Lamb Exalted
The enthronement of Jesus is based on his death and resurrection, the immovable foundation of his present reign.
He is not a tyrant who violently subjugates his enemies, but the “Lamb
who was slain” and now “shepherds the nations.” He is redeeming men
and women from every “tribe and people and tongue” by his shed blood.
FAITHFUL WITNESS
At the outset of the book, he is called the “faithful
witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the Earth.”
“Faithful witness” points to his death by which he bore witness
to the world. “Firstborn of the dead” describes his resurrection.
As a direct consequence, he became the “ruler of the kings of the
earth.”
In the book’s first vision, John saw him as the
glorious figure “like a Son of Man.” The language alludes to the incident
when Daniel saw “one like a son of man” who received the “kingdom and
dominion” from the “Ancient of Days.” In Revelation,
this figure becomes the “Living One, and I became dead and, behold, living
am I unto the ages of ages,” obvious references to his death, resurrection,
and exaltation - (Daniel 7:13-14, Revelation 1:12-20).
Though he now reigns, he remains forever the one who died and rose
from the dead, and therefore, he has the authority to unveil to the churches “what
things must come to pass soon.” That same Jesus is the priestly figure who now
walks among the “seven golden lampstands” in the sanctuary of God.
He encourages, corrects, and chastises his churches as needed, and
assures every saint who “overcomes” eternal rewards. Those who do so
will participate in his reign, “just as I also overcame and
took my seat with my Father in his Throne.” He “overcame” by
enduring the Cross. Likewise, believers overcome Satan by “the blood of the
Lamb, the word of their testimony, and because they love not their
lives even unto death” - (Revelation 3:20-21, 12:11).
The theme of his “overcoming” through death is central in
the vision of the “sealed scroll.” God’s redemptive plan
could not be put into effect until the scroll was unsealed and its contents implemented.
After an exhaustive search, the only one in the entire Cosmos found “worthy”
to open it was the “Lamb who was slain.” Though he is the “lion of
Judah,” He fulfills that messianic role as the sacrificial “Lamb” -
(Revelation 5:6-10).
SLAIN LAMB
From that point forward, “Lamb” becomes the dominant
title applied to him in the book, a total of twenty-eight times (4 x 7). In
contrast, he is called “Christ” seven times, and “Jesus” fourteen
times (2 x 7), all multiples of seven. The label “Lamb” stresses the
theme of victory through self-sacrificial death. He is never
described as the “lion of Judah” again.
Upon arriving before the throne, the “Lamb” took the “sealed
scroll” from the “right hand” of the “One Sitting” on it, and
the heavenly choir declared him “worthy to take
the scroll and to open its seals” because “You were slain and
thereby redeemed unto God by your blood men from every tribe, and tongue, and
people, and nation” - (Revelation 5:9-10).
And it is the “Lamb” who now acts in concert with the “One
on the Throne.” Together, they reign over the Cosmos, judge the impenitent,
destroy their enemies, inaugurate the New Creation, and grant rewards and
everlasting life to the righteous.
In the seventh chapter, John saw an innumerable
multitude of men from every nation standing before the Throne
and the “Lamb,” proclaiming loudly, “Salvation to our God who sits
upon the throne and to the Lamb!” They were exiting the “Great
Tribulation, having washed their robes and made them white in the blood
of the Lamb.” Redemption, victory, and everlasting life were
achieved through Jesus, the “Lamb who has been slain” - (Revelation 7:9-17).
Later, John saw the Devil poised to destroy the male figure about
to be born from the “woman clothed with the sun.” Identified as the “son,”
he was the Messiah who was destined “to shepherd all the nations with a
scepter of iron.” Before the Dragon could destroy him, the child was “caught
away to God and to his Throne,” resulting in “war in heaven” - (Psalm
2:7-10, Revelation 12:1-11).
OVERCOMING LAMB
In the vision’s interpretation, the “Great Red Dragon” represents
Satan. He was banished to the earth and lost his prosecutorial power. Then, a
loud voice proclaimed, “now has come salvation and power, and the kingdom of
our God and the authority of his Christ… And they overcame him by the blood of
the Lamb!” Thus, the “brethren” were declared victorious
over Satan because of Christ’s death – (Revelation 12:9-11).
 |
| [Photo by Andi Kleeli on Unsplash] |
Later, John saw 144,000 thousand males standing victorious with the “Lamb” on “Mount Zion.” Each had the name of the “Lamb” and of his Father “written upon their foreheads.” Together, they “sang a new song” that no one outside their company could learn. Only those who belonged to the “Lamb” could sing the song of redemption - (Revelation 14:1-5).
The 144,000 “males” are those “who have been redeemed
from the earth” and “follow the Lamb wherever he goes.” Once
again, this is the same group seen previously in the vision of the Throne. Note
the 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 redeemed unto God men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation” – (Revelation 5:9-12).
The book culminates in the vision of the “holy
city, New Jerusalem.” All God’s enemies are defeated, sin and death are no
more, and overcoming saints inherit everlasting life. The victory was total.
Nevertheless, in the final vision, Jesus is still identified as the “Lamb.”
“New Jerusalem” is the “wife of the Lamb.” The
apostles are the “Twelve Apostles of the Lamb.” In the city, the “Lord
God, the Almighty, is its temple, and the Lamb.” The city is illuminated by
“the glory of God, and the lamp thereof is the Lamb.” Only those whose
names “are written in the Lamb’s book of life” gain access to the
city. The “river of water of life” flows out from the “throne of God
and of the Lamb,” and at the center of the Universe is the “throne of
God and of the Lamb” - (Revelation 21:9-22:5).
Thus, by his death, the “Lamb” fulfills the role of the
Davidic Messiah and reigns as the “ruler of the kings of the earth.” His
exaltation over all things and the redemption of humanity are based on his sacrificial
death and resurrection. Truly, therefore, “worthy is the Lamb that was
slain!”
Comments
Post a Comment