Scripture Reading: Rev. 5:1-10
Ⅰ
In Revelation 5:1-10 we see that we may experience and enjoy Christ as the Lion- Lamb in the midst of the throne, opening the seven seals of God's universal administration:
A
Christ was recommended to the apostle John as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, but He appeared to John as a Lamb—vv. 5-6:
１
As the Lion, He is the Fighter against the enemy; as the Lamb, He is the Redeemer for us.
２
To the enemy, Christ is the Lion, but to us, the redeemed ones, He is the dear, precious Lamb; hence, He is the Lion-Lamb—vv. 5-6; John 1:29.
B
The main figure in the book of Revelation is Christ as the Lion of the tribe of Judah— 5:5:
１
The lion is a symbol of Christ, portraying Him as a strong fighter against the enemy, as prophesied in Genesis 49:8-9.
２
The title the Lion of the tribe of Judah signifies Christ as the triumphant King— Rev. 5:5; 1:5; 19:16.
３
All living creatures are under Him, and none can subdue Him; rather, He subdues everyone and everything—17:14.
４
Revelation is the unveiling of this Lion; therefore, we must turn our eyes upon the Lion of the tribe of Judah—1:1; 5:5.
５
The Lion-Lamb indicates that the Christ who is the Redeemer has become the Victor as the Lion; in His heavenly ministry, as such a Victor, He will conquer all His enemies and bring in His kingdom to the earth—11:15; 12:10.
Ⅱ
There is a Lion-Lamb standing in the center of the universe with seven flashing, burning eyes, "which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth"— 5:6; 1:4b; 3:1; 4:5:
A
The title the seven Spirits indicates that all the elements of the all-inclusive Spirit have been intensified for our experience—Phil. 1:19; Rev. 1:4b; 3:1.
B
Christ as the Lion-Lamb has seven observing and searching eyes for executing God's judgment upon the universe to fulfill God's eternal purpose, which will consummate in the New Jerusalem—4:11; 21:2, 10-11.
C
The Lion-Lamb has seven eyes for the carrying out of God's administration; the way Christ carries out God's universal administration is by the seven Spirits as His eyes— 1:4b; 3:1; 4:5; 5:6.
D
The seven eyes are for transfusing all that the Lamb is into our being so that we may become the same as He is for God's building—Zech. 3:9:
１
The seven Spirits are the seven eyes by which Christ expresses Himself—Rev. 5:6.
２
The seven eyes of Christ, which are the seven Spirits of God, are Christ's expression in God's move for God's building—v. 6; 21:2, 10-11:
ａ
The experience of the sevenfold intensified Spirit is for God's building.
ｂ
The book of Revelation is not mainly for searching and judging but for producing and building up the New Jerusalem—3:12.
ｃ
As a result of the transfusing of the seven eyes of the Lion-Lamb, the New Jerusalem will be built up—21:2, 10-11.
３
The way for us to be transformed for God's building, His corporate expression, is to come to the resurrected and glorified Christ and be seen by Him—2 Cor. 3:18:
ａ
Transformation is the transfusing of the Lord's lovable person into us—vv. 16-18.
ｂ
As the Lord looks at us, His seven eyes transfuse Himself into us; He transmits His inner being into us through His eyes—2:10; 4:6.
Ⅲ
As the One enthroned to be the heavenly Administrator in God's universal government, Christ as the Lion-Lamb, the overcoming Redeemer, is worthy to open the scroll of God's economy—Rev. 5:1-5, 9:
A
The Lion-Lamb removed the hindrances to the fulfillment of God's purpose; therefore, He is worthy to open the scroll concerning God's economy—vv. 5, 9:
１
When Christ ascended to the heavens, He took the scroll from God and opened the secret of the universe for the carrying out of God's administration—vv. 7-10.
２
Only Christ as the redeeming Lamb and the overcoming Lion is qualified to open the scroll with its seals—vv. 5-6; 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12; 8:1.
３
As the overcoming Lion, He defeated Satan for God, and as the redeeming Lamb, He put sin away for us; therefore, He is the only qualified One to unveil and carry out the mystery of God's economy—5:5.
４
The Lion-Lamb is worthy to open the secret of God's economy; this aspect of the Lord's worthiness is universal and immeasurable—v. 9.
B
This scroll is the new covenant, the new testament, the grand title deed in the universe, enacted by the Lord Jesus with His own blood for God's redemption of the church, Israel, the world, and the universe—Matt. 26:28; Heb. 13:20; Eph. 1:10.
C
All the mysteries and all the things that happen in the created universe are recorded in this scroll—Rev. 5:1, 5, 7, 9:
１
The universe is a mystery that no one can unravel; scientists simply cannot know the mystery or the purpose of the universe, because it is a secret kept from them.
２
Christ, the real Administrator of the heavens and all the nations on earth, is qualified to open the scroll—the schedule of God's administration, the timetable of what will take place from the ascension of Christ to the New Jerusalem—v. 6; 21:2:
ａ
The seven seals are the seven secrets of the universe, which are the mystery of God's economy—5:1.
ｂ
Christ as the Lion-Lamb is qualified to open the scroll, that is, to open the mystery of God's economy and to carry it out; this indicates that Christ is the One who has received the authority to administrate the entire universe—Matt. 28:18.
D
We all must worship Christ, the Lion-Lamb, as the Administrator, as the One in the heavens administering all things for the fulfillment of God's economy—Rev. 5:9-14.