

and through this he earns the right to disclose the future of mankind.

Having perfect power.

Having perfect knowledge.

Having perfect presence.

He is God. Dont mistake this. This passage is about the deity of Christ.

Jesus is the king of all kings. He is the creator of ALL the Earth.

He is the lion of the tribe of judah.

He is worthy.

But this is not what stops John’s weeping. Remember John was weeping because the the seal cannot be opened.

Look in verse 7.

Revelation 5:7 NASB95

And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

Now there is one worthy.

There is one who disclose the history of the world to us.

He will tell us of his conquering over it.

He will tell us of the freedom and victory we have the lamb.

He will tell us of the punishment of all wrong.

He will tell us of how our weeping will stop forever.

Revelation 21:4 NASB95

and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.”

Why?

Because the Lamb passed away and got back up.

Crown Him with many Crowns

1 Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne. Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own. Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee, and hail him as thy matchless king through all eternity.

2 Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed o'er the grave, and rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save; his glories now we sing who died and rose on high, who died eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die.

3 Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side, rich wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified; no angels in the sky can fully bear that sight, but downward bends their burning eye at mysteries so bright.

4 Crown him the Lord of years, the potentate of time, creator of the rolling spheres, ineffably sublime. All hail, Redeemer, hail! for thou hast died for me; thy praise shall never, never fail throughout eternity.