Books Of The Bible
The Lamb

Revelation Series • Chapter 5
FIRST LESSON     Revelation 5:1-14

Leader: Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

Congregation: And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?"

L:  And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it.

C:  And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

L:  Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."

C:  Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

L: He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne.

C:  When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.

L: They sing a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,

C: For you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; you have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth."

L: Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,

C:  Singing with full voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"

L: Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, "To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!"

C:  And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the elders fell down and worshiped.

GOSPEL    John 1:29, 35, 35

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” … The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples,  and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!

Bulletin Cover

Revelation 5
Christ The Lamb Of God
Albrecht Durer

http://www.conncoll.edu/visual/Durer-prints/apocalypse.all/big/Box%2022-30.jpg

The Lamb

Today we continue our summer series of twelve sermons based on the Book of Revelation. Why Revelation? Because it is the Word of God. Why Revelation? Because it still speaks to our lives today. Why Revelation? Because like all other books in the Bible, we need help in understanding it. We need a guide to walk through the Book of Revelation in order to more clearly understand its symbolism and its meaning for our lives. Today is sermon number five.

Jesus Christ is the center of the Christian faith. Chances are that you are here today because you worship Jesus Christ. You are a disciple of Jesus Christ. You believe that Jesus Christ is the path to wisdom for your daily life. If you want to live wisely, we know it is beneficial to follow Jesus’ path of wisdom. Jesus is the path to eternal life. One day, we are all going to die and we all want to get from earth to heaven. But how do we get there? We believe that Jesus Christ is the path to eternity with God.

We also sense that Jesus is the path to forgiveness. That is, we know that we need to learn to forgive as Jesus did if we are going to live life effectively here on this earth. And we also know that we need Jesus’ gracious forgiveness in order to be given eternal life. We need Christ’s forgiveness because of our inescapable sinfulness in order for us to enter eternity.

We are here today because we are Christians and we know that Christ is the path to daily wisdom, eternal life and forgiveness. We are here today perhaps because you want to worship Christ, to walk in the paths of Christ, and know more about him.

The Book of Revelation does not focus on the earthly life of Christ. The Book of Revelation tells us nothing about his birth, nothing about his baptism, nothing about his temptation, nothing about his teachings, nothing about his miracles, nothing about his parables, nothing about his encounters with people, nothing about his death on Good Friday, nothing about his resurrection on Easter morning, nothing about his ascension from the mountain. Rather, in the Book of Revelation, we meet Christ who is already in heaven, at the right hand of God. Today, in the Book of Revelation, we hear about the essence of Christ. And what was the essence of Jesus Christ? Jesus Christ was the Lamb of God who died to take away the sin of the world. That is our focus on our sermon today.

Would you turn to Revelation 5 that is printed in your bulletin? As we do each week, we are going to do a brief Bible study together as a sermon. This week we are going to study Revelation 5. Notice that the sentences in your bulletin are spaced, so that you can more easily circle important words and underline important phrases. By circling, underlining and taking a few notes, that helps many people to listen more carefully.

As you know by now, my sermons are usually textual-thematic sermons. That is, I study a text and attempt to discover the core truth of the text which becomes the central theme of the sermon. I find the sub-themes, and then weave a sermon to address our deepest human needs. Today’s sermon and the other sermons during this series are not like that. Today’s sermon is an expository sermon whereby I essentially exposit or teach the given text before us. We work through the Biblical passage word by word and phrase by phrase. That is the way that Martin Luther preached. That is the way that many contemporary preachers give sermons. They are expository preachers. During this series of twelve sermons on the Book of Revelation, I am an expository preacher.

At the top of your bulletin, please write: “Chapter 4, Worship of God the Creator. Chapter 5, Worship of Christ the Redeemer.”

Also write down, “Philippians 2:5-11.” Revelation 5 is a living out of Philippians 2:5-11 which says: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Revelation 5 is the exaltation of Christ in heaven, where every knee should bow before him. Why was Jesus exalted? Because he was perfectly obedient onto death, his death on the cross whereby he forgave the world of all of its sin.

Let us do the Bible study together.

Then I saw in the right hand of the one seated on the throne. “Then” is always a transitional word in the Book of Revelation, and we will find four “thens” in this passage, four transitions. Circle the words, “right hand,” and we remember throughout all of the New Testament, after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, he is “seated at the right hand of the Father.” At this point, the scroll is at God’s right hand. 

