So, when he was going to be in Alaska, he invited me to come and to preach.
! Irony is that I was a pastor up in Alaska for 10 years, and so we looked at his itinerary
and know he won't be the town. Who's been to Alaska here, by the way? Oh, not enough of you.
It is God's country up there. It's beautiful up there, but I don't know the irony of wanting
Mike to be on an orca whale. It's kind of dangerous, actually. So, just a little bit of my background.
I grew up in the Philippines and Malaysia. My parents were, with the Bible translator,
missionaries, and my wife also is an MK from the Philippines, where we met, and good show.
I have a photo of my family. So, my wife of 28 years, and then my son right next to me there
is a freshman at Wheaton College, and then you'll notice next to him, my son, my oldest son,
has Down syndrome, and I'll mention disability, and then I've got two other daughters. But that's
my family. We are down next to Wheaton in Warrenville. We go to College Church, which is across the street
from Wheaton College. That's our home church. And then the ministry I'm part of, you can just throw
that up real quick, is I'm a consultant or coach, part of Promote Humility, and we do workshops and
coaching and some initiatives I'll talk about just briefly later on. So, thank you for that.
So, and you can, yeah, perfect.
I'm still dead.
I'll move this down.
So, yeah, after pastoring for 10 years in Alaska, I've been part of international missions
for another dozen years or so, and now lead in this ministry and consulting work for churches,
nonprofits, and mission agencies. But as Mike gave me some freedom to select a passage or passages,
because I'll be here back next week, I thought, well, let's go to one of my favorite parts of the
Bible. And so, if you would turn to the book of Revelation and the songs you sang of
just really been wonderful at preparing our hearts for what we're going to look at today.
Hopefully, you've heard much of the fact that the Bible, even though it's made up of 66 books,
is really one story, because we believe it has one ultimate author, and he's brought many players
in to help write it, but it's one large arc of a story. And if you're familiar with reading books,
it's particularly important to see what comes at the very end. And that's what we're going to find
today. If you want to breeze through a book real quick, it's helpful to go to the end to see what
it's all about, and to see the trajectory of where it's going. And it helps us then to understand
who the author is, what his big message is for us. You probably know this, but Revelation was written
by one of Jesus' closest disciples, the Apostle John. And he writes in a very unique way. Revelation
is kind of a mixture of three genres put together. Apocalyptic, so there's a lot of metaphor and
imagery, and we'll see that today. But also, it says it's a prophecy, so there's speaking about the future.
But it's also an epistle, because it's a letter written by John to these churches, so it's a mixture of those.
And so we're going to look at primarily chapter 4 and 5, so if you'd go to Revelation chapter 4 and 5,
and we'll look at these two chapters together. They're really a story.
It's unfortunate that chapter 5, the marker there, is in the middle, because these two chapters are a story.
There's a setting, there's a scene painted, there are characters, there's some drama and some tension,
and then a resolution. So it's a beautiful story that we have here.
I'm jumping into chapter 4 and 5. Actually, next week, we'll look at chapters 2 and 3,
because I want to set that up by us taking a look at this passage here this morning.
But before I start to read, if you'd close your eyes and bow your heads and just take a moment and ask God to
speak to you, just as we sang, speak to you that we might see Christ even more clearly this morning.
So just the quietness of your heart, just do that.
But Father, we could read your word nonstop, still not understand it, without your help,
without your spirit illuminating your word to our hearts and our minds and our wills,
and to actually bring change in us and to help us see you through the haze of this world
and our mixed up thinking. Help us to see you clearer this morning.
In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
Let's read the story.
After this, I, and this is the Apostle John speaking,
looked and behold a door standing open in heaven.
And the first voice, which I had heard speak unto me like a trumpet, back in chapter 1,
said,
Come up here,
and I will show you what must take place after this.
At once,
I was in the Spirit,
and behold,
a throne
stood
in heaven
with one
seated on the throne.
And he who sat there
had the
appearance.
Notice that now some imagery starts to come in
because it's hard to describe
what's this,
so he's going to use some metaphors and imageries
to paint
as best he can
what he's beholding in this
heavenly throne room.
the appearance of
Jasper and
carnelian
and around the throne
was a
rainbow
that had the
appearance
of an emerald.
