The Lamb Who Was Slain: A Judgment or a Salvation? - Glorious Hope | Studies in Revelation

And so it's with the words of that closing verse, O Jesus, thou

hast promised that where thy art in glory, there shall thy servant

be.

Because tonight we're looking to the very place of Jesus.

We're looking to where he is in this great curtain being pulled

back of heaven, as we saw in Revelation 4.

And last week, I began by getting you to think of places that

were impressive to us in how they looked.

And one of the things I suggested to us that might be impressive

to us is the sunrise that we see each day.

And I don't know if you saw this, but the sunrise for each morning

at the start of this week was simply spectacular.

And it reminded us of God's continued faithfulness.

And if you didn't get to see it, I did my best to get a photograph,

and that's what it looked like from the manse.

And really, pictures don't do sunrises or sunsets any glory unless

you edit them fully.

Well, I wasn't in the mood for editing.

And so this was the sunrise.

And really it was Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday.

I saw these as we pulled the curtains back or rolled up the blinds.

And it was a welcome sight to see, having thought about just how

impressive that throne room of heaven was for us.

And so we see something impressive before us every day in

the glory of God in the sunrise again reminding us of his

continued faithfulness.

And I use this sunrise, and I use this example to help us understand

what John saw as the curtain of heaven was pulled back and he

saw the glory of the kingdom of God, God with God on the throne,

ruling and reigning.

And you know what a sight it must have been for John to try comprehend

for John to behold everything he saw in front of him.

In chapter four, we read of his understanding of all that was

before him, in both what he could see, but also remembering what

he could hear.

And so we now move into chapter five, and John is still in

the throne room of heaven, but now we get to be a little bit more

focused on some of the details that were not put before us in the

first viewing of heaven.

And so as John looks now, he sees the one sitting on the throne,

not just him, but what is in his right hand.

And so John begins in verse one by telling us, then I saw in

his right hand, or in the right hand of him who was seated

on the throne, a scroll written within and on the back sealed

with seven seals.

So John sees a scroll.

That scroll is well written over, but that scroll is also locked

or sealed by these seven seals.

And it's not until we get into chapter six that we discover what

these seals are.

And whenever you think of a scroll, you either think of a piece

of paper that's rolled up or you think of a longer piece of paper

with two wooden cylinder like pieces at both ends so that it can

be rolled up and then revealed or unwound.

And it's revealed for us.

So however we think of a scroll, it's something that's maybe

not as familiar to us, but it certainly was familiar to John from

his day, because even whenever we read of Jesus back at Nazareth

in the synagogue, the scroll was given to him, it was handed to

him and he read from it.

And if you've ever seen any dramatization of that, you will know

what it looks like.

So this was something that was nothing new to John.

But maybe what did surprise him was the seven seals.

Scrolls might have been clasped simply to keep them together,

but to have seven seals on them was overkill.

So therefore there must be deep meaning as to why these seals

and why seven of them.

But again, we'll look at that a little tonight, but more next week.

And so, as we now behold this scroll, what we're to understand

by it is that it represents the decrees of God concerning the

unfolding of God's plans for judgment and salvation that were

established before the foundations of the world set in motion

by Christ's death and Christ's resurrection.

The American New Testament scholar G.K. beale writes that the

scrolls contains all sacred history, especially from the cross

to the new creation.

So that's what they're about.

They're about God's plan for judgment, about God's plan for salvation.

And it's a plan that has been established from the foundations

of the world now set in motion in these last days by Christ's death

and resurrection.

And so this scroll, as I've now said twice, is written on both

sides.

And what this tells us is that the decrees of God are comprehensive,

but they're also extensive.

So what we have in this scroll is everything we need.

It is full, it is bursting, full of what is to be revealed to

us.

And what is written on the scroll is precise.

And it is sealed to let us know that it is complete and it cannot

be altered.

That's why there's seven seals.

Whenever you think of a seal, and I've had to use from time to

time as clerk of presbytery, a wax seal.

And it's a brass knob that I hold in my hand, I hate the wax.

