find Revelation chapter five and the book of the Revelation is an easy one to find you cannot lose it if you go to the end of the book and you'll find it there chapter five now if you need a lesson sheet or even a book there are some there on the right so shall we turn to the chapter and let me read it through for we come to one of the most blessed chapters in this book of the Revelation as we have stated in our preceding time two weeks ago when we were together. We'd like to read the word, and may I also remind you, as we read it, may I suggest the thought, let us realize that John, by the Holy Spirit, as he penned these words, had been taken in the vision into heaven itself, so that as we read the word, we are actually, according to the record that John gives, and his own experience by the Spirit brought into heaven, we are actually beholding a heavenly scene. And may we recognize it's not the earth that we shall be looking upon in this chapter, which we shall see more about relative to the earth in later chapters, but it is heaven. And we read the word saying, John writing to say, And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book which was literally in that day a scroll, written within and on the back side, 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 on earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I went 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, hath prevailed, meaning he has conquered. He is the victor that is able to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld, and lo, in the midst of the throne, son of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a lamb, as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which were 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 living creatures, the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them hearts and golden vials full of odes, which are the prayers of saints. And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof. For thou wast lain, and hast redeemed us to God, by thy blood, out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation. and have made us unto our God, kings and priests, and we shall reign on or over the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders. The number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the land that was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor 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 honor and glory and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the land forever and ever. And the four living creatures said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshiped him that liveth for ever and ever. May the Lord bless the reading and the hearing of his precious and holy words. May I correlate together the book as we have gone so far in it to understand the outline that we are following. The outline of the book you will find even mentioned by the Lord Jesus in chapter one, verse nineteen. where you have the injunction given to the Apostle John, the command to write, Write the things which thou hadst seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter. We've already noted that what John had seen to that moment of the Lord speaking to him was the vision of Christ as the Son of Man walking in the midst of the golden lampstands. preceding the nineteen verse, and even mentioned in the twentieth verse of that chapter. That John had already seen, of the glory of that person as the son of man in his judicial character, he thus describes it in chapter one. But we have also noted chapters two and three, they cover primarily and particularly not just the historical reference to seven churches, For may I suggest, don't forget, when Paul evangelized the great minor peninsula of Asia, perhaps an amount of a hundred thousand square miles, and he evangelized it perhaps in the space of twenty-five years, gone by the Holy Spirit established many churches in Asia. But the seven churches that were chosen to whom the Lord Jesus wrote, in chapters two and three, beginning with Ephesus, closing with the Laodicea. They also cover the prophetical and the spiritual history of the church upon the earth from the gates of the apostle to the end of the church age. Now may I just very briefly suggest, many of us know it, but the joy of knowing it is precious. The beginning of the church was Pentecost. The consummation of the church upon the earth will be the rapture, when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, and the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. And the dead in Christ rise, and the living saints are changed. And together they rise to meet the Lord in the air, to be forever with the Lord. Now that's the consummation of the church. But in chapters two and three, and let me say this lovingly and earnestly. Many, many books have been written on church history. They are very helpful in their historical references as to what is transpired. But if you want the moral and the spiritual character of the history of the church on the earth, you'll get it more clearly in Revelation chapter two and chapter three. For in those seven