THE THIRD PART: 24 CRUCIAL LINES IN THE BIBLE
God’s Administration
Message Five—God’s Universal Administrative Throne in Revelation
Scripture Reading: Rev. 4:1—5:14
I. It is crucial for us to see a vision of God’s sovereignty—Dan. 4:1-3, 34-35; Rom. 9:19-23: (1999 ST, msg. 9)
A. Sovereignty refers to God’s unlimited authority and power—Rev. 4:11; 5:13. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
B. As the sovereign One, God is above everything, behind everything, and in everything—1 Kings 22:19. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
C. 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. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
II. 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: (1999 ST, msg. 9)
A. 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. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
B. The throne in Revelation 4 and 5 is the throne of divine authority: (1999 ST, msg. 9)
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. (1999 ST, msg. 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. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
C. 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. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
D. 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. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
E. There are seven lamps of fire—the seven Spirits of God—burning before God’s administrative throne—4:5: (1999 ST, msg. 9)
1. The burning of the seven Spirits of God is for the carrying out of God’s administration. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
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. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
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. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
III. 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: (1999 ST, msg. 9)
A. 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. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
B. In the divine administration Christ is the worthy Lion-Lamb—Rev. 5:5-6: (1999 ST, msg. 9)
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. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
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. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
C. 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: (1999 ST, msg. 9)
1. The Lord Jesus has been enthroned to execute God’s governmental administration in the universe—5:6. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
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. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
D. The enthroned Lion-Lamb has received the commission to carry out God’s economy, symbolized by the scroll—Rev. 5:7-9: (1999 ST, msg. 9)
1. In the divine government Christ opens the scroll of God’s economy. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
2. By opening the seven seals Christ unlocks the secret of the universe—6:1. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
E. The Lamb has seven eyes for the carrying out of God’s administration—5:6: (1999 ST, msg. 9)
1. The way Christ carries out God’s administration is by the seven Spirits as His eyes. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
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. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
F. The Administrator, the worthy and enthroned Lion-Lamb, is administrating the universe through our prayers—Rev. 5:8; 8:3-4. (1999 ST, msg. 9)
G. 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. (1999 ST, msg. 9)