Sovereign Grace Chapel, located at 135 Annabel Lane in Beaver, West Virginia, invites you to listen to a gospel message concerning Jesus Christ our Lord. For today's broadcast, I want to read from the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Now, I say it that way, I realize in the King James Version, it calls it the Revelation of Saint John the Divine, but that's not the way it is. This book is one of the only books in the Bible that actually give us, if you want to call it a title, and it calls it the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

But the portion I want to read this morning, or today, is Revelation chapter five in just a few verses. I'll begin in verse six. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, 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 unto all the earth. And he came and took the book, do you see that? And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and the four and 20 elders fell down before the lamb, having every one of them harps and golden vows full of odors, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sung a new song saying, thou art worthy to take the book, do you see it? 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."

So again, This is the revelation of Jesus Christ. Now, my title, and if you want to say my subject for today is this, The Lamb Who Was Slain Reigns. You see it? The Lamb Who Was Slain Reigns.

Now note, I want us to note here from our passage, it's the Lamb who was slain. That is the language of scripture, the lamb who was slain. Verse six again, I beheld and lo in the midst of the throne. And you look at the context, this is the throne of God. In the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, in the midst of the elders stood a lamb as it had been slain. You see that? Slain, slain. Jesus Christ the Lord. God's only begotten Son. God manifests in the flesh. Jesus Christ, the creator of all that is. He is not still slain. He is not still slain. He's not being slain. We don't need pictures of and little icons of him hanging on a cross. He's the lamb that was slain, as the lamb that had been slain. Do you see that? This is the testimony and the language of the scripture. He is the lamb as it, again, had been slain.

Listen to chapter one. Listen to what John records in chapter one. And just first of all, verses four through eight. John, to the seven churches which are in Asia, grace be unto you and peace from him which is, and which was, and which is to come, and from the seven spirits which are before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness and the first begotten of the dead. Do you see it? He's raised from the dead, first begotten of the dead and the prince of the kings of the earth unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us kings and priests unto God and his father. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen, behold, he cometh with clouds, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him, and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, amen. And listen, I am Alpha, this is Christ speaking, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is? and which was and which is to come, the Almighty. Do you see that?

Then also look at verse 17 and 18 of this same chapter. And when I saw him, that is Jesus Christ of Nazareth, glorified in glory with the Father, and when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead, and he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, fear not, I am the first and the last, for I am he that liveth and was dead. Do you see that? We don't continually see him on the cross, on the cross, on the cross. He's now exalted and glorified in glory. Do you see it? I am he that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, amen, or so be it, and have the keys of hell and death. Do you see that?

You see, Jesus is no longer on the cross. Jesus is no longer in the tomb, though he was at one time. And he was on that cross, and he, on that cross, suffering for the sins of his people, and he gave up the ghost, and he gave up his life on that cross. They took him down from the cross and put him in a tomb, but he's not in that tomb. He raised out of that tomb and was seen of hundreds of witnesses. but he's not still on the earth anymore. He ascended back into glory, but he's not just ascended into glory. Jesus, according to our text, is set, S-E-T, you see, set. Set, not just sits, but set at the right hand of the Father. And he's been given by the Father all authority over all things and all circumstances and all people and all time.

And that's actually the way this chapter begins. That's the chapter of my text, Revelation 5, 6 through 10. Let's read the first few verses. And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof? He said, who's worthy? And no man in heaven. nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders said unto me, Weep not." That's one of the 24 elders. Weep not. Behold, look at it, the land of the tribe of Judah. This is the name of Jesus Christ. The root of David, that's the name of Jesus Christ, hath prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof.

And then as we get to our text, and I beheld and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, in the midst of the elders, stood a lamb, as it had been slain. Do you see that? He's the one who reigns over all, exalted in glory. You see, Jesus of Nazareth, did not come to make redemption, and that's exactly what they speak of. Down here in verse nine and 10, there's these saints who sing this song. You see, thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof, for thou was slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood. Do you see it? Redeemed us to God by thy blood. He came not to make redemption possible, he came to actually redeem. And according to Hebrews 9, verse 12, he obtained eternal redemption for all those for whom he died. He hath obtained eternal redemption. I ask you, do you desire it? Do you want to receive it? It's not up to you to obtain it, he obtained it. receive it, believe him, trust him. As these here, these saints sing this new song, they relied upon and worshiped and adored him who had redeemed them.

So remember, Jesus didn't come to make redemption possible. He came and accomplished, he obtained redemption. Also this, Jesus of Nazareth, did not come to make reconciliation available. He came and reconciled everyone he died for.

Now does the Bible teach that? Yes, it does. Look at what Paul wrote to the church. at Rome, and in Romans chapter five, we read these words. This is what Paul wrote concerning Jesus Christ and his work at Calvary, his dying on the cross. This is what he wrote about reconciliation. Look at Romans five, verse six.