churches, they were in such a condition that the Lord Jesus was able to describe the spiritual state of the church from the beginning to the end. Now may I remind you, as we have already noted, the end wasn't a very happy ending. And may I say lovingly, earnestly, and sadly, the condition of the church is not a happy one today. Well, I remember many years ago being introduced by some friends in the north, to a certain evangelist, whom I went to listen to. And they introduced me as a, and said, Brother Bramall is amongst the brethren. And the preacher looked at me, he said, Oh, the united brethren. I said, Sir, I'm sorry, I'm afraid. It's the divided brethren. You know, we've seen that good old hymn on with Christian soldiers. Do you ever notice that verse? We are not divided. All one body. Now, positionally and spiritually, that's true. The body is one. But I tell you, we don't live the way we should. And we do have the division. And as we came to lay of the sphere, we saw not only the divisions, but the condition of the church at the end in its outward profession. Now, may I give you this distinction to remember? Always remember there is a distinction between those who are the genuine, born-again Christians, who know the Lord and have been really saved than those who say they're Christians and never been born again. But the Lord, he judges in chapters two and three all the professions. The whole profession. Well, if you may remember, we noted there were those who were not real in some of those churches, and the Lord told them so. He told the church it saw that you've got some among you that are just dead spiritually. but so we can see that distinction but when you come to chapter four and five where we have reached the joy of seeing the rapture has taken but now you may ask the question well why is not the rapture mentioned in John's book of the Revelation well it's not necessarily it had been taught years before John was writing about the year ninety six probably eighty ninety six and Paul long before and to the Thessalonians and Peter and others, and mentioned the coming of the Lord, there would be the end of the church age. And even James wrote that the coming of the Lord draw at night. So there was the familiarity of that fact that church would be taken out of the world. And you've got to symbolize in chapter four and verse one, when John hears a voice saying, From heaven, come up heaven, and immediately, He would codify the Spirit into heaven, where we are now enjoying what He saw in heaven. Now we know this in chapter four. Let me just say this briefly. The teaching of chapter four revealing to us the worship. Look at the end of the chapter, if you please. Let me read verse eleven, chapter four. We have the four and twenty elders and worshiping. and saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power, for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. Now the glory and the praise and the worship that was given to the Lord God Almighty was on the ground of his creatorial glory. The creator. Now we come into chapter five, and we shall find it's not the Creator. It's not the Lord God Almighty that is the object of worship in particular. But the centrality of chapter five and the worship of those that are found in heaven, the worship is to the land that was slain. One who struggled and died to redeem us unto God. Quite a contrast. Betwixt the Lord God Almighty, the great eternal creator. And on the ground of his creator power and glory, he was worshipped in chapter four. Now we come into chapter five, and the one person who's the opposite of the worship, the land that we're slain. We'll open the chapter and please. Let's read verses one and two, and then we'll look at our lesson sheet for the explanation we have written there. John declares, I saw in the right hand of him that stand on the throne. Now don't forget, it was in chapter one, or rather, we first saw the vision of the throne. The throne of God was set in heaven, as we know it. Now John goes on to declare, I saw in the right hand of him that stand on the throne a book written within and on the back side and sealed with seven feet, and I saw a strong angel proclaiming with an loud voice who is worthy to open the book to loose the seals thereof note your lesson and the notes that you have on your sheet on page eleven of your book and here we have brought before us the mystery of this seventh sealed book please let me say though it was a scroll in the form of that particular time when writing on the back side as well as both sides of the scroll that was writing, we may raise the question, now what is this book in the right hand of God? Please note the reference we have on our lesson sheet. It was held in God's hand, and from the subsequent chapters we are sure that it contains his purposes to be fulfilled upon the earth. Can I repeat that again? Now, and I want to make a very clear distinction so that we shall not be mistaken. Please let me emphasize, let me read the words again. It is the book in God's hand, and from subsequent chapters we are sure that it contains, and note the closing