The title of the message is The
Lion, the Root, and the Lamb. I entitled this message from
Revelation 5, our text, because this is how we are given a beautiful
metaphorical identification of the Lord Jesus Christ and the
glory of His person and in the power of his finished work. And
that's what the Bible's all about. Not just the book of Revelation,
but you go all the way back to Genesis and on forward, all of
the Bible's doctrine, all of the Bible's history, the prophecy,
the poetry, the wisdom literature, the New Testament epistles, all
of it is God's way of driving and leading His people to see
more and more the glory of Christ's person, who He actually is. And the reason that's so important
is because we're looking to Him. We're depending upon Him for
our complete salvation. And I don't know about you, but
I want to know, I want to know that the person that I'm looking
to and resting in and depending upon, believing in, trusting,
that He is able to save to the uttermost them that come unto
God by Him. I want to know that He's the
true Messiah. I want to make sure that I'm
not trusting a false Messiah. And the only way I can know that
is as the Holy Spirit reveals the glory of His person and the
power of His finished work from the Word of God. He is the object
of our worship. He is the motivation for our
obedience. This life of salvation is all
about knowing Christ. Paul wrote in Philippians chapter
three, he said, that I may know Him and be found in Him, not
having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that
which is through the faithfulness of Christ, the righteousness
of God, which we receive by faith. And here in Revelation 5, as
we continue this second vision, the vision of the whole creation
and all of the events of the new covenant time, the gospel
age, a view from the throne of God, here is what John is seeing
as it's revealed to him. He says in verse 1, and I saw
in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, this is Christ,
book written within." This book is like a scroll, some translations
say a scroll, but it's a book written within, this is a metaphor
now, and it says it's written on the backside within and on
the backside it's a full book, there's no blank pages here.
And it's sealed with seven seals. Now this is God from His throne
of glory showing John that book, that scroll, in God's right hand
of judgment, His right hand of power. God who works all things
after the counsel of His own will, He can do that. You can't,
I can't, but God can. Written within, full, complete,
nothing can be added or subtracted to this book. There's no additions,
you can't add anything to it and you can't take away anything
from it. This is the book of God's perfect decrees, His will,
His plan and purpose showing how redemptive history will continue
throughout these last days and be finalized with the second
coming of Christ. All of this, and it's sealed
with seven seals. This is God's perfect work throughout
the last days, both to save his people, the elect, and conquer
his enemies. Only God himself can open this
book and reveal its contents. Sometime when you get an opportunity
this week, go back to the book of Daniel and read chapter 12. That's the last chapter of the
prophecy of Daniel, and it's about this book. And you know
what the difference is? In Daniel's time, it was sealed,
not to be opened in Daniel's time. Now listen, every believer
in every age, Old Testament, New Testament, has had the gospel
of God's free and sovereign grace in Christ revealed to them. That
goes back to Abel all the way through. They were believers,
they were born again believers. The Old Testament saints looked
forward to the Messiah's coming as he was identified by God through
his word. The New Testament saints looked
back at his coming. He's already come. He's already
done that great work. But we all look to the same Christ,
to the same righteousness that Christ would accomplish. But
there are some things that God has reserved to be revealed in
these last days. The final chapters of redemptive
history. And if you go back and read in
the book of Daniel chapter 12, you'll see that book was sealed
and it wasn't revealed to Daniel, but it's revealed to us. As we
go through this book. we see things happening. But
the thing about it is, none of us are worthy to open it. Look
at verse two. He said, I saw a strong angel
proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book
and to loose the seals thereof. Now this shows us that man and
woman is not the determiner or the planner or the final word
of our own destiny. God is. You know that poem, I can't remember
what they call it, but he says, man is the captain of his own
fate, the determiner of his own, not so. This is the book of God's
decrees. And who's worthy to open it and
to loose the seals? In verse three, look at this.
No man in heaven nor in earth, neither under the earth, Somebody
asked me one time, who's under the earth? And I said, I don't
know. He didn't tell us here. But what he's saying here is
there's no human being ever born or ever will be born was able
to open the book, neither to look there or not. Not only are
we not worthy to open it, we're not even worthy to read it. This book of God's decrees, shows
the foundation of God's will and purpose contained in this
book. It presents a mystery the natural
man with all of his collective wisdom and self-proclaimed goodness,
his religion, his philosophy cannot answer. It's equivalent
to the questions that are presented in the book of Job. How should
a man be just with God? How then can man be justified
with God? Well, that's revealed in the gospel. That was revealed
in Genesis 3. when God slew animals, shed blood,
and made coats of skin. But to whom is this given? How
will all this work out in the history of the earth? The question is vital in the
salvation of sinners and it lies at the heart of the gospel message.