There is “one” who is seated on the throne and we know that the Someone is God. From the last chapter, we know that God was/is invisible and radiates color such as jasper, carnelian, and emerald. That is, white, red and emerald green colors of the resplendent rainbow.

A scroll written on the inside and on the back, Circle the word, “scroll.” At that time in history, the concept of books with pages had not been developed. The scroll was the form of communication. A scroll was normally made out of papyrus, a thin paper-like leaf and was normally written on one side. This particular scroll in John’s vision was written on both sides. In other words, there is much to be said in this scroll about the future.

Sealed with seven seals; Circle the word, “seven.” The number seven always represents perfection and this scroll was perfectly sealed. In the Roman legal world of that day, an official document had to be sealed by seven witnesses. That there were seven seals on this scroll in Revelation indicates that the scroll was a message from God and that God had put his perfect seal (7) on it. “Seals” meant that the document was guaranteed for its authenticity and reliability.

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Angels are prominent throughout the entire Book of Revelation. They are divine beings who work for God. We have not previously met this angel in the Book of Revelation.

‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’ Circle the word, “worthy.” The angel asked the question: who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals? That is the big question?

And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. No one. Not even one mystical being in heaven was found worthy enough to open that sacred scroll and break those sacred seals. Nor living on earth. Nor under the earth. “Under the earth” refers to those who died. No one could be found the earth who was worthy to break the seals and open the scroll.

And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Circle the word, “I,” and write John the prophet. In his vision, John wept bitterly because he could find no one worthy to open the seals.

Then one of the elders said to me, We remember that there were 24 elders who were representative of the 12 tribes of the Old Testament and the 12 apostles of the New Testament (Revelation 21). There were 24 elders surrounding the throne.

‘Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.’ Why not weep? At this moment, we begin to hear more clearly and powerfully about Jesus Christ who is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Why the lion? The roaring lion was a strong symbol, the strongest of all the animals. Jesus Christ was the lion, the strong lion of the tribe of Judah. Jesus is referred to as the lion only one time in the New Testament, and it is here in this passage from Revelation 5. A lion is a symbol of strength and Jesus the Lamb is/will be strong like a lion.

Jesus was a Jew and came from the tribe of David. Circle the word, “conquered.” Jesus is the first human being to conquer death. Write that down. “Jesus Christ was the first person to conquer death.” He is the first fruits of everlasting life, the first taste of eternity, the first person from all of humanity to overcome death. That is why he was worthy to open the scroll. 

Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders We can envision the throne with its luminous light of carnelian, jasper and emerald; and the four creatures which symbolize the strongest and best of nature; and the 24 elders who were representative of the 12 tribes of the Old Testament and 12 apostles of the New Testament.

A Lamb Circle the word, “lamb,” and write near that word, “30.” This is the first mention of the Lamb in the Book of Revelation. The word, Lamb, occurs 30 times in the book. Jesus is the Lamb of God. Elsewhere in the New Testament, John, Peter and Paul all refer to Jesus being the Lamb of God (John 1:29, 36, 1 Pet 1:19), 'Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29). The Apostle Paul called Jesus our Passover lamb who has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians 5:7). Write down: “John 1:29, Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

Standing as if it had been slaughtered, Circle the word, “slaughtered.” Write Isaiah 53:7, “a lamb led to the slaughter.” We get to the heart of the vision: a Lamb standing, yet it had marks on it as if it had been slaughtered. This is Jesus, the Lamb of God, who gave himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. We think of Isaiah 53: 7, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”

Near the word, “slaughtered,” write the words, “throat cut” and the word, “Passover.” This is not just any lamb. This is the Passover lamb. The Passover lamb had its throat cut and the blood from that lamb was put on the doorposts and over the doorposts during the feast of the Passover. The blood of the lamb set the Jews free, and the blood of the lamb of God, Jesus, sets his people free from sin. Jesus was the Passover lamb.

