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CHAPTER 1

THE LORD IS THE LION

REVELATION 5:5

AND GETTING THE LINE ON SUCH A LION AS THIS

THE ANTECEDENTS OF THE LION OF JUDAH

REVIEW AND PRELIMINARY

We have already touched on the LION of Judah, but we can look back more thoroughly. First, let us review what was said earlier, to site the matter a little (with substantial extension).

Of course in the fulfilment, the essential wonder of the Lord is indeed shown, and here there is a beautiful sweetness as Jeremiah found, in seeing not only the restoration but the redemption of Israel in his multiple prophecies, this experience of 31:26 being on the very verge of the New Covenant (31:321ff.).Moreover, it is in the very shadow of the divine announcement that while the Lord would indeed scatter Israel, then He would regather and rebuild them! (Jeremiah 31:27-28). While these are two prongs, Jew and Gentile, with one base in the Gospel, they are by no means confused, however convergent at the end.

Moreover, following Jeremiah 31:10-11, again dwelling on Israel's restoration, a theme pursued in 31:12-14, we learn that "in those days and at that time I will cause to grow up to David a Branch of righteousness; He shall execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell safely." No more will it be to "pluck up and to break down,", for now will the Lord proceed to "build and to plant."

Topic reprimand, current devastation, countermand, pardon and restoration, correlative event, restoration of Messiah as ruling King, and that over the whole earth, executing judgment and righteousness over the whole earth.

Thus the sweetness experienced in the dream of Jeremiah is given ground in this penetration to the depths, eschatological ascent to the heights, and the finding that after all there is to be a concrete rule on this earth, no more visionary, but actual to the point of a safe Jerusalem (rather as in Isaiah 65, where for all that, in 65:20 there are sinners yet who will die).

By whom is this rule (Revelation 20:6)? Why by the Messiah, lineage in the flesh of David, status, the mighty God whose issuance is as the prince of peace (Isaiah 9:6). What power in His purity, what perfection in His plans, who not over Israel only, but by His Gospel in power over all the earth, will reign as in Psalm 72; and His power will not baulk - as in Psalm 2, 110, Isaiah 66:15ff., when He comes in anger to the oppressors and false governors of this earth (cf. Revelation 19).

Lamb in sacrifice, He is indeed lion in sovereignty, and so far from abandoning any part of His promise to Israel, this lion will sanctify them, saving on the same Messianic lamb rule as is applied further, to govern the earth before its time to quit comes, and the everlasting arms embrace a new heavens and a new earth. A LION ? one whose roar shakes the earth (Hebrews 12:25). And when it is gone, then it is He and He who sent Him (Isaiah 48:16, John 3), who constitute the very temple of worship (Revelation 21:22).

Of course it is He who acts, on whom history depends. Is it then with some surprise that we find the enactment in Revelation 5.

It is as we see in Revelation 5, at verse 5, that you behold the LION OF JUDAH on whom the whole opening of the books of history, the bringing into action of the counsel of God the Father, will depend. Accordingly, in the vision and symbolism of Revelation, in this chapter, you see a scroll which NONE can open, a vision of what brings the future to the present, makes history happen, makes it POSSIBLE for there to BE more history (cf. Isaiah 51:16), in that HE has given it meaning, in the salvation of souls by His wonderful act and deed (Galatians 6:14).

Were it not for the Lamb, history would be annulled before it came, excised before it happened; but because of THIS Israel, alone the one in whom He delights while all others fail (Isaiah 4128-29 in contrast to 42:1-6, 51:18ff. in contrast to 52:12ff.), THIS prince of God, not redeemed but Redeemer (42:6, 49:6, 53), it is He on whom it all turns, both as lamb and as lion.

Without such a wise and initial counsel, the Lord would not have brought Zion into existence; but the thing was not aborted because salvation was bought by Christ. This being the disposition of divine counsel, history came and Christ acted; and here in Revelation 5, we see the outcome. It is THEREFORE HE who can open the scroll of forthcoming history and the end of all things, for some in the wonder of eternal life with Him, since His action enabled the entirety to come in the first place, that some MIGHT be saved, a thing essential in the counsels of eternity for time. Such is Isaiah 51:16.

