The Triumph of the Slain Lamb: A Vision of Redemption
Summary
The story of John’s vision in Revelation 5 draws us into a reality that is deeper and truer than what we see on the surface of our lives. John, exiled and suffering for his faith, is given a vision not just of the future, but of the way things truly are in God’s kingdom. The scroll in God’s hand, sealed and unopenable by any creature, represents the fullness of God’s plan for creation—his justice, mercy, and redemption. John weeps because no one is found worthy to open it, until he hears of the Lion of Judah, the mighty king expected to conquer and rule. But when John turns to see, he beholds instead a Lamb standing as though slain—a vision that upends all expectations of power and victory.
This Lamb, Jesus Christ, is the one who has triumphed, not through overwhelming force, but through self-giving sacrifice. The victory of God is not the crushing of enemies, but the redemption of all things through the suffering and resurrection of Christ. The worship that erupts in heaven—first from the living creatures and elders, then from the angels, and finally from all creation—proclaims that the Lamb is worthy because he was slain and by his blood has ransomed people from every tribe and nation.
This vision is not just a future hope, but a present reality. Even now, as we gather in worship, we are joining our voices with the angels, the saints, and all creation in praise of the Lamb. The apocalyptic vision of Revelation is not about predicting the end, but about unveiling what is truly real: that Christ’s sacrificial love is at the center of the universe, and that all things are being drawn into his redeeming song. In our own struggles, disappointments, and longing for justice, we are invited to see with John’s eyes—to recognize that God’s power is made perfect in weakness, and that the song of the Lamb is already resounding through heaven and earth.
Key Takeaways
- God’s Revelation Peels Back the Surface to Show What’s Real
Revelation is not primarily about predicting the future, but about unveiling the true nature of reality. In a world where suffering and injustice seem to reign, God gives us a vision that reveals his sovereignty and the ultimate triumph of his purposes. We need this “apocalypse”—a pulling back of the curtain—to see that God’s kingdom is present and active, even when it is hidden from our ordinary sight. [36:12]
- The Victory of Christ Redefines Power and Triumph
John expects a conquering Lion but sees a slain Lamb. This reversal teaches us that God’s victory comes not through domination, but through sacrificial love. The cross is not a detour from God’s plan, but its very center; true power is found in self-giving, not self-assertion. This challenges us to reconsider our own desires for strength and success in light of Christ’s example. [43:16]
- Worship Is the Response of All Creation to Redemption
The vision of worship in Revelation 5 is expansive: it begins with a few and swells to include angels, elders, and every creature. This reminds us that worship is not just a human activity, but the destiny of all creation. Our liturgy on earth is a participation in the ongoing heavenly praise, joining with myriads of voices in adoration of the Lamb who was slain. [45:53]
- Suffering and Persecution Are Not Signs of God’s Absence
John’s context—and that of the early church—was marked by hardship, division, and persecution. Yet the vision he receives is one of hope and assurance: God’s plan is unfolding, even when it seems stalled or hidden. Our own trials do not mean God has abandoned us; rather, we are invited to trust that Christ, the slain Lamb, is at work redeeming all things, even through our pain. [32:34]
- The Redemption of Creation Is Comprehensive and Ongoing
Paul’s teaching in Romans and John’s vision in Revelation both point to the restoration of all things—not just humanity, but the entire created order. The groaning of creation is met with the hope of liberation and renewal. Even now, as we worship, we are part of a cosmic chorus that anticipates the full redemption of the world, where every creature finds its voice in praise. [47:28]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[20:09] - Jesus Appears by the Sea of Tiberias
[24:53] - Reflections on Writing a Devotional on Revelation
[28:40] - John’s Ministry and the Early Church’s Struggles
[31:31] - Persecution in the Early Church
[33:26] - John’s Exile and the Setting of Revelation
[34:30] - The Nature of Prophecy and Faithfulness
[35:56] - What “Apocalypse” Really Means
[37:52] - Encountering Revelation 5
[39:39] - The Sealed Scroll and God’s Plan
[41:01] - The Lion of Judah and the Slain Lamb
[44:21] - Worship in Heaven: Creatures, Elders, and Angels
[46:31] - The Redemption of All Creation
[48:31] - Our Worship Joins the Heavenly Song
[49:32] - Living in the Reality of the Lamb’s Victory
[58:04] - Announcements and Closing
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: The Slain Lamb and the True Reality (Revelation 5)
---
### Bible Reading
- Revelation 5:1-14
(John’s vision of the scroll, the Lion of Judah, and the Lamb who was slain)
- Romans 8:18-23
(Creation’s groaning and hope for redemption)
- Genesis 49:8-12
(Jacob’s blessing of Judah as a lion’s cub)
---
### Observation Questions
1. In John’s vision in Revelation 5, what is the significance of the scroll in God’s hand, and why does John weep when no one can open it?
