LION OR LAMB?

Revelation 5:1-14
November 27, 2005
Bob Bonner

When pastors gather together at conferences, one of the typical topics of discussion is embarrassing moments in ministry. Many of those moments take place as a result of not looking at one’s calendar or double-booking yourself to be in two places at once. I remember listening to one pastor share one of those moments that took place at a wedding.

The bride and groom had arrived at the church for their four o’clock wedding as their guests were being seated. The only one who wasn’t there yet was the pastor. At four o’clock, his secretary, who had just happened to be an invited guest was concerned because usually, her boss was there an hour early to make sure everything was in its place. So, she calls him on his private cell phone and he answers. With a sense of urgency she says, “Pastor, this is Jean. Where are you?!” Surprised by her tone of voice, he cautiously said, “Why, I’m on the twelfth hole at the club. Why?” Exasperated as those often get who try their best to keep us informed, on time and in the right place, Jean says, “Don’t you remember that you have a wedding right now? I mean, you just had the rehearsal yesterday!” With that our absent-minded pastor said, “I’m on my way!” hung up and raced to the church.

He arrived in fifteen minutes, but by then, everyone was getting nervous. You could hear the audience questioning, “Where’s the pastor? Who’s going to perform this wedding? Is there anyone else here who’s ordained so that we can get this thing going?”

Later, the pastor told us that he had hoped not to reveal why he was so late, but in his hurry to get up front, he entered a door at the front of the church at a slow run, only to realize that he was on a tile floor with his golf shoes still on, and the metal spikes loudly clicking on the floor with each step. Realizing that he had been exposed, he politely said, “Please forgive me. It just occurred to me that the two bogies I made at number 7 and 11 weren’t the only bogies I’ve made today!”    

Have you ever been somewhere when there has been a growing anticipation that something should happen, but there was no one in charge or no one capable of performing a duty that held up the whole thing? Whether it was at a wedding, or at an airport to get people on or off a plane? Or, a performer or guest speaker who just didn’t show up?

I was a guest at a wedding last summer where that happened. The preacher was late...actually never showed up. As anticipation turned toward panic, some guests got fidgety, others became a little annoyed. When the bride started to get angry, some even began to cry. As we sat there waiting, we could sense the urgency and panic growing.

This morning, we are looking at Revelation 5, where something similar took place. The apostle John is anticipating something very specific to happen. According to Jesus’ promise to John, Rev. 1:19, Jesus promised to reveal to John what is going to take place here on earth in the future. Jesus had already pointed out what was important about John’s past. He had told John, in chapters 2-3 what letters he was to record and send right away to the seven churches. The only thing left was for Jesus to reveal how He was going to bring judgment upon this world so that His future victorious reign could begin on earth. A restlessness grew in John knowing he would one day be one of those who would reign with Christ in the Millennium,. He wanted to see what Christ’s victory would look like and how it would come about.

But a problem arises, an apparent monkey wrench in the works, so to speak, that threatens the victorious rule of Christ. From John’s point of view, it becomes such a serious problem that it raises great concern as to whether or not Christ’s victorious rule will ever come to be. Considering this possibility, John begins to weep. We read about this troubling predicament, in 5:1-4.  I will be reading from the New KJV. It states: ^1”And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. ²Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” ³And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. ⁴So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.”

When one reads this entire chapter slowly, and properly pictures this scene, it is obvious that this dramatic presentation of the seven-sealed book impressed John. In the end, what really impressed John was the One, the only One who possesses the authority and power to open this book and to reveal its contents. John records this event just as it happens so we might experience the very same things he did. 

A few comments concerning this seven-sealed book are in order. First, it is being held by the one sitting on the throne, presumably, God the Father. Next, John tells us that he could see writing on both sides of the scroll, which meant that nothing more could be added to this book. What was contained in this book was complete and final. Then we are told that it was sealed closed with seven seals. Seven-sealed books were not uncommon in the Roman world of that day. A Roman law required that wills be sealed seven times. The wills of Caesar Augustus and Emperor Vespasian were sealed in this manner.

