Tape 7 - The Lamb in the Midst of the Throne

Hebrews 9 and Revelation 4–5: The Cross, the Throne, and the Lamb

Take your Bibles, please as we open the scripture together to two passages of scripture one in the book of Hebrews Same book your pastor just read to us from and also the other one in the revelation. Let's look at the Hebrews passage first, please Hebrews chapter 9 and.

Then we will go over and spend some time in the book of the revelation in Hebrews chapter 9 verse 12. Neither by the blood of goats and calves. But by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place.

Having obtained eternal redemption for us Jesus Christ entered into the very presence of God because he shed his blood on Calvary's cross that a might obtain eternal redemption for us now in the book of the revelation.

Two verses one in chapter 4 and one in chapter 5 and then we will linger around in that particular area for a little while. But we'll make several mentions as mentions of several scriptures in the book revelation 4 verse 1.

After this I looked and behold a door was opened in heaven. And the first voice that I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me Which said come up here and I will show thee things which must be hereafter look at chapter 5 verse 6 and let's put that verse with that verse and I beheld and lo so John a doors open.

He's caught up in the spirit and he's shown something. I'm then in verse 6 of chapter 5 and I beheld and lo in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders stood a lamb as Though it had been slain.

Having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the world. Generally speaking in the book of the Revelation you have a panoramic view or you have in a panoramic form The coming or the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ in the day when he shall be revealed from heaven with the angels of his power in judgment in Judgment not grace, but in solemn judgment for all of those who have obeyed not the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ now in chapter 1 of the Revelation, please chapter 1 verse 1.

The revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him to show unto his servants things Which must shortly come to pass and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John. So in the very opening words of the book of the Revelation We are told that the revelation was given by God to his son.

It is not the revelation of John. It was given by God to his son Jesus Christ for the express purpose of revealing it to his servants. And it says what the things which must shortly come to pass and he sent and signified them unto his servant John.

Now we've talked about this week how the glorified Lord the Lord when he went back to heaven He interpreted his cross to the Apostle Paul that he might proclaim it as God's message of love to a dying world.

Here he appears to the Apostle John and charges him to write everything That he has shown and in the unveiling given to him. We have visibly brought before us the heavenly of Calvary or Calvary as Approached from the heavenly point of view and it is the eternal consequences of those who reject the Lamb of God now.

Let me pause sir. Wake up. You do not sleep in my services. This is the house of God and you do not sleep if you sleep I'm gonna come back and wake you up. Wake up ma 'am. If he sleeps beside you you better wake him up.

We're here to worship God. We're not here to sleep. Excuse me. Now he appears to the Apostle John and it bears the consequences of those who reject the Lamb of God and who died on the cross To bear away the sins of the world.

In chapter 1 verse 5 we read the following. And From Jesus Christ who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loveth us and washed us from our sins in his own blood.

So the Apostle speaks here of the Lord Jesus Christ as the first begotten of the dead or the firstborn of the dead and there He takes us right back to Calvary at the very beginning of the message of the revelation.

Now those to whom John are is writing. They are the loved ones of Jesus. They are those who have been loosed From their sins in his own blood shed upon the cross. In chapter 1 look at verse 4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia.

Grace be unto you and peace. From him who is and who was and who is to come and from the seven spirits who are before his throne and then we Have the verse we just read verse 6 and hath made us a kingdom of priests unto God and his father.

To him be glory and dominion. Forever and forever. So this is who those are. They are the ones who have been loosed and set free from their sins in his own blood shed on the cross. He rose from the dead.

He's the firstborn of many brethren and he's entered into heaven as our forerunner. Behind the veil so to speak where we cannot see he is there as the representative of every redeemed child of God. Jesus Christ is your representative there because through his death for us and our death with him We are called out of the race of the first Adam.

