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REVELATION - Behold, I am Coming Soon
Studies in the Book of Revelation
BOOK 2 - THE ENTHRONEMENT OF JESUS CHRIST (REVELATION 4:1 - 6:17)
PART 2.2 JESUS CHRIST IS ENTHRONED BY GIVING HIM THE SEALED SCROLL (REVELATION 5:1-14)

3. All Creatures Worship the Lamb (Revelation 5:8-14)


The Enthronement Anthem of the Twenty-Four Elders

REVELATION 5:9b-10
9 ... “You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood, out of every tribe, language, people, and nation, 10 and made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign on earth.”

In the previous chapter (Revelation 4:8-11) we read how the four throne guardians and the twenty-four elders worshiped the Father. In the fifth chapter (Revelation 5:8-10) we read how the same circle worships the little Lamb. In this case the surprisingly familiar form of address is repeated by the elders. They addressed God as well as the Lamb with this familiar form. They have a close relationship to the Father and to his Son. They know the Son and he knows them. They belong to him and are well established in him. They belong to the family of God (Ephesians 2:19). Jesus has shared his right as Son with them. They have this privilege solely through the Lamb.

Therefore they worshiped the risen Lord as "the atoning sacrifice that had died and is now alive forever and ever". They testified that the little Lamb of God is solely authorized to assume the reign in heaven and on earth. He is worthy to open the scroll with its seven seals. They know his humility and meekness. They saw his love and holiness, and they know how he has fulfilled all requirements of the Torah. They are aware of his compassionate power and omnipotence and saw how he overcame all temptations of Satan. No creature, no man is Satan's equal, but he and his Father. Even death had no power over him. Christ remained victor!

He understands the mysteries of the future and looks through the demonic background of developments in human history. He alone works that the chosen will be saved and that those who hardened themselves will be judged righteously. No one was able to silence the wrath of God – but solely the Lamb!


The Elders Justified the Worthiness of the Lamb With Three Reasons.

a) First, Christ acquired his authority through his voluntary atoning death, which he took on deliberately. Therefore the elders sang: You are worthy, for you are slain.

The explanations for this hymn of worship are in Psalm 22 and Isaiah 53:4-12. Jesus himself explained his atoning death unambiguously (Matthew 20:28; 26:26-28). The apostles boasted of the crucified and risen Lord, as he was the reason of their justification and reconciliation to God and the basis of their certain hope of eternal life (Acts 4:12; Romans 3:22-24; 5:1-5; 1 Corinthians 1:18.23.30-31; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Galatians 2:19-20; Ephesians 2:1-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 2:12-14; 1 John 2:1-2; Hebrews 9:14 etc.).

While Jesus Christ sacrificed himself, all ordinances for the offerings in the Old Testament have been summarized and fulfilled:

  • The Passover lamb (Exodus 12:1-28; Numbers 9:1-14; Deuteronomy 16:1-8; Matthew 26:1-5+19; Mark 14:12+14+16; 1 Corinthians 5:7)
  • The covenant sacrifice for ratification of the covenant with God (Exodus 24:4-11; Mark 26:28; Matthew 14:24; Hebrews 9:15-22)
  • All burnt or wholly burned sacrifices offered each morning and evening (Leviticus 1:3-10; 6:1-6 (??); Hebrews 9:1-10.18)
  • All sin and guilt offerings (Leviticus 6:18-23; 2 Corinthians 5:21)
  • The atonement sacrifice at the Day of Atonement (Yom Kippur) (Leviticus 16:1-34; Numbers 29:7-11; Romans 3:25-26; Hebrews 9:7-14)

The author of the epistle to the Hebrews sums up these various ordinances for sacrifices in a single sentence about the self-sacrifice of Jesus Christ: With a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are sanctified (Hebrews 10:14).

PRAYER: O Holy slain Christ, we worship and praise You because You were slain as the Lamb of God at the altar of the cross. You were silent as a lamb before being slain; and therefore You became worthy to receive the leadership of the world and hereafter because of Your holy love that appeared through Your death for the sinners among whom am I.

QUESTION:

  1. Why does Christ's worthiness to rule the world depends on His self-sacrifice?

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