Next, we are told that there is a powerful angel who announces with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?” This loud voice signals the urgency of a dilemma. Someone who is worthy, who is powerful and has the authority to open this book must step forward. But who?

John looked around him and discovered that there was no one on the scene, no one else in heaven that possessed the authority or power to open this seven-sealed book. As this realization sets in, John begins to weep. When the text says “weep” it does not mean that he just shed a few tears. It means to continuously weep, almost as though one has lost control of himself. This verse gives us some real insight into the heart of the apostle John. 

Why would John weep in such a manner? I believe the answer as to why John wept so is found in what John knew and in what he did not know. First, what he knew. The Old Testament book of Daniel records in general much of what is recorded in detail in the book of Revelation. In Daniel 12:1-4 we are told that Daniel was given more prophecies about Israel and the end of the world that were not recorded in the book of Daniel. Furthermore, God instructed Daniel to “shut up the words” of these additional prophecies that concerned the world to come that were not recorded in the book of Daniel, and he was to seal these prophecies in another book until just before the “time of the end of this world.”

As an Israelite, who had read the book of Daniel, John knew that this seven-sealed book contained the complete and final plan of God to redeem the human race, to redeem the nation of Israel and to redeem the earth. Because John had lived in the middle of a culture that was persecuting those who sought to know God, because John knew that the human race was increasing in its rebellion and sin against God and that it would continue until someone put a stop to it by opening up this seven-sealed book, he wept. He wept because he did not see anyone there who could step up to the throne with the authority and the power needed to take this sealed book, open it and bring an end to it all. This rogue wave of hopelessness caught him off guard and he wept.

What John did not know and was about to find out, would bring more than just an end to his tears. When the truth of the next verse is revealed to John, he rejoices with everyone else in the throne room of God. We read in verse 5, that one of the 24 elders steps up to John and says, “Do not weep. [More literally, “Stop your crying and look!] Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”   

Up until that point, John had not yet connected the dots that Jesus was going to be that one who could open up this book. In fact, this seven-sealed book was Jesus’ last will and testament, so to speak, just like those wills sealed in Rome. This book contained the plans of the Savior who died for us. It contained the terms of His wrath to come that will fall upon those who reject Jesus, who reject His love and who ignored His sacrificial death upon the cross necessary for their salvation.

The allusion to “the Lion” is a reference to Genesis 49:8-10, where it is predicted that the future ruler of the earth shall come from the tribe of Judah, the Lion tribe. The head Lion of that tribe would be the Messiah, therefore, Jesus. This is the only place in the book of Revelation that Jesus is referred to as a Lion.

But just so we don’t think this prediction is too general, the elder gives John an added and a more specific clue in identifying this Lion as Christ. He tells us that the Lion comes from “the Root of David.” The reference to Christ, the Messiah, as the Root of David stems from the prophecy of Isaiah 11:1, 10.

Interestingly, “the Root of David,” means that “out of this root” comes David’s family line. In other words, the family line of David comes through the divine will of “the Root,” who is Jesus. In turn, calling Jesus “the Root of David” points to Christ being the eternal God, one who existed in time before David did. At the same time, as far as His humanity is concerned, the Scriptures also teach us that Jesus had His physical birth roots in David. In other words, historically, David was born before Christ. How Jesus, the Messiah could be both David’s creator and Lord, and David’s future relative was a problem Jesus presented from the Scriptures to the Pharisees. When Jesus presented them with this problem, as recorded in Mt. 22:41–46, either they could not or would not answer Him. But we see the answer now. The New Testament reveals that because God, Jesus, exists outside of time, in the eternal realm of the ever present, Jesus could be at both places at once. Jesus could simultaneously exist before and after David.

After John hears these words of the elder, he looks again to the throne, expecting to see the Lion of Judah, Jesus. But that’s not who he sees. Apparently, the Lion was at the throne when the elder told John to look at the throne, but He was there no longer when John turned and looked. Instead, what John saw is told us in verse 6: “And I looked, and behold, 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 sent out into all the earth. ⁷Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.”

