The Lamb Versus the Beast — Billy Strachan

The Lamb and the Beast in Spiritual Conflict

As the elect of God, holy and beloved, we put on tender mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another.

Even as Christ forgave us, so we also must do. But above all these things, we put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And we let the peace of God rule in our hearts, to which also we were called in one body.

And we are thankful. We let the word of Christ dwell in us richly, in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord.

And whatever we do, in word or deed, we do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Amen. Now in a certain sense what I want to say in this closing message is a follow-on from what I was talking about last night.

And I was shocked to discover that I'd preached for two hours. I'm not exactly apologizing because I couldn't have completed what I had to say in less. But last night I spoke about the rise of the Antichrist and I sought to give you an overall biblical picture of what kind of a person he will be and how he will operate and what he will do.

I also told you that his title, one of his three titles in the Bible is the wild beast. Tonight I want to speak in that context about another kind of being who is the exact opposite, the Lamb. And if you will look at the book of Revelation in this light I think you will see that it represents a war between the Lamb of God and the wild beast.

It's interesting that the Lamb is mentioned 28 times in the book of Revelation and the wild beast is mentioned 35 times in the same book. Now in English the exact parallel is not clear but in the Greek of the New Testament there's a very clear balance between these two titles.

Because the Greek word for the Lamb is Arion and the Greek word for the wild beast is Therion. So they're exactly similar in form. There's a kind of balance in the book of Revelation in the revelation of the Lamb and the revelation of the wild beast.

Now thinking over what I said last night I thought I'll try and think of a list of epithets that describe the wild beast. And I came up with 10 which I will read out to you. Cunning, deceitful, arrogant, boastful, vicious, cruel, treacherous, murderous, despotic and dominating.

I think I'll read the list again because I think we need to know what kind of a person we're involved with. Cunning, deceitful, arrogant, boastful, vicious, cruel, treacherous, murderous, despotic and dominating.

And I think it's a little interesting that Yenker has come out with his book. If I can remember the three titles they are. Domination, intimidation and control. Is that right? All right let's get it right.

Manipulation, domination and control. You know what spirit that is? It's the spirit of the wild beast. Now he wasn't writing his book. I haven't read it but he wasn't writing his book about the future.

He's writing that book about situations and people that we confront in daily life. And furthermore many of them are inside the church and not a few of them are in the ministry. I say this because I want you to understand that we are in the midst of a conflict between two spiritual forces.

The spirit of the wild beast and the spirit of the Lamb. And my personal opinion, I believe the Lord has made this clear to me. Is that now is the time when we are making our decisions. And if we allow ourselves to be controlled by the spirit of the wild beast now.

When he is actually manifested we will come under him. It will be too late then to say no I don't want that. I hope you can understand what I'm saying. If I'm correct we today by our attitudes and the way we live and the way we relate are determining our destiny.

Because the world is going to be confronted with just a simple choice between the Lamb and the wild beast. And everybody who is not under the Lamb will be under the wild beast. And if you're under the Lamb you'll manifest the spirit of the Lamb now.

And if you're manifesting the spirit of the wild beast now. When he appears you'll be one of his victims. You cannot change then. That's why the way we live now in this end time is so critical. And that's why I believe it's so important we understand the issues.

One thing I've learned about the devil and I think David Pawson says the same thing. Is what he hates most is to be exposed. And what I'm seeking to do in the light of Scripture is to expose him. And I know he doesn't like me.

However I'll get on without his favor. In Revelation 17 verses 12 through 14 this war that I'm speaking about is actually described. I can't go back into what I taught last night about the ten horns etc.

You just have to start from there. Revelation 17 verse 12 and following. And the ten horns which you saw are ten kings who have received no kingdom as yet. But they receive authority for one hour as kings with the beast.

These are of one mind and they will give their power and authority to the beast. These will make war with the Lamb. And the Lamb will overcome them. For he is Lord of lords and King of kings. And those who are with him are called chosen and faithful.

So there is a clear statement of the war. This war is really one main theme of the book of Revelation. There is a war between the beast and those who are associated with him. And the Lamb. Who is the Lamb?

Jesus. That's right. And you notice the kind of people that are with the Lamb. Did you see that? Those who are with him have three descriptions. They're called, they're chosen and they're faithful. You see Jesus said many are called but few are chosen.

