Honolulu Bible Church
Morning Worship Service
June 29, 1997

THE BOOK OF REVELATION

THE CHURCH'S TRIUMPH THROUGH CHRIST

Sermon #15 - The Coronation of the Ascended Christ - Revelation 5:7-14

INTRODUCTION - Revelation chapters 4 and 5 take us into the throne of God where the true, spiritual worship of the church is pictured for us. Chapter 5 introduces the Lord Jesus Christ's place in the Temple of God. As God the Father holds forth the scroll of the New Covenant in His right hand, an angel calls out for anyone to come and take the scroll and open it. No one in all of God's creation comes forward, until the Lord Jesus, pictured and described as the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, the One who has prevailed, and the Lamb of God, enters the throne room and takes the scroll. Here we have been given a glorious picture of our ascended Lord, and through these titles and images we are called to worship and praise Him. This morning we now go further in our comprehension of Revelation 5, for as we have said, it is the key to the rest of the book. We begin by asking:

1) WHAT DO THE PICTURES AND TITLES OF CHRIST IN REVELATION 5 POINT TO? Are these just random descriptions, to be used solely for our worship, or is there a reason that Christ is portrayed this way? According to the chapter, everything centers on the scroll. Thus, the titles and images which describe Him are also the legal right and ability to take the scroll. He is called the Lion of Judah, the heir to the throne of David, the everlasting King promised to David, thus, He has every right to the scroll. He is called the Root of David, describing Him as the beginning and source of the kingdom's blessings and curses, thus, He has every right to the scroll. He is the One who has Persevered, conquering sin, death and hell, prevailing over the enemies of God, thus, the scroll belongs to Him. Finally, He is the Lamb as though slain, the Son of God resurrected from His sacrifice and now present to claim His place in the plan of the Father. The scroll is the New Covenant, the plan of God for the church and the world, and therefore, only the Son of God may take and open it, for it is His by right and ability. What then are we looking at in Revelation 5? What is the significance of the taking of the scroll? If this is the inauguration of the New Covenant in Christ Jesus, then the scene of Revelation 5 is certainly the coronation of Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords at the right hand of the Father. Christ enters the throne room as the victor in a great battle. He comes with His proofs to be King of kings. He approaches the right hand of God. Surely all of this is language of the Ascension! From this point on in the book of Revelation, the Lamb will always be pictured at the throne. In Revelation 22:1 the throne actually becomes "the throne of God and the Lamb." Therefore, we are looking at the ascension and coronation of Jesus Christ after His mighty work on earth. The Father is giving Him all the power and authority of the Kingdom. As we listen to the praises found in the latter part of the chapter, we see that the songs are filled with language of the ascension of Christ. The Son of God is now worthy to receive power, honor, and glory because He has conquered on behalf of the church. This is the meaning of Revelation 5.

2) SCRIPTURES WHICH DESCRIBE THE ASCENSION OF CHRIST - As we are dealing with the ascension and coronation of Christ, it is helpful to go to parallel passages in Scripture to show that this is what is happening in Revelation 5. In Daniel 7:9-14, the prophet Daniel is given a vision of the future. It is much like John's vision. Daniel is in the throne room of God and he sees human powers being overthrown and defeated. Finally, he sees the Son of Man coming forward and given everlasting dominion, glory and a kingdom. This takes place at the ascension of Christ, yet for Daniel, all of this was still in the future. In Matthew 28:18-20, we are given the Great Commission. You will note that when Christ sends His church out into the world, there is no hopelessness, despair, or pessimism regarding the church's mission. Instead, Christ assures the church that "all authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." As Christ is victorious in His cross and resurrection, so He is able to send forth His church, for all authority and power has been given to Him by the Father. The Church should not despair in its Gospel witness, but realize that the power of the universe is behind her as she preaches Christ. The Church will be victorious in conquering the nations with the Gospel! In Ephesians 1:19-23 Paul tells us what happened to Christ when He returned to the Father in heaven. The Father has seated Christ at His right hand and has put all things under His feet. All power and dominion is Christ's. In Philippians 2:9-11 we again see the similarities to Revelation 5. God has exalted Christ and all of heaven and earth bows before Him in His exalted state. I Peter 3:22 tells us that Christ is presently at the right hand of God, having all authorities and powers subjected to Him. From these passages it is plain to see that Revelation 5 is describing for us the ascension of Christ to the right hand of the Father and His coronation as King of kings as the scroll of power, dominion and the kingdom is given to Him to mediate over. Once again, the picture of Revelation helps us see the way we should understand and think of Christ today in the church.

3) HOW DO WE VIEW THE LORD JESUS CHRIST TODAY? - Some men in this world will have nothing to do with Christ. They might think He was just a good man, teaching good things, but that He has no interest or concern in the present state of life. They reject His lordship and do not see the need for His salvation. Yet such men should tremble, for one day they shall stand before the throne of heaven, and they will see the One they have rejected. Christ will judge them and they shall be cast out from His presence forever into hell. Have you turned to Christ? Do you not realize He is the Lord of the universe? Do you not understand that one day you will bow before Him? Why not do so now, and seek the forgiveness and mercy which can only be found at the right hand of God in Christ? There are those in the church today who have a very incomplete view of Christ. They believe He has ascended into glory, but that He does not have all power and authority. Somehow they think that the devil and sin are still in control. They believe the world is a lost cause and that the church will fail. They think that all will be gloomy, hopeless and despairing until Christ returns. Yet this is an insult to the exalted state and the victorious promises of Christ! Does He send us into this world with all of His power and authority only to fail? Surely this could not have been His meaning with the Great Commission! Instead, if we are going to have a biblical view of Christ, our praise of Him must match that which we see at the end of Revelation 5. We are not to worship with a hopeless, defeatist, pessimistic attitude concerning the cause of Christ in this world. Instead, praise rendered to Christ should be full of victory and triumph!

The saints and cherubim praise Christ with a new song (Revelation 5:8-10). Not the songs of Old Testament worship, but a new song, full of the finished, redemptive work of Christ. The church praises Christ's salvation in its song, for He has redeemed men from every nation, tongue and tribe. Then we see the angels joining the chorus (Revelation 5:11,12) as they glorify all the power, riches, wisdom, strength, and honor which Christ has been given at His coronation. Finally, all of creation unites in worship (Revelation 5:13,14) as both God the Father and the Son are glorified. Is this the way we see Christ? It will make all the difference for us as a church as we go forth into this world. If Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords, then what do we have to fear of persecution, tribulations, enemies, or trials? All is being guided under His mighty hand, for He has prevailed to take the scroll and bring forth all the blessings and curses of New Covenant life. His kingdom has come and is growing in this world. Let us go forth in the victory, triumph and power of the Lamb of God who is enthroned above in glory, power, and honor!

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