The Christ in Prophecy Journal

Jesus the Lamb and Lion: The Victorious Messiah

I Am Lamplighter

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In the book of Revelation the apostle John combines the images of the lamb and the lion as no other writer does. He combines these images to express the full meaning of Jesus as the Messiah.

At the beginning of chapter four John is raptured up into Heaven in what I believe is a symbolic form of the Rapture of the Church before the Tribulation begins. Then, in chapters 4 and 5, John describes a glorious Heavenly scene of God’s marvelous throne where God is surrounded by a heavenly chorus and by 24 elders. In front of the throne there are guards — four strange creatures which are representative of all of God’s creation. At first, John is just dazzled by all of this and he’s left speechless. He just focuses on the never-ending worship that goes on before the throne of God. But, at chapter five, John’s attention in suddenly diverted. His attention is diverted to a little scroll in the right hand of God. John seems to immediately sense the significance of this scroll because it’s revealed in chapter ten that this scroll is the title deed of the earth. Oh, John wants someone to open that scroll — someone to claim it — somebody to claim the dominion over this earth that Satan stole in the Garden of Eden and claim it back for mankind.

A strong angel suddenly appears and the angel says, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” In other words, who is worthy to reclaim dominion over the earth, taking it back from Satan? John looks around and no one appears to be worthy. John begins to weep, and as he is weeping one of the 24 elders steps up and he says to him, “Stop weeping, behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and the root of David has overcome so as to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

When John turns to look at the lion he doesn’t see a lion, instead he sees instead a little lamb standing as if it were slain. He looks for the lion and he only sees a bloody lamb. The Lamb goes up and the Lamb takes the scroll the Lamb opens the scroll and all of the Heavenly hosts breaks forth in song, “Worthy are you the Lamb to take the scroll and to break its seals for you were slain and did purchase for God with your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” Wow, what a glorious scene that must have been!

In chapter 10, we are presented with a flash forward to the end of the Tribulation that shows Jesus as a mighty angel at the Second Coming. He comes back and He puts one foot in the ocean and one foot on the land to symbolize that He has come to reclaim dominion over all the world for you and for me. He has in His left hand that little scroll that is open. We’re told there in Revelation 10 that He will cry out with a loud voice as when a lion roars. That’s what will happen when the Lord Jesus Christ returns.

Well, strangely, throughout the rest of the book of Revelation John uses lamb imagery instead of lion imagery. He uses the lamb imagery over and over and over as he talks about the Messiah pouring out the wrath of God during the Tribulation. It is the Lamb who is pictured as pouring out the wrath of God. Look at Revelation 6, “The Lamb broke one of the seven seals launching the Tribulation and the kings of the earth and the great men and the commanders said to the mountains and the rocks, fall on us and hide us from the presence of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!” Isn’t that interesting how He begins to revert to the use of the Lamb as the one pouring out the wrath of God?

In Revelation 17 John says, “These will wage war against the Lamb and the Lamb will overcome them because He is Lord of Lord and King of Kings and those who are with him, they are the called and they are chosen and the faithful ones.” It is the Lamb who is waging the war in our behalf.

I believe that John emphasized the Messiah as our lamb because that symbol shows the great price that Jesus paid for the sins of mankind as He hung upon the cross as the suffering lamb. It also reminds us of the Lamb’s vindication as He returns to take earth’s dominion away from Satan. And, it emphasizes Jesus is going to receive the honor and the glory that He so richly deserves — the honor and glory that He was denied when He came the first time as the suffering lamb.

As we wait for the fulfillment of Revelation’s prophecies, let us do two things. Let us exalt the Lamb and let us yearn earnestly from the depths of our heart for the Lion. And, as we do so, let us cry out from the depths of our hearts, “Maranatha! Maranatha! Maranatha! Come quickly Lord Jesus! Amen.”

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Dr. David Reagan

Dr. David Reagan is the Founder and Evangelist Emeritus of Lamb & Lion Ministries. He is a life-long Bible student, teacher, and preacher and he led over 45 pilgrimages to Israel. Dr. Reagan was the host of the radio then television program Christ in Prophecy for nearly 40 years.

