Run to the Lamb: Standing Before God's Judgment

Devotional

Day 1: The Lamb alone is worthy to open the scroll.

The vision of Revelation reveals a scroll, sealed shut and containing God's ultimate plan for judgment and redemption. No one in all creation is found worthy to break its seals and enact this divine purpose. This creates a moment of profound despair, until a solution is revealed. The answer is not a powerful lion, but a slain lamb, who alone possesses the authority to unfold what is to come. [33:51]

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. (Revelation 5:2-7 ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life are you currently looking for a "lion"—a display of raw power or obvious strength—to solve a problem, when God may be inviting you to trust the way of the "lamb," which is the way of sacrificial love and surrender?

Day 2: God’s certain judgment is under the Lamb’s authority.

A sobering reality presented in Scripture is the certainty of God's judgment against sin. This is not a random or chaotic force in the world, but a purposeful act under the complete authority of Jesus Christ. The Lamb, who was slain for sin, is the same one who is sovereignly ruling over this process. Every act of judgment is permitted and orchestrated by Him, reminding us that all things, even the most difficult, are under His ultimate control. [40:06]

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures say in a voice like thunder, “Come!” (Revelation 6:1 ESV)

Reflection: How does the truth that Jesus Himself holds the authority over judgment change your perspective on the brokenness and injustice you see in the world around you?

Day 3: No one can stand on their own before God’s holiness.

The culmination of God's judgment is so overwhelming that it prompts a desperate question from all of humanity. From the most powerful to the most helpless, every person will be confronted with the sheer holiness and wrath of God. The unanimous cry is one of terror and realization that no human effort, status, or achievement can provide a hiding place or a means of standing firm in that day. This is the ultimate consequence of sin, from which no one is exempt. [54:43]

Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17 ESV)

Reflection: In the quiet of your own heart, have you truly faced the question of how you would stand before a perfectly holy God based on your own merit?

Day 4: The Lamb secures and seals His people for Himself.

In glorious contrast to the terror of judgment, a beautiful picture of hope is given. Before the final judgments are released, the servants of God are sealed on their foreheads. This act signifies God's ownership, protection, and secure promise to bring them safely through all tribulation. The Lamb personally knows His people and sets them apart, ensuring that they are not appointed to wrath but are marked for redemption and eternal life with Him. [58:27]

Then I saw another angel ascending from the rising of the sun, with the seal of the living God, and he called with a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm earth and sea, saying, “Do not harm the earth or the sea or the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God on their foreheads.” (Revelation 7:2-3 ESV)

Reflection: What fears about the future or current difficulties can you surrender today, resting in the truth that you are known and sealed by God if you are in Christ?

Day 5: Washed by the Lamb, we will stand and worship forever.

The final destination for those who belong to the Lamb is not one of hiding from His presence, but of standing joyfully before His throne. Their ability to stand comes from one source alone: they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Their past tribulations are over, and they are welcomed into a eternal state of comfort, guidance, and intimate care where every tear is wiped away. Their response is a lifetime of worship. [01:03:28]

Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore they are before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.” (Revelation 7:13-15 ESV)

Reflection: The Lamb is worthy of your trust, obedience, and proclamation now because He will be the center of your worship for all eternity. What is one practical step you can take this week to align your life more fully with this eternal reality?

Sermon Summary

God’s kingdom appears as God’s people gathered under God’s rule and blessing, and Revelation 6–7 unfolds how the Lamb brings that kingdom to pass amid judgment and hope. The narrative shows the Lamb alone authorized to unseal God’s plan; as each seal opens, grief and calamity break out across the earth, revealing both the consequences of sin now and an intensifying judgment that culminates at the end. The first four seals portray progressive turmoil—false proclamation, war, economic distress, and death—working within limits set by God. The fifth seal exposes the cry of martyrs who long for vindication; the sixth culminates in cosmic upheaval that leaves every human asking, “Who can stand?” The text refuses to sentimentalize judgment: human goodness cannot withstand God’s wrath.

Chapter 7 answers that question by showing how the Lamb secures a people. God seals servants—symbolically numbered and then revealed as a vast, multiethnic multitude—who have been washed in the Lamb’s blood and thus preserved through tribulation. That sealing and cleansing point forward to the life of the age to come: sustained worship, sheltering presence, no more hunger or tears, and the Lamb as shepherd. The sealing does not erase suffering but promises vindication and final homecoming.

