Praising the Lamb

You may have noted as I did that each of our brethren in their worship this morning referred to the Lamb or to the Redeemer. I want to read about the Lamb this morning, the Redeemer of all ages. In Exodus, in chapter 4 of Genesis, there's a Lamb for an individual, Abel brought the firstling of his flock.

In Exodus chapter 12, there's a Lamb for the nation, for the family. Exodus chapter 12, a Lamb for the family, the Passover night. Isaiah chapter 53, there's a Lamb for the nation.

He was wounded, says the prophet, for our transgressions. He was bruised for our iniquities. In John chapter 1, John points him out, a Lamb for the world, behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

I want to read this morning about a Lamb for the redeemed of all ages. He's the center of universal praise in a coming day. This is heaven's anthem.

How wonderful to think that you and I have been privileged to join in heaven's anthem this morning. They're praising the Lamb, and that's what we have done. Verse 1, I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written with in and on the backside 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 John said, I wept much. Verse 5, one of the angels, the elder 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 low in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts or living creatures, and in the midst of the elders stood a Lamb as 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 sat upon the throne.

And when he had taken the book, the four living creatures and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of saints. And they sung a new song, saying, thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof, for thou was slain and has redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation, and has made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. Now for the sake of time, I won't read the rest of the chapter.

You can read it at your leisure. But as I have said, this is heaven's anthem. And Calvary will always be fresh in the mind of God.

Here's one that sits upon the throne, has the title deeds of the earth in his right hand. There's no one that's found worthy to open the book. And John weeps.

And then he heard one of the elders say, Behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah. The root of David hath prevailed to open the book. And he saw in the midst of the throne a lamb freshly slain.

Now if I remember rightly, you forget when you get older, you know. But I recall, I think, 28 times in the book of the Revelation, the lamb is mentioned. But this word in verse 6 of this chapter is a different word for lamb.

It's a sacrificial lamb, so that eternally Calvary, as I have said, will remain fresh in the hand of God. Here's these four living creatures that I take to be representatives of the throne. They fall down and worship.

Then the four and twenty elders that I take as representative of the church, they have vials in their hands full of odors, the prayers of saints. They fall down and worship. And they sing a new song, Thou art worthy for thou was slain and has redeemed us to God by thy blood.

But that heavenly anthem enlarges. After the living creatures, after the four and twenty elders, the church, we read about an innumerable company of angels. Ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands.

They're saying worthy is the lamb that was slain. And then it says in verse 13, every creature which is in heaven and on the earth, every creature and under the earth and those that are in the sea and who they are, I don't know and you don't know. But all created intelligence is going to join in this anthem.

Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne and unto the lamb. And John says it shall be forever and ever. So throughout the eternal ages, you and I will join in that heavenly song of praise and glory and honor and blessing to this one, the Redeemer, the lamb of God's providing.

What a blessed hope is ours, dear child of God. Very, very soon, we shall all be there. The Lord bless his word to our hearts.