Having seven horns. How can you have lamb with seven horns? Circle the word, “horns” and write the words, “political power” next to it. The Book of Revelation is full of symbolism and a goal of these sermons is to help us understand the symbolism of the Book of Revelation. Seven horns represent political power. Horns always represent political power in the Book of Revelation. We will discover this as we move forward in the book.  “This is no ordinary Lamb.” The seven horns are a symbol of complete, full strength (Deuteronomy 33:17). The number, “seven” means “complete” and the word, “horn” mean “political strength or power” (1 Sam 2:10, Psalm 18:2, Zechariah 1:18-21). Compare with the dragon (Rev 12:3) and the beast with ten horns (Rev 13:1), see also Daniel's beast with ten horns (Dan 7:7 ff.).” (From http://www.apocalipsis.org/

“Political kingdoms will rise and fall, but Jesus Christ will outlast them all.” All kingdoms on earth will be powerful for a moment in time, but they will then slowly or quickly dissolved. That is true about every nation in the history of the earth, including Greece, Rome, Germany, France, England, Spain, Portugal, Russia, the USA, China, and every other powerful nation that we can think of. “Political kingdoms will rise and fall but Jesus Christ will outlast them all.” This is symbolized by the seven horns which represents perfect political power. Remember, the Book of Revelation was written near the time of Domitian who was demanding emperor worship, claiming that he was god.

And seven eyes, What was/is the meaning of the symbolism of the seven eyes? Seven eyes represent all seeing. Write down the words, “all seeing.” This is no ordinary lamb, but can see everything. We Christians take comfort in that, that our God/Christ can see everything about us. We are comforted knowing that God/Christ watches our every breath of every night. God/Christ is forever watching over Israel and never slumbers or sleeps as he watches over us.

Which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.  What do the seven spirits symbolize? Write down above the words, seven spirits: “Holy Spirit.” The seven spirits are the Holy Spirit who sends out the followers of Christ into all the earth in order to witness and evangelize all nations and peoples. This Lamb also had seven eyes. Christ was all seeing. We now hear that he had seven spirits, the Holy Spirit. This Lamb is powerful; this Lamb is spirit-filled. This Lamb is like no ordinary Lamb. We have never seen a Lamb like this before. 

We can see that this Lamb is also the lion of Judah.  There is enormous strength to this Lamb who was sacrificed. 

He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. This most unusual Lamb approached the throne and took the scroll. We recall that Christ ascended to the right hand of God: “Stephen when he was martyred saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Acts 7:55-56 see also Eph 1:20-22, Col 3:1, Heb 1:3). Heb 1:13 says "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet". (From http://www.apocalipsis.org/) Underline the word, “right,” and record, “Christ is at the right hand of God.”

When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, Underline the words, “fell before the Lamb.” Circle the word, “fell.” Now, the four living creatures and all believers fall in worship before the Lamb, just as they fell in worship before the throne in the previous chapter. It is clear that the Lamb is to be worshipped just as the invisible God who sits on the throne is to be worshipped.

Each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. In their hands, these elders were holding a harp to praise God. The harp was a symbol of praise. Each of the 24 elders also had a golden bowl of incense which were the prayers of the saints. It is as if each of these elders had a harp of praise in one hand and the bowl full of prayers in their other hand. Praising and praying belong together for Christians. Praising God with all your hearts. Praying to God for the needs of the saints. That is what we are doing in our Sunday worship services today: we praise God with all of our hearts. We also pray to God with all of our hearts, interceding for our brothers and sisters and their needs.

They (24 elders) sing a new song: Circle the word, “sing” and circle the words, “a new song.” Christians are to sing our praises to God. From the previous lesson, we recall the portrait by Patricia Smith of the 24 elders who had their mouths wide open and were singing praises to God. Now those same elders are singing a new song to the Lamb. The song is new because before the death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the only song they were singing was a song of praise to God the Creator. But now, after Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension, the elders are singing a new song, to Christ the Redeemer. The new song is a song of praise to Christ the Redeemer.

‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation; We are now to the key verse of this chapter. Why is the Lamb worthy? Because the Lamb was slaughtered and by his blood he ransomed/freed/paid the price for our sin on behalf of God for all the saints from every tribe, language, people and nation.

Circle key words: Circle the word, “you,” and write in the name, “Christ.”

Circle the word, “worthy,” and remember that only Christ was worthy to break the seals.

Circle the word, “slaughtered.” This is the second time that we have seen that pivotal word, “slaughtered.” What do you see when you see the word, “slaughtered?” Do you see a lamb being sacrificed for your sin? Do you see Christ’s body hanging on the cross on Good Friday? Do you think of the Passover lamb? Do you think of its’ throat being cut and its blood being wiped on the doors and the lintels above the doors?

