Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb!

1. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Have you ever read a book a number of times? You know what is coming next. You start skimming. You can miss the impact of what you are reading

2. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! That can also happen when you read the Bible. “Oh, I know this parable.” And so you skim, And you miss what God is saying.

3. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Throughout this series of messages, we have been hearing that the Book of Revelation was given to the church to help them [us] see reality through different eyes.

4. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! What the original hearers of Revelation saw with their eyes was all sorts of symbols of the power of Rome. Temples, statues, armies. They were being killed for their faith.

5. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! This morning our Scripture Reading is Revelation 5 the continuation of the vision of Chapter 4. This series largely follows Darrell Johnson’s book, Discipleship on the Edge.

6. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Last Sunday we entered the Throne Room of Heaven when we read Revelation 4. John, prisoner on the penal colony of Patmos, is given a vision of an open door into heaven.

7. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! And there he saw a throne with someone sitting on it! Key message of Revelation: The throne in heaven is not empty. God, holy, almighty and merciful is in control!

8. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! As we begin reading chapter 5 it is as if the camera zooms in on the hand of the one on the throne. “Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.” v.1

9. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. “The scroll contains the completeness of God’s plan… for rectifying what is wrong and establishing his gracious . rule in the world.” Johnson, p. 144

10. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. vv.2-4

11. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! No one was able to open the scroll, - that contains the meaning of history. that contains God’s plan to bring the kingdom of heaven to earth that rectifies the wrongs of the world.

12. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” v.5

13. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! “Lion of Judah” and “Root of David” – Messianic images Genesis 49:9: You are a lion's cub, O Judah; 
       you return from the prey, my son. 
       Like a lion he crouches and lies down, 
       like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?

14. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Isaiah 11:1-2: A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.  The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD -

15. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."  Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, vv. 5-6

16. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Expecting a warrior messiah! Get a beat up lamb! Not a warrior lamb But a little lamb – diminutive form Mary’s little lamb

17. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb!

18. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. v. 6

19. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. v. 6 Looking as if it had been slain - Passover lamb slain for forgiveness standing at the center of the throne - Where God is seated - He is God, that is why he is worthy

20. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. v. 6 encircled by the 4 living creatures & elders 7 horns & 7 eyes = all powerful, all wise

21. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. Vv.7-8

22. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. vv.7-8 Your prayers are in this vision! They are before the throne of God!

23. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! And they sang a new song:   "You are worthy to take the scroll 
      and to open its seals, 
   because you were slain, 
      and with your blood you purchased men for God 
      from every tribe and language and people and nation. 
 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, 
      and they will reign on the earth.” vv.9-10

24. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! And they sang a new song:    "You are worthy to take the scroll 
      and to open its seals,    because you were slain,  and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. 
 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, 
      and they will reign on the earth.” vv.9-10 He is worthy Because he was slain Bought us with his blood To be a kingdom and priests who serve God, reigning on the earth.

25. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: 
   "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, 
   to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength 
   and honor and glory and praise!"

26. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: 
   "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, 
   to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength 
   and honor and glory and praise!” The 4 living creatures and the 24 elders are joined by the angels praising the lamb. 7 words of praise = all praise

27. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: 
   "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb 
   be praise and honor and glory and power, 
         for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped. vv.13-14

28. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: 
   "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb 
   be praise and honor and glory and power, 
         for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped. vv.13-14 The praise ripples out from the center of the throne to all creation. Praise for ever and ever!

29. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! So how does Revelation 5 help us to see our reality better? At least 5 ways

30. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! First, with Revelation 5 glasses on we see that at the centre of reality is the Lamb who suffers. Isaiah 53:3: He was despised and rejected by men, 
       a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.

31. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! On the throne of God is one who knows our suffering. Oppressed blacks sang, “Nobody knows the trouble I see. Nobody knows but Jesus.” We are never alone in our suffering.

32. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! “Second, with Rev. 5 glasses on, we realize that at the center of reality is grace, costly grace.” Johnson p.149 Jesus became the slain lamb for sinners like you and me. Isaiah 53:6: We all, like sheep, have gone astray, 
       each of us has turned to his own way; 
       and the LORD has laid on him 
       the iniquity of us all.

33. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! We realize that we can safely come to the throne room of God. It is a place of grace and forgiveness because of the slain lamb.

34. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! “Third, with Revelation 5 glasses on, we realize that we work from the victory, not towards it.” Johnson p.150 The lamb is already on the throne, victorious nothing can dethrone him the end of the battle is sure

35. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! “Forth, with Revelation 5 glasses on, we realize that the way to the fullness of life is the way of the Lamb.” Johnson, p.150 The Lamb gets to the throne not by being a lion but a lamb. By self sacrifice.

36. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! The Christian life is one of self-sacrifice. Forgiving those who hurt you giving of the riches God has given you turning the other cheek

37. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! This can seem foolish and weak. But remember that the Lamb has seven horns = complete strength Seven eyes = complete wisdom

38. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! “But here is the secret, a secret we would never know through an ordinary set of glasses: The greatest power in the universe is the ‘weakness’ of sacrificial love. The greatest wisdom in the universe is the ‘foolishness’ of sacrificial love. The apostle Paul calls Christ crucified, ‘the power of God and the wisdom of God’ (I Cor. 1:24)” Johnson, p. 150

39. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! “Fifth, with Revelation 5 glasses on, we realize where it is all going. History is headed to the feet of the Lamb!” Johnson, p. 151 The slain Lamb is the victor! His nail scarred hands hold the scroll of history

40. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Do you see what that means? First century Christians did. They realized that because the slain Lamb was on the throne that they could not loose.

41. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! Even if to the ordinary eye it looked like they would loose their life in the coliseum, they knew that if they followed the suffering lamb that they could not loose. They had eternal life!

42. Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem – Look! A Lamb! It is because of this Revelation 5 perspective that all of creation joins its voices to praise the Lamb who was slain, for you and me.