And here's what he says, in the eternal dwelling of heaven, nor
in the temporary dwelling of earth, nor from the underworld,
was able to open this book, neither to look thereon. This is one
of the many glaring testimonies concerning the utter sinfulness
and depravity of all who are born of Adam. We fell in Adam
into a state of sin and death. No man, not even the best man,
certainly not the worst man, has any worthiness or ability
to open this book and look thereon. Man by nature cannot even see
or understand God's sovereign will or purpose, let alone change
it. It shows that God doesn't ask
our opinion. He doesn't confer with us as
to how these things would or should be brought about. No mere
man can do this. No mere man is holy or righteous
enough to open this book. None is worthy, and John says
in verse four, and I wept much. Why are you crying, John? Well,
because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book,
neither to look thereon. There's no hope in fallen man.
There's no pretense of goodness or righteousness here, or holiness. There's only the realization
that all of us by nature, based on our best, deserve and earn
eternal damnation. But John knows, as do all believers,
that there is hope, and it's found not in ourselves, but it's
found in the Lord Jesus Christ as he's announced by one of the
elders. Look at verse five. And one of the elders saith unto
me, weep not, don't cry, John, behold, And then he begins to
describe the only person who's worthy to open this book. Who
is he? He's the Lion of the tribe of
Judah. He's the root or the branch of
David. He has prevailed to open the
book and to loose the seven seals thereof. He is the God-man. He is the creator. He is the
determiner. He is one with the Father and
the Spirit. He is worthy in his person. Here's the message of good news,
you see. And the good tidings of great
joy. Where's it to be found? It's to be found in the lion.
It's to be found in the root or the branch of David. And then
later we'll see in just a few moments, it's to be found in
the lamb that was slain. So now the focus shifts from
man who is unworthy to the Lord Jesus Christ, the lion, the root
and the lamb slain for the sins of his people and the establishment
of the kingdom of righteousness. Isaiah chapter nine and verse
six tells us the establishment of the government and the kingdom
of grace will be or is upon the shoulders of Jesus Christ, the
Lord of glory. Aren't you glad of that? Good
night. Aren't you glad it's not conditioned
on us or established upon us? What a failure it would be. Look
at what's going on in our world. This world is destined for misery
and failure and death. And here in this chapter, this
revelation is a testimony of the fact that in the history
of the whole will and purpose of God as revealed in this book,
written within and written on the backside, sealed with seven
seals, is fulfilled in the glory of one person and his finished
work of redemption, the Lamb, the root, and the Lamb, Christ.
Christ is worthy. because he is God manifest in
the flesh. He's worthy because of who he
is. Christ is worthy because he by himself accomplished redemption
for his people and brought in everlasting righteousness of
infinite value upon which the kingdom of God is firmly, eternally
established. And it cannot be moved. The gates
of hell cannot prevail against. Whatever the Arabs or the Israelis
do, it cannot prevail against the kingdom of God, His house. The basis of this book of God's
decrees is the everlasting covenant of grace between the persons
of the Godhead before the foundation of the world. God is not keeping
a journal daily. He's not looking at how things
are going and then writing down the day's events. God wrote this
book and sealed it before this world ever began. Does that give
you comfort? Boy, it does me. It's summarized
in God's purpose to glorify himself in the salvation of his chosen
people through Christ and based upon Christ's finished work of
redemption on the cross. the lion of the tribe of Judah,
the root of David. Oh, what a glorious person he
is. And this describes him in his mediatorial offices, the
only one who's worthy to open the book, loose the seals, and
fulfill the whole will and purpose of God. He hath prevailed. Did
you read that? He hath prevailed to open the
book and to loose the seven seals thereof. That describes his powerful
work to accomplish the salvation of his people. God's chosen people
given to him before the foundation of the world, whose names were
written in the Lamb's Book of Life before this world was ever
spoken to existence. That term, the Lion of the tribe
of Judah, you know where it comes from. It comes from Jacob's prophecy
when he was blessing his sons on his deathbed. And he came
to Judah. Judah was the tribe from which
Christ in His humanity came. It was the royal tribe, the kingly
tribe. The word Judah means praise the
Lord. The shortened version of the
name Judah is Jew. We speak of the Jews. Technically