Circle the word, “blood.” The Bible consistently teaches us that the blood of Christ frees us, cleans us, releases us from all of our sins. We hear the Agnus Dei: “Jesus Christ, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world.” The church has been bought by the blood of Christ (1 Corinthians 6:19, Acts 20:28, 1 Pet 1:18). The blood of Christ will cleanse the robes the martyrs in Revelation 7 and purify those garments and make them white as snow. The same is true for us: Jesus’ blood makes our sins as white as snow.

Circle the word, “ransomed.” Jesus paid the price for our sins. Ransom is the blood price to settle a feud. Ransom is the blood price, the price to be paid for our freedom.

Circle the words, “for God.” Jesus did this in behalf of God.

Circle the word, “saints.” Write the words, “holy ones.”

Circle the word, “every.” Write the word, “every” in the sentence before the words, “tribe, language and nation.” Jesus came to save people from every tribe and from every language and from every nation. This verse reinforces the evangelism efforts of the church to all languages and all nations and all peoples. (See also Daniel 7:14, “that all peoples, languages and nations should serve him.”) Christ’s blood was not shed for the narrow confines of the church but Christ’s blood was shed for the whole world. We recall John 1:29, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth.’

Circle the word, “you,” and write the word, “Christ.”

Circle the word, “them,” and write the phrase, “people of God.”

Circle the word, “kingdom.” We are people ruled by Christ and therefore we are called a kingdom.

Circle the word, “priests.” That is, we are priests who serve God by praising God.

Circle the word, “serving”. That is, we serve God. Christians are called servants of Jesus Christ and our neighbors in need.

Underline the phrase “reign on earth.” That is, our kingdom is here on earth. We are part of God’s kingdom today, where God rules our lives and the life of our community.

Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders; they numbered myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, singing with full voice, The word, “then” signifies another transition. This is the beginning of a grand scene, a finale, when John looks and hears the voices of an infinite number of angels, the four living creatures who symbolize the strongest and the best of nature, and the faithful people who number in the thousands of thousands. Imagine a song that is being sung in full voice by all angels, all nature and all faithful people. Underline the phrase, “singing with full voice” and circle the word, “full.” They were singing as loudly as they could. The sound of that celestial choir was roaring, thunderous and deafening.

‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!’ Who is praised? The Lamb. What was the message that this celestial choir was singing at full voice: the Lamb is worthy to be praised. The Lamb who was slaughtered is worthy to receive worship and praise. He is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory and blessing. Circle those seven words: power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory and blessing. Notice that there are seven words. Notice that this is a doxology of praise of seven words.

Remember the canticle on page 81 of the Lutheran Book of Worship. We sing those exact words, “Worthy is Christ the Lamb who was slain, whose blood set us free to be people of God. Power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and blessing and glory are his. This is the feast of victory for our God.” The composers of the liturgies of the church have repeatedly found their inspiration in words and phrases from the Book of Revelation.

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, singing, “Then” signals another transition. Circle the word, “every.” Now, the angels, and the four living creatures and the 24 elders are joined with every other creature in heaven and earth and under the earth and in the oceans. What creatures are singing in the sea? The humpback whale? The crab? The sea anemone? The number of choir members swell and every single voice of the whole creation sings their jubilant praises together. 

‘To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!’ Underline the phrase, “the one seated on the throne” and circle the word, “and” and underline the words, “the Lamb.” This cacophony of praise is for both God and Christ. This praise for both God and the Lamb will go on forever and ever.

God on the throne and the Lamb are linked here in this chapter and in five other chapters in the Book of Revelation, in chapters 6, 7, 19, 21, 22.

And the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ The word, “amen,” means, “Yes, it is true.”

And the elders fell down and worshiped. The leaders of the Old Testament tribes and the New Testament apostles fall down and worship. And we too sense that we are called to fall on our knees and worship God the Creator and the Lamb, the Redeemer who has set us free from all our sin.

This concludes are Bible study.

Recently, I was reading C. S. Lewis and C.S. Lewis said that there were two indisputable facts of life. First, in all cultures of the world, they have a sense of morality, of right and wrong, a moral code. That is just the way it is with human culture: there is a sense of right and wrong built into the fabric of all culture. A second indisputable fact is that no one ever obeys the moral code. That is just the way it is with human beings. No one can obey or perfectly obey. We all fall short. We all miss the mark. We all are deeply imperfect. What then? How do we deal with this universal sin that is found in all human beings of all cultures? How do you personally deal with your own sense of sin? How do you deal with it when you personally repeatedly fail to obey your own moral code? What do you do?