38 CommentsLeave a Comment

  • Nathan, I saw a link you gave about the “Kamikaze Post Trib”? I found it hard to read off blogger; I lost it and I am unable to find it again – help please. 🙂

    It was this frail little lamb that the Jewish religious leaders stubbornly refused to accept as the promised Messiah in His 1st coming. They desired a lion, a might man to defeat the Romans as portrayed in His 2nd Coming. They have no excuse because the Scriptures clearly reveal two parts to the coming of the Messiah.

    Postrib has this same attitude! The verses about the Rapture, the 1st part of His return, clearly do not fit the verses of the 2nd part of His return. It’s strange how history repeats itself!

  • Thank you Nathan 🙂
    I was definitely meant to read that article, and the regurgitated Post comments that I suspect are driven by Mac himself to promote his ‘books’? I have had most of these same accusations directed at me. Plus, when I have opposed the Post view WITH Scripture backing and historical evidence (albeit it passionately)I have been accused of attacking them, making threats, accusations AND making financial gain out of being Pretrib???????

    I learned a great deal very quickly, not realising how much I already knew, and although a very unpleasant experience, The Lord was giving me a sharp learning curve after prayer to better understand these things.

    I am so sorry I forgot to put my signature. When I can pluck up my courage, I will do as you ask but I confess to having an identity crisis as I have used a few variations of my rather long name on different posts, and I feel rather embarrassed about it :¬< I suppose I may as well use what I am generally known and disliked by.

    E.I.

  • Wait a minute E.I. I'm supposed to be acquiring financial gain from being pre-trib?! Why didn't somebody tell me this? 🙂

    That reminds me of a cat over on Facebook that claims Dr. Reagan's getting kick-backs from Bill Salus for endorsing (for lack of a better word) "Isralestine".

    Gotta love it.

    And, welcome, by the way.

  • That cat on Facebook is feelying! It's a tall tail. Thanks for pouncing on that one Thunder. That cat may end up in purrrrgatory for those remarks.

    (Don't hate me if anyone else takes this ball and runs with it)

  • anon, billy and thunder,
    i find it kinda funny these comments about making kick-backs on being pre-trib happen to be posted today. just yesterday i was at a library at the university of washington with a friend (i was telling nathan about this) and under the "christian" section was a book attacking dispensationalist (they were particularly attacking hal lindsey) and pre-tribbers calling it an "enterprise" for making money. i wont go into everything this guy said xept that it made me sick to my stomache.

  • the guy qouted lindsey, lehay and a few others but mushed different statements together making it sound like something other than what was actually said thus "proving" pre-millineum" wrong

  • Cheers for the welcome Son of Thunder 8~D. Billy and hartdawg.

    This ‘money in the kitty’ scamper must be the latest ‘slander wagon’ the Posties have jumped onto making them skittish! This is so typical, as they appear incapable of any original thoughts as they furequently cough up the same old ‘fur balls’ as one another. It isn’t such a catastrophe though, while it may cause outsiders to paws for thought, hopefully they will see it for the furious caterwauling it really is. Other Posties may even be rescued by a whisker from being meowed down by further deceptive, noxious ‘revelations’. (Give the devil enough rope and he will always hang himself)

    I fear Hal Lindsey is a major victim in their self righteous witch hunts, Perhaps that cat you are on about is a ‘familiar’ – they do that ya know! The thing is their objections are so incredibly PETTY, and I have tried to spell it out for them just recently on Bob Mitchells Post blog. It seems acceptable to Posties to be slanderous gossiping busy bodies by accusing the brethren (isn’t that Satan’s job?) yet when their misrepresentations are challenged, they resort to name calling with such fury.
    For me it has been about “how DARE I question their view”. My sanity has even been brought into it and seriously mocked after my confidence was betrayed. In friendlier times I had admitted that I have had Clinical Depression all my life. According to one Postie, C.D. does not exist – so I am obviously lying, but for what reason remains a mystery? (She said, muttering positively ‘I am not depressed; I am not d —‘.)
    Better stop as I am in danger of doing a Mitchell – mew!
    E.I.

