Worthy is the Lamb! Part 1
By Pastor Matt Black
29
July 2007
Lord's Day morning
Revelation 5:1-14
Introduction: Open your Bibles to the book of Revelation 5:1-14. The title of this morning’s message is “Worthy is the Lamb”. Once you’ve found John’s Revelation, won’t you stand with me this morning?
Revelation 5:1-14, “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book [SCROLL] written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, 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 strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. 13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.”
The Living Creatures
And the four beasts [living creatures] said [or they kept saying], “Amen.” I like that. That means when all the angels would say, “He’s worthy to receive power.” Then, then those four living creatures say, “Amen.” “He’s worthy to receive riches,” “Amen,” “Wisdom,” “Amen,” “Strength,” “Amen,” and all the way through. And we’ll also see, verse 14, the four living creatures are just so caught up in the glory of the Lamb, they just keep saying, “Amen. Amen. Amen.” But the elders just fell on their faces overwhelmed at the Lamb. What a glorious picture we see here.
Listen, there are days we get so discouraged, but let’s remember that today is a day of triumph—Jesus Christ is slain in our behalf and risen from the dead! He’s the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and He has overcome!
The Lamb
Let’s talk about the gentle Lamb who is the conquering Lion! We have an overwhelming scene in heaven. Some of our loved ones have already passed on to see some of this. The Lamb slain and standing in heaven, in the throne of God, with all authority and power.
Introduction
First of all, by way of introduction, we see John sorrowing. Here John was, in Revelation 5:5, the text tells us, overwhelmed with sorrow because he realized that no one on the earth, no one under the earth, that’s in hell; no one in the heavens; no one was worthy to take the scroll.
What is the Scroll?
Remember the scroll of chapter 5 verse 1? The scroll is the title deed of planet earth. This is not the first time a scroll like this is seen in Scripture. We need to remember that the book of Revelation is the richest book of prophecy in the Bible, and all of it’s symbols and images for the most part are seen in other places in the Bible. We see a scroll like this one in Ezekiel chapters 2 and 3. Ezekiel is commanded to eat the scroll—a picture that showed that he had to deliver and proclaim the message of the scroll.
Well here we have a scroll that John sees, and it is written on both sides—and sealed with seven seals. What is written within the scroll? It contains the plan of God for redemption—redemption of His people, and the redemption of the earth—ultimately to establish a new heaven and a new earth after bringing final judgment on our present earth. It is the plans and authority to reclaim the earth. Now John sees that no one can reclaim the earth—no one has the authority and the power to bring redemption to the earth. Who owns the title deed to this earth and to your soul?
John Weeping
And so John was weeping profusely, continuously the text tells us, brokenhearted thinking, “Must Satan rule forever? Must the curse of sin, control the earth and earth groan under that curse forever?”
Now before we rebuke John, you know that there are days when you can relate with him. There are days when final victory, even though we know it’s coming, it seems so far away! Well, here we have John weeping, and then the elder consoles him in chapter 5 and verse 5 and says, “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.” You get the picture in your mind that John’s had his head and he can’t control his grief and sorrow, because even though he saw the risen Christ, some days sin seems to have such dominion, and we weep because it seems as if Satan has the victory!
Then the elder says, “Listen, stop weeping! The One who’s the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David has overcome.” And so John lifts up his head. And when he lifts up his head, verse 6, he sees the Lamb. For whatever reason, he has not seen the Lamb until just now. Raises his head, his face is stained with tears and red from the weeping, and his eyes are swollen, and he blinks a couple of times and he beholds the Lamb.
We see the Lamb of God throughout the Bible!
You know, I believe the ancient people of Israel saw the Lamb.
v The Bible tells us in Exodus 29 that each day in Israel, they had to sacrifice two lambs.
v In Numbers 28, the Bible says that every Sabbath they had to sacrifice two additional lambs.
v In Leviticus chapter 4, the Bible says the lamb was to be offered for a sin offering.
v In Leviticus 12 and Leviticus 14, the Bible says that a lamb was to be offered for purification.
v The lamb was to be offered for the dedication of the temple, Numbers 7.
v For the beginning of each new month a lamb was to be offered, Numbers 22.
v Numbers 28, a lamb was offered on the Feast of Pentecost.
v Numbers 29, a lamb was offered on the Feast of Trumpets.
v A lamb was always offered on the Day of Atonement, Numbers 29.
v A lamb was offered at the Feast of Tabernacles, Numbers 29.
v A lamb was always offered on the Passover, Numbers 28.
v And in Leviticus 22, the Bible tells us that a young lamb, without spot or blemish, was required for the voluntary freewill offering.