Therefore in the dynamic tableau of Revelation 5, we see that pause for wonderment, that announcement for praise, and out of hopelessness, for none COULD open the scroll for the coming consummation of history, of rest, of the beauty of holiness and the end of evil, till the Lion appeared, the Holy One of Israel. It is He, long foretold.

THEREFORE the Lion, the 'Lion of Judah,' is able to open it (Revelation 5:5), the 'Root of David' (Isaiah 11:1) prevails and history comes out into the open light leading to the culmination, consummation and at last, peace. Having paid for the deliverance and salvation of many whose number is to be made up (Revelation 6:11), He is able to act, so He acts on the scroll so that things held within it become actual, and open it He does.

The seal snapped, the substance, that of the Lamb who as lion delivered, is unfolded. How marvellous to have a leonine lamb; but these things are for different aspects of His divine work, to die for sin and to rout the devil, endure the condemnation and let His people go free, as once from slavery in Egypt, so now from that to sin. In His various depths and dimensions, a subject of massive praise by Paul in Romans 11, He acts, doing all things well, leaving undone no jot or tittle of all that He has promised. Such is the Lion.

In Revelation 7 we see the two prongs in their mutual and eventually cohesive testimony, that of Israel's saints washed in the same blood as those of the Gentiles.

Christ's authentication and sufficiency is then acknowledged (Revelation 5:9-13), as the one who is worthy do open it, the reason being given:

"for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood,
and made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth."

Then a vast chorus of worshippers presents praise,

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom,
and strength a honour and glory and blessing!"

What a prodigy, a LION to end all lions, who is yet a Lamb to end all lambs (cf. Hebrews 9:12-28, 10:10-14), a sacrifice to end all sacrifices (Hebrews 9:12, 9:26-10:14)! Such is the case however when God elects to become man (as in Philippians 2:1-12, Revelation 5:13, John 8:58, 5:19ff., Isaiah 40:10ff., 48:16), so that we might, being found, be founded and not confounded, and find our way back to God (I Peter 2:22ff., 3:18).

Here then is the meaning of the riddle of Samson (Judges 14:14), the sweetness that was in the very midst of strength, in fact in that case, a honey hive lodged in the carcass of a lion; and what is the carcass ? It signifies something in the wisdom of God who in many imaginative ways, sometimes prosaic as nails, sometimes as brilliant as rainbows, shows His meaning, often indeed using parables. In what way then does this signify the wisdom of God ?

It is in this, that the sweetness is in the carcass of a DEAD lion; for Christ crucified shows the wisdom and the power of God: for if a dead lion contained honey, indeed an active hive of it, how much more does a living and resurrected Christ, whose carcass the grave could never finally embrace, show it. As to that, death could only briefly touch Him, in transit, till He rose, His body preserved for all that, alive from the very dead (John 20, Acts 2). If however the period of death for His body was short, a mere three days in the sequence in view, its significance is for ever (cf. Galatians 6:14, Revelation 5:13).

In many such ways, God is showing Himself as the Saviour whose love is sweet, whose sacrifice shows it and whose mercy is eternal. What a lion and what a lamb is this: the world has no other, nor does it need it. Sacrifice ? By ONE sacrifice once offered, not often, for then He would often have suffered, but by ONE authentic, defined sacrifice, ONCE in the history of this world, He has put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself (Hebrews 9:24ff.); not as if another should offer Him, for He offers Himself freely, finally and personally (John 10:18).

It is HE who is priest, high priest, able to save to the uttermost (Hebrews 7), and having gained and granted eternal redemption (Hebrews 9:12) and granted it to His own (Hebrews 2:1-3, 6:19), it is He who is the ultimate prince and power sent from the Father to this aching earth, salvation to this deeply sin-driven sphere, and authority to this libertine, idol-infested globe. NO ONE ELSE can participate, propel, impel; it is HE ONLY. Thus is the Lion of Judah, the Lamb of God, found and seen in Revelation, more exclusive than any monopoly, for HIS and His alone has been the whole action of redemption. It is for THAT reason primarily that the songs are sung in His praise (Revelation 5:9).

