1. Worthy, worthy is the Lamb,
Worthy, worthy is the Lamb.
Worthy, worthy is the Lamb
That was slain.
Refrain
Glory, hallelujah,
Praise Him, hallelujah,
Glory, hallelujah
To the Lamb.
2. Saviour, let thy kingdom come!
Now the man of sin consume—
Bring Thy blest millennium,
Holy Lamb.
Refrain
3. Thus may we each moment feel,
Love Him, serve Him, praise Him still,
Till we all on Zion’s hill
See the Lamb.
Refrain
-based on Revelation 5:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8; Revelation 20:3; 19:1
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This hymn text was published in the “Supplement” section of James White’s Hymns for Second Advent Believers (1852). The tune was published in the later church hymnal, Hymns and Tunes for Those Who Keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus (1869).
Somewhere along the way, someone changed the line “now the man of sin consume” to “now the pow’r of sin consume”, for so it appears in Frank Belden’s Christ in Song (1908). This is unfortunate, for the original (which we have restored here) was in harmony with the Bible:
2 Thessalonians 2
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
8 …whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
It is not the “power of sin” that will be destroyed at Christ’s appearing but the “man of sin” himself, who (along with all his followers) has so identified himself with sin, that he is the representative of the very principles of Satan’s kingdom. To be more deceptive, this is all covered with a religious garb:
2 Thessalonians 2
4 …he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
Many professing Christians falsely assume that as long as they have their fallen flesh and blood bodies, the “power of sin” will continue to rule over them, or at least take advantage of their weakness, until Christ returns and changes their bodies. This is a fatal mistake.
Nowhere in the Bible does it say that Christ defeats the “power of sin” at His return. Instead, the gospel assures us again and again, that grace is stronger than sin, that God’s mighty creative power is more than a match for the power of sin, even in our weak bodies:
1 Corinthians 10
13 There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that you may be able to bear it.Jude 1
24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.1 Corinthians 15
34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.John 14
15 If you love me, keep my commandments.Romans 16
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel.
No, it is not the “power of sin” that is “consumed” at Christ’s coming. This defeat of the power of sin, at least so far as believers are concerned, is to take place before Christ returns. When He returns, it is the “man of sin” that will be “consumed.”
Just before Christ returns, the book of Revelation makes it clear that the world is divided into two classes—the unjust/filthy, and the righteous/holy:
Revelation 22
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
There are a special group of people identified as the “firstfruits”, which are those who will be alive when Christ returns. We know this because in the Old Testament, the firstfruit was a special offering of ripened grain, that had to be waived before the Lord, before the rest of the harvest could be gathered. Since the great harvest represents the resurrection of the sleeping saints of all ages from their graves, the firstfruits must represent a special work that takes place just prior to the resurrection. This work can only be done by those who are alive at the time just prior to Christ’s return. Of this special group, the Bible testifies:
Revelation 14
1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
4 These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.
5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
To have the “Father’s name written in their foreheads”, to have “no guile” (lies) in their mouths, and to be “without fault before the throne of God” all indicate a work of character perfection.
The rest of Revelation 14 outlines how this marvelous work is accomplished, and it is through a series of special messages, which result in a people who
Revelation 14
12 …keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
The “faith of Jesus” is, of course, a perfect faith, and where there is perfect faith, there will be perfect obedience to the commandments of God. Since the commandments are simply an expression of God’s righteous, holy, pure and loving character, to keep the commandments is the same as having the Father’s name written in the forehead.
When Christ completes His work as High Priest in the Sanctuary in heaven, the work of consuming the “power of sin” (for believers) is finished. This happens just prior to His return in the clouds of heaven (Revelation 14:14-16). Only those who avail themselves of the provisions provided in the ministry of our great High Priest, who is able to take away sin and put new life in it’s place, will be ready for His appearing.
Hebrews 7
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.
When Christ’s ministry as High Priest closes, those who still have the “power of sin” ruling in them at that time, will have squandered away their chance for salvation. The word will go forth,
Revelation 22
11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
The time for the “power of sin” to be consumed in us is NOW. By the mighty purifying ministry of Jesus Christ, our High Priest, this will be accomplished:
Malachi 3
3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness.
Those who do not take full advantage of this opportunity will join with the “man of sin” in the final battle against the Lamb, and will instead find themselves consumed with that man of sin.
Only those who have experienced the power of the Lamb to deliver from sin, and therefore know by experience the value of that cleansing blood, can meaningfully sing the song “Worthy is the Lamb”.
Tags: Lamb, Millenium, Second Advent