And in verse 6 It plainly says he's made us as kings and priests unto God. We are heirs with God and joint heirs with Christ. Now in chapter 1 verse 17 You find the Apostle John describes his meeting with a glorified man of Calvary Jesus Christ who is in the heavenly realm and he's he falls at the feet of him whose eyes are as a flame of fire.

He hears the voice of one. He knew so well on earth. Verse 17. And when I saw him I fell at his feet as dead and he laid his right hand upon me saying unto me Fear not I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive forevermore.

Amen, and have the keys of Hades and death and of death. The word hell in the King James. It's translated from the Greek word, of course, which means Hades. Now this glorious Jesus this Jesus in the heavenly realm is the same Jesus that John saw hanging on the cross in open shame.

It is the very same body that he saw in the upper room at Jerusalem when the risen Lord came to them and Showed the disciples his hands and his feet and it's the same body that he now sees in glory. His disciples had seen him go in Acts 1 10 11 and 12 you men of Galilee.

Why stand you here gazing the same Jesus you saw go shall in like manner come again. They saw him go in that body and now John sees him in that very same body and he is shown to be alive forevermore. Now the Lord describes himself as the one who has suffered and died and Triumphed in suffering and he bids them to be faithful unto death.

The Worship Around the Throne in Revelation 4

And then we came to the verse in chapter 4 verse 1. Now in chapter 4 verse 1 John beholds the worship and The door is opened in heaven and he's taken up in the spirit and he sees the throne of the Lord God Almighty and he sees and hears many things and look what he says in verse 3 and he that set was to look upon like a Jasper and a Sardius stone.

There was a rainbow around about the throne in sight like an emerald just beautiful glory and Round about the throne were four and twenty thrones and upon the thrones I saw four and twenty elders sitting clothed in white raiment and they had on their heads crowns of gold and out of the throne proceeded lightnings and Thunderclaps and voices and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne which are the seven spirits of God.

So he sees all of this coming out of the throne. And then we go to verse 8 and the four living creatures Had each of them six wings about him and they were full of eyes within and they rest not day and night saying holy holy holy Lord God Almighty Excuse me.

Who was and is and is to come. And when those living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him that is seated on? the throne who liveth forever and ever the four and twenty elders fall down before him that is seated on the throne and Worship him that liveth forever and ever and cast their crowns before the throne saying thou art worthy Oh Lord to receive glory and honor and power for thou has created all things and for thy pleasure.

They are and they were created now John beholds this worship what goes on day and night and it surrounds the throne of him who is the creator and the Lord of all things. And he simply says that you created them and you created him for your own pleasure.

The Sealed Scroll and the Worthy Lamb in Revelation 5

In chapter 5 verse 1 we see something else and we'll tie it together in the moment in the hand of the Lord God the Creator has seen a book and I saw in the right hand of him that set on the throne a scroll written within and on the back sealed with seven seals.

The cup of sin the cup of iniquity on the earth has has reached its brim and is now full and The Creator has determined that the fullness of time has come when God's dispensation of grace is over. God is no longer going to overlook what man has done.

Grace must now come to a close and an era of judgment is about to begin. Upon rebellious mankind and from chapter 5 to chapter 19 You will find that described that man has never conceived. It has never been in the eyes of man it's never been written down and songs have never been written.

The awesomeness and the horribleness and the Tremendous horrible Holocaust that is going to hit the planet earth when God unleashes his wrath upon rebellious mankind. But then you see in verse 2 of chapter 5 a proclamation is sounded throughout heaven.

Look what it says, and I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice. Who is worthy to open the book? It's a book of judgment the scroll who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals. I mean who's going to execute.

Who is worthy to execute the eternal purpose of God? Before whom the angels veil their faces and dare not look and cry out night and day. Holy. Holy. Holy Lord God Almighty Lord of hosts. There's not a person in heaven who has found worthy to open that book not even the highest angels of glory.

In verse 3 and no man in heaven nor in earth neither under the earth was able to open the scroll. Neither to look on it and I wept much. Because no man was found worthy to open and to read the scroll neither to look upon it.

