Worthy is the Lamb!

The reign of Jesus on the Divine Throne is based on his sacrificial death and resurrection, the unshakable basis of his universal authority.

The Death, Resurrection, and the Exaltation of Jesus are all linked in the Book of Revelation. Christ reigns supreme over the Earth because of his obedient death and subsequent resurrection, and he therefore is authorized to reveal and put the contents of the “Sealed Scroll” into action. He does not tyrannize his subjects; instead, he is “the Shepherd of the nations” who redeems men and women from every nation.

Jesus is the “Faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the Dead, and the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth,” and this is stated in the present tense. The term “Faithful Witness” points to his death; the “Firstborn of the Dead” to his resurrection. Consequently, he is now the Ruler of kings and nations in fulfillment of scriptural promises – (Psalm 2:6-9, Revelation 1:4-6. “I also will make him my firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth” - Psalm 2:6-9, 89:27).

[Lamb Photo by Sulthan Auliya on Unsplash]

In the Book’s opening vision, Jesus is the glorious “Son of Man.” This designation alludes to the vision in which the Prophet Daniel saw “one like a son of man” receiving the “kingdom and dominion” from the “Ancient of Days.” This figure described himself as the “Living One, and I became dead and, behold, living am I unto the ages of ages, and I have the keys of Death and of Hades.” Because of the death and resurrection of this Son of Man, not only does he reign, but his sovereignty extends even over the realm of the dead - (Daniel 7:13-14, Revelation 1:12-20).

Christ is the Chief Ruler of kings and nations, and he has the authority to unveil “what things must come to pass soon.” In this first vision, the Son of Man is a high priestly figure who walks among the “Seven Golden Lampstands” in the Sanctuary of God, overseeing his churches in this fallen world as he guides them to everlasting life in the coming “New Heavens and New Earth.”

This same Jesus overcame his enemies and qualified to reign from God’s Throne through his Death and Resurrection. “Just as I also overcame and took my seat with my Father on his Throne.” He achieved victory by enduring the Cross, and therefore God installed him as “the Lord of lords and King of kings,” the “highest of the kings of the Earth” - (Revelation 3:20-21, 5:1-14, 17:14, Psalm 89:27).

The teaching that God exalted Christ because of his faithful “obedience unto death” is common in the New Testament, and was predicted by the Prophet Isaiah in his description of the “Servant of Yahweh”:

• “He will see of the travail of his soul and be satisfied. By the knowledge of himself will my righteous servant justify many; and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore,  I will divide him a portion with the great, and he will divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors…” – (Isaiah 53:11-12).

• “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Wherefore also God highly exalted him and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, of things in heaven and things on earth and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” – (Philippians 2:8-11).

The theme of “overcoming” through death is central to the vision in the fifth chapter of Revelation. God’s redemptive plan could not commence until the Scroll was unsealed and opened. The only one found “worthy” to do so was the slain “Lamb.” It is precisely because he surrendered his life to redeem mankind that Jesus was declared worthy to inherit all power - (Revelation 5:6-10):

• “And they sing a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals, because you were slain and purchased for God with your blood men from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, and made them a kingdom and priests for our God, <…> Worthy is the Lamb who has been slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honour, and glory, and blessing” – (Revelation 5:9-11).

Jesus is the “Lion of Judah,” but he fulfills that role as the “Lamb who was slain.” After Chapter 5, the term “Lamb” is the title applied most often to Jesus, a total of twenty-eight times. In contrast, he is called “Christ” seven times, “Jesus” fourteen times, and “Lion of Judah” only once. The image of the Lamb stresses his victory over his enemies and the redemption of men through his self-sacrificial death.

THE SHEPHERD OF NATIONS

In Chapter 7, John saw an Innumerable Multitude of redeemed men standing before the Throne and the “Lamb.” These men proclaimed, “Salvation to our God who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb!” They came out of “Great Tribulation, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Their redemption was achieved through the “Lamb who was slain” - (Revelation 7:9-17).

In Chapter 12, John saw the “Dragon” prepared to destroy a male figure about to be born from the “Woman clothed with the Sun.” Identified as the Messianic “son,” this man is destined “to shepherd the nations.” Before the “Dragon” could destroy him, the child was “caught away to God and to his Throne” - (Psalm 2:7-10, Revelation 12:1-11).