speaking, in the book of God, in this sealed book, we find
that the Jews, the true Jews, the true spiritual Jews, are
those who praise the Lord as they come before Him pleading
the blood and the righteousness of the Lion of the tribe of Judah,
the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote about it in Romans
2 and 28 and 29. He who is a Jew, he is a Jew
not who is one outwardly. And circumcision is not that
of the flesh, but he is a Jew which is one inwardly. And circumcision
is that of the heart whose praise is of God and not of men. Who is a Jew? Those who follow
and look to the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Those who are headed
up and united with the Lamb of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Do
you believe in Christ? Do you trust Him for all salvation? Are you looking to Him? I mean
really looking to Him. We're gonna sing, look to the
Lamb of God. I'm not talking about just a
glance when it's convenient. I'm talking about a determined,
God-given sight, intense look, resting in the Lord Jesus Christ
for salvation. That's a spiritual Jew. That's
right. That's a spiritual son of Abraham. Think about it. You know, the
lion symbolizes the conqueror king, the king of the jungle.
We talk about the lion. Well, like a lion, Christ is
great in strength and mighty to deliver. He is an effectual
redeemer. He's an almighty, mighty protector,
a powerful avenger. He is powerful to engage all
of his enemies and his subjects. He died for his people. He secured
our salvation. And like the lion in his power
and in his glory, he'll lead all of us into the kingdom of
heaven. Not one person will be missing. And then he's the root of David.
Most of you, I think, you know where that comes from. That has
its foundation in the royal covenant made with King David. It's in
2 Samuel chapter seven. wherein the Lord revealed that
Messiah would come through David's line, the line of Judah. He was
identified in prophecy throughout as the offspring of David, the
branch of Jesse, David's father, according to the flesh, his perfect,
sinless humanity. And why was that necessary? Because
he had to become man in order to redeem men, sinners. He had to take upon himself the
likeness of sinful flesh, but without sin. And he had to be
sacrificed in that human body as a lamb was sacrificed. That's
why he was made flesh. Christ is David's offspring according
to the flesh, and he is David's Lord, the Messiah. You remember when he asked the
ones who were trying to trap him, He said, who is the Messiah? And they said, well, he's David's
son. Well, Christ said, you're right. But how could he be both
David's son and David's God? They couldn't answer him. You
can answer him, can't you? You know that one. If you don't,
you haven't been listening. He's both God and man in one
person. Oh, the root of David. Turn over
to Hebrews chapter two, think about this, this is so, it's
a beautiful passage that tells us so much about our Savior. In verse 14, we could read the
whole passage here, we don't have time, but look at verse
14 of Hebrews two. It reads, for as much then as
the children, now who are the children? Well, that's the people
that God chose before the foundation of the world. That's the ones
He adopted. They're His children. They're His elect. And so, for
as much then as they are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself
likewise, in the same way, that is through being conceived in
the womb of the Virgin by the Holy Spirit and being born from
her, he took part of the same. The same what? Flesh and blood. That through death he might destroy
him that had the power of death, that is the devil. The devil
brought in, he was the instrument that brought in condemnation.
Christ is God's instrument to bring in life and righteousness
for his people. And verse 15, and deliver them
who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to
bondage, the bondage of the law, the bondage of sin. And look
at verse 16, for verily he took not on him the nature of angels,
but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Now who's the seed of
Abraham? That's the people who he redeemed. That's the people
he represented. That's the people for whom he
stood surety. Their sins were imputed to him.
That's the people who he substituted himself in their place, made
under the law, made of a woman. That's the people he redeemed.
That's the spiritual seed of Abraham. And who are they? Well,
do you trust Christ for your whole salvation? Are you like
Paul? Can you say from the heart, I know whom I have believed and
I'm persuaded that he is able to keep that which I've committed
unto him against that day. Is that your testimony? That's
mine. Is that yours? Then you're one of that spiritual
seed of Abraham. You know why? Because Abraham
believed the same thing you did. And verse 17, wherefore in all
things it behooved him, he was indebted. To do what? To be made like unto his brethren.
