The Tribulation Judge
Jesus Christ will judge the world during the tribulation period
Rev. 5:1-7 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
I. Verse 1 - What is the seven sealed book?
It is a book of the judgments God will bring upon the earth because of their disobedience.
We must remember that the tribulation period is a time when God will once again deal with Israel, causing them to see their exceeding great wickedness and to repent and turn to Christ as Saviour and Lord.
During the tribulation period, people will understand exactly who they are fighting against, they will know and understand they are fighting against God, the king of kings and the Lord of Lords.
B. According to Isaiah 29:9-14 - God has sealed up what will happen to Israel because of their unbelief. They cannot see, nor understand who Jesus Christ is, because they have closed their understanding to the Word of God that came to them by the prophets. The tribulation period is a time when God will once again deal with the Jewish nation, bringing them under chastisement as a nation so they see the futility of themselves and turn to the living God. God will reveal His greatness to Israel during the tribulation, especially toward the end of the tribulation.
1. Matt. 13:10-17 - The disciples of Christ asked him why He spoke in parables. Christ replied that Israel had rebelled in many little things, which became big things, and that they have blinded their eyes to proper scriptural understanding. They cannot see, nor understand, the suffering Saviour because of their preconceived ideas about God and the king He would send to them. They expected a king who would force his authority on all. They got a king would ruled in a spiritual way those servants who willingly trusted him with their all. They would not study the Bible from God’s viewpoint, but believed their own viewpoint to be better than the light of God’s Word. This is why Christ speaks in parables. Because the nation of Israel has blinded their eyes to the spiritual truth about King Jesus, (they have refused to have Christ reign over them in a spiritual manner) they have not be able to see, nor understand, the earthly kingdom of Christ.
2. Because Israel is God’s chosen nation, God will reveal Himself to them as the suffering Saviour, but He will do so about 2,000 years after he died on the cross.
C. The book is written within and on the backside. It was completely covered, within and without with the judgments of God.
1. This shows that the patience of God is completely filled up before God comes in judgment.
2. God will give people many opportunities to see their wickedness and repent before He comes to judge and punish them.
3. God has dealt with the world in many different ways.
a. God has dealt with people through their conscience or the family (From Adam to Abraham).
b. God has dealt with people through the promises He gave to Abraham, which they have rejected.
c. God has death with people through the nation of Israel, but Israel rejected Him as King and redeemer.
d. God has dealt with people through the church, but people have rejected the kind of church Christ established during His personal ministry, and they have gone about to seek a kind of church and religion that is against God and for themselves.
e. It is during the tribulation that God will deal with the world and Israel one final time.
4. God deals with individuals in many different ways.
a. It is important to realize that God will not cast any person into hell without first completely considering their case.
b. There is a variableness to the judgment of God that fits exactly the sinner.
c. Some people believe the more a person knows and understands, the more God will hold him accountable for, and the less he knows, the less he will be held accountable for. If this were the case, it would be better to be ignorant, rather than full of spiritual truth.
d. The truth is that God has given a variable amount to each individual, and it is up to each individual to study to show themselves approved unto God. Each person is responsible for those things God has given to him. At the final judgment, every man will be held accountable for all those things God intended for him to learn, (whether he learned them or not) and for everything God intended him to be (whether he becomes that or not).
II. Verse 2&3 - Why was no man able to open the seven sealed book?
Worthy refers to the proper qualifications to open the book.
This person would have a proper balance between the love of God toward man, and the hate of God toward sin.
This person would have a proper balance between the mercy of God and the justice of God.
The only one that is worthy is the God man, Jesus Christ, the son of the living God, who is both God and man.
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him might not perish, but have everlasting life.
Jesus Christ came into the world and shed his blood that sinners might have eternal life.
Jesus Christ paid it all as far as salvation (and everything else) is concerned.
Those that have refused to be saved will suffer the just condemnation of their deeds.
John wept much because no one was found.
The search went out throughout all of heaven, all of earth, and under the earth.
One of the elders told John that the lion of the tribe of Judah has prevailed to open the book.
The word prevailed means to subdue, to conquer, to overcome, to get the victory.
Jesus Christ had prevailed over sin, by submitting Himself to the Fathers will, and gained the victory over death, hell and the grave.
In verse 5, Jesus is called the lion of the tribe of Judah.
In verse 6, the lion of the tribe of Judah is described as a lamb as it had been slain.
The signet of the tribe of Judah is a lion.
Jesus Christ is the son of David, who was the first king of the Jewish nation from the tribe of Judah.
Is Jesus a lion or a lamb?
He is both.
He is the conqueror, the king, the mighty one.
Jesus Christ didn't come into the world to conquer nations, but to conquer sin, death, hell and the grave.
In order to Christ to conquer, he died on the cross that sinners could be conquerors and overcomers through Him.
This is the only way a sinner can be an overcomer.