A. A throne prepared for trial:
From the land where he was, Chapter 4 of the Apocalypse carried the apostle John to the sky where the first vision that grew upon him was that the throne of God. The throne is established, the defined objective of the vision given to John is clearly stated: "Come up here," said the voice addressed to John, and I'll see what happens after: 4.1 . "This is the implementation of this afternoon presented to us here in Chapter 5.
Aside from the insertion Hebrews 4.16 of grace as an attribute attached to the throne, all other biblical references are to the throne in the same direction. The throne God is the place from which he dispenses justice and making judgments: Ps 9,4.7, 11.4; 29.10, 45.6, 89.14, 97.2 . The throne of God drawn, the time has come, after the period of the Church, go to the Judgement of the world. However, what the ruling, if the restoration of all things in good order, the order willed by God from the beginning: Proceedings 3.21 ? What is the ruling, if not the end of disorder caused by the rebellion launched by Malin at the beginning? It must, "said Paul, after Christ has put all things under His feet, that the Son Himself resubmit all things to His Father, so that, as it always should have been the perfect kingdom of God is established and again that He is all in all: 1 Corinthians 15.24 to 25.
throne prepared for the trial, John sees the one who sits in his right hand holding a book sealed with seven seals and bearing all sorts of statements as to the outside than inside (the front and back) : v 1 . The prophet Ezekiel, who also received from God in his time the vision of this book, tells us more about its content: 2.9 to 10 Ezekiel. The book that God holds in his hand is no tidings of joy, but great sadness, pain and mourning for humanity. This is the time when the world is accountable to God and pay for the crimes committed, the time when people will tremble Ps 99.1, a time when world leaders, powerless to His anger, pray the mountains to hide them: Rev. 6.15 to 17, a time when the spilling of innocent blood, which cries for vengeance from Abel: Genesis 4.10 will no longer be hidden Isaiah 26, 21 . After the long years of patience and grace of God, strikes the hour of the day of His wrath : Isaiah 61.1-2 .
B. The disqualified:
throne erected and ready for judging, one question arises: who in the universe, among all beings that exist, is worthy to execute Judgement of God upon the world ? The call for dignity, as qualification and competence to perform the part of God's Judgement on all beings, presupposes the combination of several factors not disqualifying. Addressed to all creation and all beings, everyone is called to examine itself to see if it has attributes appropriate. The fact is both terrible and shocking:
1. Father: while having the legitimacy to do so, it lacks, one might say, a qualification that, even if the criticism is not justified, could be made of him: the experience of life in the form human. Voluntarily, because of this gap in his experience, the Father chose to abandon the trial of men cf John 5.26-27, Acts 17.30 to 31.
2. Creatures that are in heaven also for the same reason, and perhaps for other : Job 4,18-19 , ne sont pas compétentes pour juger l’ensemble de la création.
3. Les créatures qui sont sur la terre. Ils sont nombreux les pouvoirs ou les régimes qui voudraient se placer, au nom de Dieu, en justiciers du monde : l’Islam, l’Amérique et son axe du mal… Tous, aux regards de Dieu et de Sa loi, sont enfermés dans le même culpabilité : Rom 3,9.19 . Jamais, nulle part, la colère de l’homme n’est le moyen par lequel s’accomplit la justice de Dieu : Jac 1,20
Soulignons que si les pouvoirs politiques ne peuvent être the instruments of the absolute justice of God, the Church, despite the fact that it is the royal bride of Christ, may be more so. Admittedly, the latter may associate with this privilege at one time or another: Mat 19.28, 1 Cor 6.2 to 3, but not in virtue of its own that it will but because of the grace which itself has been the object: John 5:24, Rom 8.1 .
4. creatures that are under the earth: the expression may mean those who already passed through death. Even if, among the men of the past, some were outstanding and exceptional in their walk with God: see Ezekiel 14,14.20, justice will be served to them to save themselves do not allow them to be much qualified to be judges of others! There is and always will be, even in the best man, enough traces of impiety and corruption, apart from the grace of God, sufficient to convict him.
Given the sad fact of the disqualification of all beings to make the justice of God, John is stunned. The question arises for him: So is there anyone in the world who can then put a definitive end to evil? The fate of the righteous is he to resign themselves to suffer without that repair can take place: cf Rev. 6.10 to 11? If this is the case, then the reaction of John is not too extreme: only despair remains!
