Revelation chapter 5 verses 1
to 6, we read the following. 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? 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 behold the lion of the tribe
of judah the root of david have 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. In chapter four at the commencement
of this, the second of the seven visions which John is given,
which he's recorded in the book of Revelation. In chapter four
we saw God's sovereign rule and authority, his power and his
majesty over all creation, and his rights as the creator over
that which he had created. We saw his throne, and his majesty
and his might and power as he rules from that throne. And we
saw those who are around the throne and their adoration of
the one that sits upon the throne. And here in chapter five, as
the vision continues, we begin to see the means by which God
asserts those rights over his creation. and how he redeems
his people and delivers all that is in his creation which he intends
to save, which he intends to bring forth into that new creation,
that new heavens and the new earth. We see how he asserts
his rights and all the assertion of those rights, all the outworking
of that eternal purpose of God is seen to be in this one of
whom we read. in verse six of chapter five,
the one who is seen in the midst of the throne and of the four
beasts and in the midst of the elders, that one who is stood,
a lamb as it had been slain, that one who is the lion of the
tribe of Judah, the root of David, the lamb of God, the Lord Jesus
Christ. Yes, all is in the Lamb. All
is in Christ. All is by Christ. All is for
Christ. All is through Christ. All is
because of Christ. And all is unto the praise and
glory of Christ, the Lamb of God. Yes, all relates to the
Lamb. All relates to this Lamb. who in chapter 5 we see entering
the vision in the throne room, all glorious, all triumphant,
having completed his work, having redeemed his people. Yes, all
relates to the Lamb, all relates to Jesus Christ, for this is
the revelation of Jesus Christ. and all the seven visions relate
to, spring from, concern and bring glory unto the Lamb in
the midst of the throne, the Lord Jesus Christ. But consider
the first thing we read of in chapter five here. John saw in
the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written
within and on the backside and sealed with seven seals. He sees
a book in the right hand of him who sits on the throne. What
is this book? What is this book that is written
on within and under cover on the backside? A book sealed with
seven seals. What does it contain? What does
it concern? Well we saw in chapter 4 how
chapter 4 concerned God's ruling authority over all creation and
how the four living creatures around the throne symbolised
his thoughts and intentions in delivering his creation to bring
in a new creation all which he purposed in the beginning when
he created the heavens and the earth all the glory of creation
though it fell, though man fell, though man brought in ruin and
sin into the first creation, nevertheless none of God's thoughts
and intentions in creation will be lost, but all will be preserved
in the new heavens and the new earth. And this book which we
read of in chapter five, concerns the very same thing. It concerns
God's eternal purposes throughout the universe, throughout creation,
throughout time and eternity. It concerns all his eternal purposes
in all the ages, to save a people, to bring in a new heavens and
a new earth, to put his son upon the throne, of world dominion
in that new heavens and new earth and to bring it an everlasting
kingdom. This book concerns all God's
eternal purposes for his son and for his people as they reign
with his son in the new heavens and the new earth. It concerns
God's rights in creation, his rights and his authority his
eternal purposes, which are sure and which are certain. As with
the four creatures who symbolize such rights, who had eyes within
and without, before and behind, so too this book is written within
and without. There's no blank space on the
book. There's no room to add to it
or subtract from it. Every thought of God, every purpose
of God is written down. There's nothing which he could
add and there's nothing which will be taken away. All looks
across all eternity and all time, from the beginning of the creation
of this world to the coming in and the eternal glory of the
new creation. Like the four living creatures
whose eyes look backwards and forwards, They looked backwards
over all time and forwards throughout all time. They looked over all
creation and forwards to the new creation. So too this book
is written within and without. Forwards and backwards. Everything
is encompassed in it. Everything. As we saw with the
four living creatures, with their eyes looking backwards and forwards,
They were pictured, as it were, as cherubim. They had wings. They flew. And the reason they
flew was because they were indicative of heavenly flight. They weren't
bound to the old creation. They weren't set upon the world
to remain on the earth. But they would bring up from
the old creation into the heavenlies all that God would deliver out
of the old. and into the new. They had wings,
four creatures with six wings each, 24 like the 24 elders,
they had wings, 24 wings to bring them upwards into the heavenlies.
