The Lion and the Lamb

So, I realize that I have not posted in a while, and this is not my intent by any means. So I apologize, but I will continue talking about the Christological images that are present in Revelation. After the image of the Son of Man, comes the image of the Lion and the Lamb.

To get the image in our mind, we need to understand the context that it occurs in. After John is commanded to write the seven letters to the churches, John receives an image of the throne room. This is a beautiful seen where we see that God, the one who sits on the throne, is receiving all honour and praise. In chapter five, we are still in the throne room, but something different happens.

In this scene God is still at the centre of it, but this time in His right hand there is a scroll that is sealed. An angel then declared "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" (Rev. 5:2). At present there is no one who is scene who can open the scroll and John weeps. He weeps because the scroll cannot be opened, but soon he is comforted by one of the 24 elders. The elder proclaims to him that the Lion of Judah has conquered so that He can open the scroll (Rev. 5:5). In this section the elder uses two common OT themes for the Messiah--The Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of Jesse. The Jews were looking towards a Messiah that would come in power and restore Israel in fullness. The image of the Lion occurs throughout early Judaism, and early Christianity.

Here the Lion is attached to the Greek word νικᾶν (‘to conquer’). This shows the reader that his victory is in totality. There is nothing more that He could conquer. This shows us that the Lion has completely overcome the enemy, and this is such a beautiful image of Christ as victor! This image definitely has some militaristic undertones in it, and this is what the Jews were expecting of the Messiah, but then something happens. 

John is expecting to see this great and conquering Lion, but instead a Lamb appears. And not just any Lamb, but a lamb that seems to have been slain. This is an interesting juxtaposition that is presented here. We read that the Messiah, the one who is worth to open the scroll, conquers, yet He does not conquer in the way that we are expecting Him to. Jesus does not conquer by physical prowess or force, but he conquers by laying down His life. He takes the posture of the sacrificial Lamb in the Jewish sacrificial system, and lays down His life for His people. In this way, Christ is victor. 

Now the Lamb does have some militaristic overtones because He has seven horns and seven eyes. Now the horns represent power/might and seven is the number of completion. In essence, the Lamb has complete power and this echoes the image of the Lion. The seven eyes are the seven spirits of God (Rev. 5:6). Both the seven eyes and seven horns demonstrate the omnipotence and omniscience of Christ.

This image of the Lion and the Lamb ends with Christ at the centre of worship. Christ is now ascribed the same worship and devotion that God the Father is in the throne room seen. After John describes these things, those in heaven "sang a new song, saying,

"Worthy are you to take the scroll

and to open its seals.

for you were slain, and by your 

blood you ransomed 

people for God

from every tribe and language

and people and nation,

and you have made them a kingdom

and priests to our God, 

and they shall reign on the earth"

In our Christian walk it is too easy to forget or neglect that Jesus did not conquer in the way we would like Him to. He came and conquered death by laying down His life for us. In the same way, we too, must lay down our lives for Him and surrender all that we are. 

To Him Who Sits on the Throne

The Son of Man

The Book of Revelation is steeped in many rich images and allusions, but some of the most potent are images of the risen and glorified Christ. The whole premise (as I have mentioned in other posts) is that fact that Christ has been exalted and He is the one who is in control. Now, there are three major images of Christ that are present in the book and they are: The Son of Man, The Lion and the Lamb and the Rider on a White Horse. These images each present Christ in a slightly different way, but ultimately they reinforce the concept that He is in control. The next couple weeks will be devoted to these images, and this week I will discuss the image of the Son of Man. 

The Son of Man*

The Son of Man:

The Son of Man image that is present in Revelation 1:9-20 uses the imagery that is present in Daniel 7 when Daniel describes the Ancient of Days (in this way John is demonstrating the deity of Christ), but each one of the images used is also related to Jesus' status or role. 

1. Clothed in a long robe with a gold sash around his chest: There are two main ways that this image can be interpreted. The first way (and many argue that this is the correct way) is that these image is alluding to the High Priest's dress. This could be the case, and the gold sash could represent the breastplate that was worn by the priests (and of course, this would fit with Christ's priestly role), but some scholars (like Grant Osborne and David Aune) suggest that this is to represent Christ's high rank and this is because of the way that the Roman aristocrats would wear their sashes around their chest, unlike their commoner counterparts who wore their sashes around their waists. Whether this represents Christ's priestly role or high position, this image displays Christ's status among the nations. 

2. Hair that is white like wool: This connection is drawing directly upon the image of the Ancient of Days figure from Daniel 7: 9-10. The white hair demonstrates the wisdom that Christ possesses and this could also be a reference to Proverbs 20:29 which talks about the wise having white hair. 

3. Eyes that burn with a flame of fire: this is an attribute that is typically attributed to angelic or divine figures, especially in Ancient Greek culture. This is a common image for God as well. His eyes also demonstrate His knowledge of truth and He knows who disobeys Him and He will bring judgement. 