The theological thrust moves from sober warning to clear practical demands. Judgment requires sober self-examination; the Lamb’s rule demands decisive trust. Worship looks like trusting the Lamb amid fear, obeying his commands in daily choices, speaking the gospel to others, and regularly gathering to remember the Lamb’s sacrifice. The Lord’s Supper appears here as a public, humble enactment of running to the Lamb: the act signals reliance on his atoning work that alone enables humans to stand. The chapters call readers both to fear God rightly and to cling to the one who bore wrath in their place; only those sealed and washed by the Lamb will stand when God’s purposes fully unfold.

Key Takeaways

1. Face certainty of God's judgment God’s judgment is not a distant doctrine but an active reality that shapes moral urgency today. Recognizing judgment reframes choices: sin is costly, and complacency in holiness becomes indefensible. This awareness calls for repentance and realignment of priorities rather than mere theological assent. [37:20]
2. Only the Lamb opens the seals All cosmic events and divine decrees proceed under the Lamb’s authority; nothing escapes his sovereign rule. Seeing the Lamb as the one who opens the scroll reframes catastrophe: even calamity unfolds within God’s purposeful governance. That truth comforts the faithful and humbles the presumptuous, since ultimate agency rests with Christ alone. [40:06]
3. Run to the Lamb to stand Standing before God depends on flight to the Lamb, not on human merit or cleverness. The sealed and washed people demonstrate that salvation comes through cleansing by the Lamb’s blood and God’s preserving power. This reality calls for urgent trust: those who embrace the Lamb’s saving work will endure the final trial. [57:26]
4. Worship the Lamb in practice Eternal worship begins in everyday life through trust, obedience, witness, and gathered praise. Practical worship shows itself when fear yields to trust, when integrity and holiness guide small decisions, when testimony reaches others, and when the community gathers regularly. Such lived worship prepares hearts to bow before the Lamb forever. [68:09]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[06:15] - Gathering and kingdom definition
[07:00] - Guest connection and classes
[08:01] - Capital campaign update
[11:23] - Missions giving and workday
[13:13] - Opening prayer and petitions
[31:25] - Scripture reading and series recap
[35:15] - Two imperatives and seals introduction
[40:06] - Seals 1–4: earthward judgments
[42:56] - Seals 5–6: martyrs and cosmic reckoning
[57:26] - Revelation 7: sealing and the great multitude
[67:51] - How to worship the Lamb today
[74:38] - Communion: run to the Lamb
[87:55] - Benediction and dismissal

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Revelation 6–7 (ESV)

Observation questions

In Revelation 6:1–8, what four judgments are unleashed as the Lamb opens the first four seals?
What question is asked at the end of Revelation 6, and how is it answered in Revelation 7?
According to Revelation 7:9–10, who is the great multitude worshiping, and what are they crying out?
What promises are given to those who have "washed their robes" in Revelation 7:15–17?

Interpretation questions

Why is it significant that only the Lamb is worthy to open the seals? What does this reveal about His authority over judgment and history?
The cry of the martyrs in Revelation 6:10 asks, “How long…?” How does God’s response comfort those who suffer for their faith?
The sealing of the 144,000 is followed by the vision of a great multitude from every nation. What might this symbolize about God’s people?
How does the imagery of the Lamb as shepherd in Revelation 7:17 connect to other passages in Scripture that describe God’s care for His people?

Application questions

Facing the certainty of God’s judgment isn’t meant to paralyze us with fear but to awaken urgency. How does this reality influence the choices you make daily? [37:20]
Trusting the Lamb in your fears and future is a practical act of worship. What situation are you facing right now where you need to actively rely on Christ’s sovereignty instead of trying to control the outcome? [01:08:09]
Obeying the Lamb in everyday decisions—like integrity, purity, and honesty—is worship. Where is God calling you to submit to His commands even when it’s costly or inconvenient? [01:09:25]
Proclaiming the Lamb to others can feel challenging. Who in your life needs to hear about the hope found in Christ, and how can you intentionally start a conversation this week? [01:10:56]
Gathering with God’s people for worship is a declaration of dependence on the Lamb. How can you move from being a spectator to an engaged participant in corporate worship? [01:12:14]
The Lord’s Supper is a tangible picture of “running to the Lamb.” How does regularly remembering Christ’s sacrifice reshape your identity and hope? [01:14:38]
Revelation 7 gives a preview of eternal worship—no more hunger, thirst, or tears. How does this future hope encourage you in present struggles?

