Exalted Lamb
The sacrifice and exaltation of Jesus are prominent themes in the book of Revelation. God’s plan to redeem humanity is unveiled in its visions, and his death, resurrection, and enthronement are putting it into action. His sovereignty over the Cosmos is the result of his faithful obedience unto death.
But he is not a tyrant. He does not subjugate his enemies through
violence and oppression. Instead, the “Lamb who was slain." And he is “shepherding
the nations” and redeeming men from every “tribe and people and tongue”
by his shed blood.
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.”
The term “faithful witness” points to his death by which he
bore witness to the world, and “firstborn of the dead” to his
resurrection. As a direct consequence, he is now the “ruler of the kings of
the earth.”
EXALTED SON OF MAN
In the first vision, John sees him as the glorious “Son of
Man.” The term alludes to the incident when Daniel saw “one like a son
of man” receiving 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,” clear
references to his death, resurrection, and exaltation - (Daniel 7:13-14,
Revelation 1:12-20).
Though he now reigns, he remains 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.” This same Jesus is the priestly figure who 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” everlasting rewards. They participate
in his reign, “just as I also overcame and took my seat with my
Father in his Throne.” And 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).
SEALED SCROLL
The theme of his “overcoming” through death is central to
the vision of the “sealed scroll.” God’s redemptive plan cannot
be put into effect until the scroll is unsealed and its contents implemented.
After an exhaustive search, the only one in the entire Cosmos
found “worthy” to open it is 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).
From this point forward in the book, the name “Lamb”
becomes the dominant title applied to him, 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” takes the “sealed
scroll” from the “right hand” of the “One Sitting” on it, and
the heavenly choir declares 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 sees 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!”
The multitude is exiting the “Great Tribulation, having washed
their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Redemption,
victory, and everlasting life are achieved through Jesus, the “Lamb who has
been slain” - (Revelation 7:9-17).
Later, John sees the Devil poised to destroy the male figure about
to be born from the “woman clothed with the sun.” Identified as the “son,”
he is the Messiah who is destined “to shepherd all the nations with a
scepter of iron.”
Before the Dragon can destroy the “son,” the child is “caught
away to God and to his Throne” - (Psalm 2:7-10, Revelation 12:1-11).
In the vision’s interpretation, the “Great Red Dragon” represents
Satan. He is banished to the earth and loses his prosecutorial power. Then, a
loud voice proclaims, “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” are declared victorious
over Satan because of Christ’s death – (Revelation 12:9-11).
FINAL VICTORY
In chapter 14, John sees 144,000 thousand males standing
victorious with the “Lamb” on “Mount Zion.” Each one has the name
of the “Lamb” and of his Father “written upon their foreheads.”
Together, they “sing a new song” that no one outside their company can learn. Only those who belong to the “Lamb” are able to 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.”
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 is 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!”