Chapel Messages
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Dr. Stephen HankinsRevelation 5
Listen:
Dr. Steve Hankins, dean of the Seminary, preached from Revelation 5. The Bible often uses illustrations and metaphors from the agrarian society that were common in those days. Sheep and shepherds are given as examples many times. The metaphor of the Lamb of God is one that is central to the Gospel. John the Baptist says in John 1:29, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” The word “lamb” is used many times in Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers concerning the Passover and the sacrificial worship system God instituted for His people.
This is highly significant for us when we consider 1 Corinthians 5:7, “For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us,” and 1 Peter 1:18–19 which tells us that we were not redeemed with corruptible things but “with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” These are direct allusions to all those references in the Old Testament to the lambs that were to be offered as sacrifices. The lambs were to be pure, unblemished, young, healthy, gentle and meek; and they were sacrificed by the outpouring of blood.
Christ, as the Lamb of God, appears many times in the book of Revelation. We see throughout the book what that Lamb Who takes away the sin of the world does. Christ’s great work of shedding His blood on the cross brings about the possibility of justice in the earth. Justice matters to God. In Revelation 5, we see Jesus Christ, the “Lamb as it had been slain,” prevailed upon to take the scroll and break the seals and begin to pour out God’s perfect justice. Men are inadequate to rectify all the wrongs and injustices in the world. No human court could carry out perfect justice. But Christ as the sacrificial Lamb paid the price and is worthy to “open the book, and to loose the seals thereof.”
The Lamb of God also provides the possibility of our own redemption. Revelation 5 shows us that the Lamb is God Himself and has the right to redeem us. The symbols of the seven horns and seven eyes in verse 6 remind us of His omnipotence and His omniscience—He is all-powerful and all-knowing. The seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth show His omnipresence. The Lamb has the ability to provide redemption for all—“out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.” This is a powerful motivation for us in witnessing and mission endeavors, since God is redeeming people from all points of the earth.
The final result of Christ’s great work as the Lamb of God is true, universal worship. In verses 11 and 12, we see all the angels and elders worshipping the Lamb and crying out that He is worthy. All creation will then unite together to worship and praise the Lamb Who lives forever and ever (verse 13). Then the people of God from all the ages, as represented by the four and twenty elders (the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles), fall down and worship. We also worship now and will for all eternity. Because of His shed blood, we now have fellowship with Him and cleansing from our sin (1 John 1).
Jesus, the Lamb of God, went to the cross gently and sacrificially, totally pouring Himself out for us. The Scriptures tell us that we are to deny ourselves, take up our cross and follow Him. May Galatians 2:20 be our testimony: “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Live your life in the light of the Lamb!