A Stunning Reveal

So, when he was going to be in Alaska, he invited me to come and to preach.

! Irony is that I was a pastor up in Alaska for 10 years, and so we looked at his itinerary

and know he won't be the town. Who's been to Alaska here, by the way? Oh, not enough of you.

It is God's country up there. It's beautiful up there, but I don't know the irony of wanting

Mike to be on an orca whale. It's kind of dangerous, actually. So, just a little bit of my background.

I grew up in the Philippines and Malaysia. My parents were, with the Bible translator,

missionaries, and my wife also is an MK from the Philippines, where we met, and good show.

I have a photo of my family. So, my wife of 28 years, and then my son right next to me there

is a freshman at Wheaton College, and then you'll notice next to him, my son, my oldest son,

has Down syndrome, and I'll mention disability, and then I've got two other daughters. But that's

my family. We are down next to Wheaton in Warrenville. We go to College Church, which is across the street

from Wheaton College. That's our home church. And then the ministry I'm part of, you can just throw

that up real quick, is I'm a consultant or coach, part of Promote Humility, and we do workshops and

coaching and some initiatives I'll talk about just briefly later on. So, thank you for that.

So, and you can, yeah, perfect.

I'm still dead.

I'll move this down.

So, yeah, after pastoring for 10 years in Alaska, I've been part of international missions

for another dozen years or so, and now lead in this ministry and consulting work for churches,

nonprofits, and mission agencies. But as Mike gave me some freedom to select a passage or passages,

because I'll be here back next week, I thought, well, let's go to one of my favorite parts of the

Bible. And so, if you would turn to the book of Revelation and the songs you sang of

just really been wonderful at preparing our hearts for what we're going to look at today.

Hopefully, you've heard much of the fact that the Bible, even though it's made up of 66 books,

is really one story, because we believe it has one ultimate author, and he's brought many players

in to help write it, but it's one large arc of a story. And if you're familiar with reading books,

it's particularly important to see what comes at the very end. And that's what we're going to find

today. If you want to breeze through a book real quick, it's helpful to go to the end to see what

it's all about, and to see the trajectory of where it's going. And it helps us then to understand

who the author is, what his big message is for us. You probably know this, but Revelation was written

by one of Jesus' closest disciples, the Apostle John. And he writes in a very unique way. Revelation

is kind of a mixture of three genres put together. Apocalyptic, so there's a lot of metaphor and

imagery, and we'll see that today. But also, it says it's a prophecy, so there's speaking about the future.

But it's also an epistle, because it's a letter written by John to these churches, so it's a mixture of those.

And so we're going to look at primarily chapter 4 and 5, so if you'd go to Revelation chapter 4 and 5,

Revelation 4 · chapter mention

and we'll look at these two chapters together. They're really a story.

It's unfortunate that chapter 5, the marker there, is in the middle, because these two chapters are a story.

There's a setting, there's a scene painted, there are characters, there's some drama and some tension,

and then a resolution. So it's a beautiful story that we have here.

I'm jumping into chapter 4 and 5. Actually, next week, we'll look at chapters 2 and 3,

because I want to set that up by us taking a look at this passage here this morning.

But before I start to read, if you'd close your eyes and bow your heads and just take a moment and ask God to

speak to you, just as we sang, speak to you that we might see Christ even more clearly this morning.

So just the quietness of your heart, just do that.

But Father, we could read your word nonstop, still not understand it, without your help,

without your spirit illuminating your word to our hearts and our minds and our wills,

and to actually bring change in us and to help us see you through the haze of this world

and our mixed up thinking. Help us to see you clearer this morning.

In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

Let's read the story.

After this, I, and this is the Apostle John speaking,

looked and behold a door standing open in heaven.

And the first voice, which I had heard speak unto me like a trumpet, back in chapter 1,

said,

Come up here,

and I will show you what must take place after this.

At once,

I was in the Spirit,

and behold,

a throne

stood

in heaven

with one

seated on the throne.

