Revelation 5 and 6
“And they sang 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.” (Revelation 5:9-10)
“And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals … (Revelation 6:1).
“And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb” (Revelation 6:16).
As our series on the Book of Revelation continues, Pastor Rodney King began a study of Revelation chapter 6 in the last message. In today’s message and a later message, we would like to step back to look at a remarkable theme in the Book of the Revelation. The theme is “The Lamb.” In today’s message, we would like to proclaim The Redeeming Lamb who was slain and the wrath of the Lamb who is sovereign.
As Pastor Rod pointed out last Sunday evening, Lord John Acton wrote, “History provides neither compensation for suffering nor penalties for wrong.”[i] This observation has been captured by the Marxist advocates of Critical Theory, especially Critical Race Theory. Lord Acton’s observation seems to ignore the principle of sowing and reaping. But at the very least, we can see that the Book of the Revelation explains that judgment is coming. Lord Acton may not see it in history, but all of us can see it in prophecy. Judgment is coming. In today’s message we will see that if you will not flee to the embrace of The Lamb, you will face the fury of The Lamb. Cry out to Him as your Redeemer or face His wrath.
The Lamb in Revelation: An Overview
The titles of Christ and the works of Christ reveal the glories of Christ in this book. In doing so, they give us better insights into significant Biblical doctrines. One of the most prominent titles is “the Lamb” which conveys rich imagery from both the Old Testament and the Gospels. “The Lamb” (used of Christ 29x) surpasses even the title “Lord” (used 24x, applying to both God the Father and God the Son). The name “Jesus” and the title “Christ” are used 14x and 7x respectively).
As the Lamb “who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29), Jesus is “the One who loves us and has washed us from our sins by His blood” (1:5). It is He who redeems man “from every tribe, and language and people and nation” (5:10). So the saints of the tribulation will wash their robes and make them white in the blood of the Lamb (7:14). Three times in this book, the servants of God proclaim that salvation belongs to our God (7:10, 12:10, 19:1).
His name, “The Lamb,” conveys the concept of meekness, nevertheless, the Lamb is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, who is worthy to open the scroll of judgment upon the earth (5:1-7). As the Lamb takes the scroll, those around His throne cry out, ““Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!” (5:12). When He opens the seals, even unregenerate rebels yearn to hide from the wrath of the Lamb (6:16). Truly, He is King of kings and Lord of lords (1:5, 17:14): from His mouth proceeds the sharp two-edged sword (1:16, 2:12,16, 19:15). This is the Son of God (2:18) and the Son of man (1:13). Yet this is the same Lord Jesus Christ who freed men from their sins by His blood, rose to live forevermore and holds the keys of death and hell (1:5, 2:8, 1:18, 11:8). Identified as “the first and the last,” Christ is the eternal God (1:7, 2:8, 22:13), just as the King of Israel was identified in Isaiah 44:6, 48:12). As the Creator, the Amen, the True and Faithful Witness (1:5, 3:14), He will judge the earth and make war (19:11).
The Meek Lamb: The Lamb Who Was Slain
“And they sang 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;
In this series we have seen a remarkable surprise. In Revelation chapter 4 we learned that the One who created us is worshiped as He sits upon His throne in Heaven. Would it be appropriate to worship any other? The stunning answer from Revelation 5 is “Yes!” Really? Yes, Revelation 5 shows us that The Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, is worshiped with the Father. This is a remarkable proof of the deity of Jesus Christ. And the reason that He is worshiped is evident in Revelation 5:9-10. As Jesus said in John 10:30-31, “I and my Father are one.” Understanding what He had just said, the Jews picked up stones to stone Him for claiming to be God. By His blood, sacrificed on the Cross of Calvary in His death, The Lamb redeemed human beings from the penalty and power of sin. Today, He is redeeming people from every family, language, tribe and nation. Are you among the redeemed? Do you know Christ as your personal Redeemer?
A Different View of History
This is a very different view of history than most people hold to today. When Charles Darwin published his “Origin of the Species” in 1859, he included the subtitle, “Preservation of the Favoured Races in The Struggle for Life.” Some have insisted that Darwin meant “races” only as varieties of species.[ii] But a careful reading of Darwin’s work[iii] demonstrates that he really meant that some races of humanity were not as highly evolved as others. This false teaching is the foundation for so much of today’s racism.
In 1913, Democratic President Woodrow Wilson incorporated Darwin’s views into the way he conducted his presidency. As a result, black leaders protested to Wilson that his approach had led to “on-the-job race separation that had gone unchecked since—at eating tables, dressing rooms, restrooms, lockers, and ‘especially public toilets in government buildings.’”[iv]
Wilson sought to change the U.S. Constitution and deny the words of the Preamble in the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
This understanding presents us all with a choice:
Shall we believe Darwin’s ideas about evolutionary goo, replete with its view of racism?
Or shall we embrace the Biblical teaching that all human beings were created equal and that human beings from every tribe and language shall be redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ?
