There is a distinction within the Trinity. Each has a personality, but they all belong to one. We know it as the Godhead. And no other could take the scroll. Therefore, to suggest, as some do, that there could be possibly a co-redeemer is blasphemy and don't defend them.
If someone tells you, well, you can also be saved by, do not buy into that. You're demonstrating you reject the revelation of Jesus Christ and his entire Bible. This is Cross-Reference Radio with our pastor and teacher, Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of Revelation.
Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross-reference radio, specifically, how you can get a free copy of this teaching.
Now, here's Pastor Rick in the book of Revelation chapter 5 with his continuing study called The Worthy One. Maybe you're not that familiar with all this stuff I'm talking about, but you get enough of it. You get the convictions. You get enough to have your attention held. And how long Jesus warned that Satan will come and snatch the seeds of the word if you're not careful.
And then your end will not be good. Hold on to the things you do understand. Develop those things. And you will receive more things from the Lord. The root of David here is linking Old Testament prophecy to the New Testament Christ yet again.
In case you missed the first reference of the lion of Judah and the connection in Genesis, well, he gives us another one. And this one has a military flair to it. Isaiah 11 is where John is pointing to in the Old Testament. And when you go to that chapter, you read about this character, this lamb. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth and with the breath of his lips.
He shall slay the wicked.
Well, that's how we introduce. The judgments from Ezekiel and Zechariah. And that these seals are going to pour out judgment on the earth.
Well, Isaiah was yet another one that thousands of years before the events took place. Laid it out. Nobody else has got this. It should mean something to human beings. That there's only one book that calls it, and there's enough of it already fulfilled.
That if you got no more fulfillment, you have enough to make a decision as to whether or not you're going to receive the Christ. Or are you going to line up against him? And there's no middle ground. Jesus said, You're either with me or you're against me. Make your choice.
He's decent enough to give. An adult. A chance to be an adult. And make the choice for themselves. Because when we adults aren't treated as adults, we whine and we moan and we complain.
And so he treats us as such. He is the fulfillment of the Old Testament and the purpose of the New Testament and the God whom we shall face. I gotta love. Listen to this. This is after the resurrection.
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded to them in all the scriptures. the things concerning himself.
So he gets on this road with these two men, and they're talking about the death of Jesus Christ. They don't know Jesus Christ risen is walking with them. And then he says, Well, let me give you a Bible story. You would think they would say we're grieving too much to have a Bible study right now. But his presence compelled them.
without even knowing And he lays it out. And the elder here, that is telling John not to weep. He's attaching the Old Testament to this Christ who is worthy, who's going to open these seals. In fact, In the days that Christ walked the earth, Jesus said to the Jews, you search the scriptures, for in them you think you have life, and these are they which testify of me. It's all about me.
And if anybody can say that. It is him. And it's not out of place. In this case, it is not bragging, it is a revelation of fact. And if you cannot line up with this fact, You will have an eternal problem with Jesus, a problem that will never go away.
A problem that you're not up for. You think you got problems in this life. Watch and see what happens to you if you miss out on eternal life. You say you're trying to scare me.
Well, you should be thanking me. if you knew what was coming. And what the Christians are trying to tell you Don't be standing there when that falls. Then you'd move. into his present.
John is told to look at the lion, and so he turns to look. But what does he see? He sees the lamb because the lion, if Christ came as a lion, there'd be no salvation. He would have just mauled everybody to judgment. But he comes as a lamb.
That's meekness. He restrains his strength on the behalf of the weak. And the dirty. giving them both a chance to be strong. and clean.
In verse 5, he says, And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne. And of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders stood a lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God. Sent out into all the earth. And you can read that and be preoccupied with trying to draw a picture of something like that and not. and missed the point.
Or you can dig deeper and you can say, God has made me. capable of understanding enough of what's here. Had God come, as I mentioned, as a lion on that Christmas morning? There'd be no redemption for sinners. It would have been straight to judgment.
