Lamb or Lion - or Both

     The setting is in heaven.  The church has been removed from the earth and the great tribulation is about to begin; it’s time to redeem all that was lost due to the curse.  The Apostle John records what he sees. 

     “And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.”  Revelation 5:1

     The scroll was a legal document granting title to the redeemed earth.

     John was very much troubled, however, upon hearing a loud voice proclaiming the lack of anyone qualified to open the sealed document. 

     “So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll…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 its seven seals.’”  Revelation 5:4-5

     Upon hearing those words John looks around perhaps expecting to see a King in royal splendor.

     “And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne…stood a Lamb as though it had been slain…Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.”  Revelation 5:6-7

     After the Lamb took the scroll all those present fell down before the Lamb and sang a new song.

     “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood…”  Revelation 5:9

     And then John looked around again and heard the voices of innumerable angels and they were also speaking with loud voices.

     “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!”  Revelation 5:12

     Then they all joined together to proclaim the greatness of God and the worthiness of the Lamb.

     “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever.”  Revelation 5:13b

     These events occur at the beginning of the great tribulation.  The final book of the Bible describes the battle fought by the ‘Lamb’ during and near the end of the tribulation.

     The future antichrist is given great power so as to illustrate the greater power of the Lamb.  The antichrist will be worshipped at that time by all who dwell on the earth except God’s elect.

     “All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”  Revelation 13:8

     Note that the plan for Christ to be the Passover Lamb was ordained even before man was created, placed on the earth and sinned.

     During the tribulation men will not humble themselves before God and the Lamb but will rather wish for death thinking that death will end their torment.

     They (all deceived men) said to the mountains and rocks:

     “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!  For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”  Revelation 6:16

     As the end of the tribulation approaches, the Lamb will appear as a mighty Warrior and King as He returns to reclaim all that He paid for at Calvary.

     “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.”  Revelation 19:15

     Thus the tribulation will end; antichrist is cast into the lake of fire, and the millennial kingdom will begin.

     After the millennium and Satan’s final defeat, New Jerusalem will descend from heaven for all eternity.

     “And he showed me a pure river of water of life…proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.”  Revelation 22:1

     Within the heavenly city will be the trinity, i.e. God the Father, God the Son (the Lamb), and God the Spirit (the Water of Life).

     Paradise regained only better, and eternal.

          

    

The 'Lamb' of the New Testament

     Major Biblical doctrines foreshadowed in the Old Testament are in fact fulfilled in Christ in the New Testament.  Such is the case with the Old Testament Passover Lamb.  The New Testament opens with the gospel records of those who witnessed the birth, ministry, purpose, and death of Christ.

     The final book in the Old Testament told of one who would precede Christ and in fact announce His earthly appearance and mission.

     “Behold, I send My messenger, and he will prepare the way before Me.”  Malachi 3:1a

     The Apostle John then wrote about the one to precede Christ and who would announce His purpose.

     “The next day John (the Baptist) saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”  John 1:29

     The gospel writers described the words and works of Christ throughout His earthly ministry which culminated in Jerusalem.  All four gospel writers explained why Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem where He would end His earthly mission.

     “Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, that He said to His disciples, ‘You know that after two days is the Passover, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified.’”  Matthew 26:1-2

     When interrogated by Pontius Pilate, Jesus kept silent when the accusations from the High Priest and elders were leveled against Him in fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, “Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter”.

     “And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.  Then Pilate said to Him, ‘Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?’  But He answered him not one word, so the governor marveled greatly.”  Matthew 27:12-14

     It was the Jewish leaders that brought the accusation of blasphemy against the Lamb of God and demanded His death because Jesus claimed to be the Son of God.

     Recall the original instructions relative to the Passover Lamb that God revealed to Moses who was to relay to ‘all the congregation of Israel’.

     “Your lamb shall be without blemish…Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month.  Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight (evening).”  Exodus 12:5-6

     Just before the crucifixion of Christ the Apostle John recorded explicit details on the date and timing of Jesus’ death.

     “Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover…And he (Pilate) said to the Jews, ‘Behold your King!’  But they cried out, ‘Away with Him, away with Him!  Crucify Him!’”  John 19:14-15

     Recall from the Old Testament that the Passover Lamb was to be slain at twilight.  The gospel writer Luke also recorded the exact timing of Jesus’ death.