For when we were yet without strength, he said no strength, None. In due time, Christ died for who? The ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Do you see it? So he died for who? People who have no strength. people who are ungodly, people who know they are sinners, but God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Much more than being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Do you see that? For if, now he's going to explain, he's going to elaborate on what he just said. For if when we were enemies, this is before we ever believed, We hadn't even believed yet. Those of us today weren't even born yet. Look, for if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son. Do you see that? That's how reconciliation was done. It's not available, it's not possible, it's not up for grabs. What does it say? When we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. Do you see that? Mm, and not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the reconciliation or atonement as it in the KGB, do you see it? Yes, there is a receiving of it, but you don't work it out. It's not a job you're to do, just receive him, believe him.

So again, I say this, Jesus of Nazareth did not come to make redemption possible, he already obtained it. Jesus of Nazareth did not come to make reconciliation available, he came and reconciled all for whom he died.

Paul puts it the same way to the church at Colossae. Let me read that one to you. You see this book, This book calls upon us, it calls faith this, believing the record God gave of his son. The question is, do I believe the record God gave the son? Or do I read this record and then come up with my own conclusions? That may be a kind of faith, but it's not the kind of faith God gives. Listen to what Paul wrote to the church. As I said, the church at Colossae. Colossians chapter one and verse 20, speaking of Jesus Christ. And verse 20, chapter one, and having made peace, do you see that? And having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things to himself, by him I say whether they be things in earth or things in heaven. And you go back and read again, remember our text. that in the end it's redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every tribe and kindred and tongue and people. That's everybody, not every single individual, but somebody out of everybody. He died for the world, you see it? Look at it. and having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself. By him, I say, whether they be things in earth or whether they things in heaven, and you that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled."

Now look, notice between verse 21 and 22, there is no period. It's the same sentence. Yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death. Reconciliation is accomplished. It's done. That's the good news. It's not due. It's done. It's not something that you and I must do. It's believing what Christ has done.

Look at it. In the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in his sight. And that's exactly what we read of these. And they sung, verse nine of Revelation five, and they sung a new song saying, thou art worthy. Do you see it? Why is he worthy? Because he did work. He did the work, you see it? They sung a new song saying, thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou was slain and hast, you see that? And hast redeemed us to God and that's some of everybody. Redeemed us to God by the blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation.

Oh, what a glory the gospel is, it's good news. It's good news, it's not about you and I doing something and accomplishing something. It's not about us, he made it possible and now it's up to us to make it work. Believe him, receive him, bow to him, worship him. Somebody said, but preacher, ain't that doing? It sure is, if God works in you, both to will and to do, it's good pleasure. But it's not doing something to get God's favor, it's believing Christ because he's wrought God's favor for us in his blood and by his sacrifice.

You see, the substitutionary, satisfactory, penal death of Jesus Christ of Nazareth earned him the right to this exaltation. And that's exactly what Paul wrote. to the church at Philippi when he wrote these words in Philippians 2.5, let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation and took upon him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross, wherefore, because of that, do you see it? Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of things in heaven, and things in the earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Wherefore? You see that, verse 12? Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for. It is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Glory be to God.

Now can you realize why it says, and they sang a new song saying, thou art worthy, do you see? Christ is worthy. Again, I say, I emphasize this. The substitutionary, satisfactory, penal death of Jesus of Nazareth on the tree earned him the right to this exaltation. It earned him the right to take this book and begin to open the seals. It has seven seals if you go on to read this, and he's the one opening each seal. And as he opens each seal, things begin to happen. Things begin to take place. Why? He's in charge. He's worthy. No man on earth, under the earth, or in heaven is even worthy to even look on it. You and I are not worthy, but he's worthy. Do you see it? He's worthy.

You see, this is that lamb that John's seen as it has been slain. Jesus of Nazareth is not, now listen to me, Oh, if God gives you ears this morning, if he gives you ears to hear and an eye to see and a heart to perceive, and you know what? This is metaphorical language. It's symbolical language. If God's done something for you, if you see this, Okay, Jesus of Christ of Nazareth is not some kumbaya hippie Jesus as portrayed by some people today. He's the sovereign king of glory. He's the one who earned the right to sit on the throne of God because he is God. He's obtained eternal redemption. He wrought reconciliation. He made peace already. He already has forgiven all the iniquities of all those for whom he's died. Can you believe him? Can you receive him? This is the lamb as it had been slain.

This Jesus of Nazareth, this Jesus of Nazareth here, that we read of here, that John's saying, that we're reading of here in the book of the revelation of Jesus Christ, he isn't that weak, hand-wringing Jesus portrayed by others today, that one who wants to save some but cannot because men and women will not let him. That is not the Christ portrayed here in this book. And it specifically is not the Christ portrayed in the book of the revelation of Jesus Christ. It's not the one portrayed.

And they sung a new song saying, thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou was slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. Do you believe him? Can you believe him? You see, hear what John's testimony is. Now, I'm gonna take and read this whole thing, most of the verses here in this chapter. Actually, it would be every verse in this chapter. Listen to who this Jesus is. Remember, the lamb who was slain reigns, okay? He reigns.