For heavenly flight to deliver that out of the old creation
and to bring it into the new heavens and the new earth. And that is what is written down
in this book, all God's eternal purposes, all his purposes, all
his rights upon that which he created in the old creation,
which he intends to bring through into a new and an everlasting
creation. All his rights to that people
which he chose in Christ before the foundations of the earth,
which he redeems out of the old creation. and all his rights
to all which is beautiful, all which is glorious, all which
is wondrous in creation, which he will bring into the new. It
is written within and without. Consider also those four creatures,
as I said they are winged, they are like cherubim. We considered
in our previous message on chapter four how the cherubim were pictured
was seen at the gates of Eden when man was cast out and they
were seen above the mercy seat and they are seen around the
throne of God and they respect the rights and the authority
and rule of God for the name cherubim means in the Hebrew
it means grasped the word cherubim is grasped and God's grasp is
on all which is his His grasp upon all his rights, all which
is his in creation, all which is his for eternity will never
be relinquished. These creatures represent his
grasp upon all which is in the creation which he will deliver.
It is grasped by his hand. And so too the book of which
we read in chapter five is grasped in the right hand. of him that
sits upon the throne. It's in his hand, his right hand,
the hand of power, the hand of might, the hand of authority.
None shall pluck it from his hand. None shall take his grasp
off that which is rightfully his. All will be preserved when
he brings in the new heavens and the new earth. He grasps
the book. Yes, this book represents God's
rights in creation and its eternal purposes in both creation and
the eternity to come. It respects how God should place
his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, how he should place his Christ
upon the throne of world dominion, never to be removed. It concerns
how God should place Christ upon the authority, upon the throne,
upon the rule of the eternal kingdom, which will last forevermore. He is the King of kings and the
Lord of lords. No king shall usurp his authority. No king, however mighty, shall
take his place. No power, rule, or authority
shall ever usurp Christ's authority to sit upon the throne of world
dominion forevermore. And this book concerns God's
rights to place his son upon such a throne. You may say, how
do we know that that is what the book contains? How do we
know that that is its contents? Well, it isn't something which
is to be guessed at. This isn't merely something we
infer by a few references here and there in the passage, which
is guessed at. But as we go on in the vision
and through chapter six and later through the book of Revelation,
we read how the book is opened. how the six seals first in chapter
six are opened and then later how the seventh seal is opened
and we read what the consequences are of the opening of each seal
and what comes forth from God as a result of the opening of
each seal and we read how God asserts his rights over all that
is rightfully his, over all that was his from the beginning which
Satan and which mankind sought to usurp, but which God, with
his grasp firmly upon the book, never relinquished. Yes, this
is the book, but this book is sealed. It is sealed with seven
seals. This book contains a mystery,
and the mystery is not made known to all. It is only revealed when
the seals are opened. But we read that the mystery
of this book, its contents, at the beginning of chapter five
are sealed with seven seals. The book is sealed. It is a mystery
which needs to be opened, which needs to be revealed. And it
will only be revealed if one can open it. if one can be found
who can loose the seals thereof. But who can open it? Who can
open it? John writes, I saw a strong angel
proclaiming with a loud voice, who is worthy to open the book
and to loose the seals thereof? Who can open such a book? This is a question which brings
much sorrow to John who looks on. Who is able to open such
a book? Who has the power, the right,
the authority to open it? Can any open it? And what if
it should not be opened? For John looks and he sees and
writes that no man in heaven, nor in the earth, neither under
the earth, was able to open the book neither to look thereon
and he says I wept much because no man was found worthy to open
and to read the book neither to look thereon no man no man
on the earth and no man even in heaven there was none in heaven
nor on the earth who was found worthy to open the book. Then