And he who sat there

had the

appearance.

Notice that now some imagery starts to come in

because it's hard to describe

what's this,

so he's going to use some metaphors and imageries

to paint

as best he can

what he's beholding in this

heavenly throne room.

the appearance of

Jasper and

carnelian

and around the throne

was a

rainbow

that had the

appearance

of an emerald.

We sang about the

rainbow of different

colors

and my goodness,

just looking up

at the

stained glass,

I mean,

just trying to get

all these colors.

and around

the throne

were

24 thrones

and seated on the

thrones

were 24

elders

clothed in

white garments

with

golden crowns

on their heads.

Listen how terrifying

this is now.

From the throne

came

flashes

of

lightning

and

rumbles

and

peals

of

thunder

and

before the throne

were burning

seven

torches of

fire,

which are the

seven

spirits

of God,

that is the

perfect spirit

of God,

and before

the throne

was as

it were

a sea

of glass

like crystal.

Sea is often

an image of

chaos,

but here

there's no

chaos.

Everything

is in

order.

And around

the throne

on each

side of

the throne

are four

living

creatures

full of

eyes

in front

and behind.

The first

living creature

like a lion,

the second

like a

living

creature

like an

ox,

the third

living creature

with the

face of a

man,

the fourth

living creature

like an

eagle in

flight,

and the

four living

creatures,

each of

them with

six wings

and full

of eyes

all around

and within.

Terrifying

and almost

bizarre,

but this

is so

holy and

glorious

and day

and night

they,

the most

terrifying

and strange,

they are

the ones.

They never

cease saying,

holy,

that is

separate,

distinct,

mysterious,

transcendent,

holy,

how different

he is from

us.

Holy,

holy,

holy is the

Lord God

Almighty,

who was

and is

and is to

come.

And whenever

the living

creatures

gave,

give glory

and honor

and thanks

to him

who is

seated on

the throne,

who lives,

notice how

forever

and ever,

emphasis on

his,

this length

of time,

ever and

ever,

the 24

elders fall

down before

him,

who is

seated on the

throne and

worship him

who lives

forever

and ever,

they cast

their crowns

before the

throne saying,

worthy are

you our

Lord and

God to

receive glory

and honor

and power

for you

created all

things and

by your

will they

existed and

were created.

Then I

saw in the

right hand

of him

who is

seated on

the throne

a scroll

written

within and

on the

back

sealed

with

seven

seals

and as

we'll see

in the rest

of the

book,

what it

is,

is this

symbol

of

the

rest of

history

and what's

going to

take place

to bring

the judgments

of God

and the

redemption

of God's

people to

fruition,

to culmination,

to the new

heavens and

new earth.

earth and

I saw a

strong

angel

proclaiming

with a

loud voice.

By the

way, we've

gotten to a

point here

where we've

set the

scene now,

this

transcendent

Holy

scene!

and now

an angel

is sitting

with a

strong

loud voice

so that it

can be

heard

everywhere.

Who is

worthy to

open the

scroll and

break its

seals?

That is,

who can

bring about

these

judgments

and the

final redemption

of God's

people?

Who can

unleash

this?

Verse 3,

and no

one

in heaven

or on

earth or

under the

earth was

able to

open the

scroll or

to look

into it.

Stop here

and recognize

what has

just been

explained

here.

There's

no one

to right

the wrongs,

to banish

evil,

to redeem

God's

people?

No one.

And so

it's not a

surprise.

The next

verse says,

and I,

John,

began

to weep

loudly,

sobs

at the

realization

that these

judgments

won't

come about.

There will

not be a

correcting of

evil.

There will

be no

redemption

of God's

people.

And so

he wept

loudly

because no

one was

found worthy

to open

the scroll

or to

look into

it.

And one

of the

elders said

to me,

beautiful

words for

him,

weep no

more.

