The Lion and the Lamb

True Story  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
0 ratings
· 6 views
Notes
Transcript

ME:

It has been a couple weeks since the first presidential debate.
I missed the very beginning but I ended up being able to catch most of it.
While watching it, for the first time in a very long time, I decided to scroll through my Facebook feed.
Assuming there would be many reactions to the debate.
And I was not wrong.
The next day, I looked at a handful of articles that commented on the debates as well.
And the overwhelming reaction seemed to be disgust and shame and disappointment and embarrassment with both candidates.
One opinion described the debate as excruciating to watch because it held up a mirror to the United States.
Another anchor said it was a hot mess, inside a dumpster fire, inside a train wreck.
Another said it was not a presidential debate, it was mud-wrestling.
Many expressed a sentiment that it was the worst presidential debate ever.
Even the moderator after the debate described his role as terrible.
One article I saw was titled “The night American democracy hit rock bottom.”
Another one was titled “The loser is us”
With one quote that said Never had American politics sunk so low.
One social media post said the debate reflected division, anxiety of US society and the accelerating loss of advantages of the US political system.
An international reporter was quoted saying that no one with a care for American democracy can have switched off feeling anything but queasy.
But it did not stop there, as a result I saw many people express a lack of optimism for the future of America.
One piece in particular goes on to paint a very bleak picture pointing to things like conspiratorial disinformation, an inability to agree on what is true and what are lies, and a world paralyzed by a pandemic.
I found one quote that said, “this dark, horrifying, unwatchable fever dream will surely be the first line of America’s obituary.”
Some even talked about the future of the world not being hopeful.
Most, if not all of the sources of these comments live with an atheistic or agnostic worldview.
To be honest, if my hope was in the world,
As it is for people with an atheistic or agnostic worldview, I would agree with these assessments.
I would believe that the future of the world is certain destruction.
If our hope is in the world, than the world is hopeless.
Last week, we looked at chapter 4.
We saw this glorious vision of the throne room in heaven,
Where all of this marvelous worship of God was taking place.
This morning, we are in chapter 5,
Studying the Story of the Lion and the Lamb
Our passage is broken up into three parts,
The Lion Can Open the Scroll (vs. 1-5)
The Lamb That Was Slain (vs. 6-7)
The World is Saved (vs. 8-14)
It is important we understand as I introduced moments ago,
That the world is hopeless if our hope is in the world.
Our passage this morning shows One Who is far greater Whom we can put our hope in.
As we teach children to sing about God,
He’s got the whole world in His hands,
He’s got the whole wide world in His hands,
He’s got the whole world in His hands
He’s got the whole world in His hands.
You see, our world is not spinning out of control into chaos and destruction.
The world is secured by God,
Under the rule of One on the throne in heaven,
It is safe under the control of the Lion and the Lamb we see in heaven.
Chapter 5 is essentially part two of the vision we looked at last week in chapter 4.
Chapter 4 ended with worship of God as the Creator.
It shifts from worshipping His work in creation in ch. 4 to His work in re-creation here in ch. 5.
What we see is that God’s work of re-creation, or more commonly referred to as redemption,
Can only be accomplished through the One who is uniquely worthy to be both the Lion and the Lamb.
Makings this question of worthiness the prominent source of tension in our passage this morning.
Is anyone worthy?
Because no one in all of creation seems to be worthy.
But Jesus Christ is both the ferocious Lion of Judah battling against His enemies,
And He is the gentle Lamb, slain as an offering for the world.
Only God, in three Persons, the trinity; Father, Son, and Spirit can accomplish His purpose of redemption.
And we see all three Persons of the trinity in ch. 5.
The Father is Him who is seated on the throne.
The Son is the Lion and the Lamb.
And the Spirit is referred to as the seven spirits of God.
But chapter 5 is not only the second part of the magnificent vision from chapter 4.
It is also an introduction to the judgments that lead up to the Second Coming of Christ represented by the seals.
Just to give you an idea of the outline of Revelation we are planning on studying starting again in November.
In chapter 5 we are introduced to the Lamb and the sealed scroll.
In chapters 6-7 and chapter 8:1, the seven seals are opened.
Each seal sets in motion a series of judgments that originate from God’s throne and from God’s purpose to redeem and save the world.
If no one was found worthy to open the seals that would mean the world would never be redeemed, we would never be saved.
If our hope is in the world then the world is truly hopeless.
Praise God, we see there is one Who is worthy, as I’ve already shown, it is Jesus Christ.
We saw last week and continuing this week, the appropriate response to this truth is praise.
This chapter is such an awesome scene, do not overlook how magnificent this chapter is!
Just a couple reminders, next week is the mission’s conference, One Mind, One Voice.
We will be kicking that off in the morning service.
In two weeks, our Music/Youth Pastor candidate, Andrew Veltri will be here preaching from Mark 8.
And Lord willing, we will look return to Revelation 6,
Beginning our look at the seals in greater detail in November.