Then who would open that book? To whom would the Most High God? Give his solemn trust of dealing with a rebellious world since no angel in heaven was worthy. But suddenly John sees something in verse 6.

And I beheld and lo in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures and the midst of the elders. Stood a lamb he sees a lamb standing as though it were slain. Now hold your place and turn with me to the gospel according to John chapter 5.

In John chapter 5 we will read the following in verse 22. For the father judges no man. But hath committed all judgment unto the Son that all men should out of the Son. Even as they honor the Father he that honors not the Son honors not the Father who hath sent Him and so the father gives all judgment to the Son.

He who laid down his life for sinners alone is worthy are fitted are able to execute the judgment. That is inevitable on every person who obeys not the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. The lamb is in the midst of the throne and it's a lamb.

Standing as though it had been slain in verse 6 as though he stood a lamb as though it had been slain. So you see the sacrifice that Jesus Christ made on Calvary is enshrined in heaven. And it will never ever be Forgotten even though he rules and reigns.

And it's ever fresh and it's ever new and it's vividly kept before the eyes of every Personage that is in the heavenly realm. It has pleased the father that in him should all fullness dwell in Jesus Christ dwells the fullness of the Godhead father.

Bodily. So consequently in the lamb that you see in verse 6 that is enthroned in heaven you have the phrase seven horns. The word horns in Scripture represents power and Authority and then it says seven eyes all seeing he knows everything and then the seven spirits.

Which is simply a representation of the Holy Spirit of God because that means the fullness of power the fullness of light and the fullness of vision and out of the slain lamb of God because He died on Calvary the Holy Spirit of God was sent into the world in all of his fullness.

Did not Jesus himself say if I don't go then he won't come but if I go I will not leave you alone. I'll not leave you comfortless. Ah, the father will send another comforter. He will send the Spirit who will come to you.

The Holy Spirit is always proceeding from the Father through the Son unto you and to me into the world of men. Seeking to turn hearts away from themselves away from the world in Satan and turning those hearts back to Calvary in self-despair and loathing of sin.

Ready to apply to every person the death of the Son of the Living God and the Holy Spirit is ready to possess. Every person who would turn to Jesus Christ and accept that free salvation and know that they have been purchased unto God Through the precious blood of the Lamb.

The Lamb Who Takes the Scroll and Receives Heavenly Worship

So then you and I in verse 7 We could barely see a chapter 5 revelation. The first thing you notice is that the Lamb of God comes in judgment in verse 7 and he came and took the scroll. The book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

He who died on the cross the same Jesus he who died on behalf of sinful people. He who gave his life that man might live now, he takes the book in his own precious pierced hand knowing what taking that book and opening those seals of judgment would mean to those that he had yearned to save and That he gave his life for he knew what it was going to mean.

And the redeemed in heaven. They gazed upon him. They gazed at him. Look at verse 8 and when he had taken the scroll the four living creatures and the 420 elders Fell down before the Lamb having every one of them harps and golden vials full of incense.

Which are the prayers of Saints. They gazed upon him coming forth. What did they do. And they sang a new song saying thou art worthy. To take the scroll and to open its seals for thou was slain and has redeemed us to God by thy blood.

Out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation you are worthy to open judgment Lord because you redeemed us By thy blood. And then what happens. Angels 10 ,000 times 10 ,000. Look at verse 11 and I beheld and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders and the number of them was 10 ,000 times 10 ,000 and thousands and Thousands of the angels pick up the strain and they say of the refrain saying with a loud voice Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.

Forever in the very opening of the heavens to the Apostle John you see Calvary as God sees Calvary. You see the Lamb slain on earth when you see the cross, but in heaven you see the Lamb Enthroned forevermore.

He is the Lamb in the midst of the throne and we see the crucified one is the glorified one. He is glorified as the Lamb of Calvary and as the Lamb of Calvary all worship in heaven centers around his being.