And please, if you ever do this, don't make the same mistake

as me by thinking you work in the post office, slamming it down.

Because.

Because the wax then just goes everywhere onto the manse carpet.

A seal is a wax thing, but a seal can also be a clasp or a lock.

And so by seven of them, what we're told is that this is not easy

to open so that it can be changed or that it can be altered.

And I suppose any ladies here or girls who have had a diary with

a lock on it, you want to keep that key close to you, and you're

the only one who will be able to open it.

And so we discover in a moment or two that there is only one who

can open it to tell us, therefore, that not only is it complete,

not only is it precise and extensive, but it cannot be altered

and it cannot be changed.

And so it is a scroll that is securely sealed with these seven

seals.

What's written on this scroll will not take place unless the seals

are broken.

And already for the original hearers of this, they will be transported

back to Daniel.

Because it's in Daniel chapter 12 and verses 4 and 9 that we're

Daniel 12 · chapter mention

told of a book that is sealed until the end of the day time.

And so here we have it.

And so the images of Daniel are now flooding into the minds of

the readers and the hearers as they wait to see what happens next.

And so as John sees the scroll in the right hand of the one sitting

on the throne, his attention is now drawn to something more.

He now sees an angel.

And this isn't any angel.

John describes this angel as a mighty angel, and the angel has something

to say.

And verse two tells us, and I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with

a loud voice, who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals.

Now, John is being exceptionally descriptive here.

He could have easily said that Jesus is the only one who can open

the scroll, but he doesn't.

He tells us exactly what he sees and what he hears, and he's

in a way, slowing things down for us so that we appreciate what's

going on, but also that we rejoice in the majesty of the one

who is going to come to open the scroll.

And so John sees a mighty angel announcing his question loudly

to the entirety of creation.

And this is the central question that is asked in chapter

five.

Is there anyone worthy to break open the seals?

Because the one who breaks open the seals is the one who will

then commence whatever is written within.

And so what we're now given with this Question is also given

to us in an answer.

And it's a particular format and where we are to pause at each

one to reflect on the question of utmost importance for mankind

who is worthy?

And so now, seeing the fullness of heaven before him, it

might surprise us what the initial answer is to this question

of is there anyone worthy to break open the seals?

In verses three and four, we read, and no one in heaven or on

earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look

into it.

And what happens?

John and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy

to open the scroll or to look into it.

There's no one able to open it or look into it.

There's no one who can tell us what it contains.

No one, as John emphasizes, truly means no one.

There's no heavenly being, no angel who can open the scroll, nor

is there anyone on earth who can do so.

Nor is there anyone under the earth, the realm of the dead, who

can open it.

And in a moment of his involvement in the unfolding scene,

John breaks into weeping.

John wept with shame for the failure of the entire human race

to be so much less than what God had originally intended for it

to be.

Perhaps he wept and personal shame, seeing in himself his own

failure to live up to what God intended him to be.

His weeping, however, was about far more.

It wasn't just for himself, because he wept, because if no one

was found worthy to open the scroll, then there would be no end

to the suffering in the world.

Because remember, at the time that John is writing this, already

in the churches we have seen the word tribulation mentioned.

This is a time where the church is under persecution.

The church is not a friend of the world, although some have tried

to be.

But they're feeling.

This is a time when John needs to know, and the churches need to

know, that the suffering of this world will come to an end.

And so if no one can be found to open the scroll, then the suffering

is just going to go on forever and ever and ever.

And with this, then there would be no confidence in good triumphing

over evil.

There would be no assurance that justice will finally be done.

There would be no ultimate victory for God's people, no experience

of promised blessings, no new heaven, no new earth, no end to sin

and death, and no hope.

Do you see now why John weeps on what the significance of this

scroll and its seven seals are?

If there's a cry in heaven that no one can open it, then what

is the hope for humanity?

But there is Hope.

Because what John sees next is hope that comes from words of one

of the elders who says to John in verse five, weep no more.

Behold or look.

The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered,

and he has conquered so that he can open the scroll and its seven

seals.