Now, listen to the whole chapter, and I'll just kind of emphasize a few things as we go along. Revelation chapter five, verse one. And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside. So this thing was rolled up and it had writing on the front and on the back and it's rolled up and what? Sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel, a strong angel, proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof? And no man, that includes me, That includes you, you see it? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, nor under the earth was what? Able, we got no ability for this. It's not up to us to open up this book. It's based upon the prerogative of the son of God who wrought the right to do it. No man in heaven or in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy." Do you see that? We're not worthy. We're not able. Do you see that? Now, why is it that Preachers then come along and talk about your worth and your ability, your will, how you're able to do this, how you're able to do that. They're lying on God. They're not telling the truth from the book of God. And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. One of the elders said unto me, weep not. Behold the line of the tribe of Judah, the root of David. Hath prevailed. Do you see that? Hath prevailed.

I'm not here preaching up me. I'm not here preaching up you. I'm preaching down me and down you. We're sinners. We're ungodly. We're enemies. Do you see that? Do you know that? Has God showed you that? If he has, I can say with confidence of the word, he died for you.

But if you're still proud like an old peacock, if you still think you got some worth, if you still think you got some ability, you cannot say you're a part of this group. Look at what he says, he hath prevailed to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof.

And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, 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. Why? Because God's people, his elect, His chosen ones in Christ before the world began. His predestinated ones are scattered all throughout the earth. You see it?

And he came and took the book, not by force, but by right, by right. And he came and took the book out of the hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he had taken the book, look at it. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and the four and the 20 elders fell down before the Lamb. They fell down before the lamb. They don't fall down before the preacher. They don't fall down before the Pope. They don't fall down before the deacons or the church. They fall down before the lamb. Do you see it?

Having every one of them harps and golden vials full of sweet smells. That's what it is. Odors, which are the prayers of the saints. What are these prayers of the saints? The same thing they're singing about. Glory to Christ. Honor to Christ. He's the one who's worthy. They sung a new song saying thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou was slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of.

I ask you, has he redeemed you out of that? Has he called you out of that? Does this gospel soon lay hold of you? Say, I'm tired of my old religion, I'm tired of myself, I'm tired of my old ways, I'm tired of my lying preachers, I'm tired of my lying church, and I want to worship the Lamb. He's worthy, can you? Can you, huh?

And they sung a new song saying thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof for thou was slain and has redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. That's the world. That's the world. And has made us unto our God kings and priests and we shall reign on the earth. Why? Because we're his.

If you're a person who knows worthy is the land that was slain, I worship and honor and adore that person, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. You'll reign with him.

Now look. Look at verse 11, we're going on now. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the beasts, and the elders, and the number of them was 10,000 times 10,000, and thousands of thousands, a myriad of voices crying out, saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb. You see, it's all about Him. That's what most preachers are not preaching today. They're preaching, you know it's true and I know it's true. They're preaching all about us, not preaching about him. Look, saying with a loud voice, worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing 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, heard I say, blessing and honor and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the Lamb forever and ever.

It's all about Jesus Christ. Remember, he's the Lamb who was slain and he reigns, you see it? Look, and the four beasts said what we all ought to be saying, amen. Amen.

And the four and the 20 elders do what? Fell down. Here's something to do. Now these preachers out here telling you everything, do this, do that. Here's something to do. Fall down and worship him that liveth forever and ever. There's just something to do. And it's not a matter of merit. It's a matter of falling down to him who is all the merit. It's all about him.

You see, Jesus, Jesus, this Jesus we're reading about here, this Jesus that John's saying. You talk about this lamb as it had been slain. This is the Jesus with whom you and I have to do. He holds me and he holds you in his sovereign hand. Do you fight back? Are you kicking and fighting back? You may be doing so, but you let me tell you this. Listen to me.

But you're only like a frog in a snake's belly. You can kick all you want, but you ain't gonna get away from him. He's your God, he's your maker. I'll tell you, I'll give you some wise counsel, bow down and worship him. Deny yourself and follow him. Throw down your merit, throw down your righteousness for what they are, filthy rags in God's sight, and bow down to Jesus Christ. You see, you can kick all you want, but you won't thwart him.

Listen to what Nebuchadnezzar said. Daniel chapter four, and at the end of the days, our Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most high, and praised and honored him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion. His kingdom is from generation to generation.

Here's what Nebuchadnezzar was brought, he was brought low by God, look. and all the inhabitants of the earth, that's me and you, are reputed as nothing, and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand or say unto him, what doest thou? At the same time, my reason returned to me, and for the glory of my kingdom, my honor and brightness returned unto me, and my counselors and my Lord sought unto me, and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.

God put him back where? Look, now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the king of heaven, all whose works are truth and his ways judgment, and those that walk in pride he is able to abase. Amen.