Sermon #1373 Miscellaneous
Notes
Title: THE THRONE, THE BOOK,
AND
THE LAMB
Text: Revelation 5:1-14
Subject: John’s
Vision of Christ
Date:
Tape #
Introduction:
In
Revelation 5, the vision John relates to us conveys one message: Everything God has for men is in the
Lamb, provided by the Lamb, revealed through the Lamb, and shall bring praise
to the Lamb of God. All that God requires of sinners is in Christ. All
that God gives to sinners, he gives through Christ. And all
that God receives from sinners, he receives through Christ.
·
In chapter 4, John saw the sovereign
majesty of the triune God in creation.
(Rev
4) "After this I looked, and, behold,
a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was
as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come
up hither, and I will show thee things which must be hereafter. (2) And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a
throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.
(3) And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper
and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about
the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. (4) And round about
the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw
four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment;
and they had on their heads crowns of gold. (5) And out of
the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and
voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne,
which are the seven Spirits of God. (6) And before the throne there
was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and
round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes
before and behind. (7) And the first beast was like a lion, and
the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had
a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. (8) And
the four beasts 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, which was, and is, and is to come. (9) And when
those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne,
who liveth for ever and ever, (10) The four and twenty elders fall
down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for
ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
(11) Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for
thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."
·
In chapter 5, he tells us how that he was
made to see the sovereign majesty of the triune God in the redemption of
sinners by Christ Jesus.
John saw five things described in these 14 verses.
I.
First,
he saw THE THRONE OF GOD.
The
central object of the vision John relates to us in chapters four and five is
the throne of God. His vision was constantly filled with "him that sat on the
throne" (v. 1). In these two chapters, he calls our
attention to God's throne seventeen times!
·
In chapter 4,
John describes the splendorous, incomparable glory of the triune God, Father,
Son, and Holy Spirit in his sovereignty.
·
In chapter 5,
he describes the Mediator, the Lamb, whom he beheld in the midst of the throne,
by whom the triune God makes himself known to men. And that Lamb is himself
God, the Son.
A.
As
always, the throne of God is a symbol of his sovereignty.
It
is a symbol of God's supreme majesty and universal power, authority, and
dominion. Let it never be forgotten that our God is God upon a throne. He rules
all things in total sovereignty. A god without a throne is a worthless god, for
such a god is no God at all! "But
our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased"
(Psa. 115:3). "Whatsoever the LORD
pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the
seas, and all deep places" (Psa. 135:6).
The
Lord our God, the one true and living God, is a God of absolute sovereignty. He
always does exactly what he wills in creation (Rev. 4:11), in providence (Rom.
B.
And
we rejoice to know that God's sovereign throne is a throne of grace
(Heb.
Let
us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that
we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)
Grace
originates at God's throne. Grace is dispensed from God's throne. And grace
brings sinners to God's throne. Our God is sovereign; and he is gracious. He is
great; and he is good. He is almighty; and he is merciful. "He delighteth in mercy!" God always exercises his
sovereign power and dominion to accomplish his everlasting purpose of grace
toward his elect.
First,
John saw the throne of God, the throne of all sovereignty and grace. Then he
saw...
II.
THE
BOOK OF GOD.
In
the right hand of the eternal God, John saw a book, a book written within and
without, bound shut, and sealed with seven seals (vv. 1-4).
And
I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and
on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals
thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under 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. (Revelation
5:1-4)
This
book is the book of God's eternal decrees. It represents God's eternal plan and
purpose of grace, his purpose of predestination, which includes all things. It
is to this book that our great Surely referred when
he said, "Lo, I come: in the volume
of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God"
(Ps. 40:7-8; Heb. 10:5-10).
William Hendriksen
said of this book, "It symbolizes God's purpose with respect to the entire
universe throughout history, and concerning all creatures in all ages and unto
all eternity."
A.
Our
God is a God of purpose, eternal, unalterable purpose
(Isa. 46:9-11).
Remember
the former things of old: for I [am] God, and [there is] none else; [I am] God,
and [there is] none like me, Declaring
the end from the beginning, and from ancient times [the things] that are not
[yet] done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the
man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken [it], I
will also bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it. (Isaiah 46:9-11)
1.
God's purpose of predestination includes
all things (Eph.
In
whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the
purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: (Ephesians
2.
The object of God's eternal purpose of
predestination is the salvation of his elect
(Rom.
And
we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them
who are the called according to [his] purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did
predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the
firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also
glorified. (Romans 8:28-30)
3.
Everything that comes to pass in time was
purposed by God in eternity (Rom.
For
of him, and through him, and to him, [are] all things: to whom [be] glory for
ever. Amen. (Romans 11:36)
4.
And the object of God in all that he does
is the effectual accomplishment of the everlasting salvation of his elect.
In
election, God chose a people whom he would save. In predestination, he
sovereignly ordained all things that come to pass to secure the salvation of
his chosen. And in providence, he accomplishes in time what he purposed from
eternity.
B.
As
John saw it, the book of God was closed, a mystery sealed with seven seals.
These
seven seals do not represent an imaginary "seven dispensations" of
time. The writing within and on the back and the seven seals
simply mean that God's purpose is full, complete, perfect, and unalterable.
Nothing can be added to it. Nothing can be taken from it.
1.
THE
SEVEN SEALS
The
seven seals also tell us that God's purpose of grace is unknown, unrevealed, a
secret known only to God, until Christ reveals it. He revealed it at first in
the types, shadows, and prophecies of the Old Testament. Then, in these last
days, he has revealed it to us more fully in the gospel. And in the last day,
when the restitution of all things is made, our Lord will perfectly reveal
God's purpose in all things.
2.
THE
CLOSED BOOK
The
closed book indicated that God's plan was both unrevealed and unexecuted. If
the book should remain closed, God's eternal purpose would not be realized. His
plan would not be executed.
