♥ Lamb Power ♥

By Hazel Holland

Today I was hit with a bolt of lightning from out of the blue.  The book of Revelation is about Lamb power—NOT Lion power!

Yes, the Lamb—Jesus Christ, who is pictured at the center of the throne in Revelation 5:6 looks almost incongruous.  But here at the very heart of the power of the universe stands Jesus Christ—God’s slain Lamb! And just like the Lamb, God's people are called to conquer—NOT by fighting, but by remaining faithful and testifying to God's victory of self-giving love!

Here at the beginning of the book of Revelation we are given a picture of the Lamb's non-violent power in contrast to the beast power that is shown later as being hell-bound on victory as he inflicts  pain, suffering and death on all who oppose him.

However, having said that, don't we much prefer images of Jesus Christ as the Lion of Judah rather than the Lamb of God?  We prefer images of strength rather than weakness, right?  But look at the Scriptures that tell us that God always chooses the weak things of this world to overcome the strong and powerful...

“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21).

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong…” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

I know that many of us in the body of Christ have no problem seeing that Jesus came as a Lamb the first time…when he was born in a stable.  We will even concede that perhaps lambs were among the animals that watched His birth.  However, I believe that many of us have trouble seeing Jesus as Lamb in the book of Revelation, because we’ve been taught that when He comes the second time He will come as the Lion of Judah.  We have images in our minds of a conquering, roaring Lion.  

But is this the true picture that John paints for us in the book of Revelation?  Is the final Revelation of Jesus Christ given in Lamb-like or Lion-like imagery?  Although Jesus is the Lion of Judah, I want us to see that He is portrayed throughout the book Revelation as the Lamb who conquers through self-giving love!♥

The first picture we get of Jesus being portrayed in the imagery of a Lamb is in Revelation 5:6-13 where we see “a LAMB as though it had been slain…" and all heaven is falling down before Him and worshiping Him because He alone “is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”  Furthermore, this LAMB  is the "only One who is found worthy to open the scroll and read it, because He has redeemed us to God by His blood out of every tribe and nation and made us to be priests and kings to our God…”

So let’s continue to look at other verses in Revelation that use LAMB imagery.  Revelation 6 lets us know that it is the LAMB who opens the seven seals.  In Revelation 7:9-10 we see a great multitude... standing before the LAMB and saying, "Salvation belongs... to the LAMB!"  Then in verse 14, John tells us that these people are the ones that have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the LAMB", and in verse 17 we see the LAMB in the midst of the throne who shepherds and leads His people to living water, and wipes every tear from their eyes.

Here is a list of further verses that use this LAMB imagery right on through to the last chapter of  Revelation.

Revelation 12:11 "They overcame him by the blood of the LAMB and by the word of their testimony..."

Revelation 13:8 "And all who dwell on earth will worship it (the beast), everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the LAMB who was slain."

Revelation 13:9 "All who dwell on earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the LAMB, slain from the foundation of the world".

Revelation 14:1-4 "… a LAMB standing on Mount Zion and with Him 144,000, having His Father's name written on their foreheads... and they follow the LAMB wherever He goes..."

Revelation 15:3 “They sing the song of Moses... and the song of the LAMB."

Revelation 17:14 "These will make war with the LAMB and the LAMB will overcome them...for He is the Lord of lords, and King of kings..."

Revelation 19:7, 9 “…for the marriage of the LAMB has come… Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the LAMB.”

Revelation 21:9 "Come and I will show you the bride, the "LAMB'S wife".

Revelation 21:14 "...on them (the walls of the city) were the names of the 12 apostles of the LAMB".

Revelation 21:22-23 "But I saw no temple in it (New Jerusalem), for the Lord God Almighty and the LAMB are its temple… and the LAMB is its light".

Revelation 21:27 “…only those who are written in the LAMB'S Book of Life” shall enter the New Jerusalem.

Revelation 22:1-3 "And He showed me a pure river of water of life proceeding from the throne of God and of the LAMB... and there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the LAMB shall be in it..."

Yes, today was the first time that I clearly saw Jesus Christ being portrayed in the beautiful imagery of a Lamb-like conqueror throughout the book of Revelation!   What an amazing God who surprises us with such wisdom.  Instead of seeing the LION we behold the LAMB—the LAMB of God who takes away the sin of the world!♥

See: The Lamb's Revelation (By  Ramone Romero)
        Follow The Lamb (By Ramone Romero)