It is not enough to merely believe that you were created. The real question is this: Have you become part of the new creation of 2 Corinthians 5:17? As Jesus said in John 14:1, “You believe in God, believe also in me.” Have you embraced Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? If so, then one day you will join the believers from all over the earth praising the Lord and the Lamb around the throne of God.
Revelation 5:6 makes it clear that the Spirit of God is even now dealing with men and women, boys and girls all over the earth: “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts [living ones], 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” (Revelation 5:6). Now as this message moves to a discussion of the wrath of the Lamb, remember the redemption of the Lamb, who was slain for your sins. In today’s message we will see that if you will not flee to the embrace of The Lamb, you will face the fury of The Lamb. Cry out to Him as your Redeemer or face His wrath.
The Mighty Lamb: The Lamb Who Is Sovereign
Releasing the judgments by opening the seals
The sovereignty of the Worthy Lamb is on full display in Revelation 5 and 6: “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals … (Revelation 6:1). God the Father chose the One who died for our sins to unleash judgment on this wicked world.
The Righteous Indignation of the Lamb
Written of the people who will be alive in this terrible time: “And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:” (Revelation 6:16)
During the coming Tribulation period, the entire world will become aware of what we are learning this morning. They will learn that The Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ, really is the sovereign ruler of the world. And in terror, they will try to flee from the wrath of God and The Lamb. But they will mistakenly believe that they can escape Him by death.
Occasionally, some teacher will say that God’s wrath does not begin until later in the Tribulation period. They insist that the seals in Revelation 6 are man’s wrath, not God’s wrath. The problem with this is that passages such as Jeremiah 44:13, Ezekiel 5:17; 14:21, etc. make it clear that God judges the world with the sword, pestilence and famine – as evident in the opening of the seals in Revelation 6.
Consider another passage from Revelation 14:
“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receivehis mark in his forehead, or in his hand, the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of His indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:” (Revelation 14:10)
This passage is a reference to the Antichrist who is yet to come. Those who worship this false Christ, receiving his “mark of the beast” as a sign of the worship, shall face the wrath of God. It is not true that the recent Covid vaccine is the mark of the beast as some false teachers have said. But the recent restrictions have shown how easily human beings can be compelled to obey. But those who worship the Antichrist shall be tormented in fire and burning sulfur in the presence of the angels and the Lamb. Surely no one would wish to join Satan and the Antichrist in the Lake of fire for all eternity. Yet that is the testimony of the Word of God.
The Words You Do Not Want to Hear
Have you ever heard the words that God never wants anyone to hear? According to Matthew 25:31-46, The Son of Man, Jesus Christ, will return as the glorious King of this earth. But what are the words that you never want to hear? Jesus will say to those on His left hand, “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:” (Matthew 25:41).[v] This is a terrible sentence for all eternity! But would you like to know how you never have to hear these words? Embrace the Lamb who was slain for your sins! Embrace Him by faith today as your Redeemer and you will never have to face His wrath.
As we have sung together, our Lord is the High and Most Holy One and the meek and most lowly. Embrace Him as the meek and lowly Lamb who was sacrificed for your sins. Trust Him to quicken you in His lovingkindness.
High and Most Holy One
(Isaiah 57:14-15, Matthew 11:28-30, Ephesians 3:19, Habakkuk 3:1-2, Psalm 85:5-7, Psalm 119)
Highand most Holy One, meek and most lowly, come and revive us, revive us again
Oh, Spirit fill us with all of God’s fullness, Oh, Lord revive us as only You can.
Quicken the lowly ones, humble in spirit, come to release us from bondage and tears
In Your great wrath, Lord, remember Your mercies, quicken your work in the midst of the years
Here in Your Presence, Lord, trembling before you, come and revive us, let your Spirit reign
Give us rejoicing in Your great salvation, come and revive us, revive us again
Quicken us Loving Lord, in your great kindness, give us new life by your great living Word
Work in us, Lord, for the task set before us, come and enable the hearts you have stirred
Pastor Gordon Dickson, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio, www.cbcfindlay.org
[i] Lord John Acton, Historical Essays, accessed at https://oll.libertyfund.org/page/acton-on-moral-judgements-in-history
[ii] See footnotes 76 and 77 at the Wikpedia entry at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Origin_of_Species . But as these authors are forced to admit, speculations that led to racism began almost immediately upon the publication of this book. Woodrow Wilson later employed Social Darwinism to remove black leaders from high positions in the U.S. federal government.
[iii] See chapter XIV on Recapitulation accessed at http://darwin-online.org.uk/content/frameset?pageseq=217&itemID=F373&viewtype=text
[iv] Dick Lehr, “The Racist Legacy of Woodrow Wilson,” The Atlantic, November 27, 2015 accessed at https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/11/wilson-legacy-racism/417549/
[v] The Words You Never Want to Hear, accessed at https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=62412179407