Behold,

the lion

of the

tribe of

Judah,

the root

of David,

has conquered

so he

can open

the scroll

and its

seven

seals.

angels.

And between

the throne

and the

four living

creatures

and among

the elders,

I saw

a lamb

standing.

Remarkable

here,

he's not

coming up

from the

earth or

some other

place,

he's just

already

there.

between the

elders,

probably a

picture of

the church

and the

throne of

God,

he's there.

A lamb

standing

as though

it had

been slain.

Seven

horns,

perfect power,

with seven

eyes,

perfect knowledge,

which are

the seven

spirits of

God,

the perfect

spirit of

God,

sent out

into all

the earth

and he

went and

took the

scroll from

the right

hand of

him who

was seated

on the

throne.

And when

he had

taken the

scroll,

the four

lived,

these

terrifying

creatures,

and the

twenty-four

elders fell

down before

the lion,

each holding

a harp,

and the

golden bowls

full of

incense,

where our

char the

prayers the

saints.

Is that

what it

says?

Did I

misspeak?

But why?

Because

there's

several images

going on

here.

Verse five,

there's a

lion,

root of

David's,

yes,

there's a

picture of

a lamb.

Personally,

I'm

writing this,

I want

to describe

from what

I know

about who

it's

pointing to,

it's

Jesus,

I would

want to

describe

him now,

and continuing

on to the

book as a

lion on

the throne,

Aslan.

Never once

in the rest

of the book

of Revelation

is he referred

to as a

lion.

For two

dozen times

now,

this person

is referred

to as a

lamb

on a

throne.

Why?

Realize

what's

happening

here.

The last

book of the

Bible,

this one

story,

you have

the main

character,

a character

that's going

to be repeated

with this

name into

eternity.

Don't miss

this opportunity

to think

through what

his name

will be,

and it's

a lamb.

And so I

want us to

park here

and think

about this

because

this is

Jesus

who is

seen as

the word

of God.

That is

the perfect

self-revelation

of what

God is

like.

And what

God wants

his people

to know

is that

he'd like

to,

he'd prefer

to be

called

a

lamb.

On a

throne,

but a

lamb.

So that's

what we're

going to do

the rest

of our time

here is just

meditate on

this.

Why a

lamb?

I'm

going to

give you

four

reasons

that I

think each

one gets

closer and

closer.

The

apostle John

and even

his other

letters in

his book

just loves

layers of

imagery,

like an

onion.

He loves,

okay,

this one's

accurate,

but this

one gets

even closer,

and this

one,

oh,

yes,

they're all

true,

but they're

just getting

deeper.

Let me

give four,

and I'm

sure into

eternity

we'll

discover

other

layers to

this.

What does

a lamb

symbolize?

So let's

picture a

lamb.

I could

have brought

a lamb

here,

I guess,

this morning,

but Mike

would have

maybe gotten

a little

nervous by

that.