We sang about the
rainbow of different
colors
and my goodness,
just looking up
at the
stained glass,
I mean,
just trying to get
all these colors.
and around
the throne
were
24 thrones
and seated on the
thrones
were 24
elders
clothed in
white garments
with
golden crowns
on their heads.
Listen how terrifying
this is now.
From the throne
came
flashes
of
lightning
and
rumbles
and
peals
of
thunder
and
before the throne
were burning
seven
torches of
fire,
which are the
seven
spirits
of God,
that is the
perfect spirit
of God,
and before
the throne
was as
it were
a sea
of glass
like crystal.
Sea is often
an image of
chaos,
but here
there's no
chaos.
Everything
is in
order.
And around
the throne
on each
side of
the throne
are four
living
creatures
full of
eyes
in front
and behind.
The first
living creature
like a lion,
the second
like a
living
creature
like an
ox,
the third
living creature
with the
face of a
man,
the fourth
living creature
like an
eagle in
flight,
and the
four living
creatures,
each of
them with
six wings
and full
of eyes
all around
and within.
Terrifying
and almost
bizarre,
but this
is so
holy and
glorious
and day
and night
they,
the most
terrifying
and strange,
they are
the ones.
They never
cease saying,
holy,
that is
separate,
distinct,
mysterious,
transcendent,
holy,
how different
he is from
us.
Holy,
holy,
holy is the
Lord God
Almighty,
who was
and is
and is to
come.
And whenever
the living
creatures
gave,
give glory
and honor
and thanks
to him
who is
seated on
the throne,
who lives,
notice how
forever
and ever,
emphasis on
his,
this length
of time,
ever and
ever,
the 24
elders fall
down before
him,
who is
seated on the
throne and
worship him
who lives
forever
and ever,
they cast
their crowns
before the
throne saying,
worthy are
you our
Lord and
God to
receive glory
and honor
and power
for you
created all
things and
by your
will they
existed and
were created.
Then I
saw in the
right hand
of him
who is
seated on
the throne
a scroll
written
within and
on the
back
sealed
with
seven
seals
and as
we'll see
in the rest
of the
book,
what it
is,
is this
symbol
of
the
rest of
history
and what's
going to
take place
to bring
the judgments
of God
and the
redemption
of God's
people to
fruition,
to culmination,
to the new
heavens and
new earth.
earth and
I saw a
strong
angel
proclaiming
with a
loud voice.
By the
way, we've
gotten to a
point here
where we've
set the
scene now,
this
transcendent
Holy
scene!
and now
an angel
is sitting
with a
strong
loud voice
so that it
can be
heard
everywhere.
Who is
worthy to
open the
scroll and
break its
seals?
That is,
who can
bring about
these
judgments
and the
final redemption
of God's
people?
Who can
unleash
this?
Verse 3,
and no
one
in heaven
or on
earth or
under the
earth was
able to
open the
scroll or
to look
into it.
Stop here
and recognize
what has
just been
explained
here.
There's
no one
to right
the wrongs,
to banish
evil,
to redeem
God's
people?
No one.
And so
it's not a
surprise.
The next
verse says,
and I,
John,
began
to weep
loudly,
sobs
at the
realization
that these
judgments
won't
come about.
There will
not be a
correcting of
evil.
There will
be no
redemption
of God's
people.
And so
he wept
loudly
because no
one was
found worthy
to open
the scroll
or to
look into
it.
And one
of the
elders said
to me,
beautiful
words for
him,
weep no
more.
Behold,
the lion
of the
tribe of
Judah,
the root
of David,
has conquered
so he
can open
the scroll
and its
seven
seals.
angels.
And between
the throne
and the
four living
creatures
and among
the elders,
I saw
a lamb
standing.
Remarkable
here,
he's not
coming up
from the
earth or
some other
place,
he's just
already
there.
between the
elders,
probably a
picture of
the church
and the
throne of
God,
he's there.
A lamb
standing
as though
it had
been slain.
Seven
horns,
perfect power,
with seven
eyes,
perfect knowledge,
which are
the seven
spirits of
God,
the perfect
spirit of
God,
sent out
into all
the earth
and he
went and
took the
scroll from
the right
hand of
him who
was seated
on the
throne.
