"Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the sevenfold spirit of God sent out into all the earth" .Revelation:5:6
In the book of Revelation, John sees in vision a lamb that bares the wounds of slaughter at very center of the Throne of God. This lamb is worshiped by the angelic host that are positioned around the Throne.
This is the very lamb that John the Baptist identifies as our Lord Jesus Christ
"The next day John sees Jesus coming to him, and said, Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world." John:1:29
Jesus is that very lamb that was wounded for our transgression , that takes away our sin. These verses speak so powerful of the plan of God and our Lord Jesus' central place in that plan.
All the purpose of God is encapsulated in this vision
Jesus is the Purpose
When we see this throne, it is presented for us to see that Jesus is there in the center of the of it. This tells us that the central focus of Gods' plan of salvation and His eternal purpose is found in and through His Son Jesus. Jesus is the purpose of God, all that the Great God has or will undertake is in Jesus and for Jesus.
"all things have been created through him and for him." Colossians:1:16c
Paul again sites Jesus cenetral place and focus in his epitales to the Roman Christians
"For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen." Romans:11:36
This tells us that it is all about Jesus, that the place of highest exultation is given to Him and Him alone, we see this in the adoration hymn of praise and worship in Heaven bestowed upon this Lamb in the vision of John voiced by all the host of heaven.
" the four living creatures and the twenty-four
elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were
holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s
people.And they sang a new song, saying:“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,because you were slain,and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
Then
I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon
thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the
throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!”
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power,for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped." Revelation:5:8-14
Shows Us the Purpose
In this vision we see more than we might first realize, this lamb, that we understand to be Jesus , we see Him to have been slain. This being slain we are told is the means that God has determined for the reconciliation of humanity, and this being slain was not an action that Gods' hand was forced to interject but was always intended to ensure that there was nothing to keep humanity from having an eternal relationship with God. John tells us that Jesus is the Lamb.
"the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world." Revelation:13:8b
This means as far back into eternity we look we will see Gods' intent to provide salvation, that is it has always been predetermined by our God.
The Incarnation
As John at the onset of Jesus' public ministry records John the Baptist designation of Jesus as the sacrificial lam b there upon the banks of that Jordan, it speaks to us of the incarnation, that is in Jesus God has assumed our humanity.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."
"The
Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his
glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full
of grace and truth" John:1:1-3, 14
The Cross
We also see that through the incarnation, the cross of our Lord was made possible without the incarnation the death of Jesus could not have been accomplished, Jesus had to be fully human in order for Him to die. This death of the Cross in in view when John describes the lamb as.
"looking as if it had been slain" Revelation:5:6a
That is Jesus carries the wounds of the crucifixion, the same wounds that Jesus held forth to the disciples so that they could see that it was He.The wounds identify Jesus, they belong to Him alone.
"On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were
together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus
came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”
After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord." John:20:19-20
The wounds of the lamb should shows us that it is the same Jesus Who went to that Cross so that we might have peace knowing that by His Cross that is His death we are forgiven. Peace is made between our God and ourselves if we will freely receive it.
"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." Colossians:1:20
The Resurrection
This slain Lamb, we see though having been slain, is alive. This is not a dead lamb whose lifeless body lays bound to the alter but rather this Lamb stands up right which means it lives, it is resurrected from the death he faced in the slaughter of the crucifixion, that Jesus is alive. He is not found among the dead but is even now living come forth forevermore.John writes of His encounter with the risen Jesus at the very beginning of the Book of Revelation.
"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last.
I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades" .Revelation:1:17-18
This Jesus is that Lamb of God, the one who is declared to be Gods' Son through the resurrection
"who through the Spirit of holiness was declared the Son of God in power
by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans:1:4
Jesus is not the Son of God because He is resurrected, but rather He is resurrected because He is the Son of God. The grave could not hold Him. The Resurrection just declares what has and is eternally true. Jesus is the Son of God.
The Ascension
John views all this glorious vision of worship and adoration taking place in the highths of Heaven, telling us about the very One Who is there ascended there on our behalf, standing as our victorious High Priest, who is even now overseeing the Salvation of His people .
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God
; believe also in me.
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
You know the way to the place where I am going.”John:14:1-4
"Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is ascended into the
heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession." Hebrews:4:14
Because Jesus has passed into the Heavens, that is ascended as the Gospel witness to us we need not fear the very Throne where in He stands central to, rather we can appeal to this Throne for help as a sources of aid in our moments of need. It is Throne of Grace more than a Throne of judicial appliance
"Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess.
For
we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our
weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as
we are—yet he did not sin.
Let
us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may
receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" .Hebrews:4:14-16
The Spirit Given
At the very onset John notes that this Lamb has seven eyes
"He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the sevenfold spirit of God sent out into all the earth" .Revelation:5:6
John interprets the eyes through the Spirit to represent the Holy Spirit, with in the Greek states described as "sevenfold" .
This is fulfillment of Jesus' promise of sending the Holy Spirit to those who freely receive Him regardless as to what nation they arise out of. The Spirit is in the Earth in the lives of Christians, always revealing our lord Jesus and aiding in the proclamation of the Gospel message.
"And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—
the
Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees
him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be
in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.
“All this I have spoken while still with you.But
the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,
will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said
to you.
Peace
I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the
world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid". John:14:16-20, 25-27
"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes
on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Acts:1:8
All this we see found in so few words of Scripture, always directing our attention to our Lord Jesus Christ speaking of Him as that pivotal person in all of time and eternity. He is the purposes of God .
Jesus Christ (the) Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the center of the throne" Revelation:5:6a Amen.
Rev.Todd Crouch, Pastor
The
Fountain of Life Church a Congregation of Grace Communion http://www.youtube.com/user/IfItIsNotAboutJesus
Washington,
Pennsylvania.
www.gcfountainoflife.org
The
Fountain of Life is heard on the RKP Radio Network 1710 and 1670 AM in
Washington and North Franklin ,and 1790 AM in the Arden Fair Grounds area
of Washington Pennsylvania, and on 1710 AM in Bentleyville and Monongahela,
Pennsylvania. And online around the world at www.rkpradio.com
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