phrase, His purposes that are to be fulfilled and note upon the earth. Now when we get to the end of the book of the Revelation, we'll find that after God finishes dealing with the earth, there's an eternity to come. There's a complete new creation, a new heaven and a new earth yet to come. But the book has nothing to do with that which is in the eternal future, but which is present relative to the earth. And may I make it a little practical? The very world that you and I are now living in, will be the object of what is contained in the purposes of God revealed in this seventh field book. It has to do with the world, the earth upon which you are now living. And we'll find it unfolded as we go further in the book. But look with me in verse two. And you do note a universal challenge. Please note the extent a strong angel with a loud voice proclaim, Who is worthy to open the book, to loose the seals thereof? It's a universal challenge, as you will find from the context as we read on. And one may recognize it brings also as we read on. Let me read on in verse three and four. No man in heaven and in earth, neither under the earth was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. I went much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. Look your lesson reference on your page, and we'll comment further upon it. Universal failure to find one worthy, to be the executor of God's judgments upon the earth. Beloved, may I make a comparison? Try to. I don't know how many millions. and billions and maybe trillions of human beings that have lived upon the earth. And how many are living today is an astronomical number we know. How many yet will be born and live upon the earth? We know not. God alone holds the key to that. But of all humanity, the angels, in his challenge notes and John notes it, there's not a man-found word in it. to be the executor of God's judgment over the earth. Now let me please remind you, and it will unfold as we go into chapter six and a half. The book of the Revelation is the book of judgment. Mainly and chiefly, it's the book of judgment. And as we shall see, we find seven seals, we find seven trumpet judgments, we find seven vile judgments, before the end of those judgments comes. So mainly and chiefly from chapter six, particularly all the way to the end of chapter nineteen, there are a series of judgments poured out upon the earth. Now here's the question in heaven, who's worthy? You open the book, and to loose the seals thereof. And John thus recognizes and acknowledges, and notices, and notices, and notice, as you noted, may I say, As you have the reference in verse two, three rather, you find in heaven, earth, and even under the earth, beloved, there's no question, I'm unable, I'm just incompetent, so is any other person, to be able to comprehend the magnitude of God's universe. It's astonishing what men even now discover relative to the extent and the vastness and the expanse of this universe. and they know there are universes beyond what they are able to find even now. But that great universe, which can be divided as the Word of God does, the heavens of heaven, the heaven of heaven, and the atmospheric heavens that are around us, and then the earth, and then even, if I may suggest, the internal region. Remember in... in second chapter of Philippians chapter two. Paul wrote of the Lord Jesus being exalted, saying, God has given him a name that is above every name, that is the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven, of things on earth, of things under the earth. And one can recognize the universal character of the whole universe of God. heavenly, earthly, yet heaven, as well as earth, and the eternal regions, which will be the abode eternally of the lost and the doomed. But the challenge goes to the universe and recognizes the vastness of the challenge. And John weep, isn't there anyone, as you look at verse four? I went much because no man was found worthy. To open the book, not to read their own. Now let's read on. Now please note in verse five. Wonderful word. One of the elders, said John, whom he saw in the vision, sat underneath, Weep not. Behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, to loose the seven seals their own. Now please note your lesson sheet. We have the consolation of one speaking to John of those that are called an elder. We saw the glory of the elders in chapter four. We'll see more and more of it as we go down into chapter five today. But those elders symbolize the real, and we'll find the evidence of it in our fifth chapter, very definite. They symbolize the redeemed thing. There it is thought. We noted last week, relative to the elders in heaven, typifying the translated saint. Now, the connotation of the name elder, even in an earthly sense, means a mature person. And may I give this suggestion, when you and I get the glory, we're going to be much improved. Our spiritual maturity will be improved. Sure. I think of a dear friend. Somebody asked me, do you think we'll know everyone when we get to heaven? Will we know each other? Oh, he said, don't think I'm going to be as dumb