Suddenly, John sees what had not been seen before—in the midst of the throne, a lamb, that has been “slain, ”or had its throat cut and bled as one would do for a sacrifice. Except this lamb is standing up alive, rather than laying down dead, as a slain lamb should be. It takes a moment for all of this to register with John, but when it does, John realizes that he is looking at the resurrected Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. This is the victorious Lamb who will judge all of the earth. This very moment reminds me of the motto of the Moravian Church, which is “Our Lamb has conquered!”

The Greek verb “had been slain” is in a tense that indicates a past event with results that continue into the present.  This Lamb had died over 1900 years ago, but the effects of what Jesus did at the cross would continue until this moment and into the future and beyond.  

The Lamb is portrayed as having seven horns and seven eyes. The “horns” are used elsewhere in the Bible as symbols of omnipotence, or His authority and power; the “eyes” are used to represent the Lord’s omniscience or His knowledge. 

We are also told that these seven horns and eyes are the representation of the “seven spirits.” Like we said last week, this is the fourth time that the “seven spirits” is a reference to the Holy Spirit.  See the previous occasions where this expression is used, in Revelation 1:4; 3:1; and 4:5.  

One of the Holy Spirit’s roles is to pronounce judgment upon the earth. Whereas in the last chapter, the Holy Spirit was positioned very close to the throne, the Holy Spirit is now presented as being one or actually a part with the Lamb. With the “horns” and the “eyes,” we are being told that together, this Lamb has the authority and power and all knowledge to open the seven-sealed book and declare the deserved judgment that should and will fall upon this the world.

Once again, as in chapter 4, the Trinity is represented here. We have God the Father on the throne holding the seven-sealed book, God the Son who is the Lamb who is going to take the seven-sealed book from the hand of the Father, and the Holy Spirit is seen as part of the Lamb. However, different than in chapter 4, we clearly see here that the focus or emphasis of this chapter is upon Jesus, the Lamb.

I mentioned before that Jesus is only called a “Lion” once in this book. But 28 times Jesus is referred to throughout Revelation as a “Lamb.” Why would God have Jesus depicted as both a Lion and Lamb in this chapter? Furthermore, if you were going to portray Jesus in a powerful way, why not choose the Lion portrayal of Jesus, instead of the Lamb? I believe J. Vernon McGee [Reveling Through Revelation, Part 1, p. 27] gives us the best answer to those questions. He sees a purposeful contrast being made here. The Lion The Lamb To His second coming To His first coming As Sovereign As Savior His Majesty His meekness As Judge As The judged The government of God The grace of God The point being that it is God’s purpose to identify the glorified Christ, the Lion, who is sitting on the throne as one and the same with Christ, the Lamb of sacrifice in His first coming. This is not the wimpy helpless, defenseless Lamb, that the world thought He was. He wants us to understand that this Lamb has power. This is the Lion/Lamb King

When verses 5-7 are taken together, they present the Lamb as one who is sovereign in His own authority, omnipotent in power and worthy as the perfect and only redeemer who could die for our sin, and still be alive. He alone has the right to open the seven-sealed book and to deliver the judgments against the earth mentioned therein.    

What follows next, in verses 8-14, is an unparalleled scene in history or anywhere else in the Bible. Here, we are going to witness the citizens of heaven breaking forth in worship and applause as has never been demonstrated before.

In these verses you will see three consecutive groups of worshipers brought to the scene. Each group has joining them, the four living creatures, the Cherubim and Seraphim, whose roles are that of worship, among other things. You have one group initiating the worship with a song of praise. Then the second group joins the first adding their song of praise. And then, bringing the worship celebration to a crescendo, the third group joins the previous two with its song of praise. As each group is added, the worship becomes louder and more intense.

As the last group joins the throng of worshipers, I envision it as leading out in the finale, such as would make the Hallelujah Chorus pale in comparison. When all is said and done, the 24 elders, who represent the honored saints in heaven, will be on their faces, bowing in humble adoration and worship, with the four living creatures, the Cherubim and Seraphim bringing closure to this worshipful scene with their quiet, repetitive “Amen, Amen, Amen.”