The Lamb Is Revelation's favorite title for him because it explains what he has done for us. And he is honored. Throughout the Revelation, as only God can be honored because He is equal with the Father. Yet He is not the Father, nor is He the Holy Spirit, but He is equal with, and we call this the Trinity. And it's not really that difficult to grasp enough of it.
It is impossible to exhaust. But so is the Bible. No matter how deep you go in the Bible, it will go deeper. You'll never get to the bottom. But oh boy, on the way to it you'll get so much In the midst of the throne of the four living creatures and in the midst of the elders.
Well, he's the center figure now, he's on the throne of God where these figures are as John saw them. The Lamb of God is the dominant personality because He's worthy. It stood a lamb. Slain but still standing. And of course, it belongs to Jesus.
John the Baptist pointed it out way in the early days when John, this John, and the brother of Simon Peter Andrew, were appointed to go follow Jesus by John the Baptist. He said those incredible words, behold a Lamb of God. Who takes away the sin of the world. Who else can you apply that to? Who else?
No one else came as a lamb, a sacrificial lamb, lining up with the Passover lamb that the Jews slaughtered. on the day that they were taken out of bondage in Egypt. And the judgment passed over those houses with the blood of the Lamb on the door, just like the judgment of God will pass over the sinners that have the blood of Christ in their confession. their confession of faith. The Lamb imagery relates to Christ, and every Christian knows it.
It is not an accident. The language being used, going back again to Exodus twelve and Isaiah fifty-three. Set up thousands of years before the event so that nobody could say, ah, it's just a fluke. They could say it. They're just being dishonest to themselves.
Even Shakespeare said this above all to thine own self be true, The lamb, the dominant one. in this scene. As in the fourth chapter, the throne was the dominant Statement. amongst the believers, the throne of God, and appropriately. And now it is the Lamb who sits on the throne.
1 Corinthians chapter 1 tells us about why God used the Lamb. God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty. The world's definition, their estimation, and the world in New Testament language are those who have not Christ. And in many cases are happy to stay that way. He says as though it had been slain.
Well, New Testament writers use Old Testament sacrifices to interpret The meaning of his death. Old Testament sacrifices help explain the death of Christ, that he is this Lamb of God who died in the place of the sinner. Calvary The place of the cross has replaced the bronze altar of Moses. We don't go to a bronze altar and take a sheep to say to God, We repent, we regret our sin, please forgive us. We go to Calvary, we go to where Christ was crucified, we go to the cross of Christ.
I'm not there's nothing wrong with wearing a cross as a piece of jewelry, so long as you understand it is infinitely more than jewelry. It is a statement of faith. Of where you stand in creation, what you believe and what you reject. The Lamb of God, who died in our place, having seven horns and seven eyes. These are militaristic overtones.
Those horns represent power, and the lamb has become the ram. He's going to administer judgment because that's what these fourth and fifth chapters are about: setting up the scene in heaven where the church has been raptured to before the great tribulation begins. Two Do what nobody can keep it from doing. and that is judge the world and the wicked.
So the seven horns speak of complete power. And the seven eyes speak of complete intelligence. If you look at any animal with eyes that's not blind, you know you're looking at someone who's returning intelligence. They're processing. There's thinking in there.
So the symbolism is very easy to pick up there. Perception, able to see things. Which are the seven spirits of God? sent out into all the earth.
Well, the Holy Spirit's an integral part of Christ. As we covered this in chapter 1 and verse 4, verse 7 now, Then he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
So Jesus receives. The judgments. From the Father. God's plan of salvation. and his plan of purification.
Again, neither the Father nor the Holy Spirit died to redeem sinners. There is a distinction within the Trinity. Each has a personality, but they all belong to one. We know it as the Godhead. And no other could take the scroll.
Therefore, to suggest, as some do, that there could be possibly a co-redeemer is blasphemy, and don't defend them. If someone tells you, well, you can also be saved by, do not buy into that. You're demonstrating you reject the revelation of Jesus Christ and his entire Bible. which works to educate us about who Christ is. Can you tell to somebody else Who Jesus is.
Can you say why he is your Savior? Why you believe him? How about you adults? Every Christian should be able to do that. Every Christian is a basic evangelist.