THE SACRIFICE OF THE LEONINE LAMB

WHOM DEATH COULD NOT CONQUER,

WHOSE ARE THE WORLDS

What then have we found in Revelation 5 ? It is this, that the LION of JUDAH is none other than the LAMB as if it had been SLAIN, as seen in the vision, which is Christ crucified, the Lord of glory. What a leonine lamb is this! It is a simply delicious combination of the sufferings and the following glory of Jesus Christ that this should be so, and the jolt from the association of these two images or figures, lamb and lion, sacrificial meekness and everlasting power is great enough to provoke deep thought! We are to follow Him in the only way we can, NOT in BEING what the Lord is, since that is eternal (Micah 5:1-3), but in keeping to the spirit of His authenticity, AS followers (Matthew 20:28).

Thus as lambs we bear with all things, in meekness we should endure, in goodwill consider even our persecutors, as Corrie ten Boom so famously did, even though they were her guards. In forgiving spirit, we are to pray for those who persecute us, and do good to those who afflict us, since they are caught in the snares of sin, if by any means any of them might escape, as we by His grace and mercy, have done (Hebrews 6:19).

Yet if the testimony of truth be challenged, the roar of a lion is in place, when the issue is clearly drawn and set. To be sure, we may gently check and answer at the first (II Timothy 2:24), but if at the last, when all is in spirit delivered, then we have to be willing to follow the lead of Paul, as so often shown in Acts, and confront with the roar of faith, coming from the Lion of Judah, and give no uncertain sound. As to Paul, consider Acts 13:9ff., 13:39ff., 13:46, 16:37ff. (a good name is to be chosen in an ambassador, and while much must be bypassed, yet sometimes a challenge is to be met, and the atmosphere cleared, as in Acts 18:6,20:28-32. Yes, as in Titus 2:7-9, while striving, unholy expression of carnal flush is to be avoided, yet especially the one called as supervisor, must be "holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine both to exhort and convict those ho contradict."

With these considerations, ponder II Corinthians 10:5ff., with I Corinthians 11:1ff.. We are not to shrink but to follow him as an example and though by all means, we do not have such a range of gifts, nor such a status as do apostles, who were used in the very foundation; yet in the Church, God has appointed all the body requires, and to each according to gift, so is the function, and from all, such must be the result in SPIRIT. Indeed, no individual should fail to realise that the majesty and honour of the Lord should be denied as often as we stop breathing for 10 minutes, and compromise with ANY part of His commandments should happen with all the regularity with which our hearts refuse to beat for a couple of hours. These things are life.

On the other hand, we need to consider that the roar is not from our own authority, or power, or concerning ourselves, but concerning His majesty, as when soldiers seek to keep high the banner, the flag and acquit themselves worthily without fear or fainting, of their task. You do not merely suggest to the conflicting battalions that it might, just possibly, be nice if we could sit down together and snuggle into a pleasant companionship. To be gentle is one thing, to persuade wisely is one thing; but to move under one roof, as if of one mould with what mocks Christ, divides His Church or departs noisily from Him is simple betrayal; and this is practised with such a degree of continuity by many, that it might almost seem that the Judas Squad had a hero there, and battalions of escort in the contemporary field of false churches, declining denominations and acutely rebellious abusers of the very name of Christ, practising another religion as if it were His.

But yet even more important than fidelity to the Lord, being faithful if need be even to death (cf. Revelation 2:10), is the realisation of the identity and wonder of the Lord, on whom it all depends, for the Father indeed sent the Son to be the Saviour as in I John 4:14, as in Isaiah 48:16, as in John 3:16ff.. Be as unconcerned, as restrained as you would if you saw a close friend standing on a high tower and leaning over with knife in hand, about to cut the cord which restrained him. Politesse ? no need to be rude, but great need is there to be clear, for the moment can burst like a cloud of rain, turning all to mud, as life is lost. There is a time to be incisive and decisive. We must all therefore remember both the lion and the lamb, neither excluding the meekness of the one nor the valour of the other, as you see for example in Acts 3-5, where the apostles bear beatings but confront the murderous authorities with the spiritual facts, including such niceties as this, the CHARGE that they had just MURDERED Christ!