WE: The Lion Can Open the Scroll (vs. 1-5)

For this morning, our focus is not so much on the scroll and the seals,
But the One Who is worthy to open it,
First, we see that the Lion Can Open the Scroll in Rev. 5:1-5.
Revelation 5:1–5 ESV
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. 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.”
The scene begins with the One seated on the throne Who we saw was being worshipped back in Ch. 4.
In His right hand is a scroll written on both sides with seven seals.
There is so much symbolism in that simple statement.
First the right hand of God symbolizes authority.
This powerful right hand holding a scroll with writing on both sides echoes Ezekiel 2:9-10;
Ezekiel 2:9–10 ESV
And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.
The scroll John is now seeing is sealed with seven seals.
When a scroll was sealed it was because the contents in the book were meant to remain secret until the one who sealed the scroll broke the seal.
A hardened resin like wax was used to seal scrolls and served as a form of authentication.
But what exactly is this scroll?
There are a variety of theories as to what this scroll represents;
It could be God’s covenant, the law, a list of His promises, His will, or a representation of a legal document, like a title or deed, of the earth, which He is the Judge over.
If you remember back to our Fear Less study in Daniel 12:4, we get probably the best hint at what this scroll could be;
Daniel 12:4 ESV
But you, Daniel, shut up the words and seal the book, until the time of the end. Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
The words and the book that God is referring to in Daniel included God’s redemptive plan detailing the fate of the world.
When God’s Word says book, we can’t think of it like what we know as books today.
They did not have bound books yet, a book was a scroll.
So, if this scroll in Revelation is referring to the same book from Daniel,
It would seem the scroll would represent God’s plan detailing the fate of the world.
Or more simply put, His plan to redeem creation.
Or even more simply put, the remainder of the book of Revelation.
The scroll then represents God’s definite plan for the fate of the world.
But none of it matters as long as the scroll stays sealed.
Because it will not take place until the seals are broken.
The discussion about unsealing the scroll in the verses that follow,
Implies the unfolding of the things God has planned for the fate of the world.
But this discussion is revolving around the fact that no angel or person or even the devil himself can open the scroll.
No created being in heaven, on earth, or under the earth, is worthy.
And think for a moment who some of those people present in heaven are;
Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, James, Peter, Paul, just to name a few.
When we are tempted to exalt these saints to place they should not be,
We are reminded, they are not worthy.
A universal search takes place and no created being is worthy,
Seemingly putting the unfolding of God’s plan at risk.
As Christians we long for that plan to unfold, we are to pray for it as Jesus demonstrated in Matthew 6:10, where he prayed;
Matthew 6:10 ESV
Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
As an Apostle, John likely longed for the fulfillment of that prayer,
Longed for God’s plan for the fate of the world to unfold.
The question is put out there; is anyone worthy?
We, the readers are being confronted with this question as well.
When we look at the world around us we find the answer is a resounding no.
What a crushing discovery.
No one is worthy to open the scroll,
No one will be able to unfold the contents.
The thought of God’s plan not being able to unfold,
Because no one was found worthy to open the scroll,
Grieved John so greatly that he wept loudly.
When our hope is in the world, our world is truly hopeless.
Because the scroll will always remain sealed.
We are suppose to understand how bleak of a state the world is in on our own.
The simple truth that none of us are worthy is because of our sin.
And the weight of our unworthiness leaves us in despair.
John demonstrates this sense of despair in his tears.
The opening verses of this chapter are gripping!
He could have glossed right over this and jumped straight to the reality that Christ is worthy to open the scroll.
But he didn’t.
He takes us through the fear and grief to get us to appreciate the level of joy when we discover Jesus is worthy.
Which we see, in vs. 5, John is told to stop weeping.
This statement is a gentle rebuke from one of the elders.
Although we are unworthy, overwhelmed with grief, hopeless on our own,
We have hope.
There is One Who is worthy.
Our hope is in the Lion who conquers.
John’s attention is brought to the Lion of Judah’s victory over death.
The Lion that comes from the root of David is a messianic prophesy from Is 11:1, 10;
Isaiah 11:1 ESV
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
Isaiah 11:10 ESV
In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples—of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious.
This shows that the Lion is the Messiah,
Proving He is worthy to open the scroll.
It reaches all the way back to Gen. 48:8 where Judah is given prominence and rule over his brothers and his enemies.
Described in Gen. 48:9 as fierce as a lion over his prey that no one can stand against.
Then vs. 10 says that obedience of all peoples will be given to him.
John understands, this is all speaking about Jesus.
The promise of Judah’s rule extends into God’s covenant with David.
This promise is a promise to save the world,
Salvation coming to all nations.
The Lion of Judah that conquered death came from the root, the line of David.
Our ability to conquer stems from Jesus the Lion, first conquering death.
Making our ability to conquer entirely dependent on Christ.
Through Christ, God’s purpose of redemption, His plan for the fate of the world, will unfold.

