The Lion Has Conquered as the Lamb

The glorious picture of Jesus as the Lamb of God in the New Testament is found primarily in the book of Revelation. As the aged Apostle John is given the visions recorded there he sees symbolic pictures of what is happening and will happen in Heaven.

The picture of all pictures in Revelation is of the Lamb. Of all the pictures of the Lamb, chapter 5 is most amazing and graphic. But it does not open with the Lamb...it opens with the LION! John sees the exalted God on His throne with a SCROLL in His right hand. This is the scroll that will be progressively opened throughout Revelation. It is the scroll that contains God's plan for the finalizing of human history - to bring history to an end - with judgment for the wicked and eternal salvation for God's people. But NO ONE is found worthy to open the scroll. John begins to weep loudly. The suffering, hopeful people of God, including John here in exile on Patmos, have been praying and longing for this time of God's justice and reward. No one is worthy to open the scroll and put the final, decisive movements of God's glorious plan into motion?

But stop weeping, John. The LION OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH (see Genesis 49:9,10)...has CONQUERED. HE is worthy to open the scroll (v.5). This LION is none other than the promised MESSIAH, the long-awaited conquering King of God's people. And WHAT/WHO does John see? NOT a conquering LION, the King of beasts, the VICTORIOUS GENERAL of the Hosts of the Lord, but "...a Lamb standing as though it had been slain" v.6. A LAMB! But not just ANY Lamb, this Lamb is "standing as though it had been slain." Here is the RESURRECTION and CRUCIFIXION of the Lamb, Jesus, in one phrase. He WAS slain, but now He stands, because He rose from the grave and ascended to the Father.

And note:

• "...with SEVEN HORNS": Horns represent POWER. SEVEN is the number used to indicate fullness or perfection. This Lamb is ALL POWERFUL, OMNIPOTENT! This Lamb is God very God! He is no common member of the weakest and most vulnerable of livestock, this Lamb is DIVINE. HE could die because He was indeed a Lamb (a man who could be sacrificed for men). His death could have INFINITE worth because this Lamb is God.
• "...with SEVEN EYES": Eyes represent KNOWLEDGE. This Lamb is also ALL-KNOWING, OMNISCIENT! Not a dumb sheep, but He who possesses infinite awareness of all things in one comprehensive knowing.

This slain but standing, all-powerful, all-knowing Lamb goes to the One on the throne and takes the scroll...and the most amazing scene of cosmic worship ever recorded commences. We will look more at the increasing intensity of this worship and its content tomorrow, but for now let us note this one, great truth portrayed in the Lion/Lamb in these verses:

The LION is worthy and has conquered BECAUSE He is also the LAMB! It was the DEATH of Christ that totally destroyed the legions of wickedness, death, and hell. The greatest display of POWER that the universe has ever witnessed was THE CROSS. Let us praise and worship our WORTHY Lion/Lamb today as He who has conquered for eternity on our behalf.

I can't wait to look at the rest of Revelation 5!