The Manifestation                

 

I.   The manifestation

     A. The search ended

     B. Rev 5:5-7

        "And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not:

         behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root

         of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and

         to loose the seven seals thereof. And I beheld,

         and lo, in the midst of the throne and of the

         four beasts, and in the midst of the elders,

         stood a Lamb as if it had been slain, having

         seven horns and seven eyes, which are 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 sitteth upon the throne.

     C. Who is this heavenly Hero who so boldly removes

        the scroll from the Father's right hand?

        1. We need not speculate for one second about

           his identity, for he is the Lord Jesus Christ

           himself.

        2. The proof is overwhelming

           a. He has the characteristics of a lamb

              (1) Our Lord is referred to as the lamb

                  twenty-nine times in the New Testament

              (2) In all but one instance (1 Pet 1:19)

              (3) It is the Apostle John who employs this

                  title

           b. It is a pet lamb

              (1) There are two words for "lamb" in the

                  Greek New Testament

              (2) This one is amnos (a lamb in Christ

                  himself, would come from his tribe,

              (3) Gen 49:8-10

           c. In 2 Samuel 7

              (1) God told David (who was of the tribe of

                  Judah) that his kingdom would be eternal

                  and that his household would rule forever

              (2) 2 Sam 7:8-17

           d. In Luke 1

              (1) The angel Gabriel explained to Mary

                  (who was of the house of David) that

                  her virgin born son would inherit all

                  the Old Testament promises as found in

                 (a) Gen 49

                 (b) 2 Sam 7

              (2) Lk 1:30-33

     D. What John sees

        1. Christ as a lamb

           a. Since he came to redeem his people

           b. This is his past work

        2. Christ as a lion

           a. For he shall come again to reign over his

              people

           b. This will be his future work

     E. The source of his claim to the earth's scepter is

        therefore related to his slain lamb characteristics

     F. While the strength of his claim is due to his mighty

        lion characteristics