Let’s look more closely at each of these three worshiping groups. The worship begins with the twenty-four elders in vv. 8-10. By the way, we don’t have time here for me to explain why I have chosen what I believe to be the best present-day translation of the best and most reliable original Greek texts we have of the book of Revelation. But it is my personal conviction, that my dear friends, translators of the NASB as well as the NIV and other translations, have missed the boat as to which original Greek texts they chose as the basis for their translation of this passage. If you wish to read an excellent argument as to why the KJV is to be the preferred reading here, check out The Coming World Leader, by David Hocking, pp. 121-123.

For those of you who don’t typically use this translation, here it is, with the significant differences in translation put in italics. ⁸Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. ⁹And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, ¹⁰and have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth.” [New KJV Rev. 5:8-10]

These elders, these honored Christians from the Church Age who remained faithful to Christ til the end of their lives, lead out in song, praising Jesus and declaring Him to be the Lamb, the only one worthy to take the scroll from God the Father’s hand. Why do they declare Jesus as such? Because He had redeemed them, and saved them from the coming Tribulation; He had made them kings and priests to share in His rule and judgment that was going to come upon the earth; and because He had chosen them to rule on earth during the Millennial Kingdom. For these privileges that He has given to all believers, they rightfully praise the Lamb, as worthy to take and open the scroll. Furthermore, I believe that when they say “us” and “we” they mean not just the 24 elders, but all Christians who lived with them during the Church Age.

As we come to verses 11-12, a second song begins, but now added to the congregation of worshipers is the group of angels. These, who have existed long before any human beings were created, add their own words of praise, a special emphasis. We read, ¹¹Then 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 ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, ¹²saying 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!”

Keep in mind that when Jesus came to earth the first time, people did not ascribe these things to Him because many of these things He deliberately laid aside. But check this out for a “before and after” scene:

First Coming of Christ World’s perspective Second Coming of Christ Heaven’s perspective    born/died in weakness soon to be revealed in power came as the poorest of the poorowns all the riches of heaven and earthwas laughed at/called foolthe very wisdom of Godshared human weaknesshungry, thirsty, wearypossesses all strengthhumiliated, reviled, ridiculedreceives all honor, power, gloryIn v. 12, once again, there is a seven-fold (perfect number) list of attributes ascribed to the Lamb that sum up the angels’ worship. 

• Then, in v. 13, the third group, all the living creaures in both heaven and earth join in the worship celebration. We read, 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, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever!” What an impressive scene! 

Then, almost quietly, after the crescendo of praise has finished, we read ¹⁴Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” Literally, the Greek reads that they “kept saying ‘Amen!’” They worshipfully repeated over and over, “So be it! This is true. This is true.” And then, last but not least, And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

So ends this moment, just before Jesus breaks open the first of the seven seals of the book of judgment. Filled by the Holy Spirit, the apostle John did the best one could do with the written word to describe that scene. But as anyone who has watched a live sporting event in person knows, something gets lost in the transmission when watching the same event on TV--- the smells, the sounds, just the sense of what is going on all around you. It’s one thing to hear a symphony on the best home theater equipment money can buy, but it just is not the same as being there.

Remember, this is still a future event. It hasn’t happened yet. It hasn’t even begun. Hence, we will be there when it does, and I can’t wait! Talk about a worship service! Nothing has or ever will compare to this scene.

At this point, those of us who know Jesus Christ personally as our Savior and Lord, can rejoice, even with the coming of chapter 6. Because in chapter 6, the Righteous Judge over the wicked earth, the One by whose authority the terrible events of the end of our world as we know it unfold, shows up. For us, there is nothing to fear. Our friends and relatives who do not know Jesus, who have for one reason or another rejected or ignored Him, have everything to fear. What are you doing about them? Are you praying for them? Are you looking for the Lord’s leading in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with them, so that they won’t have to miss this celebration of chapter 5, to live through chapter 6 and beyond?