  • My dear Abigail
    Thank you once again for giving opportunity to warn unsuspecting bloggers that Kim Clement’s prophecies don’t come true and is therefore marked by God as a ‘false prophet’.

    Jer. 14:15: “Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, whom I did not send, and who say, 'Sword and famine shall not be in this land'–' By sword and famine those prophets shall be consumed!”

    http://www.letusreason.org/Popteac14.htm

    "What is a true prophet? We decide by asking, “what does the Scripture say?” Giving an argument from human reasoning is not sufficient to arrive at the truth. We can only determine the truth from what God has spoken to us. Moses said “And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?–when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him” (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). If a prophecy from a prophet failed to come to pass, the people were told to rid themselves of the prophet by no longer paying attention to him".

    Abigail – a question. Is "sword and famine" coming upon the land at this moment?
    E.I.

  • I deleted the Clement post, as it is becoming clear it's a copy-n-paste ad.

    Concerning those who hold to the Post-Trib view, they're still brothers/sisters in Christ. We often fight with our siblings, true, but I'd never want it to be an "us vs. them" thing.

  • nathan
    i totally agree with that (both removing the comment and "us against them") i never noticed any real bickering on this blog.(not even from mitchell) xept last year on the orgins of ant-christ. other than that its been mostly friendly disagreement.

  • Expected…another guy at my work and I occasionally get into "pun fests". You went with it and gave me a good LOL!

    (Nathan, don't worry – this was a one and only time event for me on here (puns) but I did get a laugh this one time. Thanks for putting up with our occasional sidebar antics. We do try to keep them to a minimum and under control.)

  • Hello Nathan
    If my posts are argumentative or ‘us vs them’; I am really thankful to know that you will delete them. It is likely a serious fault, but I don’t seem to be able to say ‘it’ other than how I see it.

    My intention is NEVER out of malice, rather a sense of urgency to bring things clearly into the open where they can be examined and reasoned with Scripture.
    I have to leave the honest judgment of the Brethren to confirm or deny that my life has been as a ‘watchman’. Something I didn’t seek to be and have all too often been ‘stoned’ for speaking out against error usually when others dare not. Of course that could mean that I am a fool by rushing in where angels fear to tread!

    My desire is to so alert those caught in HARMFUL error (none of us have everything spot on) and so help rescue them back into right fellowship with their Lord. I honestly care about Posties; I know that they love Jesus and desire to do his will, and will one day be grieved that they acted upon a deception. In so doing, rob Jesus of His deserved Crowns from those with the ‘blessed hope’ of His imminent return.

    Even so, whatever timing stance taken by the saints, it is a joy to know that when the call comes, as true believers they, like us, will ascend into the clouds to forever be with Jesus.
    Thanks
    E.I.

  • Hi Billy
    Oer have I been led ASTRAY? Puns are my forte I fear; my cousin and I have laughed ourselves senseless at times. It comes from living near Shakespeare’s former gaff. No! never met him, I’m not quite that old.
    Sorry Nathan, I shall try to resist in future.
    E.I. x

  • Expected,

    I honestly was so caught up in your funny puns that I think I'm missing something here.

    Were you accusing us regulars here (the "posties" – is that us?) of "slanderous gossiping busy bodies by accusing the brethren…yet when their misrepresentations are challenged, they resort to name calling with such fury"

    If you are referring to us (I admit I'm not following this well so forgive me if I'm confused) then I have to respond.

    I've been posting here since the beginning and I have not seen any of us regulars gossip or name call. Perhaps you have some examples? Now, our passions are strong and we are capable of spirited debate but we aren't people of bad character.

    If one of us were to post something out of our character I'm sure Nathan would step in and comment or delete it or we ourselves would make it right. Overall, I think we are a very nice group here and I'm proud to be a part of it – and feel BLESSED to be a part of it.

    p.s. I don't think Nathan minds a little fun now ant then on here (like our puns) as long as we are normally very focused on the purpose of this site. I think he has even joined in on a few rare occasions.

  • Hello Billy
    I am glad I caught this before I went to bed so I can ‘sort’ it.

