Lamb of Judah

The central figure in Revelation is the slain Lamb who alone is worthy to open the sealed scroll – Revelation 5:5-14. 

John saw the sealed scroll held tightly in the right hand of the “One Who Sits on the Throne.” But a search was made of the universe to find someone “worthy” to break the seals and open the scroll. Alas, no such person could be found, causing John to weep profusely. If the scroll remained sealed, its contents would not be revealed and implemented.

Fortunately, one of the twenty-four “elders” told John not to weep because the “lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David overcame,” and therefore, he was indeed “worthy” to take the scroll, break its seals, and unveil its contents.

• (Revelation 5:5-7) – “And one of the elders said to me: Do not weep! Behold, the lion that from the tribe of Judah, the root of David has overcome to open the scroll and its seven seals. And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders a Lamb, standing, showing that it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took it out of the right hand of him that was sitting upon the throne.”

OVERCOMING MESSIAH

The term “overcame” translates the Greek verb nikaō, the same one rendered “overcome” numerous times in the letters to the “seven churches” (“to the one who overcomes…”). And especially relevant in this context is the final promise made at the conclusion of the seven letters:

• (Revelation 3:21) - “He that overcomes, I will give to him to take his seat with me in my throne, as I also overcame and took my seat with my Father in his throne.”

Jesus “overcame” in his death, and that victory qualified him to stand in the “midst of the throne.” And ever since, he has been summoning his saints to “overcome” in the same manner that he did.

“Lion of Judah” and the “Root of David” are messianic designations that identify him as the promised Messiah of Israel. In Genesis, the tribe of Judah was called “a lion's whelp” that would hold the scepter until the arrival of the one to whom it belonged, and “to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”

Likewise, Isaiah prophesied of the time when “the root of Jesse will stand as an ensign to the peoples” – (Genesis 49:9-10, Isaiah 11:1-10).

John heard the “Lion of the tribe of Judah,” however, when he looked, what he saw was the “Lamb” rather than the “lion,” and one that had been “slain.” In short, what he saw interpreted what he first heard, and Jesus fulfills the messianic role as the “Lamb,” not as the “lion.” Put another way, the slain “Lamb” is the “Lion of Judah.”

SACRIFICIAL LAMB

The “Lamb” fulfills his calling as Messiah in paradoxical manners. Not as a royal or military figure, but as the sacrificial victim. This anchors John’s vision in the historical event of the Crucifixion.

“Lamb” translates the Greek word arnion, the diminutive form of the more common term arnén for “lamb.” It refers to a juvenile lamb and becomes the primary designation for Jesus for the remainder of the book. It is applied to him a total of twenty-eight times (4 x 7). In contrast, ‘Jesus’ occurs fourteen and ‘Christ’ seven times.

“Slain” translates the Greek verb sphazō used often in the Septuagint version of the Old Testament for the Hebrew verb shachat which, in turn, is applied to the “slaying” of sacrificial animals (Strong’s - #G4969).

And this usage in Revelation echoes the passage in Isaiah when the Suffering Servant of Yahweh is compared to “a lamb led to the slaughter” (sphagé, from sphazō).

• (Isaiah 53:7) – “We all like sheep had gone astray, every man to his way had we burned. And Yahweh caused to light upon him the guilt of us all! Hard pressed, yet he humbled himself nor opened his mouth, as a lamb to the slaughter is led, And as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, nor opened his mouth.”

HIS SOVEREIGNTY

Upon his arrival, the “Lamb” approached the “throne” and took the “sealed scroll” from the “right hand of the One Who was sitting” on it. The image parallels the vision in Daniel when one “like a son of man” approached the throne of the “Ancient of Days” to receive the authority to reign over “all peoples, races and tongues” - (Daniel 7:13-14).

And his authority is proclaimed by heaven and earth, and his sovereignty is the result of his sacrificial death. His submission to an unjust death has made him “worthy” to open the scroll and assume his reign over the Cosmos.

The understanding that his sovereignty is the result of his death is confirmed by the “new song” song by the four “living creatures” and the “twenty-four elders”:

• (Revelation 5:9-12) - “And they sing a new song, saying, Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals; because you were slain and redeemed for God by your blood men from every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, and made them for our God a kingdom and priests, and they reign on the earth.  And I saw and heard a voice of many angels, round about the throne and the living creatures and the elders, and the number of them was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and might, and honor, and glory, and blessing.”

The enthronement of the “Lamb” was accomplished in the sacrificial death of Jesus, and the scene before the reader portrays the victory that he achieved. His reign and kingdom are declared with past tense verbs for they are accomplished facts.

Heavenly voices sing the “new song.” In chapter 4, all creatures sang praises to the “One Who Sits on the Throne” for His creative acts. Now, the “new song” rings out in praise of the “Lamb” for his sacrificial act.

The song is “new” because his death has inaugurated the long-awaited redemption that will culminate in the “new heavens and the new earth” (“Behold, I make all thing new” - Revelation 4:8-11, 21:1-5).

The “Lamb” is the true Messiah of Israel, but his victory has achieved the redemption of men and women from “every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” Traditional social and ethnic boundaries have no place in his kingdom. Note well the verbal parallel to the passage in Daniel 7:13-14 - “That all peoples, races and tongues should render service to him.”

PRIESTS

By his death, he has made men from every nation a “kingdom of priests.” Collectively, they are a kingdom; individually, they perform priestly acts. The calling once given to Israel is fulfilled from now on by the men from every nation who have been purchased by the lifeblood of Jesus - (Exodus 19:5-6, Revelation 1:6, 20:6).

The redeemed participate in his reign in their priestly capacities. Jesus promised that believers who overcome will have authority over nations. But this reign is implemented through priestly acts of witness, martyrdom, prayer, and worship.

The entire heavenly choir adores the “Lamb” for his act of redemption and proclaims him “worthy” to receive all “power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.” And this is followed by praise for God and the “Lamb” from “every created thing that is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea.”

The redemptive act of Jesus includes the entire creation, not just humanity. How that redemption will be brought to completion will be unveiled as the “Lamb” breaks the “seven seals” and begins to open the “sealed scroll.”

By his willing submission to death, Jesus fulfilled the role of the Messiah and qualified as the Sovereign over heaven and earth, and he did so as the submissive “Lamb” rather than the predatory lion.

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