One found just this when in New Zealand in 1966, at the time when the Principal of the ONLY Presbyterian seminary in that highly Presbyterian land, having denied the fact that the body of Christ rose from the dead, as clear in the Bible and in the power of God in all His word, as the sun in mid-heavens in a Summer's day (cf. Acts 2:29ff.), gave ground for the topic to become a theme in the General Assembly of that year.

Staggering was it to find that scarcely one stood up to this malign blast from the deceiver of souls, so that as representative elder from Blenheim in that land, my Overture to that Assembly calling for condemnation of this error and clarification of the simple truth that Christ's body did not rot, was one of very few challenges. This, I was enabled to present with confrontation, mockery of the hollow folly of their position (as after all, Elijah gave an example of doing), and direct call for restitution of truth clearly in that Church.

With the Overture with which I was entrusted, however, taken from the Church at St Ninian's where I was Minister at that time, I stood almost as if standing was out of fashion. One or two words were said here or there, the only other one of any substance being from one who himself acknowledged that he did not believe all of the Bible.

At the end of the issue, no other voice was heard to condemn their feeble, fickle, equivocal Statement on the topic, but my own, and alone came my request that my dissent be recorded from their own Statement, an utter failure in the faith. This request of formal record of dissent, heard by a large body of elders, was a privilege for Assembly members, and one of which I took immediate advantage. Moreover, I told the Stated Clerk that I for one would not be reading the Assembly Statement on the Resurrection from the pulpit, as required by the Assembly, having publicly condemned it in Assembly.

This, my condemnation was followed by a confirmation in some 17000 words of this apostasy, sent to the Assembly official to support it and apply it.

In the Assembly, having made such a formal and sustained objection to and condemnation of the position that was to be accepted by that body, I abstained from further involvement, having spoken at large on the topic in the most decisive fashion. Yet on the morrow, what did the papers report but that there was unanimity in making the matter of bodily resurrection as optional. Apparently, to condemn is to accept, to explicitly confirm formally, with spirited, utter and total negation, is to be in agreement; and to annul the basis of all further proceedings, is to accept them. Such is this world. It was with relief that one used a Christian paper in the land, to announce that while political leaders of totally opposite convictions might for some reason agree, I could NEVER agree with this evil action.

Yet many continue in various falling denominations, long after all clamour and consideration is past, simply to remain in them, as if words had no meaning, and Romans 16:17 and the whole array of like passages had never been written, as if for example, I Corinthians 5-6 had never been thought of, or I Timothy 6 had never been penned, or II Chronicles 19 had been interred with the prophets, as if Matthew 23 was detained at afternoon tea, and the coming wolves noted and warned against in Acts 20, in Paul's address to the elders, had become cuddly little things, when they were not having their own little meals of little children. This is done amid misguided teaching which invents new christs, new gospels and even can have another spirit as Paul indicated so very clearly (II Corinthians 11).

The LEONINE LAMB ? It is rather than the lion has to roar and defend, and the lamb has to be willing to bear, and it is better not to be confused on the two phases; just as a husband might be tender-hearted for the seeking of a better side in someone threatening the house, but when action is imminent, he must be willing to defend with rigour, vigour, certainty, no more acting as if community of minds were in view. Realism is not popular, from organic evolution^*1to group dynamics, where various myths and tales of convenience are taught, implemented or both; whether the sheer fantasy of fictions in theology drawn from mere imagination and stuck, like plastic bombs on the undercarriage of the car of history, be in view, or the thought that massive spending will outwit sheer immorality.

Yet

"the defence of the Gospel" (Philippians 1:7,17),

and contending for

"the faith once for all delivered to the saints"

(Jude, as in vv. 1-3, opted for this contending,
in place of talk on the "common salvation'',
giving answer to former rebellions as examples)

is necessary in life, as is purity and understanding from the Lord.

