The Amazing Lamb

12/22/2024
Revelation 5:6-14 The Amazing Lamb!
Intro: He was born a human baby in a manger. He grew up to be a man and died on a cruel cross and was raised on the third day. But OT images of Him are of a lamb. He is called the Lamb of God. Why is the Lamb so important? Why is it so amazing? 1:00

1 The Lamb Was Slain
Revelation 5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and 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. Then I saw a Lamb standing in the center of the throne, surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb appeared to have been killed. It had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God that have been sent through the whole earth. And there [b]between the throne (with the four living creatures) and among the elders I saw a Lamb (Christ) standing, [bearing scars and wounds] as though it had been slain, with seven horns (complete power) and with seven eyes (complete knowledge), which are [c]the seven Spirits of God who have been sent [on duty] into all the earth.

We will talk about the four beasts and elders later…….but who or what is the Lamb? Lamb is mentioned 27 times in the book of Revelation. John the Baptist tells us John 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. The Lamb is capitalized because the Lamb is Jesus. Revelation 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb….Lamb is always capitalized in Revelation because the Lamb is Jesus.

1 Peter 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you. Jesus is the lamb without spot or blemish meaning He was without sin. This Baby born to be king had to first be a Lamb.

The first time a lamb is mentioned in the Bible. Genesis 22:7-9 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? 8 And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together. 9 And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood. Evidently, they had offered a lamb before as a sacrifice for sins. This time the lamb was slain to take Issac’s place on the altar of sacrifice. God provided the lamb. He provided the lamb for our sins also. 8:00

1 The Lamb Was Slain 2. Who Is Worthy?
Revelation 5:7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
The Lamb went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who sits on the throne. And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. Jesus takes the book which is either the title deed to the earth or the book of judgments upon the earth. Right is the side of authority and rule.

Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. As he did so, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each had a harp and gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people. And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb (Christ), each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of fragrant incense, which are the prayers of the saints (God’s people).

Four creatures stand for all of our creation. The 24 elders many think this refers to the church which lays their crowns down before Him. Only the church receives crowns. This is not necessarily crown given for rewards but crown of life given to all who are saved. 1 Corinthians 9:25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. This all takes place in heaven perhaps after the rapture of the church. The church rewarded at the judgment seat of Christ which happens later in heaven while the tribulation is going on or right after the OT saints and Tribulations saints are resurrected at the end of the Tribulation. Revelation 19, 21 and 22 mentions the bride has made her self ready…the bride is adorned for her husband and Christ is coming and His reward is with Him. 16:00

1 The Lamb Was Slain 2. Who Is Worthy? 3 Thou Art Worthy
Revelation 5:9 And they 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; They sang a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to break open its seals. For you were killed, and by your sacrificial death you bought for God people from every tribe, language, nation, and race. And they sang a new song [of glorious redemption], saying, “Worthy and deserving are You to take the scroll and to break its seals; for You were slain (sacrificed), and with Your blood You purchased people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.

Who is the Thou?.......This can only be Jesus who was slain and is the only redeemer. He redeemed us by His own blood and everyone of every color, creed and country can be saved and some will be saved. This is why He is worthy to take the book. Only He died for our sins. Only He is the way, the truth and the life. Only He completed the work of redemption that is the theme of the Bible. Only He completed God’s plan for the ages.

Hast redeemed us to God……this can only be the redeemed humans. Angels are not redeemed. Only believers in the Jesus Christ.

Revelation 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests…… You have made them a kingdom of priests to serve our God, You have made them to be a kingdom [of royal subjects] and priests to our God;

The priesthood of the believer. Every believer in Jesus Christ as Savior can approach the throne of grace and come into the presence of God in prayer and in relationship.
Instead of a select persons to be priests He has made us ALL priests. The priesthood of the believer. All of us have access to the holy of holies because of Christ. God torn the veil of the temple in two. No longer do we have to have a priest to approach God on our behalf….but all who have trusted Christ can come to God in prayer and in a personal relationship.

Revelation 5:10…..and we shall reign on the earth.
and they shall rule on earth.” and they will reign on the earth. And we will rule with Jesus Christ. Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. The first resurrection is the resurrection of believers into a new glorified body of flesh and bone. Revelation 2:26-27, 5:10, 20:4 Matthew 19:28, Luke 22:30 all mention the church will rule and reign with Christ.

