Previous Lesson -- Next Lesson
3. All Creatures Worship the Lamb (Revelation 5:8-14)
b) The second argument the twenty-four elders testified in regard to the right-based worthiness of the Lamb for opening the sealed scroll is as follows: You have redeemed (men) to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongueand people and nation.
The original Greek text does not read in this uncompleted sentence, "whom or what" the Lamb had bought for God by his blood. Many translators complete it by "men", or "us" or "church". But these words are only explanation inserts.
To the twenty-four elders it was not the most important thing, whom or what had been redeemed. First of all the concluded act of purchase per se was important. By the holy, atoning blood of Christ those who are unholy could be bought for God and sanctified. By the substituionary death of Jesus criminals and burdened people are set free. Instead of the missing object "all chosen" or "all those who accept your sacrifice and believe in you" may be inserted. The range and abundance of the power of the blood of Jesus Christ for purchase and sanctification is far beyond our imagination.
Peter described this mystery precisely, You know that you are not redeemed with corruptible things like silver or gold from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot (1 Peter 1:18-19).
Whoever believes that and holds on it has become a property of Jesus Christ who has redeemed us to his Father. We do not belong to ourselves any longer, but to God and his Lamb for ever.
The purchase for setting us free from the slave market of sin and all bonds (Matthew 20:28) has given the right for freedom and return to the father house not only to all born-again Christians but also to all men of all continents.
At first this privilege applies to each Jew and Israeli out of the twelve tribes of the Old Testament, even though most of them paid no attention to their right or reject it.
The right of getting free of guilt and sin and the option for returning to God, the Father, applies also to all 11,874 ethnic groups, of which only about half have been evangelized up to now.
This precious grace is for free and is also available to all larger and smaller language families, of which are known 6,528 so far. There are 4,500 languages in which nothing of the Bible has been translated as yet!
Finally, this right applies to all 193 nations of the earth, in which all these languages and ethnic groups are integrated. Yet in Islam-dominated states, in Israel or China, as well as in India or other countries having a Buddhist majority evangelization is not wanted or in some cases even strictly forbidden. According to Qur’an evangelization of Muslims is a severer crime than manslaughter (Suras al-Baqara 2:216-218+193; al-Anfal 8:39; al-Tauba 9:28-29).
It should be mentioned that the Lamb of God cannot redeem every man out of all tribes, tongues, people and nations, but only those who are called. These are the chosen that obey the call of the Lamb and follow him. Jesus said:
"My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give to them eternal live, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, who gave them me, is greater than all; and no man can pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one." (John 10:27-30)
Whoever is not willing to get transformed into a meek and obedient sheep, but prefers to remain a stubborn ram or become a rapacious wolf, will not be forced by the good shepherd to follow him. Jesus loves all men and offers his right for salvation to everybody for free. It is precisely for this reason that he does not force anybody to confide in him.
Islam, however, is an Arabic word and means devotion and submission to Allah and Muhammad. Whether one likes or not, Allah has "bought" the souls and property of all Muslims so that they may deserve the paradise by their obedience against the Qur’an; therefore, they have to fight in the holy war. They "kill and will be killed" and hope that Allah would accept them as martyrs and fulfill his promise because of their commitment (Sura al-Tauba 9:111).
Muhammad had learnt that Jesus redeemed his followers; therefore, he, too, made Allah purchase all Muslims. Yet there is a great difference! In Islam Muslims had to pay the purchase price by their own blood. According to the gospel of Jesus Christ, however, the Son of God has shed his holy and invaluable blood for us. What a difference! In Islam count righteousness due to works, goods on own account, and violence. According to the gospel of Jesus Christ, however, the precious grace of the love of God is available for everybody.
PRAYER: O merciful Lamb of God, we praise and magnify You because You shed Your blood as a ransom to purchase us from the slave market of sin. Your holy blood was sufficient and able to purchase all the repentant in the world, to free them from their bonds, and to cleanse them as God's own.
QUESTION:
- Where do those whom the slain Lamb purchased come from as God's own?