The Cross and the Lamb
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Introduction
We are going to look at Revelation 5 this morning
1 I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?”
3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.
4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it;
5 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.”
6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
7 And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
8 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
10 “You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,
12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.
I. Who is Worthy?
I. Who is Worthy?
This is a past event, not a future event in chapter 5.
“Him” is God the Father (Ch 4.)
The seven seals
The angel cried out “Who is worthy?” (2)
Can you hear it?
The desperation?
This cry passes over EVERYONE. (3)
In heaven - Angels
In the earth - This passes over all OT prophets, priests, and Kings.
Under the earth - anyone who had died
This causes John to Weep bitterly (4)
Why is this important?
The seals are what in Revelation brings about the end of time.
The seals are what are broken along with the trumpets blasted and the bowls of wrath poured out.
These are not bad things to person who are the saints, but they are to the wicked.
God wants to end the suffering of humanity by opening the book and breaking the seals, he wants to begin bringing his people back to himself.
II. The Lamb is Worthy!
II. The Lamb is Worthy!
As the cry echoes in heaven, “WHO IS WORTHY TO OPEN THE BOOK AND BREAK THE SEALS?”
No one is able to come forward.
As John weeps bitterly one of the elders from around the throne speaks to him, “Stop weeping (Rev 5:5)
5 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.”
We find out Who is worthy!
It is the Lion of Judah! - the fierce
He is the Root of David - Messiah and King
He has overcome! FINALLY someone has overcome it all and is worthy.
What did he over come?
He defeated death itself through the cross, if it were not for the cross he would not have tasted death so that he would overcome!
18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
How did he do this? Death was not king, but death was reigning as king.
Jesus came and destroyed death.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
The lamb
6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
This is the description of the Lamb,
He was closer to the throne than even the elders and living creatures were
He stands “as if slain”, do not confuse this with weakness. This is power, he can be both the fierce lion and the slain lamb at the same time.
Seven horns are of power
Seven eyes are he sees all, plus the seven spirits in revelation are representative of the Spirit of God
He came and “took” the book, the Greek is in the perfect tense which is a COMPLETED ONE TIME action in the past.
When he takes the book the living creatures and the elders fall down and worship him
JUST like they worshiped God in chapter 4
They sang a new song - God has done something new
They praise that he IS WORTHY and they tell us why he is worthy
It is broken down in to three reasons
1. The Lamb Was Slain
1. The Lamb Was Slain
He WAS slain, How does this make him worthy?
The Cross makes christ Worthy
8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
2. The Lamb Purchased For God By His Blood All People
2. The Lamb Purchased For God By His Blood All People
By his blood he purchased for God, ALL people
He has purchased them through the pouring out of his blood
the cross allows him to shed his blood for the sinner
3. He Has Made A Kingdom of Priests who will reign
3. He Has Made A Kingdom of Priests who will reign
Through the cross and the shedding of his blood he has made away for a new people to come about and be the people of God, bought by the blood of the lamb.
Then the Angels all gather around and exalt the lamb
Verses 11-12
Because of what the lamb did, by being worthy through the cross, he is worthy of praise
Verses 13-14
He is now exaulted to the position of one who is beside the one who sits on the throne!
The Cross opens the way for Christ to judge the world and bring about PEACE and his Kingdom
7 “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready.”
8 It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
9 Then he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.’ ” And he said to me, “These are true words of God.”
10 Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
12 His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
15 From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”