A lot of people are invited and they may accept the invitation. But they don't fulfill the requirements. So they're not chosen. This is true of missionary calling. Multitudes of people are called but they're never chosen.

Because they don't meet the conditions. They don't fulfill the requirements. But after being chosen there's one more requirement. Which is to be faithful. And so if we are to be in the army of the Lamb.

We have to fulfill those three requirements. Called, chosen and faithful. And I'm probably, I've been a Christian probably longer than most of you here. We talk a lot about the problems of young Christians.

I want to tell you they're nothing compared with the problem of old Christians. Don't imagine it gets easier. It doesn't. It gets more complicated and more demanding the further you go. The pressures increase.

John the Baptist Introduces the Lamb of God

But your strength should increase to be able to meet the pressures. Now in John chapter 1 we have the Lamb very beautifully introduced. By the man sent to introduce Him who was John the Baptist. And in John 1 verse 29 through 34 we have this divine introduction.

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said. Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is he of whom I said after me comes a man who is preferred before me. For he was before me.

I did not know him but that he should be revealed to Israel. Therefore I came baptizing with water. And John bore witness saying. I saw the Spirit. That's the Holy Spirit. Descending from heaven like a dove.

And he remained upon him. I did not know him. But he who sent me to baptize with water said to me. Upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining on him. This is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God. It's interesting in that critical passage which introduces Jesus. There are two creatures of the animal world that are used to symbolize spiritual truth.

There's a bird, the dove. And there's an animal, the lamb. And the scripture says the dove descended on the lamb. And remained on him. You see the Holy Spirit was looking for one person. Who would fulfill the qualifications.

He wasn't looking for a lion. He wasn't looking for a tiger. He wasn't looking for an elephant. He was looking for a lamb. And that is the only nature on which the Spirit of God will descend and remain on him.

And you cannot receive the Holy Spirit as a believer. Unless there is in you the nature of Jesus through the rebirth. And he will descend on that nature. He'll not descend on you because of what you are in your own nature.

But he'll descend on the new nature in you that comes through the new birth. The nature of Jesus. But the very important qualification concerning Jesus as the Messiah was. That the Spirit would descend on him and remain on him.

Now this is the critical test. It is relatively easy to receive the Holy Spirit today. It's preached and taught and testified to. And I have seen thousands of people receive the Holy Spirit. I've seen the dove come down upon them.

But of those I would say relatively few had the dove remaining on them. Because he will only remain where the Spirit of the Lamb prevails. And I have to be careful what I say. But I could exemplify various men, ministries and movements.

Upon which the dove descended. But he did not remain. And he is not there today. And you and I need to ask ourselves. Sure we were baptized in the Holy Spirit. In my case it was 51 years ago. The question is not what happened 51 years ago.

The question is what is my relationship to the dove today. Has he remained on me through 51 years? Now you don't have to answer that question for me. That's my question. But you have to answer it for yourself.

People come to me and they say. Brother Prince in 1982 I was baptized in the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. I say fine but we're living in 1992. What's happened in the intervening 10 years? Is he still remaining on you?

And I have to say it is tragic. The number of instances. In which the Holy Spirit descended. But did not remain. Because the people involved did not cultivate. And manifest the nature of the Lamb. Now I have to be careful what I say.

Because I don't want in any way to attack other ministries. But I suggest. That when you are confronted with a ministry. That makes claims on you. You should ask yourself. Is the dove remaining on them?

Are they manifesting the nature of the Lamb? I'll give you an example from good many years past. About 50 or more years ago 60. Between the two world wars. God gave to Britain. Two of the most outstanding evangelists.

That this century has witnessed. They were brothers in the flesh. George Jeffries and Stephen Jeffries. And I know people who knew them. Who were in their meetings. Who've told me personally. I don't think there's been another evangelist in this century.

With a greater or more powerful ministry. Than George Jeffries. In those days. Pentecost was a kind of derided little sect. And few people were willing to pay the price to follow. But when George Jeffries preached.

He filled the Royal Albert Hall with 9 ,000 people. Without any effort. And as he walked down the aisles to the platform. As he came level with each row of seats. The power of God came on every person in those rows.

George and Stephen were brothers. Both had powerful ministry. But they quarreled. Not merely were they brothers in the spirit. But they were actually brothers in the flesh. Yet they quarreled. They felled out.

