Joel 1—3, Revelation 5 • Key Verse: Revelation 5:6

Johns vision of the heavenly throne room is one of the most moving worship scenes in the Bible, one filled with rich and striking imagery that joins Old and New Testament truth in a single person, Jesus Christ. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David and the Lamb of God, the only One worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.

Allow for a moment your mind to dwell on this scene. John “wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll” (v. 4). Then he heard that the Lion of the tribe of Judah had “triumphed” and was able to open the scroll (v. 5). He turned to see the Lion and saw the Lamb. Old and New Testament converge and contain a striking imagery not seen in our English translations.

The Lamb is described as looking “as if it had been slain” (v. 6). That phrase is a translation of a Greek word that means “with its throat cut.” Our English versions emphasize that the marks of death are visible, but the original language communicates the picture of a sacrifice. How else would a lamb have been sacrificed? Its throat would have been cut.Yet notice that the Lamb is standing. He is not dead, even though slain.

Jesus is the Lamb of God. He died for our sins, yet He lives! And He alone is worthy “‘to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!’” (v. 12).

We prefer a nicer image of the death of Christ to this bloody one. Yet the truth is that Jesus died a cruel death for us. Meditate on this truth today. Thank God for the Lamb, the One who was slain.

Woodrow Kroll & Tony beckett
www.backtothebible.in