Revelation 7:17; 12:10-11, 14:9-10
The story is told of a young lawyer with a new law degree from a big city school who went to the American frontier. Now in those days on the frontier, civilized government and knowledge of the law were new developments. So it is said that this big city lawyer hung out his shingle in a frontier town, but had very few clients. One day as he languished on the porch of his business, he heard a commotion in the street. With screams and cries for help, the crowds were astonished by a runaway wagon. The horses were bolting out of control, but the only passenger in the wagon was a terrified little boy. Without thought for his own safety, the young lawyer ran out into the street to jump into the speeding wagon and bring the frenzied horses to a halt. As you can well imagine, the crowd cheered, and the young lawyer became a local hero with lots of business! As the years went by, his prominence grew, and he was elected as a judge for the district. On one fateful day, the frontier crowds had gathered to hear the judge try a murder case. The evidence against the accused was overwhelming. But in the midst of the trial, the murderer appealed to the judge for mercy.
He said to the judge, “Don’t you remember me? I was that young boy whose life you saved that day when you stopped the wagon!”
The murmuring crowd remembered that day well.
But with grief in his voice, the judge replied to the murderer:
“Son, on that day, I was your savior; but today, I am your judge.”
Savior and Judge
As we consider this second message on “The Meek and Mighty Lamb,” that frontier illustration gives us light. In Revelation 5:6, the Lamb was introduced in the Book of the Revelation: “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four [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.” The seven horns illustrate His perfect power; the seven eyes illustrate His omniscience, and the sevenfold Spirit rests upon Him. This is the meek Lamb who was put to death; yet He is the mighty, risen Lamb who reigns in power and wisdom. This is the Savior of the world who will be the Judge for all mankind. Marvel with us at the way that God removes every excuse from the rebels among mankind. God made mankind, but from the Garden of Eden, men have insisted that mankind is “man-king.” Yet God sent His Redeemer to pay for the sins of the repentant rebels. Now those who refuse Him as Savior will face Him as the Judge at the Great White Throne Judgment. In today’s message, we will study the meek and mighty Lamb. You must repent and meekly embrace Him as your Lord or you will face Him as the mighty Lamb and Judge.
The Lamb
The titles of Christ and the works of Christ reveal the glories of Christ in this final book of the Bible. 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).
Meek: The Shepherd Lamb
“For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” (Revelation 7:17)
Consider the meekness of the Lamb in Revelation 7:17. He is the Lamb who will shepherd them. Stop to ponder the beauty of this illustration. The One who was and is the Lamb is now the Shepherd. This illustrates one of the most powerful aspects of God’s glory: God became a man. As a man, He was tempted in the same way that we are, yet He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). He knows what it is to be led, like a little lamb. Though Jesus was wiser, smarter and perfect, He submitted himself to sinful parents who undoubtedly made mistakes (Luke 2:46-51). But this Lamb of God is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11-14). He knows the experience of following like a lamb; He uses that experience to be the Shepherd for His flock. Revelation 7 describes those who will come to Christ during the coming Great Tribulation (Revelation 7:14). Ponder the Shepherd’s everlasting caress for those who experience such great distress.
- The Lamb in the midst of the throne: This is the Lamb who is worshiped as God with the One who sits upon the throne (Revelation 5:13-14).
- The Lamb shall feed them: For all eternity, these saints of God shall have the satisfying sustenance of the Savior.
- The Lamb shall lead them unto the living fountains of waters: Jesus will give the water of life freely to those who are thirsty (Revelation 21:6, 17).
- The Lamb shall lead His lambs into everlasting comfort: God shall wipe away all their tears. As promised in Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
These are the blessings of the mighty Shepherd Lamb. Meekly embrace Him as your Lord and Lamb, or face Him as the mighty Lamb and Judge. But this raises a question: Is the meek Lamb merely the mighty Shepherd ultimately – in the future? Or is His power available to us today in our own struggles. The Book of the Revelation is much like the description of the testing of Jesus in Matthew chapter 4. When Satan confronted the Savior, the Lord used the spotlight of the Scriptures to reveal what the Devil was all about. There you can see Satan’s motives clearly; there you can see how Jesus demonstrated how you could resist the Devil and know that he will flee from you (in the words of James 4:7). Now it is one thing to watch the Savior do this. But wouldn’t you be encouraged to see repentant sinners testify about this as well? Turn to Revelation 12:10-11.
Mighty: The Power of the Blood of the Lamb
“And I heard a loud voice saying in Heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” (Revelation 12:10-11)
The Bible describes three heavens. “Heaven,” as we usually speak of it, is the place of God’s throne. But we also see that “the heavens declare the glory of God” (Psalm 19); these are the heavens where the sun and stars are placed. The third heaven is our atmosphere where the birds fly (Genesis 1:20).