as I am now, do you? Well, beloved, of course not. Well, let me give you the suggestion. The thought is implied in the terminology. The description that all the redeemed is seen as twenty-four elders. A typical, symbolical figure. which representatively comes out of the Old Testament priesthood. When in Israel they had twenty-four courses of priests in Israel, and they rotated in their course. There were so many priests, they couldn't function at the same time. So there was a rotation, and it took twenty-four courses each year for them to thus fulfill their ministry. And what you've got implied is the completion of the redeemed saints in their entirety in heaven. But what a joy to recognize. It also implies. Please let me say. Well, let me give you the thought that I think Einstein said. He made this statement. He didn't believe that the human brain in its capacity today was any more than one-tenth of one percent. That's a pretty minimal amount, isn't it? Sometimes I wonder if I've got half a percent. Now, if that be true, there is... It certainly is absolutely true that the inroad of sin to the human mind and the ability of the human brain has its effect upon the human race. And it's no question of doubt that at the end of the age, we're finding men acquiring knowledge that we never expected that they would. Daniel prophesied that at the end time, knowledge will be increased upon the earth. But may I point out? Unfortunately, it's not the knowledge of God. It's human science. It's human knowledge. It's earthly knowledge. For divine knowledge comes from above. And by the Holy Spirit through the Word as we study it. We want a joy as John was weeping. John, stop your crying. You don't need to cry. There is somebody that can do it. And he's told, one has prevailed. Now please note the words again in our chapter. And what a joy to read those words in verse five. One of the elders said unto me, Weep not behold. Take a look, John. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book. to loose the seven seals thereof. Now note your notes on your left and she's pleased. Now I want you to follow these notes very carefully. They bring before us the consolation, the elder gate, John, all declaring that the situation was not impossible. He says, there's one who is worthy, but who is he? Now may I emphasize again, look, When you and I are in heaven, when this scene is actually and literally fulfilled and we shall be there, we'll have every confidence, everything's alright. Everything will be done alright. God is on the throne. We're before him. Christ is in the presence and in the midst of that redeemed throne. And the joy of knowing. Today, we wonder what's going to happen next. Sometimes we wonder what we should do. Problems arise, difficulties arise, and the world conditions, and many other forms of testing and trial. But there above in the heavenly, then we shall be in the presence of God. There will be complete, one hundred percent confident, without any doubts ever right. Or maybe you don't doubt, do you doubt? Well, I think there's more doubting Thomas' perhaps than... many others sometimes but what a joy to realize there'll be the perfect knowledge what's going to take place now please note as you take your note see the situation is not impossible one is worthy but who is he he is one with a two-fold character now will you please note this first is messianic glory now you may You may note the title. You've got it in verse five. Behold the lion of the tribe of Judah. Now let me raise the question. Why the messianic title of the Lord Jesus? You know the Lord Jesus has many titles. I received a little track in the Christmas mail from a friend in the north, just this past week or so, on which were written, I think, about two hundred names from the Word of God belonging to Christ. In fact, I believe there's even more. But he has many names. But specifically, a messianic name is mentioned here. And likely so. Please go back in your chapter, please, as you've got in the chapter. And we have noticed it. That the book written on the end of, or in your notes rather, please note in your notes, letter one under A, what is this book? In God's hand, it contains its purposes to be fulfilled upon the earth. Now, beloved, let me say briefly, we can't go into the detail of it, but we have touched upon this truth in past studies. perhaps in the Gospel of Matthew particularly where we were on one occasion. The messianic title of the Lord Jesus is the title that belongs to Israel. He's Israel's Messiah. So they rejected it. And only under the Messiah in his reign will the earth ever be filled with the knowledge of the Lord. Only under the messianic reign of the Lord Jesus who is here, will be restored to their land, to their nation, and to their God, and to the fulfillment of their ministry that they should have many centuries ago fulfilled it. And so the title of the lion of the tribe of Judah, one recognizes indeed if the title belongs to Christ. Go with me to the reference we have in Genesis chapter forty-nine. I hope it's on your lesson sheet properly written. I've had to change