my wife's

family is

from Oregon,

and so

every summer

we head

out there,

and her

family has

a farm,

and they're

our sheep,

and so my

kids growing

up,

every time

we'd go

out there,

we'd visit

the sheep,

and the

kids just

loved bounding

up to the

sheep every

morning,

naming the

sheep,

feeding the

sheep,

petting the

sheep,

sheep aren't,

they're not

intimidating

for a

kid,

accessible,

calming,

but this

isn't a

sheep,

this is a

lamb,

even less

intimidating,

the epitome

of

weakness,

weakness,

weakness,

weakness,

weakness,

Jesus

himself said,

come to

me for I

am gentle

and lowly

in heart,

and you

will find

rest for

your souls,

he's

accessible and

welcoming to

any who come

to him,

that's what

God is like,

seek,

and so,

that's the

first layer,

I think,

a lamb is,

I think

sometimes we

read Revelation

so much that

we forget

that it is

a lamb,

it's the

lamb is,

it gently

welcomes you,

that's the

first point,

the lamb,

Jesus,

the lamb

gently

welcomes,

another image

in the

Revelation

that

parallels

this,

is said

a couple

times,

the image

of,

well,

this is

what it

says,

and let

the one

who is

thirsty

come,

let the

one who

desires

take the

water of

life

without

price,

you

come to

this lamb,

there's no,

if you

come with

your thirst

and your

hunger

and your

neediness

and your

just lack

of,

he's

welcoming,

you take

the water

of life

without

price,

remember

that this

is what

Jesus said

to that,

the woman

at the

well,

she had

nothing,

her

history

was littered

with

failures

and

awfulness

and

hardship

and

she

feels

so

welcomed

by

his

free

offer

that she

goes

and

calls

others

to come

to this

unintimidating

welcoming.

So perhaps

today the

lamb is

welcoming

you to

come to

him,

your

questions,

your

doubts,

your

addictions,

your

regrets,

your

mistakes,

your

embarrassments

and you

find that

he offers

eternal

life.

But again,

this is just

the outer

layer.

This isn't

the primary

reason.

We find out

from the

context that

he's using

this image

of a

lamb.

It's

there,

but the

emphasis,

if you look

back at

chapter 5,

the emphasis

is on the

fact that

the lamb

was

slain.

You'll

see that

in verse

6.

A lamb

standing as

though it

had been

slain.

And jumping

ahead a little

bit,

we'll get

here a little

bit,

but verse

9,

worthy of

you to

take the

scroll to

open its

seals,

for you

were

slain.

And then

verse 12,

ahead there

saying,

with a

lot of

worthy

lamb who

was

slain.

So it's

not only

a weak

looking

creature,

it's a

creature that

at one

point had

been

slaughtered

and was

the ultimate

weakness

dead.

A jagged

slash

across

its

neck.

Many of

you probably

know your

Bibles,

this is a

reflection back

to the

Old Testament

and what

God called

his people

to do

was to

sacrifice

a lamb

as a

picture of

the fact

that because

of their

rebellious,

because of

our

rebelliousness

as humans,

we deserve

punishment from

God and

one of the

only means

of being

rescued from

that judgment

and punishment

that we

deserve is

for something

to die in

our place,

something else

to take the

punishment for

us so

the lamb

is slaughtered

in our

place.

And we

can be

freed and

have a

relationship

with God.

And so

this is

the one

who introduced

Jesus,

when Jesus

came for

his ministry,

he was

pointed out

and said,

behold,

John the

Baptist said,

the lamb

of God

who takes

away the

sin of

the world.

And so

by placing

our trust

in Jesus

and coming

to him

without

anything,

we find

that he

bears God's

wrath for

all our

failures and

sins and

pride.

So that's

definitely

here of

what it's

symbolizing.

So he's a

lamb,

gently,

he's a

gentle,

weak,

gently

welcomes

you.

He's a

lamb that

died in

your place,

that's

definitely

where he's

going here,

but there's

more.

because there's

a much

greater

emphasis in

this passage

that it's

the slain

lamb

who

conquers.

So look

back at

verse 5,

the lion,

the tribe

of Judah,

the root

of David,

has

conquered

and so

this

conquering

person

steps forward

and it's

a

lamb.

how did

he conquer?

How did

he have

the authority

to come

to the

judge or

the king

on the

throne,

the one

on the

throne and

take this

scroll?

What if

gives him

the authority,

the right

to do

that?

It's

through

weakness.

sacrifice

that he

is able

to

conquer.

Verse 9,

look ahead

there again,

worthy are

you to

take the

scroll and

open its

seals for

you were

slain

by your

blood.

will

be

is it

because

this

person

was

powerful

or

clever

or

impressive

or

eloquent

or charismatic

or smart

or intelligent?

No!

It's

because he

was so

humble

and willing

to sacrifice

for his

people

that he's

worthy.

And it

refers to

there

by your

blood

you

ransomed

your

people.

So how

were God's

people

rescued

and

victorious?