The
thought of God's purpose being shut up, unrevealed, and unfulfilled, caused
John great lamentation and grief. And he began to weep. If God's book is
opened, if the seals are broken, then the universe is ruled and governed in the
interest of God's elect, according to the purpose of his grace. Then God's
glorious purpose of redemption would be accomplished. But if it is not opened
and fulfilled, then the purpose of God himself would be thwarted. The grace of
God would be frustrated. The plan of God would go unfulfilled. God himself
would lose his glory. But there is no cause to weep! Look at the next thing
John describes.
III. THE LAMB OF GOD
APPEARS TO OPEN THE BOOK (vv. 5-7).
And
one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of
Juda, 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, 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. And he came and
took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. (Revelation 5:5-7)
“One of the elders,"
one of those chosen of God, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb and saved by
grace, "saith unto me, weep
not." Why should he stop weeping? "Behold,
the Lion of the tribe of
In
other words, Christ has conquered all his enemies and ours (John
A.
John
beheld the Lord Jesus Christ, not only as a conquering Lion, but also as a sin
atoning, mediating Lamb.
He
saw the Lamb in the midst of the four beasts and the twenty-four elders as a
Lamb that had been slaughtered. That means that the virtue and merit of his
sacrifice is abiding, perpetual, and efficacious (1 John 1:9; 2:1-2).
This
Lamb, symbolically, has "seven horns."
Horns are emblems of power. Christ is the horn of salvation. As such, he has
plenty of power. He is able to save his people (Heb.
He
also has "seven eyes,"
abundant, perfect wisdom. These seven eyes represent the gifts, power, and
wisdom of the Holy Spirit which are dispensed to God's elect upon the earth by
virtue of Christ's death, resurrection, and exaltation as our Substitute (Psa.
68:18-20).
Thou
hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received
gifts for men; yea, [for] the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell
[among them]. Blessed
[be] the Lord, [who] daily loadeth us [with benefits, even] the God of our
salvation. Selah. [He that is]
our God [is] the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord [belong] the issues
from death. (Psalms 68:18-20)
B.
Then,
as John looked on, Christ the Lamb took the book out of the right hand of him
that sat upon the throne (v. 7).
John Trapp
said, "As a Mediator he took it, as God he gave it." Our Savior did
not ask for the book. He took it, because it is his right to do so.
This
is the significance of what John saw.—The Lord Jesus
Christ, our Mediator, received authority to rule the universe according to the
will of God by virtue of his sin-atoning sacrifice (John 17:2). This is a
picture of the coronation of King Jesus (Heb. 2:8-9). As the Father's reward to
him for his mediatoral accomplishments at his ascension, Christ received for
himself a kingdom (Luke
God
has turned the world over to the rule of the God-man, the Lamb, our Mediator! God governs the
universe, according to his own eternal decrees, through the Lamb. This is
Christ's reward and every believer's comfort.
And
I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a
rainbow [was] upon his head, and his face [was] as it were the sun, and his feet
as pillars of fire: And he had in his
hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and [his] left
[foot] on the earth, And cried with a
loud voice, as [when] a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders
uttered their voices. (Revelation
10:1-3)
IV.
HERE
IS THE SONG OF THE REDEEMED (vv. 8-12).
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.
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; And 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 and 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
honour, and glory, and blessing. (Revelation
5:8-12)
As
soon as the Lamb took the book in his hands, and accepted the sceptre of
universal monarchy, a song of praise broke out in heaven. This song began with
the church, the redeemed ones, and was taken up by the heavenly angels. This
song is a celebration of Christ's worthiness to rule the universe according to
God's purpose (Rev. 10:1-3), and to receive all praise, honor, and glory
forever.
A.
The
basis of both his worthiness of such honor and the praise given to him by
saints and angels is his effectual redemption.
Praise
is not given to him simply because he was slain, (Many have been slain!), but
because his slaughter was the accomplishment of our redemption.
B.
The
death of Christ, as the sin-atoning Lamb, was the accomplishment of a
particular and effectual redemption.
The
song does not say, "Thou hast redeemed every kindred, tongue, people, and
nation." That would mean either that his blood was shed in vain for the
multitudes who are lost, or that all the universe is
saved. Neither of which is true. This song says, "Thou hast redeemed us OUT
OF every kindred, tongue, people, and nation!"
C.
All
those redeemed by Christ are saved by him as well (v.
10).
They
are made kings and priests unto God, made to reign with Christ their King upon
the earth, by the indwelling power and grace of his Spirit.
Having
seen the throne of God, the book of God and of the Lamb of God, and after
hearing the song of the redeemed, John beheld...
V. THE CONSUMMATE PURPOSE
OF GOD (vv. 13-14).
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 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 the four beasts
said, Amen. And the four [and] twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that
liveth for ever and ever. (Revelation
5:12-14)
It
is God's ultimate purpose that everything and everyone in his creation bow
before and bring honor to his dear Son. And God will see to it that his purpose
is accomplished in the end (Psa. 76:10; Isa. 45:20-25; Col. 1:18). He who made
all things, sustains all things, and rules all things shall have the eternal
praise of all things.
"O the depth of the riches both of
the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his
ways past finding
out!...For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be
glory forever. Amen" (Rom.
These
are the things John saw when he was in the Spirit. He saw that the entire
universe is governed by the throne of almighty God, and that God rules the
universe through the Mediator Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God. Having accomplished
the redemption of his people by the sacrifice of himself,
our Lord Jesus ascended back into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the
Majesty on high, exalted above all principality, power, and dominion. God the
Father put all things in subjection to Christ, under his feet, and made him to
be Head over all things to his church, which is his body, "the fulness of him that filleth all in all" (Eph.