Keep sharing good news without ads.
Source: https://www.sermonindex.net/speakers/alan-davidson/revelation-5-lion-lamb/
Revelation chapter 5, and we shall read the chapter. Revelation chapter 5, verse 1,. And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within out of the backside, sealed with seven seals, and I saw a strong angel.
You will notice the connection with the previous ministry. I saw a strong angel, proclaiming with a loud voice, who was worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof. No man in heaven or on earth, neither on the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open, and to read the book, neither to look thereon. One of the elders said unto me, Weep not. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, of the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, 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.
And he came, and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne. And when he had taken the book, four beasts, four and twenty elders, fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints.
And I 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, hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth.
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels, round about the throne, the beasts and the elders, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 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, 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 honor and glory and power, be unto him that sitteth on the throne, and unto the Lamb forever and ever.
And the four beasts said, Amen, and the four and twenty elders fell down, and worshipped him that liveth forever and ever. Now the Lord will bless the reading of this beautiful chapter. In the volume of the book, in the scroll of the book, it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God.
So began our meditations in Mr. Portman's section this morning. The volume of the book. This afternoon our thoughts have been directed to Nazareth. You remember that later scene in Nazareth, when in the synagogue, it says he took the scroll, he took the book, he opened the book, he preached from the book, he told them about blessing, blessing to a widow of the Gentiles, blessing to a leper amongst the Gentiles, and they thought to throw him over the brow of the hill.
I want to think about another book. A book, it says I saw in the right hand of him that sat upon the throne, a roll, a roll of the book. It seems to be that the roll of the book sat on the right hand.
I take the throne sitter primary to be God himself. And resting upon the palm of the throne sitter, as though being offered, is a book. The right hand and a book written. A parchment, a scroll with seven seals.
The scroll of seven seals was not just prophecy. John would not have wept about prophecy. It's not just the revelation of judgment. It says John wept exceedingly. John would have agreed with judgment upon earth.
It's not just the wrath of the throne, because a strong angel could have executed the justice of the throne. What was being offered in the scroll of the book needed one to continue the redemption of all things.
The scroll of the book I take as the progressive intervention of the throne in the affairs of earth, in the wrongs of earth, in a word, through the slain lamb, the completion of redemption. The completion of redemption.
That explains John's sorrow. You see, in verse 4 he says he wept much. If not opened, then redemption would not be complete. It explains heaven's song. Not just judgment, but the triumph of the lamb. It explains that the scroll of the book was overflowing.
No additions needed to be made. This will complete God's purposes. Those seven seals, there'll be no amendments. They have been sealed with a personal signet guaranteeing integrity of the answer that is found in Christ.
For he has purchased the right of redemption. He has paid the cost of it. He paid the right of redemption upon Calvary's cross. And we behold in the center of the throne. Let us have a look at him today, my dear brother, dear sister.
We've remembered the blessed man upon the tree in suffering and shame. But after the tree has come the throne. And after the cross has come the crown. And here is the lamb in the midst of the throne. Verse 5, he says, I beheld.
And he says, behold the lion of the tribe of Judah. Behold the lion of the tribe of Judah. The book of Genesis chapter 49 speaks of the lion's wealth. That's his humanity. Of the root of David, that is his royalty.
When we think of the lion, we're thinking of his majesty. When we think of the lamb, we're thinking of his meekness. The lion is his power to rule. The lamb, his right to rule. And so the reclaimer of the earth, Adam failed.
The first man was of the earth. Down through the ages, there have been others that have tried it. As we've heard already, Nimrod tried. Nebuchadnezzar made an attempt. Caesar thought he had arrived. I ask Napoleon, Hitler, even the beast in a future day, they'll all be failures.
Who will this one be? The lion of the tribe of Judah. Genesis 49 says Jacob, a young lion crouching, ready to spring. Maybe an old lion, the mother lion in protection of her children. The lion of the tribe of Judah.
Judah's mentioned at least predominant eight times in our Bible, in the Old Testament. Genesis 49, who shall be surety for the lad? He's first in protection. Says Judah, I will be surety for the lad. My dear brother, my dear sister, he's first.