4. Burnished feet like bronze: This is one of the more tricky images in this section of Revelation, and this image may be an allusion to Christ's military might and power as bronze is typically used for military campaigns in the Ancient Near East. It could also just be used to demonstrate his glory and splendour. 

5. Voice like many waters: This is an extremely common attribute that is associated with God. This image is also used of God in the pseudopigripha (like the Apocalypse of Abraham (17:1)). 

6. Holding seven stars in his right hand: The right hand is often associated with power and authority (in both the Bible and other ancient writings). We know what the stars represent as Jesus tells us himself in the next few verses. With this image, we can rest in the fact that Christ is the one who hold even the angels in his hand. He is in complete and utter control. 

7. The sharp two-edged sword coming out of his mouth: This of course is an image that brings the reader straight to the fact that Christ will come in judgement and the idea of the sword is present in other New Testament passages as well (mostly referring to the Word of God). 

8. His face shining like the sun: This is one of the easier images to understand in this passage and it is bringing into focus the splendour to the exalted Lord. This of course brings us back to Exodus 34:29 when Moses returns from Mt. Sinai, and his face is glowing because he was conversing with God. 

The letters to the seven churches all start off with Christ using the above images in specific connection to specific churches. 

If we take a closer look at the letters to the seven churches, we see that Jesus offer's both admonition and judgment upon his churches. The one who is in complete control is the one who sovereignly executes his judgments upon the earth. When these images of Christ are seen together they demonstrate the rule, power, authority and judgment of Christ the exalted and risen king. 

As believers today, we must rely on the fact that Christ is indeed the risen and exalted Lord. The one who comes in power and authority, the one who is sovereignly in control of the universe and is guiding it to it's ultimate end. 

Let us never forget that Jesus Christ is the Son of Man who is presented in Revelation 1:9-20. 

To Him Who Sits on the Throne.

*image taken from: http://www.newheartnewspirit.com/jesus-in-the-book-of-daniel

Inspiration for the Blog

So at the beginning of January I took a class on the book of Revelation. To be honest, I was super excited about taking this class, as there are many different views that people take on this particular biblical book, and I just wanted to immerse myself in it. What I learned while I was in that class has stuck with me and really made me realize who I was serving.

Whether you are a pre-, post- or amillenial, the fact of the matter is that the millennium is an extremely small component in this apocalypse. Of the 22 chapters in this book, that section is only six verses! It amazes me that some people make this to focus on this book when the real focus is completely different.

The real focus of the book is surrounded in the answer to this question: Who sits on the throne? (Hence the title to this blog).

The answer to this question is obviously God is the one who sits on the throne. When I read through Revelation 4 and 5, this hit me like a brick. Chapter 4 is describing the throne room scene. It describes this beautiful scene of God who is depicted with the appearance of jasper and carnelian surrounded by 24 elders with golden crowns and before the throne was a floor like a sea of glass. Behind the throne is a rainbow and there are flashes of lightening and sounds of thunder. This image depicts the power and majesty of God on high, the one who came to save his people. What a beautiful image to open this prophetic book. In the same section, the four creatures are crying "Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was an is and is to come!" (Rev. 4:8). The elders are also crying out "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for you created all things and by your will they existed and were created" (Rev. 4:11).

What an amazing scene that not only shows his power and glory, but also provides comfort to believers. Now, for 1st century believers, this scene would show them that it is God who sits on the throne and not the Roman Empire. They were living at a time when this would have been imperative to remember this fact. And this is so true for today. It is crucial that believers remember who actually sits on the throne and is in control of the world. It is so easy for us to forget or loose focus, but we must remember that it is God who sits on the throne in heaven and sovereignly oversees his creation.

Let us always remember and celebrate the fact that God is the one who sits on the throne of heaven and lets worship and serve him alone.

To Him Who Sits on the Throne

An Introduction and a Purpose

There are many types of blogs out there. Some are for personal use, and others professional. I used to have a personal blog, but--to be honest--I got tired of blogging about things that mattered to me, but not many others. I want this blog to be different. I want this blog to explore questions about faith, life and theology and ultimately I want this blog to give glory to Him who sits on the throne (hence the title for the blog!). 

For those of you who don't know me (or perhaps, know little about me), I am trying to be a passionate follower of Jesus Christ (the one who sits on the throne). I don't have it all together as most of us don't, and I'm coming to the realization that this is okay. 

I am a Children's Director at a local church here in Edmonton. I recently graduated from Vanguard College where I received a Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Studies (this is just a fancy name for missions), and minored in both Children and Family Studies as well as Pastoral Ministry. While, this seems like a random conglomerate of unrelated fields of study, I see them as intrinsically interconnected and essential in building up the Body of Christ in North America. 

More recently, I am studying at Taylor Seminary in the field of Intercultural Studies. As you can see I have a huge passion for God's mission for the Church--both inside and outside of North America. I want this blog to be a place where I can engage both Scripture and culture and ask difficult questions, but, as I said before, I want this blog to give God all the glory. 

Feel free to engage in discussion and ask me questions! 

To Him Who Sits on the Throne