Fortunately for him, John will not stay indefinitely in her affliction. One of the former comes to comfort. Yes! There is a being, a person who, in the universe, is qualified to practice in the name of God Justice and Judgement of Mankind!
C. The only qualified: The Sacrificial Lamb
This being qualified, the former means of two ways:
- It is said it first, the lion of the tribe of Judah from Genesis, through the mouth of Jacob, what is given to Judah's promise that it would be among his descendants that He would come who would stick Command: Gen 41.10 . Later, Micah confirm the prophecy stating that it is from Bethlehem, a small between all the cities of Judah that come out one whose origins date back to ancient times: Micah 5.1, which every scribe who read Scripture knew: Mat 2.4 to 6. Jesus, our Lord is a native of Judah: Heb 7.14 . Released as a lamb, it is because of the character here will be of His acts known as the lion Ps 7.2; Prov 19.12, 30.30; Isaiah 31.4.
- He is then presented as the offspring of David. If the tribe of Judah is the specific context of the origin of the Messiah, David's family, from the tribe of Judah is described as that of which He will come in human terms: Isaiah 11.1-5 . The prophecy fulfilled as well by Marie Joseph, Jesus' adoptive parents, both from both Judah and David: Matthew 1.2 to 16, Luke 3.23-34 .
Appointed by linking him to humanity, he discovers Being as the only qualified to practice, from the throne, the Judgement of God, do not appear as such. This being appears to him like a lamb to the singular appearance:
- A lamb standing, which seemed slain: He is the Lamb of God, sacrificed at Calvary for the sins of the world: John 1.29; Isaiah 53.7. The immolation of the Lamb for the sins of mankind is, above all, the major reason which qualifies him to be one who, at the end of time, is worthy of the judge: 1.18 to 1 Peter 20
- This lamb, symbol of docility and gentleness, is here with 7 horns, symbol of strength in its fullness: eg Deut 33.17, and provided with seven eyes, a symbol of knowledge of things in all their aspects: see Heb 4.13 .
The only Being worthy, qualified to exercise the decision of God to humanity rebellious to God therefore possesses the following characteristics:
- before Judge, He gave his life to be Savior. His first intention in coming to us not to judge us, but to save us: John 3.17. It is primarily because he was the extreme expression of God's love for us that the Son is qualified to judge us: John 3:16; Rom 5.8
- He is the one who received any power. While preparing to enter Jerusalem, the disciples approached Jesus fed a false expectation regarding what would happen. Using a parable, He made them understand that the time had not come for him to reign but to die: Luke 18.31-34, then leave to receive the royal investiture, before returning: Luc 19.11 to 13.15 . Indeed, despite having acquired by his death the liberation of humanity from the domination of evil, the procedure requires that the divine is not of Himself that He holds the kingship, but by a significant act of Father's will. Therefore, after His death, God will resurrect the Son and the student in The heavens to sit at His right hand until all His enemies be made his footstool: Proceedings 2.32 to 36. Only God could make Christ Lord Jesus who was crucified man.
- There is finally one who has any knowledge, knowledge not only of acts done by everyone, but the thoughts and intentions that were behind these acts: Rom 2.16; Heb 4.12 , 1 Cor 4.5 .
Note finally that if the trial is necessary to repeal permanently destroy the evil and its power, it is also to give the redeemed to take possession of their inheritance: Rev. 5.10. If Jesus does not judge the rebels, the situation, as we know it today, will continue without end. The question arises: what is the point then our salvation, if he stays forever unfinished? Only the completion of salvation, which can only be done by the conviction of irremediable followers of the rebellion, may allow the saints to enter into the enjoyment of their property are prepared. Hence the necessity for two reasons, one negative, but another positive year of God's justice in the world!
D. The worship rendered to the Lamb:
only be qualified to exercise the Judgement of God, the Lamb receives from all creatures before the throne met the same adoration which was returned to the Father: v 11-14 . There is and never between the Father and the Son one shade of rivalry or competition with respect to the glory of which they are subjected. The Father and the Son, despite having different roles are and have always been that in all things: John 10.30. Never in the sky, there is a risk Updated dethroned the Father Son and the Father's glory jealous creatures made by the Son.
Together in making the commitment required of our salvation: Heb 10.5-7, they were also in its realization: Acts 20.28, and will in its fulfillment! That praise, glory and honor to be returned forever!
I am coming soon!