Every Christian should be able to say, This is why I follow Christ. You don't have to know the whole Bible. You just have to know the gospel. And the Christ of the gospel. And that is not asking too much.
Verse 8.
Now, when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures, and the twenty-four elders, fell down before the lamb, each having a harp and golden bowls full of incense. which are the prayers of the saints. These living creatures representing creation, including the seraphim and the cherubim, we covered them in chapter 4. Right now, all creation groans because of sin.
Soon, all creation will rejoice because sin will be dealt with. And there will be no more suffering at that point. And the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. They're not clumsy. This is deliberate and it is willful.
The song of joy that they are about to sing comes from these elders rejoicing over their salvation, which means they're not angels. Christ did not die for the angels, the angels that sinned were cast out of heaven. They're called fallen angels. The remaining angels, they behave themselves, they got to stay. Each having a heart.
An emblem of song.
Well, Psalm 43, verse 4. I'm gonna not read the verse because We're only up to verse 8 and we got to get to verse 14. But Psalm 43:4 will tell you that the harp is connected, one of many places, to joy. And so we're in this atmosphere of rejoicing in worship in the presence of the Lamb. Nobody's questioning him here.
No one's doubting him. No one's coming up with a better way to do something. And golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Well, here's one of those cases in. Revelation where we're just told what it is. The incense, the smoke flying off that incense represents the prayers of saints ascending into heaven. This tells us that all of our prayers are cataloged by God. They're not dismissed, even though there's so many prayers God does not grant.
But he still marks them down. And that might not mean much to you now, but it will mean a whole lot to you when you get to heaven. And so the Bible takes the time to tell us that. Psalm 141, verse 2: Let my prayer be set before you as incense. The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
And so when you see Christians singing songs or praying, or in the spirit, you see them lifting up their hands, that's part of what's going on. It's an act of worship, a posture of worship. Verse 9. And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals, for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation.
So there they are. The human beings. That represents all believers, Old and New Testament, singing in heaven. Only sinners saved can sing this song. Created beings are not part of this because they've not been redeemed like we have been.
You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals.
Well, salvation from nowhere else, Acts 4.12, nor is there salvation in any other name. Under heaven, given among men, by which we must be saved. For you were slain and have redeemed us to God by your blood. It costs blood. It wasn't a nod.
It wasn't a signature. It was a cruel, public, shameful death. that Christ subjected himself to in front of everybody, had it recorded. and is available. as a point of contact for faith.
1 Corinthians 7, 23. Paul reminds the believer, you were bought at a price. Jesus purchased people. With the blood of God. Not earned is our salvation.
It is received. And if that is too much for your pride, then you're disqualified. then you don't belong. because you cannot earn your salvation. There's nothing in you good enough, big enough, or anything else enough.
Except to receive to choose to respond to the invitation. out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. There is no reason to take that metaphorically. It is a literal statement. And I believe this statement, with others, teaches the salvation for.
Those that have been aborted. Infants that have died, children that have died. mentally handicapped people. How else can you have people in heaven from every tribe, tongue, and nation? In the days of Abraham, when people on the other side of wherever he was were not worshiping Yahweh, how could you get out of those people and their egregious behaviors?
anybody into heaven.
Well, that's one way you could do it. And I do believe. Again, David said, I'm not going to go to the child will not come back to me, but I will go to the child. On what grounds, David? on the purity of God, on the wisdom of God.
There is an age of accountability. And we're taught that the Jews that were 20 years old and Above, they weren't going to go into the promised land because of their doubt. they were accountable for their doubt. but the ones younger they were not.
So, there is an age of an accountability, and I believe it's a moving target sometimes. The knowledge that it is there is encouraging. Don't fool with it. Don't Try to say, well, I'm going to wait right up to the last moment. Buzzer shots won't count.
Satan is too good at blocking them. And your flesh is too dumb to resist him. It's better to side with Jesus today and not harden your heart. Can a man take fire to his bosom and his clothes not be burned? the proverb goes.
No, he cannot. Verse 10. and have made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on earth.