And here's John reaching back to an early prophecy in Genesis where

Judah is given the prominence and rule over his brothers and his

enemies.

In Genesis 49, 8, Judah is as fierce as a lion over his prey, and

no one can stand against him, as verse nine of the chapter goes

on to say.

But we also see that the one who can open the scroll is from the

root of David.

And this will be easier for us to recall, I think, because as promised

through the prophets and led out for us in the genealogy of Christ

in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus is from the lineage or the line of David.

And in the covenant made with David, God promised him an heir who

would reign forever on his throne.

And John is now seeing who that is.

It is the risen Lord Jesus Christ.

But before him stands a lamb.

And so the scene is set for the one who will come and break the

seals so God's truth can be read.

Because he died so that he could open.

He is conquered so that he can reveal to us what is God's word to

us.

And verse six gets the stage ready for what we're about to see.

And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the

elders, I saw a lamb standing as though it had been slain with

seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits

of God sent out into all the earth.

Now, maybe we are expecting to see Jesus dressed in white with light

all around him, but that's not what we're shown here.

And so it surprises us that John sees a lamb.

But this is no ordinary lamb.

Interestingly, this lamb was alive and standing, yet looked as

though it had been slain.

And so this means for us that John was looking at the crucified

and resurrected Lord Jesus in glorified human flesh.

It is as if he could still see scars on his brow where the thorns

had been pressed in and scars on his hands and his feet where the

nails had been pounded into them.

This lamb being slain is full of biblical imagery.

It draws us to the Passover lamb there in Exodus, the lamb that

had to be killed with its blood sprinkled on the lintel of

the door so that the angel of death would pass by, pass over, and

not kill the firstborn in the house of the Israelites that Passover

lamb was was slaughtered so that it might deliver Israel.

Lambs were also offered both morning and evening for the daily

burnt offering bringing atonement for Israel.

The suffering servant in Isaiah 53 that the boys and girls

looked at this morning, that was our assurance of pardon.

Tonight we're told, like a lamb led to the slaughter.

And in John 1:29, what does John the Baptist exclaim?

John 1:29

That Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

Paul identifies Jesus as the passover lamb in First Corinthians

1 Corinthians 5:7

5:7.

And Peter says that Jesus is a lamb without blemish or spot in 1

1 Peter 1:19

Peter 1:19.

And so the importance of the lamb is evident in Revelation.

For this is the first of 26 times when Jesus is identified as

the Lamb.

And so Jesus self giving in death for the sake of his people

is the center of the New Testament story.

Now we see at the center of the throne room in heaven.

You see, Scripture is full of imagery pointing us to this lamb

who was slain.

This lamb that was alive but looked as if it had been slain.

And so we learn from John's portrait that Jesus conquers not

as a lion, but as a lamb.

The seven sealed book is open not because he mauled his opponents,

but because he gave his life for sinners.

Just like that Passover lamb on the first passover, just like

that lamb that was sacrificed daily and on the day of atonement,

Jesus, the living lamb, gave his life so that we as humanity could

go free when we place our trust in him.

It is Jesus who triumphs through suffering and he triumphs

through death instead of through the destruction of his opponents

with overwhelming force.

And as the risen one, he stands triumphant.

Yes, as the slain Lamb, he stands in victory with almighty strength.

For we see here he has seven horns.

Horns designate strength, and seven here indicates perfect and

infinite power.

And so the one who was slain as a lamb now reigns as the lion

and the lamb.

And this is the one John now sees moving around heaven, going

forward and taking the scroll.

And as soon as he does, we once again see worship in heaven.

And but it's not just singing this time, because verse eight tells

us what happens next.

And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures

and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb, each holding a harp

and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of

the saints.

The Lamb is worshipped because as the slain and risen one, he opens

the scroll, he redeems his people.

The use of harps by the four living creatures signifies their

Joy rooted in God's faithful and saving love for his people.

The elders, too, have harps because they are filled with joy

on account of the saving work of the slain lamb.

The elders also have golden bowls of incense.

