Heaven’s Splendor vs. The World’s Allure, Pt. 4 (Rev 5:5-7)

October 1, 2020 at 4:30 pm (Church, Revelation, Worship)

Posted by R. Fowler White

It’s hard for most of the congregations of Christ’s church to resist the world’s promises of influence and affluence, especially when it threatens to shove us to the hinterlands of society. Some negotiate with the world to avoid that marginalization and persecution and to gain financial security and influence—and in the process they lose their Christian identity. Following John’s example and words, however, we know that there is a better choice: ponder the sights in Rev 5:5-7 with the eyes of faith. That vision turned John’s sorrow into joy. That revelation turned his weeping into worship. Just look at how the drama unfolds …

When we last saw John, he had broken into tears, aching for God’s plan of salvation and judgment to be fulfilled. And, at just that moment, John hears one of the twenty-four elders speak words of comfort to him. That elder, remember, was among the rank of angels who serve as God’s court officers and who represent the redeemed in both Testaments. He tells John, “Stop weeping and look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.” But wait a minute: why should seeing this Lion stop John’s crying? Because this Lion is the One with the ancestry of God’s chosen king. He is the king from Judah to whom God had promised the nations as His inheritance. This Lion is the king whom God had charged to engage in holy warfare to make His people secure and pure for fellowship with Him. He is the king who is greater than David: He is not just David’s son; He is also David’s Lord. He is the One with proven qualifications: He has already conquered sin, the world, the devil, and death. This Lion is thus the Conqueror poised to take the scroll of inheritance and to finish God’s plan for history. “John,” says the elder, “stop weeping and behold, the Lion.”

We can only imagine John’s excitement as his weeping gives way to wonder. Blinking his tears away, John turns to see a Lion … but instead he sees a Lamb, and not just any lamb. This Lamb is greater than the Passover lamb and the sacrificial lambs of Israel. This Lamb has been slaughtered as a sacrifice and yet has taken His stand, not just outside the tomb on earth but also here in heaven. This Lamb is like no other lamb. He has seven horns, the fullness of strength. This Lamb has seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, the fullness of the Spirit, the fullness of knowledge and wisdom. It is this omnipotent, omniscient Lamb who steps forward to take the scroll, to finish God’s plan for the destiny of this world and of all who are in it. What a vision this is for John and for us his readers: this Lamb, slaughtered yet standing, is the Lion of God who has already conquered!

How do these sights strike our eyes? Weeping John was told to stop crying and look: look at, look to the victorious Lamb. Does this revelation stop our weeping? No creature in heaven or on earth was or is qualified to secure the future of Christ’s church or to finish God’s plan for history. Only Christ—David’s son and David’s Lord—is worthy because He is the Lamb led to slaughter as an innocent sacrifice for His guilty people. He alone is qualified because He is the Lamb standing as the Lion who has conquered the devil, the world, sin, and death. Because of His death, resurrection, and ascension, Christ alone is worthy to open the scroll of inheritance and to finish God’s plan for the ages. He alone is qualified to be Heir of all things and to make His people into co-heirs with Him.^[i]

Christian, does your heart ache for God to finish His plan for the ages? Church, is it hard to resist the world’s promises of influence and affluence, especially as it threatens to shove us to the hinterlands of society or worse? Don’t bargain with the world to avoid its threats and to gain its promises. If you do, Christ says, you’ll lose your Christian identity. Instead, like John, stop weeping, look up, and worship the Lamb in the splendor of heaven’s holiness. God’s plan for the destiny of this world and for the future of His church is in the good hands of that victorious Lamb, of that conquering Lion.

^[i] G. K. Beale, The Book of Revelation: A Commentary on the Greek Text, NIGTC (1999), 341.