The Bible says, “Believe in the Lamb.” Believe in the Lamb who died for the sin of the whole world. His blood cleanses us all from our sin.” Would you please turn to page 81, not hymn #81, but page 81 in your Lutheran Book of Worship? Would you stand and let us sing this hymn of praise together. The words of Revelation 5 have been written and rewritten for every culture as a hymn of praise. Let us sing the words together:

“Worthy is Christ, the Lamb who was slain. Whose blood set us free to be people of God. Power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and blessing and glory are his. This is the feast of victory for our God. Alleluia. “Sing with all the people of God and join in the hymn of all creation. Blessing and honor and glory and might be to God and the Lamb forever Amen. This is the feast of victory for our God, for the Lamb who was slain has begun his reign, alleluia, alleluia.”

You may be seated.

As we close this sermon, we need to look at two paintings that are based on Revelation 5. It was hard to find paintings about Christ, the Lamb of God. I looked all over the Internet and could find only two. How would you paint a lamb whose throat had been cut for Passover, its blood setting free people from all over the world, and having seven horns that symbolize power and having seven eyes that symbolize all seeing, and seven spirits symbolizing the Holy Spirit. How do you paint a Lamb like that?

The first painting is from Pat Marvenko Smith and was done in 1992. We remember that she is/was a graphic artist who was teaching her Bible class the Book of Revelation. She used her gift as a graphic artist to create forty symbolic paintings based on the Book of Revelation. Carefully examine the Power Point image of this painting on the screen.

http://www.apocalipsis.org/rev-5.htm

Look carefully at her painting. Notice Christ who has opened the scroll.  Notice the Lamb who has seven horns (count them) and seven eyes (count them.) Notice the lion because this Lamb is no ordinary lamb but is powerful like the lion of Judah. Notice the bloody wound on the lamb’s side, symbolizing that this is the Passover Lamb who was crucified for the sin of the whole world.

Spurgeon, the great preacher from Great Britain more than one hundred and fifty years ago said, “I urge you who have seen the Lamb of God to look at him more intently, to study him more fervently, and hear him more clearly when he says to your life and mine: I came to take away the sin of the world, your sin and mine. Incline your hearts to him this day. Look to him and live. There is no greater wonder on earth that human beings have ever seen is that God provided the Lamb for the offering for our sin. Take your eyes off everything else and behold the Lamb who takes your guilt and carries it to the cross. Amen.” (For the full Spurgeon quoteand sermon on this text, see http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/2329.htm)

We also recall the words of the Agnus Dei:

“Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, have mercy upon us
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world, grant us your peace.”

The next painting was done by Albrecht Durer, the finest Germany artists of the Renaissance. Durer was the contemporary of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Martin Luther. He was the finest German artist during the Renaissance. He used the medium of copper engravings and also wood carvings. Durer did fifteen woodcarvings based on the Book of Revelation and those fifteen carvings are called the Apocalypse.

Albrecht Durer, Germany, 1496-1498

http://www.conncoll.edu/visual/Durer-prints/apocalypse.all/big/Box%2022-30.jpg

Notice the central figure of the Lamb and everything in the painting points up to the Lamb. The Lamb is on the throne of God. Notice the seven horns of this Lamb, symbolic of perfect political power. We are reminded that political kingdoms will rise and fall but Jesus Christ will outlast them all. Notice the seven eyes on the face of the Lamb and remember that Jesus was/is all seeing. Notice the throat cut on the Lamb and the blood spurting out from the neck. Where is the blood flowing to? Yes, to the cup, the cup of Holy Communion. Christ’s blood of Holy Communion cleanses us from all of our sins. Notice the four strongest creatures on earth around the Lamb. Notice the twelve kings on the left and the twelve kings on the right. Notice angels in the foreground. Notice all the martyrs there in the center, carrying the palms. This is from Revelation 7 where the blood of the Lamb cleansed all the robes of the martyrs. It appears that in the lower foreground of the painting is John the prophet receiving the vision on the island of Patmos. The figure of John the prophet looks much like Durer himself from his self portrait two years later in 1500 CE.

Thus ends sermon number five, The Book of Revelation. The theme? The Lamb of God. Focus your eyes on the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the whole world. Amen.

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