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Text: Revelation 14:1
Title: "The Lamb Stood"
Subj: To consider the Person of the Lamb and His purpose in standing
Intro: If I were to ask you to name the first animal that comes to your mind from the Scriptures, I believe your response would be, "the Lamb." The lamb (sing.) is first mentioned in Gen. 22:7, in the context of a sacrifice, for the lamb was the sacrificial animal of God's choice. The last mention of the Lamb is found in Rev. 22:3 in the context of the removal of the curse that resulted from the fall of man. Certainly, the Lamb, occupies a central place in the purposes of God.
It is in the O.T. books of Ex., Lev., and Num. where God's instructions are given concerning the lamb, as a type, of the promised Christ. In the first four books of the N.T. we have the promised Lamb (Christ) introduced, as we follow His life from the manager to the cross.
Then, from the book of Acts up to the book of Rev. we find only two mentions of the Lamb, because the Lamb pictures Christ in a personal relationship with His people. Moving into Rev., we find a return to the preeminence (1st place) of the Lamb as a representation of the Lord Jesus Christ in all His resurrection glory. In fact, the term "Lamb," as belonging to Christ, is found 27 times in Rev. That is why the book of Rev. is actually, "the Book of the Lamb." No other book comes close in picturing the Lord Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God. Today, we will consider the Lamb as found in Rev. 14.
Rev. 14:1 — "The Lamb Stood" — prayer
Note: When we open the Scriptures the first thing we want to look for is the Lord Jesus Christ. Then we want to see how He is described or what He is doing.
I. THE LAMB (v1)
A. Who is this Lamb? The O.T. pictured the Lamb.
1. John said, in pointing to Jesus Christ, "Behold the Lamb of God, whlch taketh away the sin of the world" (Jn. 1:29). The Gospels present the Lamb. The epistles show us our portion of the Lamb.
B. Why a Lamb?
Note: Why not a nobler beast? Because God, in His providence, created the lamb as a type or picture of the Person of Christ in order to set forth His sacrificial death. And the sacrificial death of God's only begotten Son is the pivotal point of all eternal history and purpose. The book of Rev. reveals 3 main portraits of the Lamb of God.
1. The sacrificial Lamb, or as 5:6 has it, "a Lamb as it had been slain." What picture do we see of Christ and how does it apply to us?
a. Had to be a helpless participant in his master's plan, just as Jesus Christ "was slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8), The choice was outside Himself, it belonged to another. Are you helpless before the Master?
b. Had to be set apart for the sacrifice, just as Christ was set apart in human flesh. "And the Word was made flesh” and dwelt among us..." (Jn. 1:14). I believe the first thought of the Christ-child in His mother's womb was, "I have come to die." And the last words that passed the Saviour lips on the cross was, "It is finished!" Are you set apart for the Master's service?
c. Had to be without spot or blemish, picturing the sinless life of the Saviour. The words of Pilate ring throughout eternity, "...I find no fault in this man" (Lk 23:4). Are you actively pursuing a life of holiness?
d. Had to be freely offered as a substitute for the guilty sinner, even as God freely offered His Son. "... even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us" (1 Cor. 5:7). Have you offered yourself freely to God?
e. Had to freely lay down his life, as Jesus Christ freely was led up Calvary's hill. "... He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb. so He openeth not His mouth" (Isa. 53:7). Have you willingly laid your life down before Christ?
f. Had to shed its blood, even as the Son of God sweated blood in the garden, splattered blood under the soldier's blows, gushed blood under the Roman lash, trickled blood from the crown of thorns, oozed blood from His open wounds, dripped blood from the driven nails, and cascaded blood from the spear wound in His side. Are you willing to shed your blood for the Lord?
g. Had to die, even as our Substitute freely gave up the ghost on the cross of Calvary. It was a finished transaction, from the womb to the tomb. Did you die and have you stayed dead? The lamb pictured it; Christ performed it; and we are called to duplicate it! And so the lamb is a fitting type of Jesus Christ, and a fitting type of what we should follow after.