how could it be opened? Well, this question and this
almost impossibility of its being opened brought John to tears. It moved him. He said, I wept
much. I wept much because no man was
found worthy to open and to read the book. It moved him greatly. And this is not someone who did
not know of the things of God. This is not someone who did not
know that God sent his only begotten son into the world to die for
his people. This is not someone who did not
know of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not someone who did not
know the Lord Jesus Christ personally. This is John. John who wrote
the gospel. John who lived and walked with
the Lord Jesus. John who'd seen the Lord crucified. John who'd seen the Lord rise
again. John who knew the Son of God,
he touched, handled and felt Him, he knew Him, he testified
of Him. And yet when he sees this book,
this book which concerns God's rights and Christ's rights over
all creation, over all people, over all which is His, when he
sees this book and he sees that there is none who is worthy to
open it, he weeps, and he weeps much. Why does he weep? Well firstly, he is moved greatly
for the things of God, he's taken up with the things of God, he
loves the things of God, he cares not for the things of man, he
cares not for the fickle passing things of this world, He cares
greatly for God and God's glory. And he longs to see Christ rightfully
upon his throne. And he longs to see Christ rule
over that which is his. He longs to see the mystery of
this book revealed and opened. And it moves him greatly that
there is none found to open it. Secondly, it moves him greatly
because of how things appear, because of how they appear in
this world. He knows that the Lord is the
ruler over all. He knows that God is the creator,
that all is God's and all the rights in creation belong to
God. He knows that mankind should
fall, everyone to his knees and bring praise and glory unto the
one true and living God. He knows that all praise and
glory should be unto the Son of God. And yet when he looks
around in this world, he sees something very different. Oh,
how things appear in this world. How they appear to us today. Just look around. Just look around
you. Look at the world around you.
What do you see? Do you see God's authority? Do you see the people worshipping
the Lord? Do you see His authority and
His rights owned by all men, respected by all men, honoured
by all men? Look around. Look at the nations,
the leaders of the nations. Look at the kings, the presidents,
the mighty men. Look at the people. The claims,
the voices, the powers, the movements, the politics. Look at the fashions,
the voices, the tumults, the wars, the tragedies, the violence. Look at the sin, the pride, the
arrogance. Look at the iniquity, the greed,
the delusion. Look at man. Look at this world
which has been polluted by his rebellion. Look at the darkness. Look at the evil. What do you
see? Just what do you see? Does it
appear that God has his hand firmly upon his rights in creation? Is that what you see in the world
around you? Does it look like that? Does
it appear in such chaos that world dominion will indeed be
Christ's? Or does man appear to have robbed
him? Does Satan appear to have won
the battle? It appears like the latter, doesn't
it? Man acts as though God has withdrawn
from this world and left this world to him. Fallen mankind
appears to rule. Just where are the people of
God? Where is the great praise due
unto God's name? Where are the people of God?
Amongst the peoples of this world they are few, they are scattered,
they are derided, they are weak, they are cast out and ridiculed. Who has the voice of the media? Do they? Or does the world? What message
do you hear from every street corner? To whom do men render
their praise? In this world, do you hear a
great multitude crying out, Blessing and honour and glory and power
be unto him that sitteth upon the throne. Well, do you? No. No, and that is why John
wept, for he loved the things of God. And he knew that the
seals of this book must be opened for Christ to assert his rights,
which are rightfully his in this world and in the world to come.
He knew the seals must be opened and he wept when none appeared
to open the seals. He wept. Have you wept? Have you ever wept over such
things? Do they even bother you? Do you
look upon this world and the way man acts as though God doesn't
even exist? Are you moved by it? Do you weep? That God isn't praised as he
should be. That his authority does not appear
to be exerted. Well, John wept. I hope these
things do bother you. We weep over many things. We
weep over our own things, our own troubles, our own trials.
