THE LAMB OF GOD I AS SEEN IN THE REVELATION

 John grips us as he ‘Looked and beheld, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb, as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. (5:6)  We observe the Lamb in the midst of the throne (that is ruling from the throne) for it bore the scars of  suffering unto death; its horns speak of unchallenged power; the perfect vision (7 eyes) tell of His insight; while the ends of the earth must hear of the Lamb slain.

Who is this Lamb?  Is HE described by John the Baptist as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world?  Possibly God’s special lamb?  Indeed, His own beloved Son.   WE contemplate His real Person when we see Him as the Passover LAMB..

The study of Exodus 12, is rewarding,  ‘The lamb must be personally chosen for each household (v3); ‘each man makes his count for the lamb’ for each person needs the sacrifice of the lamb; ‘it must be without blemish’;(the perfect nature of God’s lamb); ‘a mature male of the first year’ (our Lord commenced His ministry at 30 years of age; ‘it may be a sheep or goat’; (v5) ‘It must be kept under scrutiny for 4 days’, (He was declared sinless by Pilate and the centurion at His crucifixion); ‘the lamb was killed by the whole congregation’ ;the hour of 3 pm was chosen, when our lord cried, ‘It is finished’; ‘the blood must be applied protectively to the two door posts and the lintel, never trampled under foot’;‘ the lamb must be eaten’ for nourishment; ‘it must be roast with fire’ (God’s consuming anger) for all sin.

Melodious music and deep praise filled heaven as John wrote, ‘When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the Lamb,’

(Heaven acknowledged Him, who suffered for us) ‘each having a harp’ (v8) 

(harmonious music flowed from each instrument) and ‘golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of saints.’ Your prayers are imperishable to your risen Lord.  ‘They burst into song’- for even the morning stars sang together, declaring the worth of the Lamb, whom they unanimously worshipped.

‘You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals’ and Calvary dominated their anthem; ‘You were slain and have redeemed us to God by your liberating blood.’

Ancient song writers wrote of the power of the precious blood. The influence of the Lamb extended to ‘every tribe, tongue, people and nation’. (Redemption is available for every soul on God’s planet.)  The Lamb elevated us to be ’Kings and priests unto God; with sweet assurance that ‘We would reign on the earth.’ His redeeming work raised us from our lowly status to royalty and priesthood.  We shall never exhaust the enormity of His dying for us on the cross.  The great preachers of the past generations have majored on this redemption work of our beloved Lord.  Our reigning assures our supremacy in every situation of life, yet points to His millennial reign with His bride, the church.  Calvary’s overflow enriches us. 

United voices of millions around God’s throne acclaimed Him, ‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory and blessing.’ Contrast that with all He suffered on the cross: utter weakness, not power; poverty, not riches for he was indecently robbed of human recognition; God’s wisdom seemed madness to incensed man; His strong convictions took Him to the cross and kept Him there; man’s demeaning, degrading blasphemy contrasted with heaven’s honour; His broken body and His shed blood seemed inglorious from human eyes, while a precious reminder in the Lord‘s Table; man and the devil’s curse succumbed to the Lord’s blessing. 

God’s complete creation responded, ‘very creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth ( many live in burrows or nests ) and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying, blessing and honour glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, for ever and ever.’ The four living creatures supported this with their ‘Amen’, while the twenty four elders fell down and worshipped Him who lives for ever and ever.’ (5:13, 14) The Lamb shared this entire creative adoration. It must be our sole theme: we delight in His Name.

Christ, our Lamb is the ultimate Conqueror.   John tells how ‘He saw the Lamb opening one of the seals, and he looked and, Behold, a white horse, (symbol of victory) And He who sat on it had a bow, and a crown was given to Him and He went out conquering and to conquer.’ (6:1, 2) Please observe that the LAMB is victor over all evil, a cheering truth in our daily battles for right.  

The Lamb of God opened each successive seal.  The second seal brought discord on the earth, as a fiery red horse went out.  He also opened the third seal, resulting in scarcity on earth of wheat, barley, oil and wine.  He opened the fourth seal, resulting in widespread death on earth: the Lamb opened the fifth seal, disclosing the souls of them who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they held. (5:9) and releasing their cry, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true,’ longing for them judgment and revenge for their blood those who dwell on the earth;

The same Lamb opened the sixth seal, culminating in an earthquake blackening the sun and a blood-like moon, with stars of heaven falling and the sky receding as a scroll; and kings of the earth, down to slaves, hiding themselves in the mountains and caves.  They cried, ‘Hide us from the Face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb.’  They now fully understood that ‘The great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?’(6:17)  Fallen  man spat in His face, mocked Him and crowned Him with thorns,  Now they face deity and His unquestionable sovereignty. They see the unchallengeable majesty of the Lamb.

 Please continue with the remaining studies of the LAMB of God. Tell your friends,