They could not work together. George Jeffries was the founder of the Elim movement. But the people through whom I came to the Lord. Actually were present when they heard George Jeffries say. I'll crush Elim.

Because he had broken away from his own movement. What is that? It's a tragedy that grieves the heart of God. More than we can ever understand. One of the things about Pentecost. And charismatic movement.

Is we focus on power. I believe in power. Power is exciting. But there are things that are more important than power. Holiness is one. And love is another. And we need to ask ourselves. Is the dove remaining on me?

Am I manifesting. Cultivating. The nature of the lamb. And I have to say. The nature of the lamb is absolutely contrary. To contemporary culture. I doubt whether there's ever been an age. In which culture has been so totally opposite.

To the nature of the lamb. I was asking myself. How could I briefly. Depict from scripture. The nature of the lamb. And I felt God directed me. To the Sermon on the Mount. To Matthew chapter 5. The well-known Beatitudes.

The eight persons or people. Of whom Jesus said. Blessed. And you know. As a preacher. I meet scores of Christians. Who are seeking God's blessing. But I meet relatively few. Who realize that they have to meet certain conditions.

And if you meet the conditions. You don't have to seek the blessing. The blessing will seek you. Moses said to Israel. He said if you fulfill these commandments. The blessing of God will come upon you.

And overtake you. When I find people simply pursuing blessing. I have grave doubts. About their relationship to the Lord. Blessing can become a kind of idol. So let me. Just briefly. Go through the Beatitudes with you.

Somebody in our house. Put up on the wall. On the mirror. The words Beatitudes. In other words. Attitudes of what you be. It's a good way to think about them. They are be attitudes. And we got so used to them.

Most of us through going to church. That we don't realize. They were extremely controversial. Jesus called people blessed. Who in the natural. And in the world order. Would be the last people. To be considered blessed.

He overturned all popular opinion. About blessedness. And he came to proclaim the kingdom of the Father. And this really is the charter of the kingdom. The Sermon on the Mount. And what he was saying in effect is.

The citizens of the kingdom. Are people who behave like this. In other words. If we want to be citizens of the kingdom. This is the behavior. That is required of us. So let's just read them. And not dwell on them too long.

Blessed are the poor. In spirit. For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Now. Very few people think it's blessed to be poor. It was a startling statement. Now he did not speak about. I would say financial poverty.

But he spoke about spiritual poverty. There are two things in which God is said to be rich. In the New Testament. Rich in mercy. And rich in grace. And the poor in spirit. Are those who realize. How much they desperately need.

The mercy. And the grace of God. They are not rich in their own esteem. The Greek word used means beggars. Let me ask this. Are you spiritually a beggar? Or are you rather satisfied with yourself? And you feel you've come a long way.

And you're doing pretty well. You belong to a good church. And your church is somewhat better than most of the others. That is not poverty of the spirit. There are two churches in Revelation. Which are an interesting contrast.

They're the last two listed. And I believe each of them. Is a kind of type. Of a church at the end of the age. First of all we'll turn to Revelation 3. Verses 15 and following. This is the church. Of the Laodiceans.

Now. Loosely interpreted. The word Laodicea. Means people's rights. The Greek word for people is Laos. Dickey is a right. So this is the church of the people who are claiming their rights. And Jesus says some of the most amazing things.

I've read these words and pondered on them. He says what he said to every one of the seven churches. I know your works. I know what you're doing. That you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.

Jesus said anything but lukewarm, please. It comes to my mind that good many years ago. I mean probably 25 years ago. I was invited to preach in a church in Canada. I didn't really normally expect such an invitation.

But they told me that. Before I came they prayed that I would bring them the word of the Lord. You know what I preached about? The church of Laodicea. And they couldn't believe that was the word of the Lord.

Now I had no prejudice, no preconception. I simply gave them what I believed the Lord had given me. But they were incapable of believing that the description of the church of the Laodiceans could possibly apply to them.

Listen to this description. So then because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot. I will spew you or vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say I am rich, have become wealthy and have need of nothing.

And do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire that you may be rich. That's faith that's been tested. And white garments that you may be clothed.

That the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed. And anoint your eyes with eye salve that you may see. Could you conceive it possible that people would be wretched, miserable, poor, blind and naked and not even know it?

But that's the condition of the Laodicean church. They had a totally false sense of values. Because apparently they were financially prosperous. They considered themselves to be spiritual. Does that correspond to anything that we hear taught today?