It was

because

these

lambs

were

slaughtered,

blood was

put on

the posts

so that

the angel

of death

passed over

their,

this is the

people of

Israel and

Egypt,

passed over

their homes

and they

were rescued

and redeemed

and were

victorious

because of

a

slaughtered

lamb.

Who is

the one

who has

authority

to unleash

all the

righting of

wrongs and

defeat all

evil and

redeem God's

people?

So here's

this next

letter,

Jesus the

lamb conquers

because of

his humility

and sacrifice.

The lamb

conquers

because of

his humility

and sacrifice.

And so you

see that his

reign in

this verse,

you know,

as we saw

there,

he's got

seven horns

that is

perfect power

and seven

eyes,

so he's

omniscient,

nothing will

ever take him

by surprise.

he's on

the throne.

And so we

get this

massive paradox,

this juxtaposition,

which I think

will be,

stand all,

in awe of,

for all

eternity,

the great

power and

authority and

his

weakness,

his willingness

to enter such

weakness and

humility and

sacrifice.

sacrifice.

But I,

that's really

close,

that's it,

but I think

there's one,

even one more

layer in.

And that's

because we've

got to sit

back and

look,

who is this

written to?

This is a

letter to

people.

And what are

they going to

get out of

this?

Yes,

at the heart

of it is to

be enamored

and awestruck

by this

lamb on

a throne.

But what

was the

situation for

those reading

this?

They were

facing

tremendous

hardship,

martyrdom,

losing jobs,

losing family.

John is in

exile at this

point.

And so

one of the

repeated

descriptions of

those who

follow the

lamb is

to the

one who

conquers.

So actually

look at,

just before

our story

here,

at the end

of chapter

three,

look at that

with me.

Verse 21,

we'll see this

a little more

next week,

but verse 21,

the one who

conquers,

I will grant

him to sit

with me on

my throne

as I

also

conquered

and sat

down with

my father

on his

throne.

So those

who follow

this

reigning

king

follow in

his path.

In other

words,

the lamb

invites you

to follow

him

to victory

through

humility

and

sacrifice.

They would

be victorious

even in

their weaknesses

and,

might I say,

because of

their weakness.

One of my

favorite verses

in Revelation,

if you just

jump over a

couple chapters

to the end

of chapter

seven,

just an

absolutely

beautiful

description

of what

we look

forward to.

Look at

verse 15,

but I'm

going to

zero in

on verse

17.

Chapter

seven,

verse 15.

Therefore

they,

and this

is God's

people,

are before

the throne

of God

and they

serve him

day and

night

in his

temple.

And he

who sits

on the

throne

will

shelter

them

with his

presence.

They

shall

hunger

no more.

They

were hungry,

but they'll

hunger

no more

now.

Neither

thirst

anymore.

The sun

shall not

strike them

nor any

scorching

heat.

There are

no more

hardship.

Look at

this beautiful

passage.

Verse here,

the lamb

in the

midst of

the throne.

Now he's

not beside

the throne.

He's in

the midst

of the

throne.

Will be

their

shepherd.

Notice the

ironic picture

here.

The lamb

is a

shepherd and

who's he

shepherding

but his

people.

And verse

17,

and he will

guide them

to the

springs of

living water.

He gives

for free

and God

will wipe

away every

tear from

their eyes.

Isn't that

beautiful?

The intimacy

of someone

who wipes

every tear

from

eyes.

But he's

a lamb

who is a

shepherd.

And that

means those

who are

reading this,

we his

people,

are like

sheep.

Like the

image in

Isaiah chapter

Isaiah 40 · chapter mention

40,

he will

tend his

flock like

a shepherd.

He will

gather the

lambs in

his arms.

He will

carry them

in his

bosoms and

gently lead

those that

are with

young.

And so

this image

of the

lamb is

hard.

As we get

to know

this lamb,

we see that

this is a

lamb who

invites you

to follow

him to

victory through

humility and

sacrifice.

sacrifice.