And when
he had
taken the
scroll,
the four
lived,
these
terrifying
creatures,
and the
twenty-four
elders fell
down before
the lion,
each holding
a harp,
and the
golden bowls
full of
incense,
where our
char the
prayers the
saints.
Is that
what it
says?
Did I
misspeak?
But why?
Because
there's
several images
going on
here.
Verse five,
there's a
lion,
root of
David's,
yes,
there's a
picture of
a lamb.
Personally,
I'm
writing this,
I want
to describe
from what
I know
about who
it's
pointing to,
it's
Jesus,
I would
want to
describe
him now,
and continuing
on to the
book as a
lion on
the throne,
Aslan.
Never once
in the rest
of the book
of Revelation
is he referred
to as a
lion.
For two
dozen times
now,
this person
is referred
to as a
lamb
on a
throne.
Why?
Realize
what's
happening
here.
The last
book of the
Bible,
this one
story,
you have
the main
character,
a character
that's going
to be repeated
with this
name into
eternity.
Don't miss
this opportunity
to think
through what
his name
will be,
and it's
a lamb.
And so I
want us to
park here
and think
about this
because
this is
Jesus
who is
seen as
the word
of God.
That is
the perfect
self-revelation
of what
God is
like.
And what
God wants
his people
to know
is that
he'd like
to,
he'd prefer
to be
called
a
lamb.
On a
throne,
but a
lamb.
So that's
what we're
going to do
the rest
of our time
here is just
meditate on
this.
Why a
lamb?
I'm
going to
give you
four
reasons
that I
think each
one gets
closer and
closer.
The
apostle John
and even
his other
letters in
his book
just loves
layers of
imagery,
like an
onion.
He loves,
okay,
this one's
accurate,
but this
one gets
even closer,
and this
one,
oh,
yes,
they're all
true,
but they're
just getting
deeper.
Let me
give four,
and I'm
sure into
eternity
we'll
discover
other
layers to
this.
What does
a lamb
symbolize?
So let's
picture a
lamb.
I could
have brought
a lamb
here,
I guess,
this morning,
but Mike
would have
maybe gotten
a little
nervous by
that.
my wife's
family is
from Oregon,
and so
every summer
we head
out there,
and her
family has
a farm,
and they're
our sheep,
and so my
kids growing
up,
every time
we'd go
out there,
we'd visit
the sheep,
and the
kids just
loved bounding
up to the
sheep every
morning,
naming the
sheep,
feeding the
sheep,
petting the
sheep,
sheep aren't,
they're not
intimidating
for a
kid,
accessible,
calming,
but this
isn't a
sheep,
this is a
lamb,
even less
intimidating,
the epitome
of
weakness,
Jesus
himself said,
come to
me for I
am gentle
and lowly
in heart,
and you
will find
rest for
your souls,
he's
accessible and
welcoming to
any who come
to him,
that's what
God is like,
seek,
and so,
that's the
first layer,
I think,
a lamb is,
I think
sometimes we
read Revelation
so much that
we forget
that it is
a lamb,
it's the
lamb is,
it gently
welcomes you,
that's the
first point,
the lamb,
Jesus,
the lamb
gently
welcomes,
another image
in the
Revelation
that
parallels
this,
is said
a couple
times,
the image
of,
well,
this is
what it
says,
and let
the one
who is
thirsty
come,
let the
one who
desires
take the
water of
life
without
price,
you
come to
this lamb,
there's no,
if you
come with
your thirst
and your
hunger
and your
neediness
and your
just lack
of,
he's
welcoming,
you take
the water
of life
without
price,
remember
that this
is what
Jesus said
to that,
the woman
at the
well,
she had
nothing,
her
history
was littered
with
failures
and
awfulness
and
hardship
and
she
feels
so
welcomed
by
his
free
offer
that she
goes
and
calls
others
to come
to this
unintimidating
welcoming.
So perhaps
today the
lamb is
welcoming
you to
come to
him,
your
questions,
your
doubts,
your
addictions,
your
regrets,
your
mistakes,
your
embarrassments
and you
find that
he offers
eternal
life.
But again,
this is just
the outer
layer.
This isn't
the primary
reason.
We find out
from the
context that
he's using
this image
of a
lamb.
It's
there,
but the
emphasis,
if you look
back at
chapter 5,
the emphasis
is on the
fact that
the lamb
was
slain.
You'll
see that
in verse
6.