Look at verse 13 and Every creature that 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 honor and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever and ever.

And the four living creatures said Amen, and the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped him that liveth forever and forever. All that is now unveiled in his work in heaven shows that everything that happens here now Then and there is based upon his sacrifice upon the cross of Calvary.

He is in heaven as the conqueror from Calvary and as the Lamb of God who prevailed on the cross. And it is given to him To open every seal that would precede the most awful judgment. This world will ever know and all of its history because people have rejected the grace of God.

The father commits the judgment into the hands of him who gave his life for the Propitiation for the forgiveness of the sins of the world. So if that is true, and it is you can see something of the unspeakable heinousness of sin and you can also understand the impossibility of God passing over sin and Excusing sin in the lives of people because he is righteous Christ offered his life.

But the day of grace for a sin blighted earth has now come to an end and he must abolish all contrary rule all Contrary power and all contrary authority. It must now be put down and all things must be subdued to the Lamb of God.

Judgment, the Tribulation Multitude, and the 144,000

And as the judgments begin to fall in chapter 6 verse 15 the terror stricken people on earth. They don't have anyone to tell them. They don't need anybody to tell them what they have done. The essence of their sin has been the rejection of the crucified Lamb of God.

Look what they do. They instinctively cry out to the rocks and mountains in verse 16 and Said to the mountains and rocks fall on us and hide us. That's how much pain you talk about terror. The terror is so great that they just asked for the mountain and rocks to fall on them hide us from the face of him.

That sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand if you think God is just a God of love. You better read the book of the Revelation.

If you think God is just a God of mercy. You better read the book of the Revelation if you think God is some man be pambi granddaddy in the sky that will let you do as you please sir, you better read the book of Revelation and that'll snap you out of your lethargy and Your apathy when you come into the house of God and sit and sleep and snore all through and claim to worship God.

You better read the book of Revelation because you will stand before that God my brother and you will answer for the life of indifference. And complacency as you sit in the house of God claiming to worship a holy righteous God who gave his marvelous gracious son to die on the cross of Calvary to give you freedom in your life.

But not licensed to do as you. Well, please. We need to understand that God deals with sin because he's a righteous God he has to deal with sin and He'll deal with it in all of its ways and all of its fashions and form.

Who can render. Who can understand the depth of a wounded love. Who can understand the wrath of someone when it's despised and rejected by men when God gave all that he could to turn man into? Jesus Christ will come back to this earth as the judge.

He comes back in judgment, but I thank God. He also comes back as a leader in chapter 7 of the Revelation. Chapter 7 verse 17. For the lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters.

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes. It's the lamb in the midst of the throne who leads them and when you read the Revelation strangely you're given glimpse. After glimpse after glimpse of the lamb as the leader of the various companies of those He has redeemed from among mankind the terror stricken on earth know that they've wounded the lamb.

But the redeemed in heaven they know they are there because of the lamb. The first group that you find pictured were in chapter 5 verse 9 that we've already read. They're the living creatures and the elders and they don't hesitate to say that they were purchased unto God By the blood of the lamb and then they watch him take the book and they watch him open the first six seals.

But the second group another great company is in verses 9 through 17 of chapter 7 and we won't take time to read all of that. But you'll notice in verse 9 after this I beheld and lo a great multitude Which no man could number of all nations and kindreds and peoples and tongues Stood before the throne and before the lamb clothed with white robes and palms in their hand and cried with a loud voice saying Salvation to our God who sit us upon the throne and unto the lamb and so you have this group.

They're taken out of every nation kindred tongues and tribes of people. They stand before the throne of God they serve him day and night. In the midst of the throne shall feed them shall lead them. Who is he leading.

He's leading these people verse 16. They hunger no more verse 15. They serve him day and night in his temple. Who are they verse 13 who are arrayed in white robes? And they come through that tribulation and they've made them white in the blood of the lamb.