GOD: The Lamb That Was Slain (vs. 6-7)

In order for Jesus to be the Lion that conquers,
It first required Him to be the Lamb That Was Slain,
We see this in Rev. 5:6-7;
Revelation 5:6–7 ESV
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. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.
These two verses are two of the most awesome verses!
We come to vs. 6 and encounter the drama of our redemption.
All this suspense has been built as we look for the Lion of Judah.
Instead what we see is an unexpected character in the story of our salvation.
But we are not left disappointed by this character.
In between all the characters seen from ch. 4 is a new character, the Lamb.
But the Lamb is not just a clean lamb, He looks as though He has been slain.
This phrase is used because the Lamb was slain.
As Is 53:7 prophesied;
Isaiah 53:7 ESV
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth.
John 1:29 tells us who this Lamb is;
John 1:29 ESV
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Jesus is the Lamb, He was slaughtered on the cross.
But why is Jesus a Lamb being slaughtered on the cross?
The Bible teaches that sin requires a spotless lamb as a sacrifice.
The reality is, we all sin.
None of us are perfectly innocent, having never done anything wrong.
So, we all need a spotless lamb as a sacrifice.
If that is the case, why are none of us going around sacrificing lambs?
Because Jesus is the Lamb.
1 Cor. 5:7 describes Him specifically as the Passover Lamb.
1 Pet. 1:19 says He is the spotless lamb.
This theme of Jesus as the Lamb is another important theme in Revelation.
This is the first of 26 references to Jesus as the Lamb in Revelation.
It is also used as a specific title reserved for the risen and victorious Christ alone.
Jesus lived a perfect life here on earth and when He was slain on the cross,
He became the sacrifice for all of our sins.
But He did not remain slain, as Jesus described Himself in Rev. 1:18;
Revelation 1:18 ESV
and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
It is only through the slaughtered Lamb and the conquering Lion can God’s purposes for the fate of the world be accomplished.
That purpose includes saving the world.
But in order for you to be saved, you have to believe in your heart that Jesus is the Lion and the Lamb.
That He died and rose from the dead.
Then confess that He is Lord and you will be saved.
That is why we see the ones who are saved singing praises of thanks to Him!
The Lamb was slain, but He is now standing, risen, in the throne room, alive forevermore.
Jesus accomplishes this not as a ferocious lion, mauling His enemy.
But as the sacrificial Lamb, suffering and dying for us.
The description of the Lamb continues in vs. 6 as having seven horns.
This is not meant to just be a weird sounding description of a lamb.
No, seven is the number that symbolizes perfection.
And horns are frequently used throughout the Bible as a symbol of strength and power.
For example Psalm 89:17 and Dan. 8:3;
Psalm 89:17 ESV
For you are the glory of their strength; by your favor our horn is exalted.
Daniel 8:3 ESV
I raised my eyes and saw, and behold, a ram standing on the bank of the canal. It had two horns, and both horns were high, but one was higher than the other, and the higher one came up last.
In this case, the Lamb having seven horns indicates that the Lamb is perfect in power.
He is omnipotent.
The next description is the seven eyes.
Eyes represent wisdom or knowledge.
The seven eyes indicate that the Lamb is perfect in knowledge.
He is omniscient.
Next, the seven spirits of God is a phrase we have seen for the third time in Revelation, referring to the Holy Spirit.
But this time, the fact that He is sent out into all the earth indicates that the Lamb, through the Spirit, is perfect in presence.
He is omnipresent.
As Christians, we claim Christ as all-powerful, which is omnipotent,
All-knowing, which is omniscient,
And ever-present, which is omnipresent.
Where do we get these claims?
This description in Rev. 5:6 is one place where we see evidence of all three.
The risen Lamb who was slain is now standing in victory and with perfect strength, knowing everything, and always present.
Because of this, vs. 7 reveals that the Lamb is worthy.
The Father on the throne transfers the authority signified by His right hand to the Lamb by handing Him the scroll.
This transfer of authority allows the Lamb to fulfill the purpose for the fate of the world laid out on the scroll.
John Piper notes in his book Lion and the Lamb;
“The Lion gets the victory through the tactics of the Lamb…Because Jesus is a Lion-like Lamb and a Lamb-like Lion, he has the right to bring the world to an end for the glory of his name and the good of his people.”