[[39:39]]
2. When John hears about the “Lion of Judah,” what does he expect to see, and what does he actually see when he turns?
[[41:47]]
3. According to the vision, who joins in worship of the Lamb, and how does this worship expand throughout the passage?
[[45:53]]
4. In Romans 8, what does Paul say about creation’s current state and its future hope?
[[47:28]]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says that Revelation “peels back the surface to show what’s real.” What does this mean for how we view suffering and injustice in our world?
[[36:12]]
2. John expects a conquering Lion but sees a slain Lamb. What does this reversal teach us about God’s idea of power and victory?
[[43:16]]
3. The worship in Revelation 5 grows from a few to all creation. What does this suggest about the purpose and scope of worship in God’s plan?
[[45:53]]
4. The sermon mentions that suffering and persecution are not signs of God’s absence. How does John’s vision offer hope to those experiencing hardship?
[[32:34]]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon says we need an “apocalypse”—a pulling back of the curtain—to see God’s kingdom at work even when it’s hidden. Where in your life do you need God to help you see beyond the surface to what’s truly real?
[[36:12]]
2. John’s expectations of a powerful Lion are overturned by the vision of a slain Lamb. Are there areas in your life where you are looking for God to show up in strength, but He is inviting you to trust in His sacrificial love instead? How might this change your response to disappointment or weakness?
[[43:16]]
3. The vision of worship in Revelation 5 includes not just people, but all creation. How does this shape your understanding of what happens when we gather for worship? How might it change your attitude or participation in worship this week?
[[45:53]]
4. The sermon reminds us that suffering and persecution do not mean God has abandoned us. Can you share a time when you felt God’s presence or hope in the middle of a difficult season? How did that experience shape your faith?
[[32:34]]
5. Paul says in Romans 8 that all creation is waiting for redemption. In what ways do you see the world “groaning” today? How can you join in God’s work of hope and renewal, even in small ways?
[[47:28]]
6. The sermon challenges us to reconsider our own desires for strength and success in light of Christ’s example. Are there ambitions or goals in your life that need to be re-examined through the lens of the cross? What might it look like to pursue “self-giving” rather than “self-assertion” this week?
[[43:16]]
7. The worship in heaven is happening now, not just in the future. How can you remind yourself during the week that your prayers and praise are joining a much bigger chorus? Is there a practice you could try to help you remember this reality?
[[48:31]]
---
Closing Prayer:
Invite the group to pray for eyes to see God’s true reality, for courage to trust in the Lamb’s victory, and for hearts that join in the worship of all creation.
Devotional
Day 1: Faithfulness in the Midst of Hardship
The call to faithfulness is not reserved for a distant, idealized past but is a living summons for the church today, just as it was for the early Christians who faced both internal divisions and external persecution. The prophetic word is not primarily about predicting the future, but about encouraging steadfastness and obedience to God in the present moment, even when circumstances are difficult or confusing. In times of struggle, whether from within the church or from the pressures of the world, God’s people are invited to remain true to what has been revealed, trusting that their faithfulness matters deeply to God and is part of His ongoing work in the world. [35:30]
Revelation 1:3 (ESV)
"Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near."
Reflection: Where in your life are you tempted to give up or compromise your faithfulness to Christ because of hardship or pressure, and how might you respond differently today in light of God’s call to steadfastness?
Day 2: The True Nature of God’s Victory
God’s plan for the world is not accomplished through overwhelming force or worldly power, but through the self-giving sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb who was slain. While we may long for a victorious lion who conquers by might, what God reveals is a victory won through humility, suffering, and love—a victory that turns our expectations upside down. The Lamb alone is worthy to open the scroll and set God’s redemptive plan in motion, showing that true power is found in sacrificial love. [43:16]
Revelation 5:5-6 (ESV)
"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."