He's first in protection, he's first in surety. On Calvary's cross there was one. He that goeth surety for a stranger shall smart for it. We'll have to ponder the Savior upon the three. There does my surety firmly stood.
Paid for my ransom is precious blood. Died for my sin to bring me to God. Jesus died for me. The lion of the tribe of Judah is first in protection. Genesis 49, he's first in praise. Thou art he whom my brethren shall praise.
Here it is, thou art worthy for thou was slain. Yes, we pondered him already in the book of the Psalms. Psalm 22, leader of the praise in the great congregation. First in protection, first in praise. Exodus 31, he's first in service.
The tabernacle, those skilled men. That handiwork that was manifested in the framing and forming and the beaten work of those beautiful vessels of the sanctuary of God's presence. Oh yes, who will do that work?
It'll be Bethlehem of the tribe of Judah. That golden lampstand of one lump of solid gold. Beaten work of pure gold. There's a greater than Bethlehem. And he has done a greater work. That work of redemption.
That work of completion, says the New Testament. He that sanctifies them that are sanctified are all one. One complete beautiful work in the house of God. Numbers chapter 1, Judah. It's first in fruitfulness.
Oh yes, the numbering of the tribes of Israel. For that which was just a family has become an exodus, a congregation. And now a congregation has become a nation. And they're about to move out. Oh yes, move out in the stately dignity of the purposes of God and Judah.
12 ,000 men. More than any other tribe. He's first in fruitfulness. Oh yes, the family, the tribe, the congregation that is rejoicing in him today. He died upon Calvary's cross. 33 years of age. Seemed to be a failure.
Cut off. No progenitors. No followers. No army. No kingdom. But a few Galilean tax gatherers, a fisherman and a tax gatherer. Any possessions he had, he put them in the hands of a thief. Oh yes, says Isaiah.
He was cut off out of the land of the living. But says the same chapter. He shall see his seed. He shall prolong his days. And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand. Oh yes, of the increase that will be rightfully his, there shall be no end.
And he shall reign as right it is. First in protection. First in praise. Judah is first in service. First in fruitfulness. Numbers chapter 2, he's first in communion. As they camped around the house of God.
Judah shall camp on the eighth day. Someone in prayer reminded us. You enter in the tabernacle through the gate of entrails. You approach through the brazen altar. Speaks of the cross. Oh yes, he has established that entrance into the presence of God.
Come toward the east. But in Numbers chapter 7, when the tabernacle had been established. And the calling, the calling of the leaders. And the head of each tribe. And the presentation of the sacrifice.
Who will go up first in sacrifice. On the first day, Nathan, the son of Abinadab of the tribe of Judah shall go up. Apart from Psalm 119, the longest chapter in our Bible. Oh yes, who will go up first in sacrifice.
Oh yes, in the dedication, in the furtherance of the priesthood. Did we not have that already today, this man. This priest, after he had offered one sacrifice for sin forever. And sat down at the right hand of God.
Is it any wonder, is it any wonder the writer to the Hebrews says we have an altar. And have no right to throw in here, sir, the tabernacle. Oh yes, I believe in Hebrews. That he's the entrance, he's the field, he's the altar, he's the rest.
He's the all together. Preeminent one in the purposes of God. Numbers chapter 10, he's first on the march. Into the land. Oh yes, to possess the land. Who will go up? Who will go out first? It'll be Judah.
Of the camp of the children of Judah. According to their armies. That's the one you have got. He's the leader, the leader of many sons unto glory. He's the captain of our salvation. He's the lion of the tribe of Judah.
First in protection. First in praise. First in service. First in fruitfulness. First in communion. First in sacrifice. First in the march. Unto the land. He's first in the battle. The fools. The Canaanites.
The sick of the idolaters. Who'll go up? Says Joshua 1 verse 2. Judah shall go up. Judah shall go up. And the Lord said, Judah shall go up. For I have delivered the land into his hand. The royal tribe.
The ensign of the fathers. The Midian battle. Conquering unto conquer. Oh yes, says the book of Revelation. This is the one. The blessed hand of the man of Calvary. The one who stretched his hands upon Calvary's cross.
