There are two lions in the Bible. One roams the earth seeking to devour. The other lion is also called a lamb, and one day He will bring peace to the whole world. Come quickly Lord Jesus!
Final Script for tomorrow
May It Be Soon
Thursday, June 16, 2011
They are the moral police and in Iran, thousands are being deployed in the capitol. Even the men are at risk of arrest for wearing necklace chains and having haircuts that considered too glamorous.
Swell
The moral police are fanning out over Tehran and the women also are at risk of arrest for loose-fitting headscarves, tight overcoats and shortened trousers exposing skin. Un-Islamic dress will not be tolerated. That’s just the better side of the Islam world. In Bahrain, 47 doctors and nurses are being tried for theft, but really they were arrested during recent demonstrations when they treated the protesters. And in Syria, the brutality continues with refugees streaming into Turkey after military tanks show up and start firing into towns where they suspect anti-government sentiment. The lion prowls over the earth, seeking to devour. But the other lion, the Lion of Judah reigns and this lion, Jesus, is also the lamb. Peace will come and may it be soon. Welcome to HT, I’m CM sharing the GS that’s all about Jesus and a program we are calling “May It Be Soon”. This week, we’ve been joined by a Mennonite Bishop and former missionary to east Africa. Dr. Don Jacobs is back home today with his wife in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania and he is the author of this month’s Anchor devotional guide from Haven called Sighting of Jesus in Revelation. Revelation 5, starting with verse one:
1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne.”
On the line with us Pennsylvania, Don Jacobs shares what he wrote this month on seeing the lion and seeing the lamb.
Jacobs clip
OPEN SONG – Worthy is the Lamb – Darlene Zschech
What a time of worship. Don Jacobs and his sighting of Jesus in Revelation. He is a battle-scarred servant of Jesus and maybe that’s why I like him so much. Darlene Zschech and Worthy is the Lamb.
Revelation 5:1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”
God prepared John for this moment when the book of Revelation would be opened. John knew that soon he would understand what God was doing and His intention for the future. So John couldn’t be anything other than excited at what was about to be revealed. Things were unfolding marvelously. The book was in plain view, held by God Himself. But it was completely sealed with seven seals. While God looked around for one good enough to open it, a mighty angel boomed out in a voice which reverated throughout heaven, “who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” the answer was as clear as the question: “No one is found who can di it!” hearing that, John wept and wept, overcome with disappointment and dashed hopes. But God was preparing him for a new sighting of Jesus, this time through the prism of tears. Who can break the seals that bind me? Not me. Not you. Not your pastor. Not your counselor. Not all the philosophers through time. Only one is worthy. The lamb. And his name is Jesus. A little later, Revelation 5:12, “worthy is the lamb who was slain, receive honor and glory and praise!” We live today in a world where it seems that Satan, the devil, is in total control, prowling the earth like a roaring. A 41-year family dynasty in Syria, trying to preserve it’s power. Tanks firing on unarmed civilians. Government police who refuse to shoot unarmed civilians are themselves shot to death. Thousands are getting out – fleeing to Turkey if they can. In Bahrain, doctors just following their hypocratic oath are being tried when all they wanted to do was treat the sick, pro and anti-government in need of medical care. Lybia continues to be a bloodbath. And then in Iran, moral police out to arrest women and men who go beyond not-too-clear line for Islamic dress. Sometimes violence doesn’t make sense. The lion that prowls the earth seems to be in control. But once we see Jesus, like John saw Jesus in Revelation, see the Lion of Judah reigning, but on the throne we see Him as a slain lamb. That will never make sense to this world. But it doesn’t matter. Darlene Zschech sang about it a moment ago.
Thank you for the cross Lord
Thank you for the price You paid
Bearing all my sin and shame
In love You came
And gave amazing grace
Thank you for this love Lord
Thank you for the nail pierced hands
Washed me in Your cleansing flow
Now all I know
is Your forgiveness and embrace. Worthy is the Lamb.
At the beginning of Jesus ministry on earth, we hear the testimony of John the Baptist in John 1.
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”
Then at the end of Jesus’ ministry on earth, after the resurrection at the third time He appeared to the disciples, and we hear in John 21:
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” Jesus is the lamb of God and he is also the Good Shepherd who instructs his people then and now to feed His sheep. Worthy is the Lamb. Then in the final book that John wrote, in the final book of God’s Holy Word, the Lamb keeps showing up. We’ve talked about only the Lamb being worthy to open the seals and so He does. But strangely, this lamb is also our good shepherd.
Revelation 7:17
For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 12:11
They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death. It will not be easy in the final days:
Revelation 13:8
All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast—all whose names have not been written in the Lamb’s book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world.
The battle is not quite over. Revelation 17:14
They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
We can look forward to a marriage feast: Revelation 19:7
Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.
Revelation 19:9
Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
In the new heavens and the new earth, there will be no need for a temple.
Revelation 21:14
The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Revelation 21:22
I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.
Revelation 21:23
The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
Revelation 21:27
Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Revelation 22:1
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb
Revelation 22:3
No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. Sightings of Jesus in Revelation.
CLOSE – Revelation Song – Kari Jobe
