INTRODUCTION. I want to remind you of what we observed before we started Revelation 4. You and I have suffering to endure, enemies to see defeated, and nations to disciple. So it was for those who first received this book, the Revelation of Jesus Christ. What do we need in order to suffer faithfully, trust that the Lord will defeat our enemies, and persevere in doing our part to disciple the nations? We need the same thing that these first century Christians needed: First, we need a big view of our almighty God (Rev. 4). Second, we need a big view of our lion-like Lamb, Christ Jesus our Lord. Christians with a low view of Christ will endure little suffering for Christ, they will tremble in the presence of their enemies, and they will risk little for the advancement of the gospel in discipling the nations. We need a big view of our lion-like Lamb, and that is exactly what Christ gives us in Revelation chapter five.
Before the Lord Jesus Christ shows His slaves the suffering of the saints, the defeat of the harlot and the beast, and His conquering the nations, He gives them a vision of Himself, the Lionlike Lamb who has conquered. “Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it” (Rev. 5:1-4).
DOCTRINE. Christ is the Lionlike Lamb who has conquered, who will bring about God’s redemptive plan in history, and who is worthy of all praise.
Now we have seven main points and a conclusion, with application sprinkled throughout.
I. CHRIST IS THE CONQUERING LION. “And one of the elders said to me, ‘Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals’” (Rev. 5:5).
I) Christ is the conquering Lion who will accomplish God’s will in history. This was promised of Him in Genesis: “Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples” (Gen. 49:9-10).
II) Christ is the conquering root of David who established a never-ending Kingdom. “And I looked, and behold, a white horse! And its rider had a bow, and a crown was given to him, and he came out conquering, and to conquer” (Rev. 6:2). Examine yourself by asking and answering these questions. Are you submitting to Christ Jesus as the Conquering Lion? Has He conquered you? Who do you think is in control of history? Do you worship Him as the conquering Lion and the eternal King?
II. CHRIST IS THE ONCE CRUCIFIED, NOW RESURRECTED LAMB. “And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain” (Rev. 5:5). Christ is the resurrected Lamb, standing in heaven with His crucifixion scars still visible! John refers to Jesus as a Lamb twenty-eight times in this book. Are you trusting in this resurrected Lamb who has been previously slain?
III. CHRIST IS THE ALL-POWERFUL LIONLIKE LAMB. “with seven horns” (Rev. 5:6b).
IV. CHRIST IS THE ALL-KNOWING LIONLIKE LAMB WHO SENDS THE HOLY SPIRIT. “. . .and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth”(Rev. 5:6c).
V. CHRIST IS THE WORTHY LIONLIKE LAMB WHO WILL BE WORSHIPPED BY ALL THE SAINTS. “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 living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals” (Rev. 5:7-9a). Christ is the Lionlike Lamb who is worthy to reveal and execute God’s eternal decree of redemptive history! John has been told he will see what must shortly come to pass. Christ is the revealer (Rev. 5:9a) and the executor of God’s plans (Rev. 6:1-2).
Use this truth for comfort and confidence. Are you trusting in and following the real Jesus who is totally powerful and always performs His sovereign pleasure? He never tries to do anything. He does what He wants, when He wants. The real Jesus spoke crippled men to their feet, spit blind men their sight, touched lepers’ skin diseases away. The real Jesus drove demons away with a word, rebuked a hurricane like it was an ornery child, raised Lazarus like a general, knocked Saul of Tarsus off his horse like a warrior. The real Jesus forgives men and women like a lamb through His cross, brings them into union with Him like a lover by his Spirit, devours his enemies like a lion, and will one day make all things new like a master builder. This is the real Jesus. Oh! fall at His feet in worship and wonder.
VI. CHRIST IS THE PURCHASER OF GOD’S ELECT. “. . . for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth’” (Rev. 5:9b-10).
I) Christ purchased a people on the cross. “. . .for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed people for God” (Rev. 5:9b). Use this truth for comfort. Did Christ purchased you on the cross for God? Then you do not belong to Adam, the Devil, nor to your sin anymore. You have been set free from the misery of sin and adopted by the Almighty. Use this truth also for rebuke and exhortation. Did Christ purchase you on the cross for God? Then you do not belong to yourself. You were bought with a price. Therefore live for Him who for your sake died and was raised.
II) Christ purchased many a people on the cross. “. . .and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9c). Use this truth for encouragement. Did Christ purchase many a people on the cross for God? Then go and get them by evangelism.
III) Christ purchased a people to make them kings that reign on the earth “. . .and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth’” (Rev. 5:10). Use this truth also for encouragement. Did Christ purchase you so that you would rule on the earth? Then take dominion by the grace of God in your life, in your home, in your vocation, in all the earth. Do all of this in meekness, for “the meek shall inherit the earth” (Matt. 5:5). Do not fear, beloved brothers! The dominion mandate which Adam failed to uphold has been redeemed in Christ, the final Adam. He has saved you to be a kingdom, and He has promised “They shall reign on the earth.”
IV) Christ purchased a people to make them priests that offer spiritual sacrifices. “. . .and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth’” (Rev. 5:10b). Use this truth for direction. If you are in Christ by faith, you have been purchased by Him on the cross to offer up spiritual sacrifices for His own glory! You have been purchased for private worship. You were bought by the blood of Christ for family worship. Christ was slain to ransom you for public worship. Christ also bought you for obedient worship. Jesus shed His blood, not to give you an excuse to go on sinning; He offered Himself as a bloody sacrifice on one day so that you would offer yourself as a living sacrifice every day. This is the Christian’s reasonable service, to strive to obey His commands in joy by the strength that He supplies.
Test yourself by this: do you want to be a priest to God, offering up spiritual sacrifices for His glory, or do you simply want a get out of hell free card?
VII. CHRIST IS THE ONCE-HUMILIATED, NOW-EXALTED LIONLIKE LAMB WHO WILL BE WORSHIPPED BY ALL THE ANGELS. “Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice,‘ Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’” (Rev. 5:11-12). What a perfect summary of how to praise Christ Jesus our Lord.
Use these truths for exhortation. Ascribe Power to Christ because He has all authority in heaven and on earth. Ascribe Wealth to Christ because He owns everything and everyone. Ascribe Wisdom to Christ because He always knows what to do. Ascribe Might to Christ because He is powerfully able to accomplish all of His purposes. Ascribe Honor to Christ because He is valuable above all, He is the treasure of treasures. Ascribe Glory to Christ because He is incomprehensibly weighty and magnificent in all His perfections. Ascribe Blessing to Christ because He is praiseworthy. Oh! learn from these angels what you should ascribe to Christ if you want to properly worship Him!
Use these truths also for direction. Do you ascribe these things to Jesus? Let me give you two directions here: First, meditate on these truths to bring comfort to your soul, then praise Christ by ascribing to Him all of these things we can learn from the myriad of angels. Second, teach these truths to your wife and your kids; to your small group; to Christ’s church.
CONCLUSION. Christ and His Father will be worshipped by all of creation. “And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, ‘To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’” (Rev. 5:13). How do you respond to this chapter of the Scriptures? Do you respond like the four living creatures in verse fourteen? You should. “And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ and the elders fell down and worshiped” (Rev. 5:14). May God give you there grace to say amen like the elect angels! Jesus Christ is the infinitely worthy Lionlike Lamb. Therefore all saints, all angels, indeed all creation, will ascribe glory to Him.