I think it's probably one of the main problems of the American church. Then we look back to the other end time church as I understand it Philadelphia. Philadelphia means brotherly love. And to that church Jesus said these things verse 7 says he who is holy.

He who is true. He who has the key of David. He who opens and no one shuts. And shuts and no one opens. I know your works. And brothers and sisters bear in mind that Jesus knows your works. He knows what you're doing.

He doesn't merely listen to what you tell him. But he knows what you do. I know your works. See I have set before you an open door. And no one can shut it. For you have a little strength. Have kept my word.

And have not denied my name. Really in a way their great strength was they had a little strength. They could not rely on their own strength. They had to rely on God's faithfulness. Trust I can say this in the right way.

I believe that is true of our ministry. We have a little strength. We're a relatively small ministry. But we have kept God's word. We have not denied his name. And he has set before us a door so amazingly wide.

That we can hardly believe it. In 1979 I started a radio program in the United States. On eight stations. With a budget of $8 ,000 a month. And we didn't know where the money would come from. And I had no thought that that radio broadcast would ever go outside the United States.

And I didn't do anything to plan it. I didn't do anything to arrange it. But that radio broadcast is now in ten languages. Four main Chinese dialects. Russian, Spanish, help me. Arabic, Mongolian, Tongan.

And it's, we're working on Indonesian. And I suppose every day it's more than possible that millions of people are exposed to that radio broadcast. That's a great door. But the Lord opened it. We didn't even ask him to open it.

It didn't occur to us that that would happen. And that's only a part of our ministry. There's the brother here from Burundi. Where is he? Not here. Can't, anyhow. He just came up to me and thanked me.

He said, we have been receiving your teaching material regularly for years. And we've given it out to hundreds of people. Now on our list of what we call our global outreach program. We have about 1 ,700 full-time workers in 120 nations.

Who receive free our Bible teaching material. And my books or part of my books or some of my literature. Has been translated into about 50 languages. Our video Bible school. Which consists of 29 hours.

By me on video. It's now translated into all the main languages of Eastern Europe. Except Polish. It's in Russian, Hungarian, Czech, Serbian, Romanian, Albanian and others. German, thank you. Now I don't say that to boast.

But if I preach something that didn't apply. Why should you listen to my words? What I want to say is. It works. God means what he said. And my main prayer is not that we'll get so many million dollars.

It's that we'll be faithful to God's word. And not deny his name. After that God takes care of the consequences. But I believe really that these two churches. Represent in a way the two main thrusts. Of what is happening in the spiritual realm in the church today.

There are many, many churches like Laodicea. And there are those that are like Philadelphia. And I think we need to ask ourselves. What am I involved in? What am I giving my time and my finance to? Is it some little self-perpetuating group of people.

Who meet weekly on Sunday mornings. And when they separate they say. God bless you brother. See you next Sunday. That doesn't interest me. And one thing I find difficult. Is a congregation that consists of people.

Of all of the same color and the same social status. I'm really not happy. I like a good mixture. Different colors. Different social levels. Different languages. That's where I'm happy. In 1963. God thrust me into the ministry of deliverance.

Some of you have seen some of the things I do. I didn't plan that. But a dear Pentecostal sister. Who used to play the piano. On our Sunday morning services in Seattle Washington. Threw a demonic fit.

Right in front of the platform. And at that moment. I was preaching on this theme. No matter what the devil does. God has the last word. And I saw. I had either to prove it. Or to stop preaching it. And I called my first wife forward.

And we with two other persons. Cast the demon out of that woman. In front of the congregation. Now they were Pentecostals. But when the demon went out. They were pale. I mean they looked as if they'd seen a ghost.

They had never seen anything like it in their lives. And without my intending it. I got plunged into this. I didn't seek it. If I'd been given an option. I'd have chosen something much more romantic. But something happened.

That girl was wonderfully delivered. It took about two hours. In the pastor's office on Sunday morning. About half the time she was tearing her clothes off. Which is not the normal procedure. For the pastor's office on Sunday morning.

She never came back to that congregation. And I realized she was ashamed. To be seen by those people. And that faced me personally with a challenge. I said. What am I supposed to be pastoring? Is this a middle-class social club.