A lamb
standing as
though it
had been
slain.
And jumping
ahead a little
bit,
we'll get
here a little
bit,
but verse
9,
worthy of
you to
take the
scroll to
open its
seals,
for you
were
slain.
And then
verse 12,
ahead there
saying,
with a
lot of
worthy
lamb who
was
slain.
So it's
not only
a weak
looking
creature,
it's a
creature that
at one
point had
been
slaughtered
and was
the ultimate
weakness
dead.
A jagged
slash
across
its
neck.
Many of
you probably
know your
Bibles,
this is a
reflection back
to the
Old Testament
and what
God called
his people
to do
was to
sacrifice
a lamb
as a
picture of
the fact
that because
of their
rebellious,
because of
our
rebelliousness
as humans,
we deserve
punishment from
God and
one of the
only means
of being
rescued from
that judgment
and punishment
that we
deserve is
for something
to die in
our place,
something else
to take the
punishment for
us so
the lamb
is slaughtered
in our
place.
And we
can be
freed and
have a
relationship
with God.
And so
this is
the one
who introduced
Jesus,
when Jesus
came for
his ministry,
he was
pointed out
and said,
behold,
John the
Baptist said,
the lamb
of God
who takes
away the
sin of
the world.
And so
by placing
our trust
in Jesus
and coming
to him
without
anything,
we find
that he
bears God's
wrath for
all our
failures and
sins and
pride.
So that's
definitely
here of
what it's
symbolizing.
So he's a
lamb,
gently,
he's a
gentle,
weak,
gently
welcomes
you.
He's a
lamb that
died in
your place,
that's
definitely
where he's
going here,
but there's
more.
because there's
a much
greater
emphasis in
this passage
that it's
the slain
lamb
who
conquers.
So look
back at
verse 5,
the lion,
the tribe
of Judah,
the root
of David,
has
conquered
and so
this
conquering
person
steps forward
and it's
a
lamb.
how did
he conquer?
How did
he have
the authority
to come
to the
judge or
the king
on the
throne,
the one
on the
throne and
take this
scroll?
What if
gives him
the authority,
the right
to do
that?
It's
through
weakness.
sacrifice
that he
is able
to
conquer.
Verse 9,
look ahead
there again,
worthy are
you to
take the
scroll and
open its
seals for
you were
slain
by your
blood.
will
be
is it
because
this
person
was
powerful
or
clever
or
impressive
or
eloquent
or charismatic
or smart
or intelligent?
No!
It's
because he
was so
humble
and willing
to sacrifice
for his
people
that he's
worthy.
And it
refers to
there
by your
blood
you
ransomed
your
people.
So how
were God's
people
rescued
and
victorious?
It was
because
these
lambs
were
slaughtered,
blood was
put on
the posts
so that
the angel
of death
passed over
their,
this is the
people of
Israel and
Egypt,
passed over
their homes
and they
were rescued
and redeemed
and were
victorious
because of
a
slaughtered
lamb.
Who is
the one
who has
authority
to unleash
all the
righting of
wrongs and
defeat all
evil and
redeem God's
people?
So here's
this next
letter,
Jesus the
lamb conquers
because of
his humility
and sacrifice.
The lamb
conquers
because of
his humility
and sacrifice.
And so you
see that his
reign in
this verse,
you know,
as we saw
there,
he's got
seven horns
that is
perfect power
and seven
eyes,
so he's
omniscient,
nothing will
ever take him
by surprise.
he's on
the throne.
And so we
get this
massive paradox,
this juxtaposition,
which I think
will be,
stand all,
in awe of,
for all
eternity,
the great
power and
authority and
his
weakness,
his willingness
to enter such
weakness and
humility and
sacrifice.
But I,
that's really
close,
that's it,
but I think
there's one,
even one more
layer in.
And that's
because we've
got to sit
back and
look,
who is this
written to?
This is a
letter to
people.
And what are
they going to
get out of
this?
Yes,
at the heart
of it is to
be enamored
and awestruck
by this
lamb on
a throne.
But what
was the
situation for
those reading
this?
They were
facing
tremendous
hardship,
martyrdom,
losing jobs,
losing family.
John is in
exile at this
point.
And so
one of the
repeated
descriptions of
those who
follow the
lamb is
to the
one who
conquers.