The last clause of verse 14. So this is another group and again. We later on see the lamb standing with another company of people and this time it's a very definite number in Revelation 14. Revelation 14 verses 1 through 4 a great group of them and There are a hundred and forty four thousand twelve thousand Jewish men.

Verse 4 says these are they who are not defiled with women for they are male virgins. They are virgins. These are they who follow the lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among me and the firstfruits unto God unto the lamb.

144 ,000 Jewish evangelist will hit the planet earth preaching the gospel of the kingdom not the gospel of grace but the gospel of the kingdom fulfilling Matthew 24 14 when it says in the gospel of the kingdom be preached to all the world and.

Then the end will come and that will never be done until these hundred and forty four thousand go out the whole earth. Proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. And so we have this particular group of people That come to play here and then the lamb is the leader.

He is the judge, but he also comes as the warrior. Turn to Revelation chapter 17. We're talking about the lamb in the midst of the throne. Most people believe Jesus is such a weakling. He couldn't dare deal with their sin.

He's such a weakling why he would never do a thing. Why he's so sweet-spirited. Why he's so kind. Well, he'll overlook everything that we do. Revelation 17 verse 14. These shall make war with the lamb and the lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of lords and king of kings.

And they that are with him are called and chosen and faithful by this time in the Revelation. Judgment after judgment. After judgment has fallen upon the earth. As the seals have been opened. One-third of all men are killed instantly.

You read the Revelation. Blood will begin to flow as high as a horse's bridle deep 185 miles long. One-third of all sea life is killed. The mountains came into the sea and the elements began to melt with a fervent heat as God unleashes its control over all the Atoms of space.

As God pours his judgment out upon the earth the iniquity of man has waxed worse and worse and worse. Sin has gotten worse and worse and worse until even in heaven a strange voice occurs. Look at Revelation 9 verse 13.

There's a strange thing that happens. Verse 13 chapter 9. Sin has gotten so bad that even in heaven a voice comes out from the four horns of the golden altar. And The sixth angel sounded. And I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar, which is before God.

This voice from the golden altar begins to cry out for vengeance. Now what's it say saying to the sixth angel who had the trumpet loosed the four angels who abound in the great river of Euphrates? And the four angels were loosed who were prepared for an hour and a day and a month and a year to slay the third part of men.

And the number of the army of the horsemen were 200 ,000 thousand and I heard the number of them. And thus I saw the horses in the vision and then that set on them having breastplates of fire and adjacent and brimstone.

The heads of the horses were like the heads of lions and out of their mouths they fired smoke and brimstone. By these three was the third part of men killed by the fire and by the smoke and by the Brimstone, which issued out of their mouth who brought all that about it was a voice out of the golden altar.

They cried for vengeance. The horns of the golden altar in the Old Testament received the blood of the sacrifice that had been made on the brazen altar. And From the golden horns of that altar in the Old Testament Tabernacle the voice of that blood that was sprinkled there cried out to God.

Passover Passover Passover. Spare the people spare the people. And God saw the blood and he spared the people. He saw the blood and he spared the people. But now that same voice cries for the letting loose of the judgments of God and the Implication is that on earth God's appointed way of forgiveness is now over.

God has set aside his forgiveness for those that upon the earth and the divine system of gracious atonement and forgiveness and Salvation has been rejected by the earth and the people on the earth. And so God has withdrawn it.

Man in their guilt has blasphemed and pronounced against God's plan of reconciliation. The wickedness of the earth has risen so high at this particular point in its antagonism to the cross of Christ. That the very altar itself which normally cries for mercy is forced to turn around and to cry out for the vengeance of God upon mankind.

Picture after picture in the revelation of the terrible doings of rebellious people working as instruments of Demon powers of Satan that we see the Lamb of God as the leader of a host of warriors who come to do battle Against them.