     “Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour (3:00 PM)…And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.’  Having said this, He breathed His last.”  Luke 23:44, 46

  

     After the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus, the writers of the Epistles reflected on the meaning of the events.  Paul confirmed plainly that Jesus Christ was indeed the Passover Lamb that ‘takes away the sin of the world’.

     “…For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.”  I Corinthians 5:7

     Peter more fully described the meaning of the Passover Lamb.

     “Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.”  I Peter 1:18-20

     Thus Christ was the Passover Lamb of God who perfectly fulfilled the primary doctrine in the Bible, redemption by the blood of a perfect ‘lamb without blemish’.

     But the story of the Lamb of God is far from over.  The best is yet to come.

     Have a blessed Passover and Easter!

    

    

The 'Lamb' of the Old Testament

     To have a better understanding of the approaching significant holiday called ‘Easter’, or Passover, it is invaluable to review the roots of this doctrine and then follow it throughout the Bible.

     ‘Passover’ deals with the reality of sin, which can be succinctly defined as disobedience to God.  The doctrine is first introduced in the Garden of Eden following Satan’s deception and man’s original sin.  After God pronounced the curse He did a wonderful thing for Adam and Eve which becomes the central theme of the Bible.

     “Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics (coats) of skin and clothed them.”  Genesis 3:21

     This profound verse reveals that God proactively provided coverings for Adam and Eve making them acceptable in His sight.  Equally significant is the fact that the skin of an animal could only be provided after the animal was slain.  The animal was sacrificed for Adam’s and Eve’s sake even though they were the ones worthy of death for their sin, not the animal.

     Several thousand years later the Prophet Isaiah reaffirmed this great truth.

     “…For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness.”  Isaiah 61:10

     But let’s go back to Genesis.  After Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden they had two sons, i.e. Cain and Abel.

     “…Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.  And in the process of time…Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to the LORD.  Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock…and the LORD respected Abel and his offering, but He did not respect Cain and his offering…”  Genesis 4:2-5

     Abel sacrificed a living animal as a substitute for his sin, in fact the Bible states the animal was the ‘firstborn of his flock’.  The significance of the ‘firstborn’ is explained in the Book of Exodus.

     “Consecrate (set aside) to Me all the firstborn, whatever opens the womb among the children of Israel, both of man and beast; it is Mine.”  Exodus 13:2

     One of the most revealing verses in the Old Testament explains the significance of offering an animal sacrifice.

     “For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.”  Leviticus 17:11

     At the time Israel was to be redeemed from Egyptian slavery, God gave specific instructions relative to their freedom along with the remedy to escape the judgment of death to the firstborn of all the families in Egypt, men and beast.

     “...Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb…without blemish, a male of the first year…Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month.  Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight.  And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it.’”  Exodus 12:1-7

     God then explained the meaning of His instructions.

     “For I will pass through the land of Egypt…and will strike all the firstborn…both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment…Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are.  And when I see the blood, I will pass over you…”  Exodus 12:12-13

     And then the Prophet Isaiah revealed that Israel’s future Messiah would fulfill the role of the Passover Lamb approximately 700 years before its occurrence.

     “…And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.  He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”  Isaiah 53:6b-7

     Thus the Old Testament ‘Lamb’ introduces several major doctrines to be fulfilled in the New Testament including atonement, redemption, substitution, firstborn, propitiation, imputation and the righteousness garment.

     To be continued.

    

    

    

Are All Men Created Equal?

     President Obama is a firm believer in the equality of all people.  In his recent inaugural speech he once again invoked the second sentence of the Declaration of Independence. 

     “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”

     Inasmuch as the concept of equality is such a major issue in contemporary politics it stands to reason that the Bible would address and shed light on the issue.  The Bible will, however, reveal that God deals with men individually rather than equally.

     Consider Pharaoh’s role at the time of the Exodus of the Children of Israel out of the land of Egypt.

     “‘For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.’  Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens…Romans 9:17b-18

     God preordained Pharaoh’s role to resist God’s plan for the Israelites so that He could reveal His mighty power to all the earth.  The above passage goes on to state that God exercises His absolute sovereignty by having mercy on some individuals while He hardens the hearts of others.  The Apostle Paul continues to explain God’s sovereignty in fulfilling His purpose for Israel and all mankind.