So actually
look at,
just before
our story
here,
at the end
of chapter
three,
look at that
with me.
Verse 21,
we'll see this
a little more
next week,
but verse 21,
the one who
conquers,
I will grant
him to sit
with me on
my throne
as I
also
conquered
and sat
down with
my father
on his
throne.
So those
who follow
this
reigning
king
follow in
his path.
In other
words,
the lamb
invites you
to follow
him
to victory
through
humility
and
sacrifice.
They would
be victorious
even in
their weaknesses
and,
might I say,
because of
their weakness.
One of my
favorite verses
in Revelation,
if you just
jump over a
couple chapters
to the end
of chapter
seven,
just an
absolutely
beautiful
description
of what
we look
forward to.
Look at
verse 15,
but I'm
going to
zero in
on verse
17.
Chapter
seven,
verse 15.
Therefore
they,
and this
is God's
people,
are before
the throne
of God
and they
serve him
day and
night
in his
temple.
And he
who sits
on the
throne
will
shelter
them
with his
presence.
They
shall
hunger
no more.
They
were hungry,
but they'll
hunger
no more
now.
Neither
thirst
anymore.
The sun
shall not
strike them
nor any
scorching
heat.
There are
no more
hardship.
Look at
this beautiful
passage.
Verse here,
the lamb
in the
midst of
the throne.
Now he's
not beside
the throne.
He's in
the midst
of the
throne.
Will be
their
shepherd.
Notice the
ironic picture
here.
The lamb
is a
shepherd and
who's he
shepherding
but his
people.
And verse
17,
and he will
guide them
to the
springs of
living water.
He gives
for free
and God
will wipe
away every
tear from
their eyes.
Isn't that
beautiful?
The intimacy
of someone
who wipes
every tear
from
eyes.
But he's
a lamb
who is a
shepherd.
And that
means those
who are
reading this,
we his
people,
are like
sheep.
Like the
image in
Isaiah chapter
40,
he will
tend his
flock like
a shepherd.
He will
gather the
lambs in
his arms.
He will
carry them
in his
bosoms and
gently lead
those that
are with
young.
And so
this image
of the
lamb is
hard.
As we get
to know
this lamb,
we see that
this is a
lamb who
invites you
to follow
him to
victory through
humility and
sacrifice.
I think
those are
some of
the images
that this
picture of
a lamb
give to
us.
And so
how do we
respond?
We
follow
him.
That's the
call of this
last book
is to
follow him
by embracing
humility and
sacrifice.
This is the
upside down
nature of
Christianity
that we
constantly
have to
have God
transform
our hearts
into.
This is why
he's so
holy.
By the way,
it's interesting
how chapter
four and
chapter five,
the holiness
of God
is then
revealed in
this paradoxical
upside down.
We're upside
down.
He's right
side up,
but it's
that a
lamb.
This is
describing what
God is
like.
And yet
we in
our world,
which were
influenced in
our world
every time
we go on
social media,
et cetera,
is to,
we want to
be a lion,
we want to
be strong,
we want to
be powerful,
successful,
impressive.
And yet
scripture says
that it's
the lowly
who win.
The last
will be
first,
the first
will be
last,
the humble
are exalted.
If you want
to be great,
you must be
servant of
all.
Love
the story
of that
first and
second Corinthians
unveils as
Paul interacts
with the
Corinthian
church who
loved
impressiveness
as Christians.
And yet
Paul's life
was in the
opposite direction
to the point
where they
wanted to get
rid of him
and they
said,
you're a
failure.
And he
says,
no,
I'm weak.
I'm strong.
God's
power is
made perfect
in weakness.
and yes,
humility,
but sacrifice.
We don't
run after
sacrifice
just for
sacrifice's
sake,
but that's
what it
means to
follow Jesus
is to
take up
our cross
daily
and to
follow him.
that's
part of
this
journey
for me
and
understanding
this
little bit
has been
living with
a son with
down syndrome
as you
saw.
And to
an international
ministry,
you think
of the
people that
are typically
seen as
the very
bottom
of society.
they may
have more
for us
than
or any
other kind
of people
that are
at the
very bottom
more than
we typically
think.
First
Corinthians,
again,
the Corinthian
church was
all about
impressiveness,
talked about
the body
while every
part is
needed and
the parts
that you
think are
indispensable
or are
dispensable
or just
lowly.