I think

those are

some of

the images

that this

picture of

a lamb

give to

us.

And so

how do we

respond?

We

follow

him.

That's the

call of this

last book

is to

follow him

by embracing

humility and

sacrifice.

This is the

upside down

nature of

Christianity

that we

constantly

have to

have God

transform

our hearts

into.

This is why

he's so

holy.

By the way,

it's interesting

how chapter

four and

chapter five,

the holiness

of God

is then

revealed in

this paradoxical

upside down.

We're upside

down.

He's right

side up,

but it's

that a

lamb.

This is

describing what

God is

like.

And yet

we in

our world,

which were

influenced in

our world

every time

we go on

social media,

et cetera,

is to,

we want to

be a lion,

we want to

be strong,

we want to

be powerful,

successful,

impressive.

And yet

scripture says

that it's

the lowly

who win.

The last

will be

first,

the first

will be

last,

the humble

are exalted.

If you want

to be great,

you must be

servant of

all.

Love

the story

of that

first and

second Corinthians

unveils as

Paul interacts

with the

Corinthian

church who

loved

impressiveness

as Christians.

And yet

Paul's life

was in the

opposite direction

to the point

where they

wanted to get

rid of him

and they

said,

you're a

failure.

And he

says,

no,

I'm weak.

I'm strong.

God's

power is

made perfect

in weakness.

and yes,

humility,

but sacrifice.

We don't

run after

sacrifice

just for

sacrifice's

sake,

but that's

what it

means to

follow Jesus

is to

take up

our cross

daily

and to

follow him.

that's

part of

this

journey

for me

and

understanding

this

little bit

has been

living with

a son with

down syndrome

as you

saw.

And to

an international

ministry,

you think

of the

people that

are typically

seen as

the very

bottom

of society.

they may

have more

for us

than

or any

other kind

of people

that are

at the

very bottom

more than

we typically

think.

First

Corinthians,

again,

the Corinthian

church was

all about

impressiveness,

talked about

the body

while every

part is

needed and

the parts

that you

think are

indispensable

or are

dispensable

or just

lowly.

They're

indispensable.

we must

have them.

We give

them greater

honor.

It's upside

down.

Blessed are

the poor

in spirit.

Blessed are

those who

mourn.

Jesus moved

toward the

outsiders,

those who

were kicked

to the

curb.

And so

that's part

of what

you promote

humility is

to talk

to folks,

even business

leaders,

how Christian

business

leaders,

how can

you work

to cultivate

humility as

an aspirational

value in

how you do

your business

or in your

home?

Humility

becomes more

and more

central because

that's our

eternal future

is marveling

at the

humility of

the Lamb.

and so we

follow him.

We follow

him.

We follow

him by

embracing

humility and

sacrifice.

And finally,

and this is

where I'm

going to

close,

we follow

him and

we sing.

So I love

what was said

today.

We sing because

that's what they

did.

Look at verse

nine.

The Lamb

comes,

chapter five,

verse nine.

The Lamb is

presented and

they sang a

new song.

No better way

to respond.

Sing a new

song saying,

worthy are you to

take the scroll

and open its

seals for you

were slain and

by your blood

you ransomed

people for God

from every tribe

and language and

people and nation

and you made

them a kingdom

and priests to

our God and

they shall reign

on the earth.

So these

lambs,

these sheep

that he shepherds,

they,

these humble

sacrificial,

who sacrifice

so much,

they will reign

on the earth.

And then it

keeps,

the singing

keeps going.

Then I looked

and I heard

around the throne

and the living

creatures and the

elders and the

voice of many

angels numbering

myriads of

myriads,

thousands of

thousands saying

with a loud

voice,

worthy is a

lamb who

slain.

See power and

wealth and

wisdom and

might and

honor and

glory and

blessing.

And I heard

every creature

in heaven on

earth and

under the

earth and

in the sea

and all

that's in

them saying

to him who