2. The Enthroned Lamb. It may seem a little unusual to enthrone a lamb, but that is one of the pictures in Rev. It is so because He Who died for us deserves to reign over us!
a. Pictures the protection and provision that only an eternal King can offer His own.
b. Pictures the wrath and judgment of the King.
Note: While Christ is pictured as a Lamb, He is also pictured as the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah" (Rev. 5:5). It is here in Rev. that we find that the Lamb of God has the heart of the Lion of God. When a proud ole rooster crows, he lifts his haughty head toward the rising sun and "cockle-doodle-does" into the still morning air, but even his own hens ignore him. But when the majestic lion sounds, he bends his head toward the ground, and the power of his roar causes the very earth to vibrate for miles around, and every animal stops to tremble at the sound! And when the Lamb with the heart of the lion begins to pour out His wrath upon the sins of men, they will hide in the caves of the earth and beg that rocks fall on them. Rev. 17:14 "These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them for He is Lord of lords, and KING of kings..."
3. The Personal Lamb. Though we shall not take time to consider this, time and again we find the Lamb "In the midst" of His own providing for their every need. What He has provided for others, what He is providing now, and what He will provide in the future, is the same cup of blessing with which we can each drink our fill.
The sacrificial Lamb, the enthroned Lamb, and the personal Lamb.
II. THE LAMB STOOD (v1)
Note: There is a persistent lie of the devil that is constantly being echoed by the news media and other ungodly sources and individuals. It is the lie that we live in a world of uncertainty. It is the same lie that says everything happens by chance and without design! But our verse says "the Lamb stood!" This is not a picture of some impotent and/or disinterested Diety. He stands at the cry of His tribulation saints just as He stood at the cry of Stephen, "... Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56). This is not a feeble Messiah, a buried Jesus, a false Christ, a wearied King! This Lamb is not dead—He is alive! This Lamb is not buried—He is risen!! This Lamb is not impotent—He is standing in the place of God’s authority!
Are you fearful of the future? Perhaps you're lost!
Are you fearful, yet saved? Then I know you have not surrendered your all to the Lordship of Jesus Christ!
Do you have perfect peace? Then I know you have seen the Lamb as He stands in perfect control of the world He created. "Fear not little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Lk. 12:32). And that kingdom includes all that the King possesses! To give who the kingdom?
He stood:
A. So Men Could See Him (v1a) ("I looked")
1. God has not hidden Himself from men. He is visible in:
a. In His creation; "the heavens declare the glory of God." You can see God by looking out your window!
b. His law written upon men's hearts; (Roms. 2:14-15). You can see God by looking into your heart!
c. In His coming in flesh; "If you have seen me you have seen the Father." You can see God by looking at His Son!
d. In His Word; "Search the Scriptures, and they are they which testify of Me" (Jn. 5:39). You can see God by reading His Word!
e. In His sovereign working; Job 37:13. You can see God by looking at your circumstances.
f. By faith; 1 Pet. 1:8. You can see God by trusting the Lamb
B. He Stood on Holy Ground (v1b)
1.
Mt. Zion
(Jerusalem)
a. The place that God chose to put His name and build His temple.
b. The place of authority and omnipotence.
c. The place of holiness and righteousness.
d. The place of coming wrath and judgment.
C. He Stood with His Own (v1e)
Heb. 2:11 "For both He that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause He is not ashamed to call them brethren."
D. His Own Stood With Him
1. They were not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. They died for it!
2. They were not ashamed of His Father's name. They lived for Him!
3. They were not ashamed to take an open stand for the Lamb (written on their foreheads). They identified with Him!
Concl: THE LAMB IS STANDING! Even as I speak, THE LAMB OF GOD IS STANDING! He is in total control over every circumstance in the spirit world, the physical world and our personal world.
Where are you standing? Will you take your place with the ranks of saints that down through history have stood with the Lamb?
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