But do we weep over the things of God? Do we long to see his
name praised and glorified? Do we long to see his rule asserted? Do we long to see Christ praised
and worshipped? John did and John wept. But praise God that one of the
elders says unto John here, weep not, weep not. Behold the lion of the tribe
of Judah. the root of David, hath prevailed
to open the book and to loose the seven seals thereof. Weep not, John, one has prevailed
to open the book and to loose the seals thereof. One has, one
has come, one is able, and that one is the lion of the tribe
of Judah, the root of David. And John 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. 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
twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, holding every one of
them harps and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers
of saints. 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 and has made
us unto our God kings and priests and we shall reign on the earth. Yes, praise God, one came to
open the book, one was worthy a lamb, a lamb as it had been
slain, a lamb, a small young lamb, a diminutive lamb, a lamb
is seen stood in the midst of the throne, a lamb who has opened
the book, a lion indeed, this lamb is also described as the
lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, the lion, indicating
his might and his power. But here we read in verse six
that he is a lamb, a lamb, small, weak, as it were, one who was
sacrificed, one who was slain, but no ordinary lamb, for this
lamb is not slain and remains dead. This lamb which was slain
is here seen, stood. He is stood in the midst of the
throne. He is stood as the lamb which
had been slain. This is no weak lamb. This is one who has power. This is one who has power over
death. This is one who though slain
could rise again, and has risen again, and is stood in the midst
of the throne, and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the
elders. He's stood, he's risen from the
dead, he's stood victorious, mighty, majestic, triumphant. He stood as the one who has the
rights and the power, who is worthy to open the seals of the
book. He stood a mighty victor, the
one who came to save a people, the one who came to deliver the
creation, the one who came to bring in all the rights of God
in creation for eternity. He stood a mighty conqueror,
a mighty saviour. He stood a lamb as it had been
slain. He stood with seven horns and
seven eyes and seven spirits. The seven spirits of God sent
forth into all the earth. Yes, he has seven horns. The horns represent his power
and his strength. He has perfect power. Yes, he's a lamb. but He's an
almighty and all-powerful Lamb. He has seven eyes, He has perfect
sight, He is all-knowing, all-seeing, all-knowing, and He has seven
spirits of God who He sends forth into all the earth. Having come
into the earth, having been slain, the Lamb of God, having shed
His blood to deliver a people, He sent forth His Spirit into
all the earth to bring life unto that which is dead, to bring
life unto His own who are dead in trespasses and sins, to deliver
His own in all the earth, to send forth His gospel into the
four corners of the earth, to find His own, to find them where'er
they may be, if you are one of His, to find you, where'er you
may be, however far off you may be, however sunk in sin you may
be, however without strength, however helpless you may be,
here is a Saviour, here is a Lamb, Here is one who can find you,
even you. Here is one who has the strength
to deliver you, even you. Here is one who has the power
to turn your heart and to bring you, convicted of your sin, to
one who can wash from every sin. Oh, what power is seen in this
one who is stood in the midst of the throne. He's a lamb, a
sacrifice, the lamb of God, the one whom God slew to deliver
his people from their sins. Yet he is stood as the lamb who
was risen again. Oh, what is death brought in
for his own? What it brought in What salvation
it brought in, what everlasting salvation. How sure and certain
it is. He didn't bring in the possibility
of salvation. He didn't merely bring a salvation
to be applied in this world whilst you live in this world. But he
brought in an eternal salvation. That which is worthy. that which
will open the seven seals of this book which is in the right
hand of his father in the midst of the throne that which will
bring in that everlasting kingdom and a people into the everlasting
kingdom for all eternity that which will bring in all the purpose
of God forevermore yes there's a lamb who is stood in the midst
of the throne who has prevailed to open the book. And he's prevailed
because he has done that which is necessary. He has first died
for the sins of a guilty and a rebellious people who were
once afar off. That people whom God chose to
deliver out of the first creation that people whom he would save
because he would save them, that people whom the father gave to
the son from before the foundations of this world, before ever they
were born, before ever they were placed on this world, before
ever they came forth from the loins of their parents, before
ever they sinned, he gave that people to his son. The book was
written Their names were written in the book, their names were
given to the Son, and the Father said, this people are yours,
deliver them, deliver them. And though they had gone afar
off, and though they fell, and though they rebelled, and though
they shut their ears to God and shut their eyes to His truth,
and though they'd have nothing of Him and His rule and His authority,
