Topic: The victorious Lamb of God

Text: Revelation 5:1–6



INTRODUCTION: When we hear or read of the Lamb or the Lamb of God, the first thing that comes to our minds is the sacrificial Lamb. But the Bible does not only contain the revelations of the sacrificial Lamb, it also has several revelations of the victorious Lamb of God.

Now, the book of Revelation, from which we took our text, has a lot to say about the victorious Lamb of God. In fact, those who have studied the book of Revelation inside and out tell us that "Lamb" is the favorite name for Jesus Christ in the book of Revelation.

The victorious Lamb of God is mentioned more than twenty times in the book of Revelation.

It is critical for Christians and non-Christians alike to pay attention to what the book of Revelation and other Bible passages teach about Jesus, the Victorious Lamb of God.

  1. The Lamb, though slain, is worthily victorious. Rev. 5:6

The above text shows that there was a great problem in heaven. Remember, there are seraphim, and angels, the archangel Michael, and Gabriel in heaven.

But there was no one strong and worthy enough to solve the problem.

 What was that problem, and how was it solved?

  1. God was sitting on His throne with a scroll of seven seals in His hand. Rev. 5:1
  2. An announcement was made to see if anyone was worthy to take the scroll out of God’s hand and open the seven seals, but there was no one; not even with Archangel Michael, Gabriel, the twenty-four elders, and myriads of angels in heaven. Rev. 5:2-3.
  3. When John was weeping in the vision, he was told not to weep and that there was a worthy One. The worthy One is described as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, who has conquered. Rev. 5:4-5.
  4. The worthy one, who is described as the Lion of the tribe of Judah who has conquered, is revealed as the Lamb who was slain. Rev. 5:6.

 

  1. The victorious works of the Lamb.

It is instructive to learn some of the things the Bible teaches as the victorious works of the Lamb.

  1. The victorious Lamb of God

It is written in Revelation 5:5–6 that one of the elders said to John when he was weeping,

"Weep no more, behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals" We read further that John responded to the encouragement of the elder to behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah who has conquered.     

And between the throne and the four living creature and among the elder I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain,

As a result, the victory of the Lamb of God can be traced back to His slaying.We know that this refers to His redemption work for mankind. It is important to know what makes it possible for the Lamb to effect redemption for mankind, which no one else in heaven, on earth, or under the earth could do.

  1. b) His victory in partaking in the humanity and infirmities of mankind.

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things; Heb.2:14.

Surely he took our infirmities, and carried our sorrows." (Isaiah.53:4).

  • He shared in our humanity by growing up. (Luke 2:40).
  • He shared in our humanity and the infirmities of hunger. (Luke.4:2).
  • He shared our humanity and ailments, including the need for rest.(LUKE.8:23)
  • He shared in our humanity and the infirmities of poverty (Luke 9:58).
  • He shared in our humanity and infirmities of weariness and thirst (John 4:6–7).
  • He shared in our humanity and infirmities, our pains and cries. ( 5:7)
  1. c) His victory through death
  • His death brings victory over the works of the devil. (1John.3:8). See Heb.2:14-15:1Cor.15:54-57.
  • His death brings victory by taking away our sins (1 John 3:5).
  • His death brings victory by removing every record of debt against us and nailing it to the cross (Col. 2:14).
  • His death brings victory by reconciling us to God, uniting all creation (Eph. 2:6). See 1:20.
  • The victory of Christ's death did not only reconcile us to the Father but will also present us holy, blameless, and above reproach before him. (Col.1:21-22)
  • His death gives us victory over our sinful nature and sets us free from the bonds of sin.(Rom.6:6)
  • His death guarantees eternal perfection to all who believe. Heb.10:14.
  1. d) His victory through resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus is one of the major and most important demonstrations of His power and person.

  • Jesus' resurrection brings immortality to light (into existence) for mankind. In other words, it ushers believers into an existence that will never end. (2 Tim.1:10). See Rom. 2:7; 1 Tim. 6:16.
  • The chain and power of death were broken by the resurrection of Jesus. (Rev.1:18)
  • The resurrection of Jesus terminates the power of sin and its eternal consequences over all men. (Rom.4:25). See 1cor.15:17.
  • The resurrection of Jesus shows that He is the Author of life. (John.11:25) See also John 1:4; 5:26; 14:6; Colossians 3:3-4; 1John 1:1-2; 5:11-12.
  • The resurrection of Jesus guarantees our justification.Rom,4:25
  1. e) Victory through His Ascension

 Peter described the ascension of Jesus, the Lamb of God, as a victory when he said: "This Jesus hath God raised up whereof we all are witnesses.  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, the Lord saith unto my Lord, sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made the same Jesus whom ye have crucified both Lord and Christ.

The Lamb of God, after being sacrificed for our sins, was not only raised from the dead but also ascended to heaven and was received into glory at the right hand of God.

  • He ascended into heaven as a forerunner of His saints.
  • He ascended into heaven to begin His priesthood in the order of Mechizedek, a priest and king.(Heb.6:20). See Heb. 7:1–10. Malachi means king, Zedek means righteousness, Salem means peace. In His ascension, The Lamb of God as Priest after the order of Mechizedek, rules in RIGHTEOUSNESS and PEACE over His saints. See. Rom.14:17
  • His ascension commenced the exercise of His kingship authority in heaven and also in the midst of His enemies. (Psa.110:1-2) See Matt. 28:18-20; Dan.7:13-14; Eph. 1:20-22; Phil.2:9-10; Heb.2:9. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.(1 Cor.15:25)
  • Since His ascension and the exercise of His kingship authority, His saints have been offering themselves freely to advance His kingdom. (Psa.110:3) See Acts 2:41–47; 4:30–35; Phil. 2:13.
  • In His ascension, He did not only break the power of death, but also led a host of captives and gave gifts to men. (Eph.4:8). See Eph.4:11-13.
  • In His ascension, He clothed His saints with the garments of righteousness and holiness. (Psa. 110:3). Isa. 61:10; Eph. 1:4; 1 Thess. 4:7; Tit. 2:14
  • In His ascension, the victorious Lamb of God raised His saints to sit with Him in the heavenly places. (Eph.2:6). See Eph. 119:20–21; Col. 3:1-3. This is one of the main points that made one of the elders tell John in Revelation that someone, who in the context, is revealed to be the Lamb of God, has conquered (is victorious) and could take the book and open the contents. He had been doing it in His church before the occasion of Revelation 5:1–6:ff, where He took the book and started unveiling events as written in the book of Revelation. Think about Ephesians 3:9-11.I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning. God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
  • Since His ascension, the Lamb of God has been advocating for His saints. (1 Jn.2:1). See Rom. 8:34; Heb.7:25.
  • In His ascension as our High Priest according to the order of Mechizedek (Heb. 110:4), the Lamb of God is also nourishing, encouraging, strengthening, and supervising the activities of His saints, individually and collectively, as they engage in His victorious war. See Gen. 14:18; Matt. 28:20; Jn. 14:18–24; Acts. 18:9–11; 23:11; 2 Tim. 4:17; Rev. 1:12–16, 19–20.
  • In His ascension, He is preparing a place for His saints. (Jn.14:2). Jn.13:33, 36.

 

CONCLUSION: Truly, the Lamb of God is not just a sacrificial Lamb but a victorious one. That is why He is worthy! He is worthy of all things, even the taking of the scroll, looking into its contents, and disclosing those contents to us. There is no secret He will keep from you if you give your life to Him. See John15:15