Share his precious blood. He'll take the scroll in the day of judgment. He'll take the sickle in the day of harvest. He'll take the sword in the day of battle. He'll take the scepter. That he shall reign.
It's right it is. The root of David. It is manhood he sprang from David. It is Godhood. David sprang from him. So says verse 6. And I beheld in the midst of the throne. One of the living creatures. And the elders.
Stood alarm. We've been thinking of the ministry of Gabriel. Says here a strong angel. The angel said behold the lion. John says I looked and saw a lamb. The lamb. The lamb promised Genesis 22. The lamb personified of Isaiah 53.
The lamb identified of John chapter 1. The lamb glorified. Revelation chapter 5. You know we've been thinking this morning. Of the volume of the book. The volume of the book for the Old Testament. Enfolds him.
The gospels examine him. The epistles exalt him. But the book of Revelation enthrones him. Before the day is through my dear brother, dear sister. And before we leave the conference in Blue River another year.
Let us put him. Where he should be. Upon the throne. John writes. In his gospel. John 4. Seated by a well. Weary traveler. We're reminded yesterday. John 5 and 6. Seated on the mountain. The provider of the needy and hungry.
John chapter 8. He sat in the temple. The teacher. John chapter 12. He sat on a colt in triumph. Here he is. The end of chapter 3 of Revelation. To him that overcome us. Will I grant to sit with me. At my throne.
But here the lamb stands in the midst of the throne. The book of Revelation we see him. As Lord. In the midst of the churches. As the lion. Relative to the nation. As the lamb upon the throne. As the lover of the morning.
On the late of the city. Revelation chapter 2. He's walking in the midst. Development. Testimony. The churches. But now in chapter 5 verse 6. Stood a lamb. In the midst of the throne. What are they saying?
They're saying where are they? Here's the lamb. You know at the cross. There was three. Antagonistic circles. There was the bulls of Bashan. That's Israel. There was. The ravenous dogs. That's a Gentile.
There was the roar of a lion. That's the devil. I see here. Around the throne. Three adoring circles. There's the redeemed. There's angelic host. And there's all creation. And they have a song. Pick up the language of a.
Ministry of a former day. Sin. Has removed. Through joy. From this scene down here. But through Christ. Ah this sad scene will soon be over. And the realms of glory. Will be scenes of song. And gladness.
And praise. In their song it was for his being. Holy holy holy. For his creation. He has created all things. For thy pleasure they are. And were created. We rejoice today in the work of redemption. And the blessing of salvation.
The day and hour when you get saved. My dear brother dear sister. But that work of the cross. As far extended beyond our salvation. It extends out. Out to the furthest. To the furthest. Scene where sin is gone.
And all that was lost by the first man. Will be restored by the. Second man the Lord from heaven. And upon this earth. God will show. In a literal millennial kingdom. That all was lost in Adam. Has been restored in Christ.
I'm not all concerned about global warming. I know man. He destroys everything he puts his hand to. But you know I can go home and put my head on the pillow tonight and rest. I know. It's all in the hands of a blessed man.
Control of creation. Of redemption. Oh yes this song a new song. Sin has robbed earth of its joy. But you and I have got a song. Song that has begun on earth that will be ours forever. Thou art worthy for thou was slain.
We'll never forget it. Thou was slain and has redeemed us unto God by thy blood. Out of every kindred and tongue. And people and nation. Praise for his being his creation. His redemption his sacrifice.
Worthy is the lamb that was slain. To receive power and riches and wisdom. And strength and honor and glory and blessing. Praise for his dominion. That's where our brother left off. Psalm 24. Oh yes his dominion.
Every creature in heaven and earth. And under the earth. That looks on to the very end. Of the purposes of redemption. The blessed hand of that blessed man. In the volume of the book that was written of me when he came.
He opened the book as Jesus of Nazareth. He take the scroll of the book on a future day. And I leave it with the language of Revelation chapter 5. Blessing. Honor. Glory and power. Be unto him that sitteth upon the throne.
And unto the lamb forever and ever. In the meantime you and I come. We come as sinners whose love can never forget. The woman on the call. Today we come. We spread our trophies at his feet. And we crown him Lord of all.
May God bless his word.