The Lamb of Heaven - Part 1

If we were to think about the best symbol for Jesus as He reigns in heaven, the lion would probably be our first choice. Jesus as the Lion of heaven would most appropriately depict the majesty and power and the victorious roar.

It is therefore interesting that the apostle John, in his sweeping vision of all history and eternity, of the earth and the reign of God in heaven, chooses to use the image of the Lamb to depict Jesus. In the book of Revelation, Jesus is referred to as the Lamb 28 times – a significant fact indeed.

The Old Testament has a rich theology of the Lamb. The sacrificial lambs in the Temple and the lamb for the Passover celebration at home created a lamb-shaped pattern in Jewish spirituality. When Jesus arrived at the scene 2,000 years ago, John the Baptist, representing the whole prophetic tradition of Israel, declared Jesus to be the “Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

Isaiah 53 helps us understand more clearly that Jesus was anticipated by the Old Testament prophets as the Lamb of God. He would be the “man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering”. Jesus “carried our sorrows” and “was pierced for our transgressions [and] crushed for our iniquities”. He did not resist when He was “led like a lamb to the slaughter”. The punishment that He took upon Himself, in our place, brought us peace and salvation.

After the death and Resurrection of Jesus, the early Christian writers understood the truth of Jesus as the Lamb of God and made numerous references to Old Testament teachings and practices. The prototypical Lamb-shaped Jewish spirituality became a clearer Lambshaped Christian spirituality centred in Jesus the Lamb of God.

In his apocalyptic writing, the elderly apostle John takes this theme further by seeing a future shaped by the Lamb, and an eternity bearing the mark of the Lamb. The Lamb sits on the centre of the throne of heaven (Revelation 7:17). Revelation 5:13 and 7:10 refer to two Persons occupying the throne – the Father and the Son, or God and the Lamb.

The Lamb has the power and authority to unfold the future (Revelation 6) and oversee the judgement that will come. He is also waiting to be united with His bride, the church (19:7-9; 21:9), which comprises all whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (13:8).

A central feature of the Lamb in heaven is that He will be remembered as the Lamb “who was slain” (5:12). His blood will be cherished (7:14; 12:11) for it produces holiness and righteousness; qualities necessary for permanent residence in heaven.

Discussion Questions:

Go through all the references to Jesus as the Lamb of God in the book of Revelation. What do they say about the reality of the Lamb in history and eternity, on earth and in heaven? Why is the Lamb’s future the only authentic and real future?