That meets on Sunday mornings. Or is it a place. Where those with desperate needs. Can come and find help. And I made an important decision. I said for me. I'll go for the people with needs. Whether it's respectable.

Whether they behave nicely in church. Whether we have dignified services. All of those are secondary. Let's be real. The theme of this conference is reality. And what I'm telling you tonight is reality.

Amen. I thank God for brother Mahesh. He's been one of those that. Has been in the battle with us. And he's been on the battle on his own too. But we in a way started together. And we've come a long way.

Not because we're great. But because we have a little strength. We've kept God's word. And we've not denied his name. So what kind of congregation. Do you want to belong to. What kind of activity. Do you want to be involved in.

The Beatitudes as the Lamb’s Character

Let's go back to the attitudes very quickly. The next one is. Blessed are those who mourn. For they shall be comforted. Now nobody considers it. Normally a blessing to mourn. But Jesus said. That's the ones that get blessed.

The ones that are sorry. The ones that grieve. The ones that humble themselves. The ones that empathize with the grief of others. They will be comforted. The next one. Blessed are the meek. For they shall inherit the earth.

Meekness is very little spoken of today. In fact the word is almost dropped out of contemporary usage. But it's still a very real thing. The meek do not appropriate the earth. They do not dominate the earth.

They inherit the earth. That's a test of faith. Are you willing to let God allot you your inheritance. Without grabbing for it. Without fighting for it. It's a decision. The next one. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

For they shall be filled. Again. Especially in the Middle East. That's an absurd statement. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst. There were plenty of hungry people. And some thirsty people. But they did not consider themselves blessed.

It was a paradox. But Jesus said. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. I meet lots of people. Hungering and thirsting for healing. For deliverance. But I meet comparatively few. Who are really hungering and thirsting for righteousness.

In the church that we attend in Jerusalem. On a Sunday morning service. Just a couple of months ago. There was a visiting speaker. Who preached on this text. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.

And it was a good sermon. Well constructed. Good illustrations. And he was. He went into a great deal of detail. About what it really means to be thirsty. And I listened. And I thought that's all right.

But I wasn't moved. Then we went into a period of worship. And in the middle of that. The worship leader said. God is here right now. If you have any request. Bring it to him. I had premeditated nothing.

I didn't have anything in my mind. But without even planning it. I blurted out to the Lord. Lord all I want is more of you. And I want to tell you. I got it. I got so much. I was embarrassed. I thought I'll upset the service.

Let me recommend that to you. You can't do it out of your own initiative. But if God prompts you. Why don't you say that. All I want. Is more of you. Then the next one is. Blessed are the merciful. For they shall obtain mercy.

One thing has always helped me. In my walk with the Lord. I've always seen. That I need the Lord's mercy. I have never been a day in my life. That I was not aware. That I need the mercy of the Lord. But I'm not by nature.

A very merciful person. But I said I have to be merciful. Mercy. I need it desperately. I was impressed by. The words of the Apostle Paul. In 1 Corinthians 7 verse 25. We don't need to turn there. But he said about a certain question.

I give my opinion. As one who has obtained. Mercy of the Lord. To be found faithful. And it must have been. A good 20 years ago. I was struck by the fact. That we are not able to be faithful. By our own will.

Or by our own efforts. It's only through the mercy of the Lord. That we can be faithful. And I continually. Remind myself of that. Then it says. Blessed are the pure in heart. For they shall see God. Now that's not necessarily.

So paradoxical. But remember that. Without holiness. No one will see the Lord. And holiness. I think is purity of heart. It's not keeping. A little set of religious rules. It's having a heart. That's pure.

This past. Passover season. In Israel. Where they celebrate the Passover. Pretty. Almost everybody. Is involved in some way. I was thinking about the fact. That the Jewish people. Had to purge out. All old leaven.

And I thought to myself. That applies to me. And God. Brought it to my attention. That I had a lot of things in my mind. That went back. Even to the time. Before I was saying. Phrases that I would use.

Images. That came to my mind. Incidents that had taken place. A kind of language. That's used. By unsaved people. And various kinds of fears. And anxiety. And I realized. They were all. Old leaven. And I took a stand.

To purge them out of my life. Now. I am not free from those pressures. But every time they come. I say. I've purged you out. I am not taking you back. I suggest to you. That many of you should consider.

Whether there's old leaven. In your thinking. In your attitudes. In your reactions. Blessed are the pure in heart. For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers. For they shall be called. Sons of God.