The “Dragon” represented Satan who was banished to Earth and lost his prosecutorial power. A loud voice proclaimed, “Now has come salvation and power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ <…> And the brethren overcame him by the blood of the Lamb!” Thus, the saints are victorious over the Dragon because of the sacrificial death of the Lamb – (Revelation 12:9-11).

In Chapter 14, John saw 144,000 males standing victoriously on “Mount Zion.” Each male had the name of the “Lamb written upon his forehead.” Together, they “sang a New Song” that no one else could learn. Only those who belonged to the “Lamb” could sing the song of redemption - (Revelation 14:1-5).

The 144,000 “males” are identified as those men “who have been purchased from the Earth” and “follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” This is the same group seen previously in the vision of the Throne in Chapter 5, and in the vision of the innumerable multitude redeemed by the Lamb. Note the verbal and conceptual parallels:

• “They sing a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the Scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain and by your blood purchased for God men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” – (Revelation 5:9-12).

• “These are the men who came out of the great tribulation, and they washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God; and they serve him day and night in his Sanctuary. And He who sits on the throne will spread his tabernacle over them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any longer, neither shall the sun strike upon them, nor any heat; for the Lamb that is in the midst of the throne shall be their shepherd, and he will guide them to fountains of living waters” – (Revelation 7:14-17).

In Chapter 5, John “heard” a voice declare that “the lion of Judah” was worthy to open the Scroll, but when he looked, he “saw” the Lamb. Likewise, in Chapter 7, John “heard the number” of God’s servants, twelve thousand from each of the tribes of Israel, but when he looked, John “saw” a vast innumerable multitude of men from every nation redeemed by the Lamb.

What John saw interpreted what he first heard. Jesus is the Lion of Judah, but he fulfills that role as the Slain Lamb. Likewise, the innumerable multitude of the redeemed from every nation is identical to the 144,000 servants from the tribes of Israel.

Jesus is the Shepherd who guides his people and leads the nations to “the Holy City, New Jerusalem.” This is not John mixing his metaphors. It is the Lamb who is the Shepherd, the same one who gave his life to purchase men and women for God.

Jesus is portrayed again as the “shepherd of the nations” in Chapter 19. The “rider on a white horse” appears with his robe already sprinkled with blood before he engages in battle with the Beast, for it is his blood. This “rider” carries a “sharp sword.” It represents the word of God, the proclamation of the Gospel, which is why it is seen “proceeding from his mouth” - (Revelation 19:11-15).

The Rider is none other than the Messiah who “shepherds the nations” with his scepter. Christ is both the sacrificial victim who liberates men from sin and death, and the Shepherd King who reigns over the Earth by leading men and nations to living waters.

The Book of Revelation concludes with a vision of “New Jerusalem.” All God’s enemies are defeated. Sin and death are no more, and overcoming saints, kings, and nations inherit everlasting life in the Holy City. Christ’s victory is total. Nevertheless, Jesus is still identified as the “Lamb” even in the New Creation where he will reign unceasingly as absolute Lord:

• “New Jerusalem” was the “wife of the Lamb.” The Apostles were the “Twelve Apostles of the Lamb.” In the city, the “Lord God, the Almighty, is its temple, and the Lamb.” The City was illuminated by “the glory of God, and the lamp thereof was the Lamb.” Only those whose names “are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” gained access to the city. The “river of water of life” flowed from the “Throne of God and the Lamb.” At the center of the Universe was the “Throne of God and the Lamb” - (Revelation 21:9-22:5).

The slain “Lamb” is the Davidic Messiah, and because of his sacrifice, he now reigns supreme over the Cosmos. The exaltation of Jesus and the redemption of Humanity and the Universe are based on his past Death and Resurrection. It is this same Jesus who “shepherds” and guides the nations and the “Kings of the Earth” to life and liberty. Therefore, and most deservedly, “worthy is the Lamb who was slain!”

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SEE ALSO:

• The Royal Shepherd - (The Lamb’s reign began with his Death and Resurrection. Since then, he has been shepherding the nations toward New Jerusalem)

• The Name Above All Names - (Because he sacrificed his life for others, God resurrected and exalted Jesus and installed him as Absolute Lord over all things)

• King of Kings - (Jesus, the Faithful Witness, now reigns supreme over the Kings of the Earth, and he is shepherding the nations to the Holy City of New Jerusalem)

• The Messianic Lamb - (The Slain Lamb is the Messiah in Revelation who overcomes and reigns over the Nations and the Kings of the Earth)