Reflection: In what area of your life are you seeking victory or resolution through your own strength, and how might you instead embrace the way of the Lamb—humility, sacrifice, and trust in God’s power?
Day 3: All Creation Joins in Worship
The worship of the Lamb is not limited to humanity alone; all of creation—angels, elders, living creatures, and even the animal world—joins in the unending song of praise. This cosmic worship is happening even now, unseen but real, and we are invited to join our voices with the great chorus that celebrates the redemption and renewal brought by Christ. The vision of worship in Revelation reminds us that our praise is part of something far greater than ourselves, echoing through heaven and earth. [46:09]
Revelation 5:13 (ESV)
"And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!'"
Reflection: As you worship today, how can you become more aware that your praise is joined with the worship of all creation, and what difference might that make in your heart and attitude?
Day 4: Creation Groans and Awaits Redemption
The brokenness of the world is not limited to humanity; all of creation suffers under the weight of the fall and longs for the day of redemption. Even the animals and the natural world are depicted as waiting for the fulfillment of God’s promise, when all things will be made new and set free from futility. This perspective invites us to see our relationship with creation differently, recognizing both its current suffering and its future hope in Christ. [47:44]
Romans 8:19-21 (ESV)
"For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God."
Reflection: How might you care for and honor God’s creation today, knowing that it too is part of God’s redemptive plan and is longing for renewal?
Day 5: Living in the Reality of God’s Kingdom
The apocalyptic vision of Revelation is not merely about the future, but about seeing the world as it truly is right now—where God’s kingdom is breaking in and the worship of the Lamb is ongoing. We are called to live with unveiled eyes, recognizing that the spiritual reality around us is more real than what we see, and that we are surrounded by a great company of heaven as we follow Christ. This revelation invites us to live with hope, courage, and a sense of participation in God’s unfolding story. [49:17]
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)
"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
Reflection: What would it look like for you to live today as if God’s kingdom and the worship of heaven are truly present and real, even when you cannot see them?
Quotes
We might miss it a lot. There's so much in there that's confusing. There's so much that's so foreign. It's of another era and another day. It's it's a different kind of a literature, one that we don't really pay much attention to. It's so obscure as far as we're concerned. But John was writing to encourage a hurting church. And that feeling, yes, is what he wanted people to feel. [00:28:22]
John had to endure hardship and struggle in the ministry of the gospel in that place. He had to contend with divisions and heresies within the church. Now, think about that. By the time John gets started in Ephesus, it's it's it's not much later than 45 or 50 AD. Jesus had risen and ascended back to heaven in the mid30s, let's say 34. It doesn't take long for the church to get messed up. Like we think, you know, we have we look back on the on the New Testament church and we think, "Oh, if we could just get back there." They they didn't have it any better than the problems we face today. [00:29:44]
So, he had to deal with problems within the church. But not only that, he had to deal with persecution from without the church. Again, think with me through some of that New Testament history right after Pentecost. Doesn't take long for some problems to come up in the life of the church. In the in the acts of the apostles, we see that there's a dispute that arises between widows who are Jews and widows who are gentile converts to Christianity. And the pro the apostles say, "We got a problem. We got to solve this problem." [00:30:22]
From that point until 312 when Constantine, the emperor of Rome, has a well contending to be the emperor of Rome, has a vision at the right next to the Milvin Bridge. And the vision causes him to become a Christian. And then he officially ends persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire. for that 280ome years. This is just the deal. If you were a Christian, you experienced persecution. Period. Now, it may not have been, you know, fed to the lions in the arena kind of persecution. It might have only been that the Roman system of economics, like all of the jobs and everything, all of those areas of work had guilds. [00:31:07]
So somewhere between poor and bloodied by a lion. That's where every Christian existed for those first 280 years in the life of the church. And John eventually runs a foul of the Roman government because he's preaching the gospel. He tells us in Revelation that he was exiled to the aisle of Patmos. He was there because of his testimony. Now, why would Rome care about care about a guy who was just preaching the gospel? Well, because what the gospel is is that Jesus is Lord. And what the Roman Empire wanted you to believe was that Caesar is Lord. [00:32:27]