Christ Himself fought with a continuity of vigour and denunciation as the case required (cf. Luke 11:37-54, 19:45-47, Matthew 21:33-46, 23, John 5:31-47, 8:13-20,21-29,37-47).

HE did not chew words, spit out the husks and speak the paps; but in utter confrontation He both rebuked, exposed and ridiculed the contentions of the so sanctified unbelievers, aligning them in one instance, with the devil. To be sure, He spoke with the authority of truth, but we who have His word speak with THAT authority, knowing the Lord is with us (Matthew 28:19-20), not only in the preaching of the Gospel, as there stated, but ALSO in the teaching to obey ALL His commandments.

This, my condemnation was followed by a confirmation in some 17000 words of this apostasy, sent to the Assembly official to support it and apply it.

If this one voice had not been given, what would the roaring lion, that alter ego who mimics and mocks, the devil, have had for his lunch! As it was, it became necessary to cast off the dust of one's feet on this absconding body, and so was it done in no hidden manner. Yet many continue in various falling denominations, long after all clamour and consideration is past, simply to remain in them, as if words had no meaning, and Romans 16:17 and the whole array of like passages had never been written, as if for example, I Corinthians 5-6 had never been thought of, or I Timothy 6 had never been penned, or II Chronicles 19 had been interred with the prophets, as if Matthew 23 was detained at afternoon tea, and the coming wolves noted and warned against in Acts 20, in Paul's address to the elders, had become cuddly little things, when they were not having their own little meals of little children. This is done amid misguided teaching which invents new christs, new gospels and even can have another spirit as Paul indicated so very clearly (II Corinthians 11).

A saucy attitude of being beyond mere commandments does justice neither to the authority of Christ, His commands, His warnings nor to His love, and that reciprocity in the saved heart, which DESIRES to keep His words. He who does NOT love Me, He declared, does NOT keep My words; and if anyone loves Him, he WILL keep His word (John 14:21ff.).

Small wonder, for God does not speak to man in order to gain a hug-and-shrug syndrome, but for obedience; and it is to the one who obeys Him, as Peter pointed out, that He gives the Holy Spirit (Acts 5:32). That, it was in the apostolic context of their REFUSAL to suspend their work for the Lord, despite the word of the ecclesiastical authorities. You will note the generality of this statement of the apostle Peter.

While none is perfect among redeemed sinners, THIS is the theme, the target, the principle and the desire to the uttermost, of those who look to Him, to obey out of love, and to be faithful, in love. The leonine lamb is good enough for me, and His promises are sure, steadfast and trustworthy (cf. II Corinthians 6:14, Isaiah 52:11), and their basis in Isaiah is precisely this, the refusal to be bundled together with what presents itself as a godly body, but which in fact, while drawing near with the lips, has heart from Him.

Here it is not EVEN with the lips! a new Christ being formed from which one must depart, any alternative to Him being in fact, unbelief IN Him.

And what does Paul say of such ? It is to be found in II Corinthians 11:15. What is the good of talking about following Christ is His talk is not your own! His, it is the word of God. Is it not as in I Timothy 6:1ff., I Corinthians 5-6! Romans 16:17! Is the word obedience difficult to understand, or the concept of action foreign! So it might almost seem as the tensions of folly rise and fall, like storms at sea, as this Age draws near to its close.

But that ? it was predicted (II Peter 2, Matthew 24, cf. SMR Chs. 8 esp. 648-690, and Ch. 9, Answers to Questions Ch. 5, News 121, 122); and had it not come, that would have been a disorder from the word; but since it has, it is only the syndrome as stated, coming home to declare itself.

The word of God indeed, as Amos reminds us, is like the roaring of a lion.

And what a Lion is this Lamb! Praise God for Him!

Look further indeed, even at the background of the LION of Judah and the LAMB of God, who is ONE.

ANTECEDENTS BEYOND ANTIQUITY

Let us return, then, to the picture of Revelation 5 where the it is He who is the ONLY person among all men, all in that throng worthy to open the scroll. It was on this scroll of divine authority and revelation, on the opening of which, all future commission and thus developments rested. History was as it were, stuck. Without it, it could not go on. Its engine was in vision, stalled. WHO could open the scroll containing the orders and outcomes for history ? Who was WORTHY to do so, for that was the specific question.

