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THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY SEARCHER VOLUME 7, NUMBER 1, JANUARY 7, 2007 THE LION AND THE LAMB? The book of Revelation is a marvelous example of a particular style of writing that is known as apocalyptic. It is a type of literature that most frequently appeared during times of great national crisis. A very distinguishing feature of this genre is the extensive use of signs and symbols to convey the message of hope and ultimate triumph. Thus, the writing was meant to both reveal and conceal. The images, signs and symbols that were used were those familiar to the intended audience and they could understand. However, those same images, signs and symbols were not familiar to the enemies of the people and thus, they could not understand. In God’s word there are four genuine apocalyptic books. The Old Testament contains the books of Daniel, Ezekiel, and Zechariah. In the New Testament we find the book of Revelation. In Revelation 4 and 5 there is a marvelous, a glorious scene presented. John saw a vision of the heavenly throne in chapter 4 in which God in His sovereignty and almighty power was seen sitting on that throne. Around the great throne of God, John saw 24 thrones. Sitting on these thrones 24 “elders” wearing white robes and “victory crowns” of gold. Four “living creatures” of fantastic description are also presented as around the throne, praising God continually. In the right hand of God John sees a scroll that was completely filled with writing. It was sealed with seven seals. The number seven in Revelation is the perfect number, the complete or divine number. Consequently, when we consider the writing on that scroll that was “inside and on the back” and consider that it was “sealed with seven seals,” we can know that that scroll contained the absolute will of God. Containing such magnificent truth, the question becomes, Who can open that scroll? Who can break those seals? Revelation 5:2-7 answers that question. “Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals? And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. But one of the elders said to me, Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals. And I looked, and behold, 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. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.” Behold, here was the long awaited Lion of the tribe of Judah! This harkens back to Jacob’s blessing of his sons in Genesis 49. In verses 9-10, Jacob told Judah, “Judah is a lion’s whelp; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; and as a lion, who shall rouse him? The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.” John saw this “Lion of the tribe of Judah,” the lion obviously being representative of His great strength. This was the promised descendant of Judah. This was the Anointed One, who was also the “Root of David.” As Homer Hailey so wonderfully put it in his book, Revelation, An Introduction and Commentary, p. 176, “As the Root of Jesse, the Seed of David, He has overcome, conquered, prevailed, and made Himself worthy to loose the seals, open the book, and make known and carry out its contents.” But notice now that this Lion of the tribe of Judah is also depicted as “a Lamb as though it had been slain.” When John looked to see this “Lion of Judah,” when he looked to see this symbol of might and strength; what he saw was a Lamb, which even though it had been slain, was now standing. What an interesting and wonderful depiction of Christ – a Lion and a Lamb! Yet the question arises, what does it mean? When we think of a lamb we do not think of strength. We think of a submissive type of animal, easily domesticated, docile and meek. How does such a creature rule? The image of “a Lamb as though it had been slain” indicates that the one who rules with the mighty strength of the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” gained that right to rule through His sacrifice. Remember the words of John the Baptist that we find in John 1:29. There we read, “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” How would He take away the sins of the world? I like the way Paul put it in 1 Corinthians 5:7b, “For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” I find it so interesting and humbling that this same Jesus is described by John in another vision with the following words of strength and might from Rev. 19:11-16. “Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses. Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.” This wonderful, mighty ruler whom we serve, was also, “led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth” (Isaiah. 53:7). Oh, that we could come to understand and fully appreciate the almost unfathomable love of God. Greg Litmer
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