So eventually John as one of the prominent leaders comes within the crosshairs of the Roman Empire and he gets exiled to the aisle of Patmos and that's where his vision which is recorded for us by him in the revelation of John. That's where it occurs. He tells us that he was caught up in the spirit on the Lord's day and suddenly this vision came to him. So that's the setting. So what is revelation? Well, as soon as this vision comes to him, what he hears is a voice say, "Write it down." So that what you see, translate that into words. Write them down and then send it to your churches. [00:33:28]
So all of those churches get this letter. So the the the revelation to John is a letter. It's a letter written to the churches of which John had oversight. But John tells us not just is it a write it and send it thing, but he also says in chapter 1:3, he said, "Blessed is the one who reads the words of this prophecy." So it's a prophetic letter. Now again, we we hear the word prophetic and our temptation is to think about telling the future, which the Old Testament prophets did. I mean, there is a lot in the Old Testament prophets about things that were going to happen in the future, particularly the Messiah. [00:34:02]
But this might be of interest to you. Somebody did the math. Somebody smarter and nerdier than me did this math. Only 13% of the prophetic material in the Old Testament has any concern with the future at all. Which means 87% if I did that math right, 87% has to do with what? What are you doing right now? A prophecy, a prophetic word is really a word that encourages faithfulness in the here and now. Either faithfulness to what is the revealed truth or sort of calling back from having wandered and gotten far off and gotten messed up, calling you back to faithfulness. [00:34:50]
But a prophetic word is a call to faithfulness. So John's letter to the churches is a call to faithfulness in the midst of both the kinds of problems that were arising within the church but also the kind of persecution that was assaulting the church from outside. It's a prophetic call to faithfulness. But it's not just a prophetic letter. John says it is an apocalyptic letter. There's another one of those words. Prophetic. We we don't use that word exactly right all the time. Apocalyptic. We don't use that right right all the time. [00:35:30]
When we hear the word apocalyptic, we think like sci-fi and crazy stuff and and stuff about the future. What apocalyptic means, the word apocalypsis in the Greek simply means a revelation, a clarifying, a revelation in the sense of sort of pulling back that which clouds your ability to see what's really real. And when John receives this vision, he receives a vision of what's really real and he writes it down to call his people back to faithfulness to way to the way the world really is. [00:36:00]
If you have been persecuted all your life, if your relatives who were faithful Christians had been persecuted, had struggled, had faced hardship because of the Christian faith, you you were tempted to think you sort of took us you sort of took the horizon of the world around you and you thought the most powerful thing in the world is Rome. John has a vision and the veil between what looks like it's real right in front of our face and what's actually real in God's realm. So we think that that pulling back is the is if you will sort of the curtain between the present and the future. [00:36:43]
What it actually is is a pulling back of the curtain between what we think is the way the world is and what the world actually is. if you could see God's work clearly. That's the revelation that John gets. And so he's told to put into words all these things that you see. So this morning we come to chapter five of the revelation. Now every Sunday during the Easter season offers you a reading from Revelation. And so I decided uh at Easter that I would as I travel around churches preach from the revelation every Sunday to just enter back into this great book. [00:37:23]
And what we encounter in chapter 5 is a literary device. It's it's a way that things go for John as he has these visions that happens over and over and over again. It's very interesting because what happens throughout the revelation is John will tell us that he hears something and when he hears something it is almost always um a vision of the conclusion of something that the prophetic material had said was going to happen and it's pretty much in line with what the expectation of what was going to happen was. So John hears that, but then he tells us, "Then I turned and saw." [00:38:04]
And every single time when he turns from what he heard and sees what he sees, again, it's a fulfillment of everything that was expected. But it blows the expected fulfillment out of the water. It surpasses it by a millionfold. In one case, he hears and he hears a number of 144,000 that are in heaven. But he turns and sees a multitude that no one could number of every tongue and tribe and nation, way bigger than what he anticipated. So that's what happens here in Revelation five. That same turn, John hears something. [00:38:44]
So, John is caught up in one of these visions and he sees God sitting on his throne and God is holding his in his hand a scroll. And that scroll, we're told, is written on both sides. It is jampacked full with information, but it's also sealed seven times. Now, for John, seven is a perfect number, which means this scroll is really sealed up. You're not just going to open this. And everybody around has tried to open it. And no one in the whole crowd can open this seal, the seals, and open the scroll and read it. [00:39:36]