They're
indispensable.
we must
have them.
We give
them greater
honor.
It's upside
down.
Blessed are
the poor
in spirit.
Blessed are
those who
mourn.
Jesus moved
toward the
outsiders,
those who
were kicked
to the
curb.
And so
that's part
of what
you promote
humility is
to talk
to folks,
even business
leaders,
how Christian
business
leaders,
how can
you work
to cultivate
humility as
an aspirational
value in
how you do
your business
or in your
home?
Humility
becomes more
and more
central because
that's our
eternal future
is marveling
at the
humility of
the Lamb.
and so we
follow him.
We follow
him.
We follow
him by
embracing
humility and
sacrifice.
And finally,
and this is
where I'm
going to
close,
we follow
him and
we sing.
So I love
what was said
today.
We sing because
that's what they
did.
Look at verse
nine.
The Lamb
comes,
chapter five,
verse nine.
The Lamb is
presented and
they sang a
new song.
No better way
to respond.
Sing a new
song saying,
worthy are you to
take the scroll
and open its
seals for you
were slain and
by your blood
you ransomed
people for God
from every tribe
and language and
people and nation
and you made
them a kingdom
and priests to
our God and
they shall reign
on the earth.
So these
lambs,
these sheep
that he shepherds,
they,
these humble
sacrificial,
who sacrifice
so much,
they will reign
on the earth.
And then it
keeps,
the singing
keeps going.
Then I looked
and I heard
around the throne
and the living
creatures and the
elders and the
voice of many
angels numbering
myriads of
myriads,
thousands of
thousands saying
with a loud
voice,
worthy is a
lamb who
slain.
See power and
wealth and
wisdom and
might and
honor and
glory and
blessing.
And I heard
every creature
in heaven on
earth and
under the
earth and
in the sea
and all
that's in
them saying
to him who
sits on the
throne and
to the
lamb be
blessing and
honor and
glory and
might forever
and ever.
And the
four living
creatures said
amen.
And the
elders fell
down and
worshipped.
finally just
turned very
briefly to
the very
end of
Revelation
22.
I'm going to
read something
here and
then we'll
be done.
the very
end of the
body of
the book
of Revelation
ends in
chapter 2
verse 5.
Verse 6
is the
beginning of
the epilogue.
So how
does the
very end of
the body
of the
book of
Revelation
end?
And you'll
see some
of the
themes that
were
introduced
in that
throne room
in chapter
4 and
5.
But notice
also there's
just a
reference of
the lamb
over and
over again.
Verse 22
chapter 22
verse 1.
Then the
angel showed
me the
river of
the water
of life.
Oh the
water of
life.
There it
is again.
Bright as
crystal flowing
from the
throne of
God and
of the
lion.
No it's
the lamb
through the
middle of
the street
of the
city on
either side
of the
river.
It's a
river of
the water
of life
which
plenty.
The tree
of life.
There's
twelve kinds
of fruit
yielding
its fruit
every
each month.
The leaves
of the
tree were
for the
healing
of the
nations.
No longer
will there
be anything
accursed
but the
throne of
God and
of the
lamb
will be
in it.
And his
servants
will worship
him.
Will be
there with
in awe
eternal
awe of
who this
God
is.
They will
see his
face.
His name
will be
on their
foreheads.
And night
will be
no more.
They will
need no
light of
lamp or
sun for
the Lord
God will
be their
light and
they will
reign
forever
and ever.
Would you
bow your
heads and
close your
eyes again
and just
ask God
what he
wants you
to take
into your
week from
what we
saw this
morning.
Father,
think of
that hymn.
Father,
that
come thou
fount of
every
blessing
to my
heart
to sing
thy
grace.
Streams
of mercy
never ceasing
call for
songs of
loudest
praise.
Father,
tune our
hearts.
All of
our hearts
this morning
and the
days ahead
need to
be tuned
to
receive
and be
awestruck
at who
you are.
So much
so that we
want to
follow you
and to
sing.
Help us
to do
that.
We need
you.
Oh,
give our
hearts,
hearts
that
are just
overflowing
with
thanksgiving
for who
you are
and what
you've
done
for us.
We
pray this
in
Jesus'
name,
amen.
Amen.
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