Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain

Uplook – December 2013 – Grace & Truth Magazine

Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain

A story is told of King George’s visit to a hospital ward for children. Everybody there was so excited! The king arrived with his entourage and he walked through the hospital visiting every child. After he left, little Jimmy was sitting by his bed crying. The nurse asked, “What’s wrong, Jimmy?” “I thought the king was coming,” he said. “But he did come Jimmy. Don’t you remember he came and talked with you,” the nurse replied. Undaunted, Jimmy responded, “That wasn’t the king; he didn’t wear a crown!”

When the Lord Jesus came the first time the people did not realize He was their King. But when He returns to earth the second time they will recognize Him, and every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Revelation 5:12 tells us several things that will happen when He returns:

• “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power.”
He will claim the rule of this world! This word for power is dunamis from which we get our word “dynamite,” meaning unhindered and unequaled power.

When Satan tempted the Lord Jesus, he took Him to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. The Devil said to Him, “All this power I will give to You, and their glory” (Lk. 4:6 NKJV). It is important to see that the Devil was offering the Lord something that didn’t belong to him. In Matthew 6:13 the Lord Jesus said to His Father, “Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory.” Notice, too, that Satan offered the Lord Jesus “the kingdoms” of this war-torn world. The Lord Jesus does not come into this world to receive “kingdoms,” but to receive the kingdom!

Next, the Devil offered the Lord power and glory. The power he spoke of was not dunamis, but exousia – power subject to another. He offered Him delegated authority. Satan also sought to give the Lord the tarnished glory of this world, with its empty pomp and pride. But when the Lord Jesus returns He will have all authority and power. His wounded hands will one day hold the scepter!

• “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive ... riches.”
He will control the resources of the world, the riches of which have never been fairly divided by any human government. But when the Lord Jesus returns, the wealth of this world will be placed in His hands and things will be different! There will not be the poverty or economic crisis that we see today. The One who was rich and became poor for our sakes (2 Cor. 8:9) will be given all the riches, all the resources of this world!

• “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive ... wisdom.”
He will confound the reasoning of the world. Colossians 2:3 reminds us that “in Him are all the treasures of wisdom,” and 1 Corinthians 1:30 tells us, “But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God.” When He walked here in this scene He continually gave glimpses of His wisdom. Officers said, “No man ever spoke like this man” (Jn. 7:46). Others said, “Where did this Man get this wisdom?” (Mt. 13:54). The Lord Jesus declared, “a greater than Solomon is here” (Mt. 12:42). Just before the Cross the Lord said that in the last days there would be “perplexity” (Lk. 21:25). This world is searching for a way to deal with economic woes and the constant threat of war. They have no answer, no wisdom! But when the Lord returns He will be the answer for He is worthy to receive wisdom!

• “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive ... strength.”
He will crush the rebellion of this world. One of the great titles of God in the Old Testament is “Lord of Hosts.” Moses declared, “The Lord is a man of war” (Ex. 15:3). The Lord Jesus is going to return, and when He does He will remove the usurper and claim His own. God’s plan of redemption, by purchase and power, includes both persons and property. Redemption by purchase was accomplished at the first coming of the Lord when He paid for the price and secured all things to Himself. When He returns He will redeem things by power, seen throughout Scripture as taking place during His millennial reign. He will rule with a “rod of iron” (Ps. 2:9). His strength will be evident to all.

• “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive ... honor.”
He will command the respect of this world which today does not honor the Lord at all! His name is used in vain. In Esther 6 we see a beautiful picture of the honor that the Lord will one day receive from a world that now despises Him. Haman, the archenemy of Mordecai the Jew, was asked by the King of Persia, “What shall be done to the man whom the king delights to honor?” (v.6). Mordecai had saved the king’s life and the king wanted to honor him. But Haman thought that he was the one the king wanted to honor. Look at what this man of pride suggested! First, Haman said to prepare the man that the king delights to honor: Bring out a robe that the king has worn and the king’s crown and put it on the man, then place that man on one of the king’s horses. Next, he told the king to promote this man by having the noblest prince parade the honored one for all to see while proclaiming, “Thus shall be done to the man the king delights to honor!” (vv.8-9). One day this world will honor the Lord Jesus Christ – the One that God delights to honor!

• “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive ... glory.”
He will compel the reverence of this world. The world that spit in His face, beat Him, and whipped Him so that His back looked like a plowed field, will be compelled to give Him glory! When He stepped into this scene He veiled the glory that He had with the Father. But there is coming a day when He will receive the glory due His name!

• “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive ... blessing.”
He will convert the earthly remnant. This world needs the blessing of the Lord, but it doesn’t realize it. Romans 8:22 tells us that the whole creation groans and travails. We live in a world of tears and fears; plagued with disasters of every kind. But when He returns, blessing returns with Him!

Worthy Is The Lamb!
We who have been saved by the blood of His cross will be the trophies of His grace in that coming day. But we do not have to wait for His return to enjoy these things or to give Him praise. We can declare right now, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain!”

By Timothy P. Hadley