What the scroll is is God's plan for the world. It's what God had had intended to do from the moment he created the world until he will come again and establish his kingdom in the new heavens and the new earth. Everything that we need to know is in that scroll, but nobody can open it. Nobody can sort of set into motion. Nobody can do what God has intended to do. And John, he says, cries. He cries because this great plan of justice and judgment and mercy and redemption. It's stuck. It can't be opened. [00:39:59]
But he turns and what he sees is a lamb standing as though slain. Now imagine what John saw that he had to write down. Standing as though slain. How many slain things have you ever seen that were just standing there? This is a strange thing that John sees and he's trying to express. He's trying to help us to see. But what he sees is, if you will, all of the sacrificial material of the Old Testament that has come to bear and to fruition finally in this one. This is the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. [00:42:17]
This is the one who laid down his life. And this is the one that John is told has the capacity to open the scroll and to carry out God's plan for the whole of creation. This one that he was told was a lion. But when he turns and sees it's a slain lamb. You see everything in John's expectations being turned on its head. He wants a lion. He wants power and might and something overwhelming. What he sees is humiliation. and self-giving and self-sacrifice. You see, it's not that victory hasn't been won, but victory has been ugly and it hasn't looked at all like he wanted it to look. [00:42:57]
And so John has this moment where finally the scroll is open, the slain lamb has done it, and what happens? Well, everything in heaven and earth begins to sing and begins to praise and begins to worship this wonderful standing slain lamb. And John tells us that it goes like this. First, you see the four living creatures and the 24 elders catching up and singing a song. The the the four living creatures. I mean, this is just an amazing uh an amazing symbol. You have a lion and or a creature that looks like a lion and a creature that looks like an ox and a creature that looks like a man and a creature that looks like an eagle and and I'm not sure exactly what's happening, but isn't it interesting that it's a wild animal and a domesticated animal and a human and a bird. [00:43:36]
I think what John is trying to tell us is that all sorts of the created order is c is caught up. And then he sees the 24 elders, 12 tribes in the Old Testament, 12 apostles in the New Testament. That might be what the 24 is. There's also a passage in 1 Chronicles, I think it's 1st Chronicles 14, where David sort of takes stock of the Levitical priestly ministry and divides it up into 24 offices. And so maybe those 24 offices represent the entire sort of priestly work of that that goes on in God's kingdom. Whatever it is, these creatures and these elders, they begin to sing in worship. [00:44:30]
Everything is getting caught up in in rejoicing for the fact that this slain lamb has set us free. Now, I don't want to spoil it for you, but the the elders and the creatures and the angels and all the other animals. Isn't that interesting that animals are there? People are always asking, "I am my dog going to go to heaven? Right. I I this is true. I This is sort of an excursus. I'm sorry. This is going to take another minute or two, but um I've had people call me as a pastor and say, you know, my my my dog died. I had that dog with me for 14 years and I love that dog and he's died and I'm so grieving and I and I I feel I feel dumb because because it's a dog. Why Why am I hurting so bad? [00:46:11]
And I always say this, that dog that has lived with you for 14 years, that's a picture of the kingdom. Go to Isaiah. And Isaiah paints a picture of the kingdom where he shows a little child sitting there playing harmoniously with serpents and and wolves. The the created order is meant to be together, but it's broken. So Paul tells us in Romans chapter 8, Paul tells us that all of the creation, including dogs and cats and all kinds of things, they all suffer under the effects of the fall. Paul says, "Not that they did it, but they were subjected to frustration by the one who fell." So, Adam's fall ruins everything. [00:46:34]
And then finally, and but Paul goes on to say, "They are waiting for the redemption of the sons of God that they can be set free from this burden that lays on them. I have a dog, Wriggley. He's a sweet, sweet dog. He wants nothing more than to talk to me. Like he will sit there when I'm eating and he'll go and I'm like, "Go ahead, say it." And he's like, "Dude, I can't say it. You You subjected me to futility. I'm stuck. But someday I'm going to sing the praises of him who made me." That's what's going on. And that's not going on at some point in the future. That's going on right now. [00:47:12]
You see that song that John sees joined up by all of creation is being sung right now even though you can't hear it. Brothers and sisters, you need an apocalypse. You need a revelation. And you need a peeling back so that you can see that this room is not populated by what 200 and something but by myriads and myriads and thousands of thousands of angels and archangels and and the elders and the creatures and all of the animals. We're all together singing the praises of the lamb who was slain for you and for me. [00:48:11]
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