Delay seemed to raise a sense of consternation in John, but being reassured, he learned that the Lion of Judah, the Root of David (seen now not as a shoot, but grown as a tree that would not die and now had a transcendent dynamic), it was He alone who was worthy to open the scroll. This was primarily because

"You were slain and have redeemed us to God by Your blood,
out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation
and have made us kings and priests to our God,
and we shall reign on the earth."

In fact, this is the ISRAEL OF GOD, of Isaiah 49:3, in whom God is well pleased, even though, as in Isaiah 41:27-29, as in 51:18ff., there was NONE even among them, no, not one, who could give counsel, provide deliverance, and constitute salvation. Hence this One, who though man, is from above (Micah 5:1-3, Isaiah 48:16ff.), sent for salvation, is a vast intimation from God. He is "hidden in His quiver," and "in the shadow of His hand," having made His mouth "like a sharp sword," making Him for His will and purpose, "a polished shaft".

It is He who also "is a light to the Gentiles" (49:6), since being confined in His salvation for Israel is "too small a thing"; and He is so sent that He should "be My salvation to the ends of the earth," this being in such profound and constant focus here, just Isaiah 42:6 proclaims. In the latter, He is proclaimed to BE in Himself, the Covenant of God (the New Covenant, where "My blood of the New Covenant" avails for the remission of sins as in Matthew 26:28). In Himself, there featured and fulfilled is all the sacrificial splendour, the holy glory, the merciful intensity, the plan of salvation and its performance!

It is this same one, ALONE WORTHY for salvation, counsel and as Covenant, this light to the Gentiles no less, who in Isaiah 51:6, this ISRAEL WHO IS WORTHY. As seen in Isaiah 41-42 and 51-52 as shown above, there is no other son of Israel, no other counsellor, who has an amazing antecedent importance. What does this verse declare ? It is this, that WITHOUT HIM, as the Lord says, THIS Israel, this 'prince of God,' THIS one so unlike the nation and all within it in worthiness (cf. Isaiah 30:15ff., 63:13-15), creation would have stalled at birth. It would be defunct before arrival. GOD, without THIS Israel, this Messiah, this Saviour, this light to the Gentiles, this sacrificial lamb, this root of David, WOULD SIMPLY NOT HAVE ENGAGED IN THE CREATION.

For a beginning you need an end, and even if the end is to be endless in duration, once reached, it is to be considered in wise counsel before instituted; and the more is this so when ALL knowledge is His with whom we have to do, and He it is before whom all things are manifest (Hebrews 4:13, cf. Isaiah 46:10).

Consider it:

"And I have put My words in Your mouth;
I have covered You with the shadow of My hand,
that I may plant the heavens, lay the foundations of the earth,
and say to Zion, 'You are My people,' "

This Being, this Saviour, this Second Person of the Trinity, the Lord God has sent Him, the First and the Last, saying, I am He, even the One who will not give His glory to another (48:11). Further, it is He, with whom also is the Spirit sent (48:16), who was to come and came (Isaiah 40). His lament for Israel is very much the same, accordingly, with that of Jesus Christ incarnate, as found in Luke 19:42ff., and Matthew 23:37ff.. Thus in Isaiah 48:18, we find that He grieves:

"Oh, that you had heeded My commandments,
then your peace would have been like a river,
and your righteousness like the waves of the sea...

"Your seed also would have been as the sand,
and the offspring of your bowels like its gravel.
His name should not have been cut off nor destroyed from before Me."

So far we have found (Isaiah 48, 51) that the First and the Last, the LORD Himself, is sent from heaven with the Spirit to bring salvation, be salvation, be the covenant, and that God would never have created the heavens and the earth if this had not been in store, this mercy, this sacrifice for sin, this way out for man! If He could not likewise refer to His people as MINE Isaiah 51:16), as those redeemed from the sinful mass, be they Jew or Gentile, the people of saving faith in the One who does the saving, then He would have abstained. But now He has come and does His awesome work Isaiah 29:14, 28:16-21!