Well, we commented on this in chapter one. This is the co-regency. It is repeated several times, that means more than three, less than five. Or less than six, maybe. Anyway, the co-regency that God will be using his people.
Uh in the kingdom age. There will be no more corrupted government when Christ rules from Jerusalem. He will have Assigned True believers Two Watch over things, and this is what that is pointing to. Exodus 19, verse 6. and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests, and A holy nation, these are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.
And we are going to be a kingdom. We will be rulers in the kingdom. There go the crowns cast at the feet. Verse 11. Then I looked and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and living creatures and the elders.
And the number of them was 10,000 times 10,000 and thousands of thousands. Verse 12 saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor. And glory. and blessing. You can't estimate how many there were.
Going back to Daniel 10. Remember when preaching, always hide behind a verse to get their attention off of your blunders. Daniel 7, verse 10, a thousand thousands ministered to him, 10,000 times 10,000 stood before him. The court was seated, and the books were open. Oh, man.
Don't be on the wrong. Be in that book, the Lamb's Book of Life, and not in the book of judgment. If you factor in All of the angelic beings and all of the saved human beings, then there might just be more people in heaven than there is in hell. And so, when I say God is populating heaven, He is building up. He is the Lord of hosts.
Of many numbers, and he's building up believers by his delay. in his return.
Now in verse 12, This saying with a loud voice, worthy is the lamb, they are now inspired and they burst out in this song of. Praise and gratitude. The 24 elders sing. The angels seem to then join in with chanting. But if you notice this with a loud voice, They're These are booming voices.
There is no holding back. They're not out of control. They're just pouring it out. Intelligent beings. worshiping God.
These proclaim the Lamb's glory. All creation will proclaim the Lamb's glory. Not all creation will proclaim his salvation. It is up to the individual. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess, and there's nothing they can do about that.
It will be overwhelming. Even Satan cannot. Resist admitting. The glory of God when it comes down to that moment. And this is what is being said here.
They're created beings. It's nothing for God to overwhelm them with His glory. But again, it will not undo their state. Not recognizing who He is, that's not enough.
So if you have someone say, Well, I believe in God, that's not enough. Have you submitted to Him? Have you confessed your sins? Have you come to the cross of Christ for salvation and nowhere else? It's never one thing.
Verse 13, and every creature which is in heaven and on earth and under the earth. And such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power to him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever. Clearly, They are recognizing Who God is. God is real and they're going to feel it. And so when we read Philippians chapter 2, verse 9, quoting the prophet Isaiah, therefore God also highly exalted him and given him the name which is above every name.
That the name of Jesus, at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, and those of those in heaven. And of those on earth. and of those under the earth, And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. to the glory of God the Father. There's just no way around it.
I would imagine one of those strong angels will make sure you'll be bowing down, even if you don't like it. I don't think it will have to come to that. I think the glory of God will be so overwhelming, it will be an irresistible force. Verse 14: Then the four living creatures said, Amen. And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshipped him.
who lives for ever and ever. I mean, they just burst out with this yes, this is a fact, this is it. Amen. It is truth. It is trustworthy.
We can't contain ourselves. We're not out of control, but we're permitted to affirm. Without restraint, the loving fact of Christ and who He is. Absolutely Willful worship.
Next, on the heels of this seal being taken, they will start being peeled back, In chapter 6, the church will be absent. This is the last time we will see the believers. Prior to converts in the tribulation period until the return of Christ. Mm. in chapter 19.
I close with this verse. 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 9. For God did not appoint us to wrath. The us. The church, when I say the church, true believers in that context, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Yeah. This has been Cross-Reference Radio with Pastor Rick Gaston. This program is a radio outreach of Calvary Chapel, Mechanicsville, in Mechanicsville, Virginia. Pastor Rick has been teaching through the book of Revelation, but if you're interested in learning about a different book of the Bible, we have hundreds of past episodes available to listen to on demand. Just visit us online at crossreferenceradio.com and you'll find an archive of Pastor Rick's past teachings.
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Well, we hope you'll join us next time here on Cross Reference Radio. Yeah.