Sermon Clips

So, Revelation seven, it shows what worship looks like in eternity. And these are some of the ways that we can start beginning to live that reality even today. And so, if it's true that you're going to stand before the lamb then, then let's worship him now here together. In the same lamb that will be worshiped forever, he is worthy of our trust. He is worthy of our obedience. He is worthy of our voice. He is worthy of our life today. If I was gonna summarize this sermon, I would just summarize it this way. No one can stand before God's wrath except those washed by the lamb. I think that captures chapter six and seven pretty well. Judgment is coming. You won't be able to withstand it on your own. [01:12:17] (44 seconds) #WashedByTheLamb

May I ask you this? Do you find it easy to talk about Jesus? Or is that a challenge? If you think about it logically, it really makes no sense why it should be difficult to talk about Jesus. But yet it is because we're concerned about our own reputation sometimes. We're concerned what people are gonna think about us. But look for one conversation this week where you can have a conversation about just how great God is, how great Jesus is. Share what Christ has done for you. Maybe invite someone to church. Have a conversation with someone. So let me just offer this before I I I I give the last one. If the lamb is worthy of heaven's worship, don't you think he's worthy of a conversation on earth with someone else? [01:10:49] (51 seconds) #TalkAboutJesus

You see, this is why we have to face the certainty of God's judgment. Because the sad reality or maybe the sobering reality, that's the better word, is that we cannot stand on our own under God's judgment. We all have sinned. The Bible's made that very clear. You know that to be true. For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We know that the wages of sin is death. The payment for sin is death. We see how that while the world seems to be trying to do its own thing and erase God and eradicate God and ignore God, God will judge sin. He is and he will ultimately and it will be so bad that everyone will be crying out and saying, who can stand this? Who can stand? So it's very sobering. [00:54:48] (62 seconds) #FaceGodsJudgment

Maybe you maybe you've grown up in what you thought was a religious circumstance or situation, but you haven't repented of your sins and and trusted in Christ alone for your salvation. My prayer is that today is that day because there is a day of judgment coming. And, you know, pastors, we we love to talk about the forgiveness. We love to talk about the hope. We love to talk about what good things God has done for us and will do for us, and that is so important for us to preach on. But there are many times where we also have to preach the hard realities of the bible as well. If we didn't, we wouldn't be faithful teachers of God's word. And so this morning, in this first part here, we have this very sobering reality that God will judge sin. [00:38:49] (47 seconds) #RepentAndTrust

You see, when we're trying to control everything and we're not worshiping the lamb anymore, but when we trust in him and we say, okay, I don't understand. I'm gonna trust you. And, yes, we have responsibilities that we need to do and we need to do those faithfully, but always under the banner of I'm trusting the lamb. I'm trusting the sovereign God. So trust the lamb. That'll be the first thing I offer how we worship the lamb today. Secondly, obey the lamb in everyday decisions. In everyday decisions, in our speech, we have opportunities to worship the land by how we speak and what we say and what we don't say. What we laugh at, what we don't laugh at. Our integrity, We have moments where we could sacrifice some integrity for personal gain and no one would find out about it. That's not worshiping the lamb. [01:09:02] (52 seconds) #ObeyTheLambDaily

Revelation chapter six ends with this question. It asks in this question that everyone needs to really wrestle with. Are you ready to stand before God? Are you ready to stand before a holy sovereign God and give an account? You know, a lot of people, they tend to wanna make light of it and just say, well, you know, we'll roll the dice and we'll see what happens. Or maybe they're even more flippant. They'll say, I know I'm not gonna make it. I'll see you in hell. They do not understand what they're saying. I mean, we just see the description of the judgment leading up to the final judge. That's not that's not even the eternal judgment. [00:55:50] (55 seconds) #ReadyToStand

If if we're gonna worship him for all eternity, don't you think he's also worth just having a conversation with someone else? Something to think about. Proclaim him. Last, gather to worship the lamb with his people here. We have the opportunity to do that each week. Prioritize this gathering here. And it's not because as a pastor, I just wanna see people in the seats. That's not the reason. It's because the lamb is worthy of the worship that we bring together here. I love it when we sing together, I love it when we're gonna worship at this table here in a few minutes, and all these things, he's worthy of that. So, and also engage, don't just be a spectator, engage. So, sing and listen and pray intentionally. [01:11:40] (37 seconds) #GatherAndWorship

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