mine. Chapter forty-nine in the book of Genesis. Here is a prophecy spoken by Jacob relative to this very title. And in chapter forty-nine of the book of Genesis, upon Jacob's blessing his children, his sons, as he gathered them together. And in verses nine and ten, will you please note, Reference to Judah, his son Judah, Judah is a lion's wealth. From the prey, my son, thou art gone up. He stood down. He couched as a lion, and as an old lion who shall rouse him up. The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and unto him shall the gathering of the people be? May I very carefully, and briefly, but I hope thoroughly, suggest the expressions that are given in this verse, they are relative to one who alone will be the king of Israel. And is Jacob saying that royal line of kingship will never depart? from the tribe of Judah. Until when? Shiloh come. Now that's a divine name for the Lord, or a messianic name for the Lord Jesus. Shiloh. Shiloh. A derivation of what you often hear the Jews say. Shiloh. Shiloh. Shiloh. Peace, peace, peace. Well, they don't have much yet, do they? But one can recognize, look, Israel doesn't have any king, but the one that's in heaven. You know, Israel will accept the false messiah of which we shall see, God willing, later on. But the Lord Jesus is the liar. But go further, as you know, the lesson sheet please. He has been victor over all foes, irresistible in conquering power. We won't turn to Psalm eighteen, but it is a reference, a prophetic reference to his power to overcome his foes. Now may I be reminded, when you take that eighteenth Psalm, and if you refer to it and read it through, you will find an expression that is most unusual, but it describes the condition of the earth. When it says, when he comes from heaven, darkness will be under his feet. And he treads down all his foes. My beloved, please let me say. I wonder if you remember, highly scholastic, claimed himself to be the lion of the tribe of Judah. He seemed to have the false assumption that he was the descendant of Solomon by the queen of Shiva, who came from Ethiopia. He wasn't the lion of the tribe of Judah. In fact, he hasn't conquered, he's been conquered, and he's dead. There's only one person who is the lion of the tribe of Judah, and that is the Lord Jesus. Here he is. And Psalm eighteen touches upon the victories that he will manifest in destroying his books. Please let me say lovingly, and I say sadly, the Lord Jesus had many enemies on the earth. He had many enemies upon the earth. He made it clear to his disciples in John fifteen, just before he went to Calvary. The world hated me, and it shall hate you. And he has many enemies today. But all the enemies, and I often wonder how soon he will come. And when you think of the violence and the corruption and the immorality and all that pervades and increasingly continues, you make one wonder how long, Lord, can you bear with it? Now let me give you this thought. We may come across it again in our study indefinitely. When the Lord is finished with all the enemies on the earth, he will not have one enemy left. And if you remember our study in Matthew's Gospel in chapter twenty-five, thirty-one through forty-six, the judgment of the living nation separates the nation, the godly from the ungodly, the righteous from the unrighteous, the sheep from the good, Beloved, let me please state lovingly, sadly, the earth is due for a great separation. When you think of the violence and all that pertains to what is happening on the earth, the reckoning days coming. No one can recognize as the lion of the tribe of... Did you notice in the reading of the prophecy in Genesis? The lion goes after the prey. The lion devours. the lion, couches. My beloved, it's a sad commentary as well as a contract between his first coming to the earth and his second. His first coming, we can say he came as a lamb, led to the slaughter. His second coming, he comes as a lion to slaughter his enemy. You know, I'm glad I'm not an enemy of the Lord. Thank God on one of his children. And there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus. But then note the second reference to his title. It also refers to him as the ruler David. And this is a divine title. It expresses and reveals his deity. He's not only David's Lord, but he's David's And David's son is not only David's son, but it's David's Lord. You've got the reference. Look in chapter twenty-two of Matthew. Let us go there. The Lord Jesus was questioning his enemies. Following they, questioning him. And in chapter twenty-two, will you please note the words? We've got out of verse forty-one. Every question that they had asked, whether the Herodians, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, he put them to silence. And in verse forty-one of chapter twenty-two of Matthew, while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, saying, What thinking of Christ, whose son is he? They say, And he's the son of David. They knew their Old Testament teaching, that he was to come through the root of David. Then he sat under them, How then does David in spirit Call