There are many symbols in Revelation, biblical symbols of importance; that is, a dragon in heaven (Revelation 12:3-4, Revelation 12:7), angels flying in the midst of heaven (Revelation 14:6), a woman riding a scarlet beast (Revelation 17:3), and so forth. They are in the Word of God; the Holy Spirit inspired John to put them there, and they have important roles in revealing truth to those who read the words of this book and do them, for, as it says, “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near” (Revelation 1:3, NKJV).
There is, however, another image that appears, over and over, all through the book of Revelation. What is the image, and what does it represent?
Read Revelation 5:6, Revelation 5:8, Revelation 5:12; Revelation 7:17; Revelation 14:1; Revelation 15:3; Revelation 19:7; Revelation 21:22-23; and Revelation 22:1, Revelation 22:3. What is the meaning of the symbolism of the lamb, and why would it appear so many times in the book of Revelation?
Image © Kevin Carden at Goodsalt.com
Of course, as the opening words of the book say, this is a revelation “of Jesus Christ.” And not only a Lamb, but a Lamb “slain” (Revelation 5:6, Revelation 5:12; Revelation 13:8). That is, Jesus Christ crucified. Here is the heart and soul, not only of all the Bible, but of the book of Revelation and of the three angels’ messages. We cannot be faithful to our calling, we cannot do the work that God has raised up this church to do, unless we have the Lamb, the slain Lamb, Jesus crucified, a sacrifice for our sins, as the focal point of our message.
“We must intentionally place the Lamb that was slain at the very center of our doctrines and mission and at the heart of every sermon we preach, every article we write, every prayer we make, every song we sing, every Bible study we give, and in everything we do. Let the love revealed by the Lamb on the cross transform the way we treat each other and move us to also care for the world.” — Ángel Manuel Rodríguez, “The Closing of the Cosmic Conflict: Role of the Three Angels’ Messages,” unpublished manuscript, p. 70.
That is, amid the imagery of dangerous beasts, of a dragon making war, of plagues, of persecution, and of the mark of the beast, there remains front and center the Lamb, the Lamb slain. And He alone, and what He has done for us, is doing now, and will do before it’s all over — He is, ultimately, what the three angels’ messages are about.
| Why is keeping the slain Lamb at the center of our message crucial not only for leading others to it but also for your own spiritual life? |
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