I hesitate to say anything about the scene in Revelation 4 and 5, lest I should detract from its glory, and hinder our own joy in contemplating it. Our link with this scene is nothing less than He who is the central object of it all—the One around whom we are gathered. In reading Revelation 4 we feel all the glory of it, but wonderful as it is, there is a lack—something wanting to fix the heart. This lack is more than filled up in chapter 5, when we get for the first time the center of all these circles of glory. “In the midst of the throne, and of the four living creatures and of the elders, stood a Lamb” (Rev. 5:66And 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. (Revelation 5:6)). The elder said to John, “Behold the Lion” (vs. 5), and he looked and beheld a Lamb! Yes, and a Lamb as slain. John recognizes in Him the very One he had known and loved on earth. His first sight of Him in heaven is in the same character, too, as that which had first attracted him away from all else, to follow Jesus on earth.
The Lamb of God
It was at the testimony of the John the Baptist, “Behold the Lamb of God” (John 1:3636And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! (John 1:36)) that his two disciples dropped off from him, and followed Jesus. Peter’s brother Andrew we know was one of them, and I have no doubt the nameless one was John himself, for he avoids mentioning himself in writing the gospel. Jesus hears the question “Master, where dwellest thou?” and replied “Come and see.” They came and saw where He dwelt and abode with Him that day. This was a precious unity with the heart of God that found all its delight in that lowly One on earth. And now John sees this same Lamb in heaven, as slain. That linked him with the scene, and us too, beloved.
It is true we have in these chapters our own place, and I need hardly say that we are not there yet; but the Lamb in the midst of it all is the sum and substance of all our blessing. He has redeemed us by His blood. All in heaven fall down before Him and worship; but we lead the song. We are able to say as angels cannot, “Thou art worthy, for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood” (Rev. 5:99And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (Revelation 5:9)).
The Object of Delight
Around His table we have the same object before us, and the same occupation—worship. In John 3:34-3634For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 35The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:34‑36), we find how this brings us into communion with the Father. “The Father loveth the Son.” All His delight is in the Son, and in this we have common thoughts with Him, for He has become the object of our delight too. All the Father’s counsels are for Him. When once He is put forth, everything is decided in reference to Him. This is the connection of verse 36, “He that believeth,” etc. Those who honor the Son by believing on Him, the Father will bless; those who do not, the wrath of God abides on them. Thus we see He was the Father’s object upon earth, as Revelation 5 we find He is in heaven.
John 12:3232And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:32) gives us a new center of attraction, yet the same Jesus. “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” It is the cross; there He was lifted up between the earth and heaven, to be the center to which everything that is of God on earth must flow. But further, He is exalted to the Father’s right hand. It is there that we know Him, for He who was “made a little lower than the angels” is now “crowned with glory and honour” (Heb. 2:99But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. (Hebrews 2:9)). The day is coming when all things shall be put in subjection under Him. “We see not yet all things put under Him,” but as we gaze into the open heaven, “we see Jesus.”
Espesians 1 connects us with Him there. He is Head over all things to His church, which is His body. When He ascended, the Holy Spirit came down to earth. Had the object of the Father’s interest changed? Had the Holy Spirit come down to take the place of Christ on earth, or to be a new center for our hearts? Oh, no, beloved! The Holy Spirit is here to associate us with Him there, to lead up our hearts into constant occupation with Him, and to unfold all His perfections to us, that we may love Him better and count Him to be the One alone worthy of our adoration, in heaven or on earth.
Go Forth Unto Him
Now we are prepared for such a word as Hebrews 13:1313Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. (Hebrews 13:13) — “Let us go forth unto him without the camp.” The camp was the earthly system of religion, once ordained by God, but now set aside; we are to go forth to Him, and that will necessarily lead us outside all that is recognized among men as religion — all accredited systems. For as truly as He is the center and gathering point in heaven, so truly is He the only divine center and gathering point on earth.To follow Him must take us outside all that is owned by men.
2 Thessalonians 2:11Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, (2 Thessalonians 2:1) is deeply interesting from this point of view—“We beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our gathering together unto him.” Impossible that He should come, and we not be gathered to Him! His place always decides ours. If He is “outside the camp,” we must go forth unto Him. If He comes, we must be gathered to Him. When He moves, we move. When He moves from the throne on which He sits, to the air, we move from the earth to the air — our new gathering point, where He is coming to take us back with Him to the Father’s house. Think what the Father’s house will be! The home of such a heart as Christ’s, where all His divine affections flow out, and are fully answered! That is where He is going to take us—where He is at home! Oh, beloved, truly our blessing and joy will be full then!
It is the same people who are now gathered round the Lamb on earth—their object the same, their occupation the same. The difference is, that then the worship will be unrestrained, unhindered by the flesh, in the full energy of the Spirit of God. Now we have so often to mourn over failure — to grieve that our hearts are so slow to lay hold of what is before us. Then, blessed be God, there will be no failure to mourn over—nothing to turn us aside from absorbing occupation with Christ.
J. A. Trench (adapted)