him, Lord. Say it. The Lord said unto my Lord. Sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemy thy footstool. A quotation from Psalm one hundred and ten. Yes, he's David's son. But are his David's great alone. Which goes back to his pre-existence. And the full proof. One of the full proofs of his deity. The root of this. Look at chapter twenty-two in Revelation. The last chapter, please. I want you to notice something. Very special in chapter twenty-two. I think it's verse sixteen. Yes. Verse sixteen. Will you note something? There are three names. The Lord Jesus mentions himself in verse sixteen at the close of the book. I, Jesus, have sent mine angels to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David and the bride and morning star. Now may I point out to you, there are three titles there. I'm Jesus. At the end of the Bible, at the end of this great book of judgment, revealing what is yet to come upon the earth, the Lord Jesus presents himself as it were to the world. My name is Jesus. Do you remember first time in Matthew's Gospel? His name is mentioned. As Joseph was told, thou shalt call his name what? Jesus. Matthew one twenty-one. For he shall save his people from their sins. And I give you the thought. To the world at large. Even at the end of the book of Revelation. And the end of the Bible in its writing. He says, I'm Jesus willing to save any sinner who will come to me. I'm the Savior. the savior of the world and then he speaks of himself next in relation to Israel I'm the root the offspring of Israel Israel's only hope is the coming again of their Messiah and then last of all he speaks of himself as the morning star and he's that for the church which before the dawn comes appears in the darkness of the sky just before the day dawn and for you and for me What a joy to know. He's the Morning Star. We saw that in chapter two of the book of Revelation. That he's the Morning Star. And so, what joy to recognize the character and the titles of our Lord. Now please note something, as we will go to the end of that section on your page, your lesson sheet, under the divine glory of the Lord. Right at the end, the last phrase, thus he is God's executor of judgment. Now go back to John's Gospel, chapter five and verse twenty-two. Chapter five in the Gospel of John and verse twenty-two. Some very solemn truths are found in this fifth chapter of John, the Lord Jesus speaking, and especially to the Jews of his day who opposed him. And they were seeking to kill him. And he revealed himself as being equal with the Father. But will you please note these words that in verse twenty two only. For the Father judges no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son. Now in connection with our chapter in the Revelation, who is worthy? Who is the worthy one who can execute the judgments of God upon the earth? And the Lord Jesus we find is the only one. And here you find it all contribution to that fact in John chapter five, the Father have committed all judgment unto the Son. Paul, speaking to the Athenians in the Areopagus in chapter seventeen of the book of the Acts, told those Athenians, wise men, though they supposed themselves to be, though they knew not God. that God has appointed a day by in which he will judge the world by that man whom he hath ordained. You have in second Timothy chapter four in verse one Paul writing to his son Timothy that when that Christ is the judge of the living and the dead he is the judge and one can recognize when he comes with his second appearing. He's not coming to be a savior. He's coming to be the judge of the earth. It's a solemn thing to realize. I remember reading in account where a certain man was brought before the judge for a minor violation. Then he was guilty of the offense. But he recognized the judge who sat on the bench before him. And when he was thus brought to be sentenced, he reminded the judge. He said, Judge, you befriended me one time, and he mentioned the incident, how the judge had befriended him on a certain occasion. And he thought he would plead for those things. But the judge looked at him, he said, And he said, Man, he said, I was your friend then. But he said, Right now he said, I've got to be your judge. I'm your judge. Today the Savior wants to be the Savior for the world. And He is that. But when the day comes, and the Savior has been rejected, and He comes back to the earth. He's not coming to save the world. He has to come to judge. And judgment has been committed under the sun. Now let's go on in our chapter of Revelation then. Let's further see something. As we go to verse eight, and we find, or verse six rather, John is told to behold the lion. And then paradoxically, I behold and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the all living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a lamb, as it had been slain, having seven horns, seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God, and sent forth into all the earth. Take a look at your lesson, Chief, please, and we refer to the truth that we find within the chapter. Here we find in the verse, what a