Revelation 4:11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Again I looked, and I heard angels, thousands and millions of them! They stood around the throne, the four living creatures, and the elders, Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and [the voice] of the living creatures and the elders; and they numbered myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands (innumerable).

The key here is millions of people and angels around the throne. It seems that they are all saying the phrase in the next verse 12.

Revelation 5:12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. and they all cried out in a loud voice: “The Lamb who was killed is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, and strength, honor, glory, and praise!” saying in a loud voice, “Worthy and deserving is the Lamb that was sacrificed to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

Why are they all saying this? Because it is true! Jesus died for our sins and only He is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, power, glory, honor and blessing. What else is there? If you have all of these things you are………Everything….words cannot properly describe the Lamb of God…Jesus Christ!

It’s like finally everyone in heaven the beasts which means all of creation, angels and the elders who are the church…now get a chance to praise and glorify the Lamb of God….Jesus Christ! “Here He is all you redeemed humans….The one you have been waiting your whole life for!” Like when a famous person finally come out from behind the curtain and we get to see them in person. What a thrill that is! Can you imagine the thrill we will have when we all see Jesus! Unimaginable!

Revelation 5:13 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 honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
And I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, in the world below, and in the sea—all living beings in the universe—and they were singing: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honor, glory and might, forever and ever!”

”And I heard every created thing that is in heaven or on earth or under the earth [in Hades, the realm of the dead] or on the sea, and everything that is in them, saying [together], “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb (Christ), be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

Everyone in heaven will be joined by those that are on the earth, even in hades the place of the unsaved dead or hell…….wherever they are in the universe will praise the Lamb of God! Is this where every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father!

What a sad day for those who have rejected Jesus Christ!

Revelation 5:14 And the four beasts said, Amen……. The four living creatures answered, “Amen!” And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.”

Who are the four beasts? They are found in this passage and in Revelation 5:6-14, 14:3, 15:7, and 19:4. They are very similar to the creatures in Ezekiel chapter 1 and chapter 10 and Isaiah chapter 6:2-3.
Some think they are the four gospels. The man represents Matthew…..the lion…Mark, the calf….Luke, the eagle….John.
Some think they are special creatures or angels that represent all of created order that is giving praise to God……which is my view. They give orders
Some think they are an exalted order of angels who primary purpose is to worship God.
In Revelation chapter six the horsemen respond to the orders of these creatures and one of the four unleashes the last seven plagues of God’s wrath upon mankind.

Revelaton 5:14 ……And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. And the elders fell down and worshiped. And the elders fell down and worshiped [Him who lives forever and ever].

Who are the 24 elders? They are dressed in white and have crowns of gold on their heads. They most likely represent the church. They sit on thrones indicating that they reign with Christ.

Elders is never used of angels only to men. Angels do not age. White garments are worn by believers symbolizing Christ’s righteousness given to us.

Crowns are never promised to angels. This crown is the victors crown. Three are mentioned in Revelation 2:10 be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. 2 Timothy 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. and James 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

The Elders hold a golden bowl of incense which are the prayers of God’s people. Who prays? The church. No one else prays and gets an answer. And they sang a new song about being redeemed by the blood of the Lamb in Revelation 5:8-10. Only the church can sing this song for only this song is redeemed.

They are not Israel or tribulation saints. This vision takes place after the rapture and before the tribulation has begun. So the tribulation saints and OT saints and Israel isn’t resurrected until the end of the tribulation according to Daniel 12. 27:00

1 The Lamb Was Slain 2. Who Is Worthy? 3 Thou Art Worthy
The Amazing Lamb
A lamb is innocent, dumb, unable to defend itself, can’t run very fast, can’t fight. It’s like they were meant to be killed by a preditor. That’s why they must have a shepherd to protect and guide them. That’s Mankind! We can’t defend ourself against evil, we can’t run from it, we can’t fight it, we are condemned already by our sin. So Jesus became a lamb…. A man….so that he could die in our place and pay our penalty for sin. Amazing! Amazing grace of God shown in the Lamb! Have you been cleansed by the Lamb of God? 28:04