though they live for self, though they sought to usurp his authority
in this world, though they sought to put themselves upon his throne
and though they sought to rule over this world and over their
lives in this world, though they would do as they would, though
they would do as they willed, though they would sin, Nevertheless,
He chose the people, He chose such as these, and He came to
wash them of their sin, and He came to turn their hearts. Are
you one of these? Is that the rebellious heart
that you have, or you had? Has He come for you? Has He turned
your heart? Has He pointed you to the Lamb
who is in the midst of the throne? As He said unto you, there is
a Saviour of sinners, one who is able to save to the uttermost,
one who is able to wash from every sin, one who is able to
deliver the worst of sinners, one who is able to deliver even
you. As He shown you, as He opened your eyes, as He opened the door
in heaven and shown you one who stands in the midst of His throne,
one who has prevailed to open the book, Has he shown you? Have you seen? Is he yours? Yes, there was once a book which
was sealed. John sees this book in the right
hand of him who sits there on the throne, and it's sealed. And outside of the uncovered
veils of revelation, we see a very different sight to what John
sees here in chapter five. When we look in this world, in
the darkness of this world, we see a time when man appears to
have asserted his claim upon creation. We see, as it were,
that the book remains sealed to man in this world. And how
man in his folly continues to this very day to vainly assert
his claim to that which is rightfully God's. He vainly asserts his
claims over this world and over all that is in this world, over
all the riches of this world and the pleasures of this world
and the power of this world. Man acts and thinks as though
it's his. Yet here in this revelation which
is given to John, we see that the reality is very different. This book respecting God's rights
in this world is his. and he gives it to his son who
opens the seals and it has never been plucked from his hands and
man never did have a right upon it he never will have it will
be taken completely out of man's grasp however strong man may
seem to be however hard man may try to grasp hold of these things
they're utterly beyond his grasp When man rebelled in the garden,
when man began to make such claims upon that which was God's, he
fell utterly, sin entered and death by sin. Man was ruined,
he was crushed, he fell. God sent him forth from the garden,
never to return. The cherubim blocked the way
back to the tree of life, and God forevermore asserted his
rights over creation. There was no way back. Man sought
to claim what he thought was his, but God said, no, out you
go. You have sinned, and death shall
be your portion forevermore. sin entered and death by sin
and the way back to the paradise of God was barred a flaming sword
stood in the way but praise God that the time came for his people
for that people whom the father gave to the son the time came
when one would come to claim his rights upon creation when
one would come into this world into this dark fallen world into
this barren world when one would come to redeem that people to
deliver them to save them to ransom them yes the lamb was
sent the lamb of god even jesus christ came he was born he lived
and he was slain and having been slain having died having taken
upon himself the sins of all his own having swallowed up the
wrath of God against their sins and against their sin having
died for sin he rose again victorious yes he died for their sins he
swallowed up God's wrath due unto his people that wrath which
was due unto their sins that wrath which would shut them up
for eternity that wrath which you will have to bear if you
reject this lamb and if you reject the testimony to this lamb and
if you remain in your sins that wrath which you will suffer for
eternity those fires of damnation which you will drink, which you
will burn in, if you remain in your sin. That wrath Christ swallowed
up for his own, never to drink it again, for every last drop
was drunk, and every last sin was paid for, and the people
were delivered. And oh, the praise of such a
people! who have heard of this Lamb,
who was slain for them, who was slain for their sins, who delivered
them. Hear their praise. They sung
a new song, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to take the book,
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, and has made
us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. Yes, God lifts up his Son, he
lifts up the Lamb of God, before the gaze of wandering worlds. He lifts him up before all people. He displays his Son. He displays
the Lamb of God. He lifts him up before his people. He lifts him up for praise and
adoration. as the one who rules over all,
the one who came to save his own, the one who came to deliver
his creation, the one who came to assert his rights over all,
which he purposed to have from all eternity, the one who rules,
the one who stands in the midst of the throne. Yes, worthy, worthy
is the Lamb, and how his people praise. They sing a new song,
thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof.
Oh, what a song they sing! How we read here of the 24 elders
with the four living creatures joining in this praise. They
join forth in praise, they speak of Him who has redeemed us to
God by His blood out of every kindred and tongue and people
and nation. These 24 elders representative
of all God's people throughout all time, all who have been redeemed
by the blood of the Lamb. But what of the living creatures?