paradoxical sight. Instead of a lion, a lamb. It is a paradox, isn't it? Ah, but it's the same person though. And in the Greek text it's written in the delineative, literally it means a little lamb. Many, I think some of the great artists of past centuries, one or two of them have trying to paint pictures of the adoration of the Lamb. But literally John, Steve, instead of a lion, one whom is called a Lamb. Now this is the first occasion. Let me please add this. I don't think I have it on my notes. But it's the first occasion in the book of the Revelation you have this title, Lamb. But may I also remind you, if you go through the book of the Revelation, you'll find the title repeated twenty-eight times. Predominantly, in the book of the Revelation, the book of the end, the book of judgment, as well as that which continues on into eternity, the Lord Jesus is titled the last. Now you may ask the reason why. Well, it unfolds itself in the chapter, but one can recognize. God delights to make him know that the one who suffered and was abused and rejected and despised and forsaken and crucified by the world. The world drove him out. I'm going to exalt him. God delights to you. May I also ask you and I who are saved. I think one of the dearest titles to our hearts of the Lord Jesus is this one. The land that was laid. He was led as a land to the slaughter. John the Baptist said, Behold, the Lamb of God is taken away the sin of the world. And oh, what a joy to recognize. God brings honor and will bring glory to the one who suffered the most. And who was this what? Reading the eighth and fifty-third chapter of Isaiah. Oh, how in that day Israel, when restored, will confess. All we like sheep were gone astray. We turned everyone to his own way. And yet Jehovah laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was wounded for our transgression. He was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace. was upon him with his stripes were healed. And may I say incidentally, that healing in Isaiah fifty three is spiritual. It's the healing of the soul, not the healing of the body. Don't forget that. And when Peter reminds us of it in his epistle, by his stripes we are healed. Peter's not talking about your body. He's talking about your soul. And thank God my soul is healed. Model often used to, when we asked my mother when she was in her latter years, Mother, how are you feeling today? Fine, she said, except my body. Well, I think that's quite often true of all of us. The soul, we can sing the old hymn, it's well with my soul. It's well with my soul. But oh, what it will be in that day when the Lord Jesus comes in his glory. And will it be the land that will be exalted? The suffering land. Now note particularly, in our notes quickly, from our verse. Note his position. Note the position of the Lord Jesus, the land. In verse six, as you have it in the words, he's in the midst of the throne. He's in the midst of the elders. He's in the midst of the living creatures. The centrality and the prominence of heaven's glory. Please let me say this. I don't know whether you've ever wondered who'd be the greatest person in heaven. Remember one time in the life of the Lord Jesus, the disciples began fighting amongst themselves, who'd be the greatest in the kingdom? And the Lord Jesus had to straighten them out. Listen, we can have no thoughts of personal greatness when we get to heaven. We will not. there's only one person worth talking about and given their greatness and the centrality of heaven's glory now let me also say this I say it kindly it is blessedly true and even our loved ones that have gone to be with the Lord we long to see them we do expect to see them when we reach there but may I say again he'll be the Lord Jesus that will be the attraction the center of heaven's glory. The center of heaven's glory. We'll see that as we go on, please. And note this too. Not only the centrality and the prominence of heaven's glory in his position, but in his characteristic. You have in the middle of the verse, as he stands there in the central of heaven's glory, having seven horns. Now please note, you've got it on your lesson sheet. They are symbolic of power. And seven, as we have noted already, symbolically in the scriptures, is the number of perfection and completeness. It has numerical value spiritually is worth noting. We noted seven letters for the seven churches. We shall seek seven seals. We shall seek seven trumpet judgment, seven vile judgment. And you have in the Old Testament. See, there were seven feet of Jehovah in Israel. Seven is the indicative number of completeness, perfection. And as the Lord Jesus received, seven horns, the horn is symbolic of power. Now we're going to see in chapter thirteen. You may read it in Daniel chapter seven, that at the end of the age, a person will rise and he's called a horn. The horn, wherever you read it in the Old Testament, was symbolic of power and authority. And our Lord Jesus here is symbolized as having seven horns, the symbol of his perfect power. And then seven eyes. Do what follows. The symbol of his perfect intelligence. Seven