Incense and golden bowls, we know harks back to Exodus and the

tabernacle that would then show us and point us to the temple.

And we'll come to look at this again.

But for now, what we're told is they represent the saints of the

prayers.

And we'll come to that again in chapter eight.

And so what we have in front of us is the site recalling the Old

Testament altar, that altar of incense described in Exodus 30.

But we also see it in Psalm 141, verse 2, as David asks that

Psalms 141:2

his prayer be counted as as incense before the Lord.

David writes, let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and

the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.

What was the point of this incense?

It was to be a sweet aroma, just like the sacrifice of a lamb

was to be a sweet aroma unto the Lord.

There was to be a sweet aroma of the praise of God's people before

him day and night.

And now we see that this aroma is the prayers of the saints who

have come before him faithfully seeking him, trusting

him, knowing that they need to depend on him for everything.

And so John picks up on this image that David has for us in the

Psalms of comparing prayer to incense, incense that was pleasing

to God.

And in the same way, these are the prayers of the saints.

And so whenever we pray, I hope we know that our prayers are

pleasing to God.

He delights in hearing us pray.

He wants us to pray.

He wants us to pray in our homes.

He wants us to pray together, so that indeed it will be a sweet

fragrance to him in the words that we offer.

But also on top of this, the redemption accomplished by the Lamb

fulfills the prayers of the saints and the longings of their

hearts, because that's what we pray for, the day when he will return.

And that's what saints throughout the generations have been

praying for, longing for the day when Christ will return.

And in verses 9 and 10, we hear the praise of Heaven.

That answers the question as to who is worthy to open the scroll.

And the words of their hymn say that it can only be the Lamb,

the risen Lord Jesus, because he bore the penalty that the sin

of humanity deserves.

The hymns affirm that this was not for one group of people, but

for every tribe and language and people and nation.

And so, having ransomed the people for God, by his blood, they

are now a kingdom of priests to God and shall reign on the earth.

In other words, the reign of the people of God is rooted in Christ's

redeeming work.

The four living creatures and the 24 elders explode with joy because

God's purposes for his creation will come to pass.

And what is written on the seals, which is God's plan for the

world, will be not frustrated, but will be fulfilled.

So the song of eternity is one of celebration for the Lamb who was

slain.

And we will sing it with brothers and sisters from all over

the world, as we're told, every tribe and language and people

and nations.

And that's why the words of our opening hymn this morning, hymn139,

all heal.

The Power of Jesus Name, are so powerful for us because they describe

this exact scene when we sing, O that with yonder sacred throng

we at his feet may fall we'll join the everlasting song and crown

Him Lord of all we'll join the everlasting song and crown Him Lord

of all.

I hope that the songs that we sing aren't just because we like

them, but because they have meaning not just for that moment,

but deeper meaning as scripture is more and more revealed

to us.

That indeed we will see that day that has been described here

in Revelation 5 in those verses of that hymn that we sing

and that we sung this morning and others that we sing of telling

what is the future God's people.

Well, the four living creatures and all these redeemed

people are singing their new song.

And then the angel, all angels, all the hosts of heaven join

in verse 12 where they sing, worthy is the Lamb who was slain

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and

glory and blessing.

The Lamb is worthy of the same worship as God, and so should be

given power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory

and blessing.

And John is here emphasizing that power, might, honor and glory

should be given to the Lamb, especially as a result of his redeeming

work.

In other words, Jesus should be honored and Jesus should be worshiped

as the God man for the exaltation of Jesus Christ.

Through that, a new stage in redemptive history is realized and

the scene ends with more singing.

This time, all creation sings to give honor and glory and might

to the one who sits on the throne, and also to the Lamb.

And what is their great declaration?

Well, their great declaration is Amen.

That's given by the four living creatures.

And what happens when they sing Amen?

Well, the elders bow down and worship the Lamb.

No further words need to be spoken.

And so when we sing Christos Victor with its nine Amens, please

don't get bored of singing those nine Amens, because this is

the very song and hymn of heaven that we too, when we hear

the four creatures singing, we too will bow down and worship and

nothing more will need to be said.