Wonderful thing. To be a peacemaker. The final beatitude. Blessed are those who are persecuted. For righteousness sake. Do you consider that a blessing? Jesus said. To his disciples. Blessed are you. When they revile and persecute you.

And say all kinds of evil against you. Falsely. For my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad. For great is your reward in heaven. For so they persecuted the prophets. Who were before you. So when people.

Criticize you. Gossip about you. Tell lies about you. Do you rejoice? And are you exceedingly glad? Because that's the appropriate reaction. So those are just little pictures. Of what I believe it is.

To have the nature of the Lamb. It's an incomplete study. Let me close. This particular section. With one glorious fact. In this war. It's the Lamb who wins. That's contrary. To all natural expectation.

Because all the power. Apparently. Is on the other side. Everything in a sense. Is a raid against the people. Who want to live for God. But we are more than conquerors. Through him who loved us. I love the passage.

The Lamb’s Victory Through Death and Resurrection

In Revelation chapter 5. Where John had. He saw the Lamb. I'd like to read. The first seven verses. Of Revelation 5. And I saw in the right hand. Of him who sat on the throne. And a scroll written inside and on the back.

Sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel. Proclaiming with a loud voice. Who is worthy to open the scroll. And to loose its seals. So there was a tremendous. Demonstration of strength. A strong angel with a loud voice.

And no one in heaven. Or on the earth or under the earth. Was able to open the scroll. Or to look at it. So I wept much. Because no one was found worthy. To open the scroll. Or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me.

Do not weep. Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The root of David. Has prevailed to open the scroll. And its seven seals. And John turned. To look. And I'm sure. He expected to see. A very powerful.

Glorious. Majestic awe inspiring. Lion. And what did he see. Something quite different. And I looked. And 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. Which God sent out into all the earth. Then he the lamb came. And took the scroll. Out of the right hand.

It was him who sat on the throne. You see that's absolutely contrary. To the way we think naturally. And it's totally contrary. To our contemporary culture. Because the most powerful being. In heaven.

Was a slain lamb. What is God saying. Let's look at it this way. Jesus gave up his life. Died and was buried. He did not bring himself. Back to life. The father. Raised him from the dead. By the power of the Holy Spirit.

Are you willing to take the same pathway. To die. And stay dead. Till God raises you back to life. Because when you're raised back to life. In that way. It's a different life. That's the overcoming life.

That's the life of the kingdom. The life of the lamb. And then. All heaven. Proclaimed. The worthiness of the lamb. And it says in the same chapter. Verses 11 and 12. Then I looked. And I heard the voice of many angels.

Around the throne. The living creatures and the elders. And the number of them. Was 10 ,000 times 10 ,000. Which is 10 million. And thousands of thousands. Which is millions. Saying with a loud voice.

Worthy is the lamb. Who was slain. To receive power and riches. And wisdom and strength. And honor and glory and blessing. What's the way to the throne. The way of the cross. And the tomb. And resurrection.

By the will of God. Not by our own efforts. Why are so many Christians. Struggling in their own strength. Because they've never. Experienced death. They've never been. Willing to let go. And let God. They've never experienced.

God's resurrection power. In their lives. I'm not talking about the baptism. The Holy Spirit. That's wonderful. But I'm talking about a level of living. Where we can say. It is not I who live. But Christ who lives in me.

And the life I now live in the flesh. I live by the faith of the Son of God. Who loved me. And gave himself for me. I think it would be good for a moment. If we were just to say that simple statement.

As the expression of our hearts. Gratitude and appreciation. Worthy is the Lamb. Worthy is the Lamb. Again. Worthy is the Lamb. Once more. Worthy is the Lamb. He will be the center of heaven. Throughout all eternity.

And all the mighty angels. And the archangels. And the seraphim and the cherubim. Will all bow down and worship. That slain Lamb of God. What a lesson. What a picture. I come back to that thought. There are two.

Super spiritual powers. At work. Amongst humanity today. The spirit of the Lamb. The spirit of the wild beast. The spirit of the wild beast. Is the spirit that grabs. Dominates. Controls. Manipulates.

And gets everything under its power. It's the spirit that prevails in the political world. It's the spirit that prevails in the business world. Which spirit prevails with you and me. The wild beast. Or the Lamb.