eyes, the symbol of his perfect intelligence. Boy, I could use seven eyes right now. I'm deaf in one blinding the other. But the realization that the Lord Jesus will have spiritual and perfect spiritual insight, God, He knows everything. I'm glad He knows all about me. In fact, He knows more about me than I know myself. And I think He knows more about me than my wife does. And I think She knows more about me than I do, too. But the joy of recognizing, now look, now look, please, relative to the whole need of the earth. does not the earth need a person with spiritual intelligence, an intelligence that is omniscient to understand its need and its remedy. Thank God he has seven eyes, thus symbolizing his perfect intelligence. And then you have the southern spirits of God mentioned. We found them in chapter one. And we found them before, we shall see them again. But they're not seven different Holy Spirit, please. Again, it's a description of the perfection of the Holy Spirit's person. And what we have on our lesson sheet is it's a symbol of perfect cooperation with the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God will be in perfect harmony. with the judgments that have become upon the earth. Now may I make a reference to the Holy Spirit before we go further? The Holy Spirit we know is the chief agent of the Lord Jesus upon the earth. And may I be reminded with you, in contrast to the life of the Lord Jesus, a life of only about thirty or thirty-three years, and then he went back to heaven, how long has the Holy Spirit been on the earth? Saints Pentecost. Seeking to convince men of sin, righteousness and judgment and bring them to Christ. Seeking to teach the saints of God the things of God through the Word. And for all these centuries we've been upon the earth. And I'm completely aware that we have been in perfect cooperation and agreement with the judgments that must fall. I've often thought, if I may give this suggestion, one may recognize that the Holy Spirit is, and he's taught in the Word, he's a restraining power. He is a restraining influence. And I sometimes wonder when we see sin, lawlessness, rising, increasingly so today. I sometimes wonder if the Spirit of God is just lifting off his restraint until the moment comes when Christ comes for his bride, for his church, and takes her out of the world. And I'm no doubt at all that what the Holy Spirit is in complete, perfect agreement with the Lord Jesus to bring these judgments upon the earth. Yes, Lord, it's time. The end of the book in Revelation twenty-two, seventeen, we read the spirit and the bride that comes. The spirit of God in harmony with the purposes and with the coming again of the Lord Jesus. And so should the church be which is his bride. But then let's close with the reference that we have at the end. The reason for his supremacy. And you've got it right in the middle of the verse. There in the midst of the outlifts stood a lamb what? As it had been slain. Literally meaning, I believe, as if he had been freshly slain. The ground, the basis of his supremacy, of his power is the following to be the judge and the executor of all of God's divine recognition upon the extreme coast of earth. He was slain. His death upon Calvary makes him the worthy one. God will in next week we'll see that even more fully when we come into the song that we shall sing in that day. But oh what a joy to realize. Please let me say what a joy to realize we'll be in perfect understanding when we're in heaven with God's purposes. Today we say oh I wonder what he's going to do. When we get to heaven we're going to see what he's going to do. And we're going to look down from heaven on what he does. Aren't you glad you're going to be up in heaven looking down and sit down on the earth looking up and seeing all these things happen? Praise God. You know, if I wasn't saved, I think I did save right now. For it certainly is a worthy reason to be saved, is it not? Trump shot this. Let me quote the words of Jesus in John five twenty-four. He that verily, verily I say unto you, he that heareth my word and believeth on him that sendeth half everlasting life, shall not come into judgment. It's passed from death unto life. Shall we pray? Beloved and blessed Father, what joy it gives us, we who are under the precious blood of the Lord Jesus, the Lamb that was slain, to recognize on the authority and by the authority of thy holy word. We are not only saved, we are saved. Well, did the Lord say to the children of Israel back in Egypt, When I see the blood, I will pass over you. Yes, there was no passing into the homes of the Israelites when the blood was upon the door. We blessed the Lord Jesus where not only secured by the blood of Jesus, but we are assured by thy promise, when I see the blood I will pass over you. For there is therefore now no judgment of them who are in Christ Jesus. We bless before him. And Father, may the thoughts of this heavenly scene be retained in our hearts and in our minds today to comfort, to bless, to encourage, and bring us back again the God-willing message in the Savior's worthy name. Amen.