YOU: The World is Saved (vs. 8-14)

With the scroll of God’s plan for the fate of the world in the hands of the Lamb that was slain,
We have assurance that The World is Saved in Rev. 5:8-14;
Revelation 5:8–14 ESV
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, 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.” 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!” 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!” And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
In these verses we see three mighty choruses worshipping Christ.
The first chorus in vs. 8-10 is the smallest,
The second chorus in vs. 11-12 grows slightly larger,
And the final chorus in vs. 13-14 is the largest chorus that could ever exist.
I love Danny Akin’s tongue in cheek comment here,
“Jesus takes the scroll (5:8), and all heaven breaks loose!”
The elders and the creatures we saw worshipping the Father on the throne in ch. 4,
Continue their worship, now in vs. 8, worshipping the Lamb that was slain,
Who is worthy to open the scroll.
They each are worshipping in joy, represented by the harps they are holding.
We also see a specific mention of them holding golden bowls of incense filled with our prayers.
Gold is used express how valuable our prayers are to God.
Our prayers are pleasing to God.
And the Lamb is the One who fulfills our prayers.
So, we see these elders with our valued prayers in hand,
Worshiping and embodying the words from multiple Psalms (Psalm 40:3; 96:1; 98:1; 144:9; 149:1);
Psalm 40:3 ESV
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.
Psalm 96:1 ESV
Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!
Psalm 98:1 ESV
Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
Psalm 144:9 ESV
I will sing a new song to you, O God; upon a ten-stringed harp I will play to you,
Psalm 149:1 ESV
Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!
All of these references to a new song, are sung in response to God’s intervention.
When He saves and delivers His people, a new song is sung in response.
The new song in Revelation is inspired by the worthiness of the Lamb Who was slain.
Who intervened through His death on the cross to offer salvation to the world.
Just five verses earlier, John wept because no one was worthy to open the scroll and unfold God’s plan for the fate of the world.
Now, in their new song, these worshippers are declaring that the Lamb is worthy!
Back in Rev. 4:11, God was declared worthy for creation,
Now, in Rev. 5:9, Christ is declared worthy for re-creation.
We worship God the Creator and worship Christ the Redeemer.
The chorus outlines four reasons for the Lamb’s worthiness.
First, His sacrifice.
Second, by His blood that we are ransomed for God.
Meaning the slaughtered Lamb purchased us with His blood.
This is why He is worthy, Christ’s sacrifice redeems us!
We were enslaved to sin, and Christ died to liberate us, as a payment for our freedom.
Look at all the people God purchased with the blood of the slaughtered Lamb.
This is the third reason He is worthy,
Because He ransoms some from every tribe and language and people and nation.
That is people from all over the world.
This theme is so prominent throughout Revelation,
Because the spiritual battle for souls is being waged among the entire world;
From every tripe and language and people and nation.
Let’s look at just a few examples of this emphasis throughout Revelation 7:9; 10:11; 11:9; 13:7; 14:6; 17:15;
Revelation 7:9 ESV
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,
Revelation 10:11 ESV
And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”
Revelation 11:9 ESV
For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb,
Revelation 13:7 ESV
Also it was allowed to make war on the saints and to conquer them. And authority was given it over every tribe and people and language and nation,
Revelation 14:6 ESV
Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.
Revelation 17:15 ESV
And the angel said to me, “The waters that you saw, where the prostitute is seated, are peoples and multitudes and nations and languages.
This repeated phrase throughout Revelation is talking about the same people we are called to make disciples of in Matthew 28:19,
All nations!
This is why we do missions!
Any gospel that does not include every tribe and language and people and nation is an incomplete gospel.
Because when the Lamb was slain and the Lion conquered death,
He did so for every tribe and language and people and nation.
He did it to save the world.
And from every tribe and language and people and nation,
We see the fourth reason,
Jesus makes us a kingdom and priests to God.
What a blessed treat this declaration is!
As priests, we get to have this intimate access to God.
We see this in a couple other NT passages, first, Heb 10:19-22;
Hebrews 10:19–22 ESV
Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
and 1 Peter 2:5,9;
1 Peter 2:5 ESV