     What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, even us whom He called…’”  Romans 9:22-24a

     Note particularly the phrases ‘prepared for destruction’ and ‘prepared beforehand for glory’.  God would endure temporarily those prepared for destruction in order to accomplish His overall purpose and execute His wrath in due time.  Likewise He would bestow His mercy on those prepared to receive the riches of His glory.  This passage speaks more of polarization than equalization.

     The concept of inequality among men is introduced early in the Bible.

     “Then he (Noah) said: ‘Cursed be Canaan; a servant of servants he shall be to his brethren.’”  Genesis 9:25

     Recall further the beginning of two very different nations whose destinies were preordained prior to their existence; even before their leaders were born.

     “(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God…might stand…) it was said to her (Rebecca), ‘The older shall serve the younger’, As it is written, ‘Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.’”  Romans 9:11-13

     The Bible contains numerous examples of specific purposes of individuals determined years, and in several instances centuries, prior to one’s birth.

     For example, a man pre-named Josiah was ordained to destroy an altar at Bethel on which false priests burned incense during the reign of Jeroboam.

     “Thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, a child, Josiah by name shall be born to the house of David; and on you he shall sacrifice the priest of the high places who burn incense on you, and men’s bones shall be burned on you.’”  1 Kings 13:2

     Several centuries later that prophecy was fulfilled in explicit detail.

     “Moreover the alter that was at Bethel and the high place…he (Josiah) broke down…and he sent and took the bones and burned them on the altar…according to the word of the LORD…” 2 Kings 23:15-16

     Both Jeroboam and Josiah were destined to fulfill God’s will and plan in totally different ways.

     There are vivid examples of individual calling and purpose in the Gospel records.

     “Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.  And His disciples asked Him, saying, ‘Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’  Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him…’”  John 9:1-3

          The wisest man in history summed up the concept of individualism and its purpose.

     “The LORD has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom.”  Proverbs 16:4

     Therefore, egalitarianism is a progressive agenda which has little in common with Biblical teachings.

    

The Ultimate Registry

     Several times this column has presented the Biblical truth that there are just two categories of all mankind, i.e. those in the minority who will spend eternity with God and those in the majority who will spend eternity apart from God.

     “…for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth – those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.”  John 5:28-29

     The term ‘those who have done good’ means those who have humbled themselves before God and accepted Christ’s vicarious death while the term ‘those who have done evil’ means those who have rejected God’s free gift of redemption.  The terms in no way refer to performance.

     Jesus confirmed that the minority of mankind would spend eternity with Him and the Father.

     “…wide is the gate…that leads to destruction... narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.”  Matthew 7:13-14

      Before the foundation of the world God chose those who would spend eternity with Him and their names were written in His ‘Book of Life’ which is the ultimate registry.  All whose names are not written in the Book of Life will spend eternity apart from God.

     God’s Book of Life is first introduced in the Old Testament.

     Moses loved the Israelites so much that he would have given up his place in God’s book for their sake.  After the Israelites sinned by making the golden calf Moses said:

     “Yet now, if You will forgive their sin – but if not, I pray, blot me out of Your book which You have written.”  Exodus 32:32

     The Prophet Daniel spoke of the Book of Life when referring to the days at the end of the great tribulation.

     “And at that time your people shall be delivered, every one who is found written in the book.”  Daniel 12:1b

     And David referred to the book which described his life before he was formed in his mother’s womb.

     “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”  Psalm 139:16

     God’s book is kept in heaven and all whose names are in the book are citizens of heaven.  The writer of Hebrews described the permanent home of those whose names are in the book.

     “But you have come to…the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem…to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven…”  Hebrews 12:22-23

     Paul also spoke of those whose names were written in God’s book and their heavenly home.

     “For our citizenship is in heaven…”  Philippians 3:20

     “And I urge you also…who labored with me in the gospel... whose names are in the Book of Life.”  Philippians 4:3

     The final book of the Bible speaks of the Book of Life and during the time of the great tribulation it differentiates between those who are in the Book and those who are not.

     “It was granted to him (the satanically energized beast) to make war with the saints…All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”  Revelation 13:7-8

     “…And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world…”  Revelation 17:8

     So once again the Bible differentiates the two ultimate categories of mankind.

     At the end of the millennium God will preside over the great white throne judgment.  Standing before God at that time will be those judged according to their works contained in the ‘books’.  The ‘works’ of those in God’s Book of Life were previously judged on the Cross.

     “And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.”  Revelation 20:15

     But remember, man’s free choice of eternal life or eternal death is in total agreement with the names of those found written God’s Book of Life.