THAT DONE, it is of course HE ALONE who is worthy to open the scroll of history; indeed, without Him, there would not have been any history of the heaven and of the earth at all! How much more then is it He who enables its continuance to the end and so He alone who among the whole throng in earth and heaven, can and does open the seal in Revelation 5. It is He who thus brings to its finale what is fallen, for some to be reaped as wheat, for others to be slashed as chaff, and acts on the earth. It is He who leads on the unveiling of the end, the finale for man, and eventually for the universe, Who acts with the Father, just as He acts (John 5:19ff.).

Thus does Revelation 6 and on resume, according to its mode, in depicting things to come on the earth. This is now done, with the remedy clearly shown before all, despite the appalling affronts to truth and mercy upon it, where wickedness dwells, where the beast bites and the false prophet has his enormous say in swelling words of vanity (Revelation 16, II Peter 2). There is to be a harvest, there is a people of the Lord for whom He has come, who come to Him.

He comes because as CREATOR without whom there is nothing, He acted at the first (48:12), and as Saviour He completed the redemption to the last (Isaiah 50-53), and having redeemed, has free hand to bring on what in His foreknowledge, has moved either this way or that. Those however who DO receive Him as He is (and not spuriously in some furious substitute having only the name, and that fraudulently), these remain and rule with Him for ever and ever, with everlasting joy on their heads (Isaiah 51:11, Revelation 5:9-10, 22:5, Psalm 21, 145).

	ONLY through His agency is creation;
	ONLY through His agency is salvation and He paid for it (Isaiah 53-55),

so that we need not, and indeed CANNOT pay,

for it is not at all that type of thing (Isaiah 55).

Its everlasting beauty nothing annuls (Isaiah 54, I Peter 1, Zephaniah 3, I John 5).

This is how He wanted it, envisaged it, planned it and performed it. WORTHY is this leonine lamb for fulfilling all needed; and now having saved, indeed, as the LION of JUDAH foretold by Jacob, implied to Abraham (Genesis 12) and envisaged at Eden (Genesis 3:15), He comes. WHO ELSE ? In Revelation 5:8ff., praise of Him mounts as the light of dawn, which goes on to suffuse the earth.

ACTUATION OF ETERNITY

The dramatic tension noted in Revelation 5 is expression of the meditative must, the assured certainty that ruminating, one can come to no other for the onset of final history. Just as He is waited for, so He arrives, as He did on time when incarnate and when He died, with history in His hand: just as He is its founder and teacher. The Founder and Teacher of History, the Saviour, He is acclaimed, only worthy, having done all that was required PERSONALLY.

So has the Father sent Him, CEO of all operations, Redeemer of the lost, His own fellow (Zechariah 11), who as God, takes the little lambs in His arms (Isaiah 40:10).

Without Him, then, there would have been no creation, and if creation, then no solution, and if no solution, then only woe and wickedness. This abounds; but it is shown up the more by contrast with His salvation; and those who in dimness of anguish (as in Isaiah 8:22) wish to be without Him, merely mirror the sad preference of their hearts as foreknown to God, and seen on this earth when they hear of Him, and depart like some spluttering motor, spluttering rocket, misspent, like the Challenger.

Love is triumphant as with a Lion; death is overcome by the death of the Lamb; the power of God is made manifest in the Lamb becoming post-death, a Lion, even the lion whose roar amid the prophets of the Old Testament, shook the earth (Amos 3:3-8); and now that same earth is drawing nearer to its end, to its own death, He will in His time, when He has finished all that He has in mind (Revelation 20:11, 21:1, Matthew 24:35, Isaiah 51:6), dispense with it altogether.

How strange that so many, trapped in the easy way, fall for durance vile, confined to their own littleness, the problem that refuses solution, though it stares it in the face; when endurance glorious offers in the Lamb, its gracious beauty!

Small wonder then, in Revelation 5:13, we hear this word,

"Blessing and honour and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb, forever and ever."

NOTE

See Ch. 1 of Alpha and Omega ...; and *1 of Possess Your Possessions Ch. 8. See also, The gods of naturalism have no go!