you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
1 Peter 2:9 ESV
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Also as priests, we see later in Revelation that we will reign with God.
Look in Revelation 20:6;
Revelation 20:6 ESV
Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
God promised to make Israel a kingdom of priests in Exodus 19:5-6;
Exodus 19:5–6 ESV
Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
Now in Revelation, through Christ, these priestly privileges are extended to every nation, the church.
This priestly privilege also continues the temple theme seen throughout Revelation that was highlighted last week.
And the church is in part the coming of God’s kingdom,
What I mean by this is that the power of God’s kingdom is present in His church.
But the fullness of the kingdom is realized in the new heaven and new earth seen in Rev. 21-22.
Which is the fulfilment of this proclamation at the end of vs. 10,
Where we reign on the earth.
That is the time when Christ’s commission to make disciples of all nations is fully realized.
This promise to reign is not because of us, our rule is because of Christ.
The worshippers in the throne room are exploding with praise for God and His purpose for the fate of the world that Christ unfolds.
At the conclusion of this song the scene shifts back those present in the throne room in vs. 11.
It is packed full of praise began with the living creatures right around the throne.
But then it continued to work it’s way out, next to the elders,
Then to many angels,
Myriads of myriads, thousands of thousands.
Countless angels and voices worshipping the Lamb Who was slain as loud as they can.
Do not get bogged down trying to figure out what the number is,
It is the fact that they are bringing praise as a gift to God that we must pay attention to.
And John is not just seeing this, he is hearing it, he is engulfed by this worship of God and Christ around him!
And we see in vs. 12, again the proclamation that the Lamb is worthy!
This chorus clarifies that the Lamb is not worthy because He was slain,
No, He was slain because He is worthy.
And because the worthy Lamb was slain, His sacrifice redeems us.
Again and again we are seeing that the Lamb is of equal worth and worship as the Father on the throne.
As eternal beings from the moment we are consummated,
We must brag about Jesus, talk about the God we love, worship Him in praise and adoration.
In vs. 13 we see worship is not confined to heaven.
Now the booming songs of praise reverberate from the heavens throughout the entire universe!
All of creation joins the elders and the creatures and the angels!
Every creature on earth,
Every creature in the sea!
Gladly and joyfully praising the One on the throne and the Lamb that was slain.
Just as God’s Word promises in Phil. 2:10-11;
Philippians 2:10–11 ESV
so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This is God’s purpose for the world,
After the four living creatures hear this chorus fill the heaven and pour out to the edges of all of creation.
They “Amen” this honor, praise, and glory.
So be it, they say!
While they “Amen,” the elders seemingly overwhelmed, instead respond by falling down in worship of God.
There is nothing more left to be said.
Through Christ, the world is saved.

WE:

If our hope is in the world, then the world is hopeless.
Remember the context in which Revelation was written.
The church was facing persecution and opposition from Rome.
In light of that hardship, chapters 4 and 5 present God powerfully reigning on His throne,
and Christ standing in victory after dying to purchase us from enslavement to sin,
And the church, those same Christians who were suffering, oppressed, and persecuted,
Are a kingdom and priests.
These visions are where we put our hope!
If our hope is in the world, then the world is hopeless.
Our hope hinges on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Lamb.
It was the climax of human history.
If that had not happened, we would still be enslaved to sin, we would still be hopeless.
We would not be redeemed.
This vision is not about the weird creatures or some outlandish prophecy.
It is about Christ our Redeemer.
It is the foundation of our hope.
It is the source of our joy.
It reveals that Christ unfolds God’s plan to save the world.
By His blood, He redeems some from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation.
God’s purpose to make us into a kingdom and priest will happen,
He has already begun that good work in us and He is faithful and just to complete it.
This makes our response the same as we see in this chapter,
Worshiping Christ the Lamb, sing out in acknowledgment of His glory and honor and power.
Fall down on our face and praise the Father on the throne and Christ the Lamb today, tomorrow, and forever and ever.
Will you join me in prayer.
Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more