Now why such a great emphasis on the offering of lambs in the ceremonial sacrificial system of the ancient Jews? Because in all these lambs being sacrificed, those who could see with spiritual eyes would see the Lamb. These are all shadows and types and pictures of Christ.
Abraham
I believe Abraham saw the Lamb. The Bible says in Galatians that the gospel was preached to Abraham. I believe when Abraham took his son Isaac, in, in obedience to the command of God up one of the mountains in Moriah, the Bible said he got so far and he told the other folks who were with him, “You men stay right here. Me and my son Isaac are going to go and worship.” The father and the son—Abraham pictures God the Father, Isaac pictures God the Son. He takes Isaac up there on the mountain and he binds him up, the Bible says. He lays him on top of that altar, and he takes that dagger, and he raises it up, and there that dagger’s shimmering in the moonlight. And he’s about to plunge the dagger into the chest of his son, and God says, “Stop, Abraham! Now I know that you’ll obey Me. Spare the son.” And He says, “Look over there—a ram’s horns are caught in the thicket.” In all of that scene of the son being sacrifices but a substitute being provided in the place of the son, I believe the Bible tells us that Abraham could see beyond that and could see with spiritual eyes. Abraham saw the Lamb.
Isaiah
I believe also that Isaiah saw the Lamb. Listen to Isaiah chapter 53 and verses 4 through 7. Isaiah wrote, “Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.” I believe Isaiah saw beyond just some story that was made up for him to write down on the pages. He saw in the future with prophetic eyes, and he saw the Lamb.
John the Baptist
John the Baptist saw the Lamb. In John chapter 1 verse 29, John is baptizing people unto repentance, getting them ready to receive the Messiah. And Jesus comes walking up, and John the Baptist looks and He points, “Behold, the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.” John the Baptist saw the Lamb.
The Roman Centurion
The Roman centurion saw the Lamb. The Bible said when Jesus was crucified, He looked at all of those who had crucified Him, and He said, “Father, forgive them, they know not what he does, what they do.” And He breathed His last, the Bible says. And the centurion looked up, according to Mark 15:39, and said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God.” The Roman centurion saw the Lamb.
And here in our text, John sees the Lamb of God! John looks up and sees Him.
Here’s our outline this morning:
First, there’s something about the Lamb that I want us to see in particular.
I. First of all, we see the Lamb’s Prominence. His prominence. There’s no higher Name than the Name of Jesus. Look at verse 6. He says, “And I saw between the throne with the four living creatures and the elders, a Lamb standing as if slain.” He’s not just there in the midst of the throne. He said, “The Lamb standing…”
You see, He has already taken the blow of the cross. But, my friend, He stood up on the third day. He’s the Lamb slain, but He’s the Lamb slain and now standing, standing now in the midst of the throne, no longer dwelling on the outside. Now He’s in the center place. He’s on the inside because He became man and entered our outside world and died for sin. He paid redemption’s price. Then He stood up on the third day, and has returned from the outer place – earth, and now stands in the midst of the throne. The Bible says He’s a Lamb slain but standing. His prominence. He is the center of heaven’s attention, and the central figure of heaven’s activity. The Lord Jesus Christ is no longer bowed down in shame, humiliation, and in death. Now He stands in glory, and this speaks of His prominence. He stands in His prominence.
II. Secondly, We see the Lamb’s Provision. His provision. Verse 6 says, “And I saw between the throne with the four living creatures and the elders, a Lamb standing as if slain.” He’s standing, but He’s slain. Aw, this is the basis of His authority. This is His worthiness to reclaim earth and abolish sin because He paid the redemption price for man and for man’s earth. And He paid that with His precious blood. He was slaughtered as a sacrificial lamb. And in that slaughtering and the pouring out of blood, He paid for our sins.