They join in this praise, but the living creatures represents
God's symbolic claims upon His rights in creation. They represent
creation and all that is His in creation. They represent all
the living creatures, all the world. How have they been redeemed? Well of course they, unlike the
24 elders, have not themselves been redeemed by blood, for they
are not men. But as a consequence of God's
redemption of his people, all the creation is delivered. They
too are delivered. The creation is delivered to
bring in the new heaven and the new earth. And as such, all creation
bows down in worship. The whole creation bows down
to worship Him who delivered all things. For all creation
says, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and
power, for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure
they are and were created. All creation, O what praise is
due under His name! How astonishing that God should
open the door to deliver a people out of such a fallen world. How
utterly astonishing. The door was shut to Satan, to
Lucifer and his angels when they rebelled. It was forever shut
and its book was sealed. But when man rebelled, the door
to Eden was shut. But there was a door for a people
chosen in Christ. which would be opened. It would
be opened in Christ. How astonishing that he didn't
shut the door to all forever. But he opened the door in Christ. And when God opens the door,
no man can shut it. And when God shuts the door,
no man can open it. Yes, he opened the door and he
opened that door through the Lamb. The Lamb who is Christ. The Lamb who is the Tree of Life. The Lamb who is the Tree of Life
who lies beyond the flaming sword. The One who is the Tree of Life
beyond the flaming sword. You'll only get to that tree,
you'll only get to eternal life if the sword is struck. And the Lord took the sword and
struck it against His own Son, the Lamb. And so He made the
way through to eternal life for His own. He opened the door never
to be shut again. He opened the door and He brought
His people unto eternal life. Yes, all is in relation to Christ. All is in relation to the Lamb. All is in relation to the Tree
of Life in the midst of the Paradise of God. All is in relation to
that Lamb who is stood in the midst of the throne of God. All
praise is due unto Him. who was stricken that his people
might not be. All praise is due under him who
stands as this saviour, this glorious mediator between God
and man, the one who has prevailed to take the book and open it,
and in so doing has opened the way of life to a mighty number,
to a countless number. Notice how particular this redemption
of this people is and how effectual it is. It says that they are
redeemed, that God has redeemed them by his blood out of every
kindred and tongue and people and nation and has made them
unto their God, kings and priests. He's redeemed us, it says. out of every nation. He has not
redeemed all nations but he's redeemed the people out of every
nation. A particular people, an elected
people, a chosen people have been redeemed out of all nations,
all kindreds by his blood. He has done it. He has done it
all. There is nothing for man to add,
nothing for man to do. Our belief in his redemption
doesn't make it effectual. Our belief in these things don't
bring the salvation. Our belief is simply that which
is given to us to see what has already been done, for he has
already redeemed us, his people, to God by his blood out of every
kindred and tongue and people and nation. Are you one of that
us? Are you one of these people who
were spoken of as us here? Are you one who was dead, lost
and blind in your sins? A sinner without strength and
without hope, one who has been redeemed by blood and effectual
atonement? Have you been justified, washed,
cleansed, quickened, renewed, born again? Have you? Have your eyes been opened by
the Spirit of God, by those seven Spirits of God that proceed from
the Lamb in the midst of the throne? Has he come with his
gospel to you when you were sat upon the dungheap of your corruption
and sin? Has He come unto you and pointed
you, a base vile sinner, to the Saviour? Has He come crying out
to you by the voice of one crying in the wilderness of your soul?
by the voice of him sent before the Lord to herald him, has he
come unto you and said of Christ, said of the Lamb, has he opened
your eyes and pointed you to this one in the midst of the
throne, and said unto you, even you, behold, behold the Lamb
of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Has he said
that of you? Can you join in this praise and
adoration with this countless multitude of which John writes? When they join in with a sevenfold
adoration where they cry out of the Lamb that He is worthy
to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor
and glory and blessing, can you join in this sevenfold adoration? Can you say with these, can you
join in with this company? which John writes of here, 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, saying
with a loud voice, worthy is the lamb that was slain to receive
power and riches and wisdom and strength. and honour 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 saying, blessing
and honour and glory and power. Be unto him that sitteth upon
the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four
beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders
fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. Amen.