Message Nine

Christ, the Worthy and Enthroned Lion-Lamb,
as the Heavenly Administrator
in God’s Universal Government

Scripture Reading: Rev. 4:1—5:14

1. It is crucial for us to see a vision of God’s sovereignty—Dan. 4:1-3, 34-35; Rom. 9:19-23:
   1. Sovereignty refers to God’s unlimited authority and power—Rev. 4:11; 5:13.
   2. As the sovereign One, God is above everything, behind everything, and in everything—1 Kings 22:19.
   3. God has the full capacity to carry out what He wants according to the desire of His heart and according to His eternal economy—Dan. 4:35.
2. The book of Revelation is a book of God’s administration, unveiling the throne of God for the divine administration throughout the universe—4:2; 5:1; 6:16; 7:9; 8:3; 21:5; 1 Kings 22:19; Isa. 6:1; Ezek. 1:26; Dan. 7:9:
   1. This book presents a clear view of God’s universal administration, revealing the fact that the universe operates according to God’s administration—Rev. 4:2, 5.
   2. The throne in Revelation 4 and 5 is the throne of divine authority:
      1. God’s throne is related to His administration, which is a matter of His economy—1 Tim. 1:4; Eph. 1:10; 3:9.
      2. Apparently the throne is invisible and is not realized by man, but actually it is behind the scene ruling over everyone and everything— Isa. 6:1.
      3. Everything in today’s world situation is decided on the throne; no one can do anything and nothing can happen outside the rule of God’s throne.
   3. The throne of God is not only for God to reign but also for God to accomplish His eternal purpose—Eph. 1:9, 11; 3:11; Rom. 8:28; Rev. 4:11:
      1. In His economy God administrates the universe to fulfill His purpose—2 Tim. 1:9.
      2. God is a God of purpose, having a will according to His good pleasure—Eph. 1:5, 9:
         1. God created all things for His will that He might accomplish and fulfill His purpose—Rev. 4:11.
         2. Revelation, the unveiling of God’s universal administration, shows us that the will, the purpose, of God in His creation is to have an eternal habitation—the New Jerusalem—for His satisfaction and expression—21:2, 10:
            1. 1) In the New Jerusalem God’s will in His creation will be completely revealed and fulfilled.
            2. 2) Through the New Jerusalem God will be fully satisfied and completely expressed.
            3. 3) The New Jerusalem is God’s will in His creation and the goal of the book of Revelation, which proceeds toward and brings us to the New Jerusalem as the consummation of God’s will.
   4. There are seven lamps of fire—the seven Spirits of God—burning before God’s administrative throne—4:5:
      1. The burning of the seven Spirits of God is for the carrying out of God’s administration.
      2. The burning of the seven Spirits of God is to bring forth the golden lampstands, the churches, for the fulfillment of God’s economy—1:12.
      3. The burning of the seven Spirits motivates us to rise up and take action for the carrying out of God’s economy—Dan. 11:32.
3. As the One enthroned to be the heavenly Administrator in God’s universal government, Christ is the worthy Lion-Lamb, the overcoming Redeemer, opening the scroll of God’s economy—Rev. 5:1-14:
   1. Christ, the embodiment of God (Col. 2:9), administrates the universe under the headship of God because God has given Christ to be Head over all things—Eph. 1:22.
   2. In the divine administration Christ is the worthy Lion-Lamb—Rev. 5:5-6:
      1. As the Lion He is the Fighter against the enemy, Satan; as the Lamb He is the Redeemer for us—Gen. 49:9; John 1:29.
      2. Because Christ has solved the problems of the rebellion of Satan and the fall of man, He is worthy to open the scroll of God’s economy.
   3. The Lamb, the Redeemer, the One slain on the cross for our sins, is now on the throne carrying out God’s administration over the entire universe:
      1. The Lord Jesus has been enthroned to execute God’s governmental administration in the universe—5:6.
      2. We need to see that the Lord is on the throne as a man and realize that the Lord of the universe is a man, the God-man, the Man-God— Ezek. 1:26.
   4. The enthroned Lion-Lamb has received the commission to carry out God’s economy, symbolized by the scroll—Rev. 5:7-9:
      1. In the divine government Christ opens the scroll of God’s economy.
      2. The scroll of God’s economy has been put into His hands, and now He holds God’s economy and carries it out.
      3. By opening the seven seals Christ unlocks the secret of the universe—6:1.
   5. The Lamb has seven eyes for the carrying out of God’s administration—5:6:
      1. The way Christ carries out God’s administration is by the seven Spirits as His eyes.
      2. The seven eyes are for transfusing all that the Lamb is into our being so that we may become the same as He is for God’s building—Zech. 3:9:
         1. The seven eyes of the Lamb are Christ’s expression in God’s move for God’s building.
         2. As the Lord looks at us, His eyes transfuse His inner being into us and transform us for God’s building—2 Cor. 3:18.
   6. The Administrator, the worthy and enthroned Lion-Lamb, is administrating the universe through our prayers—Rev. 5:8; 8:3-4.
   7. We all must worship Christ as the divine Administrator, as the One in the heavens administrating all things for the fulfillment of God’s economy—5:9-14.