The word “Lamb” here is a Greek word that means a young lamb or a little pet lamb. You see, Jewish households were required to take one of their young little lambs and bring it into their households for four days before they sacrificed that lamb. So during that four days, they became attached to it, and the lamb was precious to them. It was a pet to them. And then they had to take that lamb that they were attached to and that they loved and had become a pet, and slaughter it on the altar, pour out its blood for sin. That’s the picture of Jesus.
Jesus was the most precious of heaven, the darling of heaven, heaven’s Lamb. He was the apple of the Father’s eye. The Father said on two occasions with His voice from heaven, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” (baptism, transfiguration).
Listen, God’s anger is white hot against sin! He held his anger back when Adam sinned because of this Lamb! He held His anger back each time each of us has sinned because of the Lamb. That’s the only reason.
Isaiah 53:6, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all”.
Christ was praying with His disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. The disciples were asleep. Christ was lifting up prayers for you and me. Blood was running from His sweat glands—God’s wrath was beginning to be put upon the precious Lamb of God. He prayed, and as He prayed He could hear Judas in the distance leading a band of men to Him. He knew each of their names. I can imagine that Christ even prayed for some of them. And as the disciples slept on, the leaders of the Jews and Judas came. As the disciples awoke, the men came to Christ, and Judas, being first, kissed our Lord on the cheek.
They led Jesus away. They looked for witnesses against Him but couldn’t find any. They found two that were willing to lie and say that Christ had committed blasphemy because He said He was the Son of God. The only problem there is that He was the Son of God and the Lord of Glory!!
They brought Him to the Romans, but they wouldn’t crucify Him for blasphemy. So they made up another charge—that of insurrection because Christ they said was King of the Jews. Pilate knew the Lord was innocent, and saw the majesty in the Lamb of God standing before Him, and Pilate was afraid. So he brought the Lord before the people and said, “…Behold your King! 15 But they cried out, Away with him, away with him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar” (John 19:14-15).
So they took the Lord to be flogged with a cat-o-nine tails. They ripped the back of the Creator of the universe into ribbons of flesh. They mocked Him. They parted His garments. They blindfolded Him and pummeled His face with their fists. They took a crown of thorns and pressed it into His forehead as blood ran down. They ripped out His beard.
They led Him to Golgotha. This is a mountain that even today has the face of death—the face of a skull. There they crucified the Son of God.
Christ’s precious holy body was gouged and torn and cut and punctured, and the blood ran. At high noon, the earth could not handle it any more. The midday sun stopped shining. The earth was pitch darkness for three hours.
At three o’clock a voice was heard from the cross, “it is finished!” What was finished? Christ was finished paying for the debt of our sin.
Christ suffered our Hell without Mercy. God had no mercy on His Son that day. Those who go to hell get absolutely no mercy from God. There’s no light in hell. Only darkness. There’s no fellowship in hell—totally alone! There’s no health in hell, only stinking death and disease—the flesh of everyone in hell is infested with maggots—the worm dieth not.
There is only pain in hell, day and night. No mercy! No mercy!
Think of the worst hell and times it times infinity. That is what the Son of God endured on the cross. God had no mercy on His Son. He was forsaken. Christ cried, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me” so that we could cry, “My God, my God, why hast thou accepted me?” He accepts us because Christ is our propitiation. Christ satisfied God’s wrath on our behalf. That’s propitiation, prophesied almost three thousand years ago in Isaiah 53:11, “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many…” Why? “for he shall bear their iniquities.”
So in that sacrifice on the cross, redemption’s price was paid. He made the provision for man’s sin, and is worthy to be worshipped because by His sacrifice, He will rid the earth of the wicked one and sin’s curse, and establish His everlasting kingdom for ever and ever. As an eternal testimony for the provision for sin, He bears in His body to this day the wounds of crucifixion. The text say, “I saw Him as a Lamb standing,” prominence, “but slain,” provision.
Conclusion: Alright, later on this afternoon we will look at the rest of this text. We’ve already seen this Lamb, His great Prominence, His Provision, and then His Power. Later on today we will see His Perception, His Presence, and His Position.
Hymn: 258 There is a Fountain Filled with Blood
Special: Via Dolorosa
Lord’s Table
Reception of Dan and Courtnie Allen (right hand of fellowship)