And as the conqueror from Calvary we saw revelation 17 verse 14. He leads them in that last great warfare. Those he specially chosen and who are faithful. And then after that battle you look at revelation 19 verse 7.

Let us be glad and rejoice. Give honor to him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come and His wife has made herself ready and to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen clean and white.

For the fine linen is the righteous acts or the righteousnesses of saints. This is a picture of the bride of Christ a great multitude in heaven saying such a thing. Jesus Christ conquered on the cross and he waited while all of his people are being called out of the nations of the earth.

He's now finally triumphed. He's put down all authority under his feet. And after these things and many other things The Apostle begins to gaze on out in heaven. He goes beyond the great white throne judgment in Revelation chapter 20 verse 11.

And I saw a great white throne in him that sat on it from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. There was found no place for them. And I saw the dead small and great stand before God. And the books were opened and another book was opened.

Which is the book of life? The dead were judged out of those things which were written the books according to their works. And That sea gave up the dead that were in it and death and Hades deliver delivered up the dead that were in them.

And They were judged every man according to their works and death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

Look at verse 8. Chapter 21. But the fearful and unbelieving the abominable the murderers the fornicators sorcerers idolaters and all liars Shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.

Which is the second death then John? Chapter 21 verse 1. And I saw a new heaven and a new earth. And in verse 2 he says I John saw the holy city New Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

He sees the beautiful bride city coming down from God. He that sitteth upon the throne he makes everything new. The scripture tells us. He makes everything. Look at verse 5 and he that sat upon the throne said behold I make all things new.

And he said unto me right. For these words are true and faithful. They are to come to pass just like God said they would come to pass. He is called the Lamb in the midst of the throne. I believe all other names revealing the various aspects of Jesus Christ are not now needed.

You don't need them in the fullness of the revelation of his glory here. They are merged together in that one name that is above every name the Lamb of God. For sinners slain the name will always and ever be ever fresh and ever new and ever clear.

Throughout all the yonds of time throughout all eternity He'll be worshipped and adored as the Lamb of God who stands in the midst of the throne. No one will be in this place. Except those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

When that day comes we'll know who is just a Baptist. Won't we? We'll know who's just a Methodist the Presbyterian Episcopalian Roman Catholic. We'll know then who's really been born again. We'll know then who's just been religious.

We'll know then who's just been hanging around church. Because only those who have been written in the Lamb's Book of Life through salvation in Jesus Christ. Only those will be in that place. That is frightening to think about.

Because if you look at the lives of most people who claim to be Christians. You don't see much difference in the life that they claim. They've got now and the life that they had before they supposedly met Jesus Christ.

Their lives and lifestyle Basically is the same it has changed with one part. They just come to church every now and then and they carry a Bible Occasionally and they talk about religious things every now and then their life has not changed.

Dear people make sure That you have been born again. Make sure that you have been saved. Time is running out life is short and death is sure. Your life is like the breadth of your hand. It's like a wisp of vapor.

Today, it's here and tomorrow it is gone and the Bible says that an unrighteous person will not live out half their days. If you live them to the fullest you'll only live to 75 or 80 years of age at the most.

Within a hundred years almost all of us will be gone if Jesus hasn't come. But what is a hundred years compared to an eternity in the lake of fire? To burn forever and forever and forever and Forever is a long long time.

I had a young friend. Tell me one time. He said well I won't be lonesome. All my friends will be there. Go to the hospital and go into the cancer ward and Tell a sweet man or woman who's eaten alive by cancer and say don't worry the people down the hall got cancer, too.

Don't worry. There's no comfort there. There's no comfort there. You cannot reject Jesus Christ and not undergo the consequences of such a thing. They gloried in the cross. Accepted the life of Christ through his death.

They were conformed to the image of God. Look at verse 22 in closing revelation 21. And I saw no temple in it for the Lord God Almighty in the lamb or the temple of it and the city had no need of The Sun neither the moon to shine in it for the glory of God did light it and the lamb is the lamp of it.