Jesus testified that Satan had been cast out of the utmost Heaven (Luke 10:18). Yet Satan can apparently still make accusations, though he has been banished from God’s throne room (Job 1:6-7; 2:1-3); Satan is still active in the astronomical heavens and on the earth. So, what is the meaning of Revelation 12:10 when it speaks of Satan being cast down? When you study Revelation 12:10-12, you can see that meaning clearly: there is coming a day during the Great Tribulation when Satan, the Accuser of the brethren, will be confined to “the earth and sea.” And knowing that his time is short, this Accuser will wreak havoc on the earth during this coming time of trouble. But what does this mean to us today, practically speaking? Using Revelation 12:10-11, consider how you could use these verses right now. Because God’s prophecies are true, this is what we should do.
- Praise God for Jesus Christ! “… Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ:”
- Thank God that the Devil, the one who slanders believers, will be dealt with ultimately. “…for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.” The name “devil” refers to the Evil One as a slanderer. Disregarding truth, he devises devilish lies against God’s people – often using human instruments (see Acts 5:3). There will be times when you are slandered – when complete lies are manufactured against you – and it will be extremely painful. But rejoice in this: that old Serpent, the one who slanders the brethren will be judged. In the words of Martin Luther, “The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him; His rage we can endure, for lo! His doom is sure, one little word shall fell him.”[i]
- Thank God for the saints of God who testify to the power of the blood of the Lamb! Those who will repent and come to Christ during the Great Tribulation testify to us today: “And they overcame him [the Slanderer] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” We have sung, “There is power in the blood,” and here is one application of that power. When you are slandered – when the devil moves people to lie about you – you can overcome him by the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony. This power is available for people who will take up their cross and follow Christ (Luke 9:23) – choosing to love the Lord more than their own lives.
Mighty: The Everlasting Wrath of the Lamb
“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his 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 14:9-10)
In conclusion, one more example of the meek and mighty Lamb will suffice. Consider the horror depicted in Revelation 14:9-10. In the ultimate expression of mankind trying to be “man-king,” men will worship the antichrist, and receive the mark of the beast to verify that worship. What will happen to these rebellious people, who were made in the image of God? They shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, poured out in full strength; they shall be tormented forever in fire and burning sulfur.
Yet pause to contemplate the meekness, mercy and might of the Lamb. Is there another place in Scripture where the wrath of God is poured out in full strength? Yes! It was upon the cross of Calvary where God’s Lamb bore God’s wrath for repentant sinners. When you think about the horrors of Christ’s crucifixion, think about the horrors of the coming condemnation. God offered His meek Lamb to take away the sins of the world (John 1:29). John the Baptist proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Christ drank God’s full cup of wrath as your Substitute. He died and rose again to display the power of the mighty God. Yet, if you refuse Him, you will suffer the wrath of God in full strength, and be forever condemned to the Lake of fire. Don’t miss that last phrase in verse 10, “…he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:” How tragic! Forever damned in the presence of the Lamb! The meek Lamb who offered Himself as their Savior will be their Judge. And they will be tormented in the presence of the Lamb. Oh that they would have embraced Him as Savior. But now they will face Him as their Judge. What about you? Will you now embrace the meek Lamb of God by faith? Will you call out to Him to save you? Or will you face Him as the mighty Lamb who will execute judgment on the sinful? Meekly embrace Him as your Lord and Lamb, or face Him as the mighty Lamb and Judge.
Behold the risen Lamb who reigns in Heaven
The Mighty One on whom the Spirit rests
Behold the Lamb who takes the scroll of judgments
They worship Him, the wounded One, the Blessed
His wisdom, strength and honor, oh such wonder
Such blessing is the Lamb forevermore
Who opens up the scroll in peals of thunder
The Lamb whose wrath upon mankind is poured
Yet righteous ones in heaven will adore Him
Their robes made white, washed in the Lamb’s own blood
And there the Shepherd Lamb will surely lead them
To living waters – fountains like a flood.
Now Satan will accuse our brothers falsely
But by the Lamb’s own blood they overcome
Though antichrist deceives the rebels, worldly
The Lamb of Zion comes to lead His own.
Behold his witnesses who give Him glory
Redeemed, the first fruits of our God and Lamb
Behold those who will face His wrath in judgment
Tormented in His presence, as the damned
Pastor Gordon Dickson, Calvary Baptist Church, Findlay, Ohio www.cbcfindlay.org
[i] Martin Luther, “A Mighty Fortress is our God” accessed at https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/886