And so as we finish this evening, we need to consider two

things.

First of all, chapters four and five need to be understood together.

What we looked at last week and this week, because what they

do is they inform the rest of this book.

A picture is being built for us.

And so now we have seen the one on the throne and the Lamb and,

and that's going to impact how we understand the rest of the book.

So despite the persecution and opposition facing believers in the

province of Asia, God is the mighty and sovereign Creator reigning

on the throne.

And Christ the son of David is the Lamb of God who ransomed them.

So the hard pressed Christians are God's kings and priests.

They're his kingdom on the earth, waiting the day when Christ

will return.

And so we need to understand this so that we can understand what

the rest of the book is going to tell us.

But second, we must.

Our understanding must be that this is the reality of those who

know salvation in Christ now.

And once again we've been given a picture of heaven and what

God has done for us through the Lamb that was slain.

And the question might come, well, how do we know the Lamb was

slain?

Well, the simple answer is John has seen it and John is telling

us.

And John is not telling us anything new.

As we've seen in our scripture references this evening, it has been

right there from the foundation of the world that this

Lamb would be slain for us.

And now we see who that Lamb was.

If, in case we were in any shadow of doubt, it is the Lord Jesus.

I wonder, like John, will you see Jesus as he is?

Will you see him as risen and exalted?

Will you know him as your Savior?

That's who John sees him as, the one who has done it all so that

we might be saved and that he will have the authority to open the

seals and reveal what is God's way of judgment and salvation?

Or will you look on him as your judge who will condemn you for

your sin because you rejected him?

That's why John warns us in First John 2:17.

1 John 2:17

And the world is passing away along with its desires.

But whoever does the will of God abides forever.

You see, when we see the Lamb we will either approach him knowing

he is our Savior, or we will approach him as our judge.

And we can't make that decision in eternity as we approach

him that is here and now, and it is what we do with Jesus now that

will determine how we will approach him in heaven.

And so tonight, if, let's say eternity was to come in just a few

moments time, in your heart, you know now if you are approaching

him as your Savior or if you're approaching him as your judge,

only you can answer that in your heart.

And you know the answer.

You do.

And so if you're approaching him as judge, I hope that fills you

with a bit of fear, because you need to know that his judgment

will be honest and true, it will be fair, and it will be right.

He's not going to brush sin onto the carpet and ignore it, for

no judge should ever do that.

And in fact, we would cry foul if we saw it here on earth.

He will judge, and he will judge fairly, and we will receive

our just punishment.

But tonight he is calling, the Lamb who was slain is calling you

to repent of sin, to come to him and walk confidently before him,

knowing that you are approaching him as your Savior, the

only one who can save you.

You see, our default way, as John writes for us here, is to pass

away like the world with all of its desires, and to be punished

for it.

But by his steadfast love, God has made a way for us to know him

and be his forever, so that we too may worship the Lamb who was

slain.

Please, tonight come to the Lord.

Do not fear him as your judge, but come to him as your Savior, so

that on that day who will not tremble but yet we declare him Christ

the Victor, now and forevermore, come to him, know him,

and live for him in that full assurance his goodness and grace

that indeed will see us whole.

Let's pray.

Our Father God.

Again we come to a passage in Revelation where perhaps we are familiar

with phrases from it.

But to know it and what it means might have been harder for

us.

But tonight, Father, you've made it clear that there is a Lamb,

and that Lamb stands as a Savior, but also as a judge.

So may we respond well to the Savior tonight, not ignoring him

and not thinking and hoping that we'll be okay, because we won't.

It is only when we place our trust in Jesus that we can be certain

that we will face the Savior and not face the judgment and the

punishment that our sins deserve.

So, Lord, help us to know that as we give you the glory.

So we declare that Christ has done it all so that we may go free

and enter into that throne room of heaven and rejoice with the

angels and the four creatures and the elders and declaring Amen

and worshiping you.

So Father, give us this greater vision of what it means to

be your people in these days as we ask it in Jesus name, Amen.

Sa.