That he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in all things
pertaining to God. Isn't that something? This was
all about God. To make reconciliation for the
sins of the people. For in that he himself has suffered
being tempted, he is able to succor or to comfort Them that
are tempted. That's who we're talking about
over here in Revelation 5. Oh my goodness, think about it.
Paul said, I want to know Him. Well, here He is. Here's the
way He's described. He's God manifest in the flesh.
And look at verse 6. He said, And I beheld, and lo,
in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts," that's the
four living creatures, that's a metaphor for gospel preachers
going north, south, east, west, spreading the gospel all over
the earth, preaching Christ and Him crucified. Not pointing sinners
to themselves, but pointing away from themselves to Christ. And
in the midst of the elders, the 24 elders, Remember that's a
multiple of 12 representing the complete number of God's people
for whom Christ died and who will be saved, represented by
the 12 patriarchs in the Old Testament, the 12 apostles in
the New Testament, and in their midst stood who? A lamb as it
had been slain. Oh, Lamb of God. Behold the Lamb
of God. As the Lamb of God He had no
sin in Himself. But as the Lamb of God, He became
guilty and cursed for the sins of God's elect imputed to Him.
He was slain. That means He was slaughtered.
Some translations say butchered. But He did it for our sins that
were imputed to Him. He was slain in our place. We
deserved and earned this death. But Christ took it for us. The
kingdom of God, His church, is built upon the blood of the Lamb
as He satisfied the justice of God for our sins. And the whole
will and purpose of God in the salvation of His chosen people
and the establishment of His eternal kingdom centers on Christ
crucified and risen from the dead. All salvation. The forgiveness of our sins.
We talked about that in the 10 o'clock hour. Righteousness. Think about it. God's gonna judge
the world in righteousness. By that man whom he hath ordained
and he hath given assurance unto all men and that he raised him
from the dead. You're gonna stand, if you're in him, you're gonna
stand before God dressed in his righteousness alone. Faultless
to stand before the throne. Doesn't that Say something to
you. Eternal life, all glory, they're
the fruit of the death of the Lamb, slain, the Lamb slain. It's not just the Lamb now. I
want to make that clear. You know, some people say, well,
I trust the person of Christ, I don't trust His work. My friend,
the Lamb was slain. We trust both his person and
his work. You cannot separate the two if
you want to glorify and worship God. And this lamb that was slain,
he had seven horns. Well, what does the horn represent?
It represents power. And what does seven represent?
It represents the finished work. Complete, perfect, finished work.
It's finished. What's that telling us about
the Lamb? He had power to finish the work. He had power to make
an end of sin, to finish the transgression, to bring in everlasting
righteousness, to seal up the prophecy, and enter into the
most holy. He is able to save to the uttermost
them that come unto God by Him. That's what that tells us. Can
He do what we believe that He did? Can we trust him? Can we rest in him? You bet you
can. He's able. No other is able. People say,
well, I believe that he died for everybody and that you have
to do your part to be safe. You're not able. I got news for
you. I'm sorry. You're not able. I'm
not able. to do that. No man can come to
me except the Father which has sent me draw him, Christ said.
But he's able. That's the seven horns. And he
has seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth
into all the earth. That's the Holy Spirit coming
forth from Christ. He has seven eyes. What does
that mean? It means he knows all. Seven horns, his power, the perfection
of his work to save all for whom he died and arose again and to
give them life from God and the Holy Spirit identified here as
the seven spirits that God sent forth into all the earth. Christ
is the horn of salvation. He has complete power and knowledge
to accomplish his great work and he has people all over this
earth. elect out of every tribe, kindred, tongue, and nation,
we're going to learn as we get down into Revelation 5. And He
sends forth His Spirit, who does a complete work in applying what
Christ, the Lamb of God, accomplished for us. And that complete work
is bringing us under the preaching of the gospel, giving us spiritual
life from the dead, a new heart, new life, a new spirit, regeneration. and calling us out of the world
into the fold of God, bringing us to faith in Christ, repentance
of dead works, and keeping us there all the way unto glory. This is what worship is all about,
folks. Understanding, knowing, being
reminded of the Lamb of God. Look to the Lamb of God. That's
what we're gonna sing as our closing hymn. That's hymn number
216, Look to the Lamb of God.