Everything that God says to men, he says through a Mediator. Everything that God does to men, for men, or with men, he does through a Mediator. Everything that God reveals and makes known about himself, he reveals through a Mediator. And that Mediator is the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the God-man, our Savior.
Proposition:God is infinitely above us and so infinitely unlike us that we cannot know him or approach him, unless he reveals himself to us by the mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ – (John 1:18; 14:6).
In Revelation 5, the vision which John relates to us conveys one message. Everything God has for men is in the Lamb, provided by the Lamb, revealed through the Lamb, and shall bring praise to the Lamb of God. All that God gives to men, he gives through Christ. And all that God receives from men, he receives through Christ. In chapter 4, John saw the sovereign majesty of the triune God in the redemption of sinners by Christ Jesus.
Divisions:I want us to briefly look at this whole picture. As we do, I will call your attention to five objects within the picture.
I. The central object of chapters 4 and 5 is The Throne Of God (v. 1). John's vision was constantly filled with "him that sat on the throne." Seventeen times he calls our attention to the throne.
I think it is a mistake to suggest that in chapter 4 John saw God the Father on the throne, and now he sees the throne of the Lamb. In chapter 4, John saw the splendorous, glory of the triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In chapter 5, he sees a Mediator, a Lamb, in the midst of the throne, by which God makes himself known to men and that Lamb is himself God.
A. As always, The Throne Is A Symbol Of Sovereignty
It is the symbol of God's sovereign majesty, power, authority, and dominion. Let us never forget that our God is a God upon a throne, a totally sovereign God. A God without a throne is a worthless God. Indeed, such a god is no God at all – (Ps. 115:3; 135:6).
B. But let us also remember that The Lord Our God Sets Upon A Throne Of Grace – (Heb. 4:16).
He is sovereign; but he is gracious. God is great; but he is good. God is almighty; but he is merciful. "He delighteth in mercy!" God's sovereign power and dominion are fully engaged to accomplish his purpose of grace toward his people in Christ.
II. Secondly, John saw The Book Of God (vv. 1-4).In the right hand of the eternal God, John saw a book, a book written with and without. And it was bound, closed, and sealed with seven seals.
A. This Book Is The Book of God's Eternal Decrees.It represents God's eternal plan and purpose of grace, his purpose of predestination, which includes all things. "It symbolizes God's purpose with respect to the entire universe throughout history, and concerning all creatures in all ages and unto all eternity." (William Hendrickson).
1. Our God is a God of purpose, eternal, unalterable purpose – (Isa. 46:9-11).
2. God's purpose of predestination includes all things (Eph. 1:11).
3. The object of God's purpose is the gracious salvation of his elect – (Rom. 8:28-30).
Everything that comes to pass in time was purposed by God in eternity (Rom. 11:36). And the object of God in all that he does is the salvation of his elect. Isaac Watts captured the meaning of this vision beautifully in one of his hymns–
B. But as John saw it, The Book Was Closed, A Mystery Sealed With Seven Seals.
NOTE: The covenant of grace and the purpose of God are mysteries, hidden in times past – Revealed in Christ – In type in the O.T. Clearly in the N.T.
NOTE: Those seven seals do not represent an imaginary "seven dispensations of time. The writing within and on the back and the seven seals simply mean that God's purpose is full, complete, and perfect, including all things. The seven seals tell us that God's purpose of grace was sealed, unknown, unrevealed, a secret known only to God.
The closed book indicates that God's plan was unrevealed and unexecuted. If the book remains closed, God's eternal purpose would not be realized. His plan would not be carried out.
C. The Thought Of God's Purpose Being Shut Up, Unrevealed And Unfulfilled, Caused John Great Lamentation And Grief (vv. 2-4).
If the book is opened, if the seals are broken, then the universe is governed in the interest of God's people, according to God's purpose. Then God's glorious purpose of redemption will be accomplished. The purpose of god himself would be thwarted. The grace of God would be frustrated. The plan of God would go unfulfilled. God himself would lose his glory!
But there is no need to weep! God's purpose will stand. God's pleasure must be accomplished. "The foundation of God standeth sure."
III. Next, The Lamb of God Appears To Open The Book – (vv. 5-7).
"One of the elders," who was chosen of God, redeemed by blood, and saved by grace, "saith unto me, Weep not!" Why should he stop weeping?
A. "Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof" – In other words, Christ Has Conquered All Enemies, Both His And Ours. (John 12:30-32).
By shedding of his blood, by his death upon the cross, this Lion of Judah, this Root of David, has prevailed. He has removed the sins of his people, crushed the serpent's head, satisfied the law, and conquered death. By virtue of his sacrifice, Christ has earned the right to open the book, the right to rule the universe in accordance with God's purpose of grace (John 17:2).
B. Our Lord Jesus Christ Is Seen Not Only As A Conquering Lion, But Also As A Sin-Atoning, Mediating Lamb (v. 6).
Notice, John saw Christ standing in the midst of the throne, in the midst of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, as a Lamb that had been slaughtered. That means that the virtue and merit of his sacrifice is of abiding value – (John 1:9; 2:12).
1. This Lamb, symbolically has seven horns. He is the horn of salvation. As such he has plenty of power. "He is able to save to the uttermost."
2. And he has seven eyes, abundant wisdom – these seven eyes represent the gifts and power of God the Holy Spirit – (Ps. 68:18-20).
C. Christ The Lamb Took The Book – (v. 7).John Trapp said, "As a Mediator he took it, as God he gave it." This is the meaning of the picture: The Lord Jesus Christ, our Mediator, received authority to rule the universe according to the will of God, by virtue of his sin-atoning sacrifice.
This is a picture of the coronation of King Jesus (Heb. 2:8-9). As the reward of his mediatorial accomplishments, at his ascension, Christ received for himself a kingdom (Luke 19:12; Phil. 2:6-11; Ps. 2; Ps. 110; Dan. 7:9-14). God has turned this world over to the rule of our Mediator! God governs the universe through the Lamb. That is Christ's reward and our comfort.
IV. Now, fourthly, Listen To The Song Of The Redeemed – (vv. 8-12).
As soon as the Lamb took the book in his hands, and accepted, the scepter of universal monarchy, a song of praise broke out in heaven.
V. The last picture given in this chapter is The Consummate Purpose Of God – (vv. 13-14).
It is God's ultimate purpose that everything and everyone in his creation bow before and bring honor to his dear Son. And he will see to it that this purpose is accomplished in the end – (Isa. 45:20-25).
Application:This is what John saw in heaven – The entire universe is governed by the throne of God. And God rules this universe through Christ, the Lamb. When our Lord Jesus ascended back into heaven, he sat down on the right hand of God, exalted above all principality, power, and dominion. God the Father put all things in subjection to Christ, under his feet, and made him to be Head over all things to his church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all (Eph. 1:22-23). Ultimately, all things will glorify Christ, our God and Savior. God's purpose will be carried out in the universe. The throne of God is secure. The Lamb of God reigns supreme, without rival; by incontestable right. The kingdom of God is safe and secure.
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