    Posties is my slang for Post-tribulationists. So no I was not referring to you regulars. IF you are Posties, it isn’t obvious to me otherwise I would not be taking part here, I need more aggression as much as I need another hole in my head; as my bitter experience has been exactly as I have described.

    I COULD give you links to check for yourself, but there is no way I am going to advertise for them. If you are a Postie, then you are a rare treat to be able to converse with and not have to put up with putdowns every sentence.

    I agree Billy, I also think you are all a very nice group which is what gave me renewed hope and a chance to share, something I am not able to do where I live in England.
    God bless Billy
    E.I. x

  • Just for the record, this brother on Facebook is a pre-tribber, he is just very vehement against "Isralestine" for some reason and the whole Psalm 83 theory (Nathan probably knows to whom I'm referring).

    So, where did you say you're from, Expected? England?

  • Expected…Now I know what you meant by posties (not us). Glad to hear that!!!

    Thanks for clarification.

    God Bless!

  • Billy – big hug!

    Hiya Son of Thunder
    Yes I am from Olde England and right now I am absolutely cheesed off with yet more snow! For more than two weeks, I have been ‘confined to barracks’ and been outside my gate just once in that time under close escort of course 🙁 A thaw had begun and grandchildren just got back to school when we woke up to more snow this morning. Huhhhhhhhhhh

    It isn’t that deep, but the side roads and pavements are really dangerous. Because it is country wide, the salt and grit is being rationed for the main roads and motorways. People are starting to clear paths and roads themselves now. In the past, when I did the pavement outside our house to help passers by, I was told I could be sued if someone slipped on what I had cleared – ‘elf n safety gone nuts! A lawyer has now said that if anyone did try to sue, they would have a hard job getting it through a court. Even so, the trouble it would cause no one wants. However householders are getting together, so there is a degree of safety in large numbers. The Brits are revolting! He he!

    Meanwhile, I read that Israel is basking in glorious summer temperatures – good for them!

    Praise The Lord anyway and MARANATHA!

  • E.I.,

    Welcome to the group! Just so you know, I'm a pre-tribber, as I believe most of the regulars that hang out here, are as well. 🙂

    "Global warming" seems to be going rampant. As here in Florida, where I live, we actually saw a dusting of snow. Yes that was a joke. About global warming, not about the dusting of snow here in Florida. 🙂

  • Thunder,

    I hate to see our "friend" on Facebook leave the group there, as he states he is. He contributed much to the discussions, with the exception of his last few posts, that is.

    Buggg 🙂

  • England is actually one of the few countries across the "pond" I would like to visit. Being American, I can almost speak the language 🙂

    I saw on the Weather Channel that the British Isles were coming under attack by "climate change" and I knew that was strange. Winters aren't usually that harsh over there, are they?

    Where I live in the States (the Louisville, Kentucky area) usually gets cold, but we've had the longest cold-snap (less than 32F) since the 1970's: almost 2 weeks.

  • Thank you Junbuggg; as I have been reading you all for a long time, I felt sure you regulars are Pretrib. I don’t mind conversing with Posties as long as they are not aggressive. Sadly they are well known for it according to the many writers I have read. Strange that midtribs don’t seem to get so shirty?

    Climate alteration is normal as are changing weather patterns. Have you heard Lord Monckton speak?
    The Romans grew vines in our far north and sent the wine back to Rome. The vines still exist but minus the grapes! The weather now, is as I remember as a child, when I was little, my granddad had to try and clear the snow by climbing out of a window. My Nan could only see the cap on his head! It has gradually become milder and in 1999 (I think) I thought I was going to die with the fierce heat. Now it is swinging back again. What I do suspect is happening may be judgment on the EU countries for its treatment of Israel!
    E.I.

  • Hiya Son of Thunder
    We have many, many Americans visiting, I think it’s a bit of a culture shock for them as our homes are tiny compared to the U.S. (apparently) There is a major US Air-force base not too far from where I live so we are quite used to y’all. The language is nearly the same with the odd hiccough with the innocent misuse of the odd naughty word 😉

    Have I put the cat among the pigeons over climate change? Didn’t mean to, it’s just that I believe all things are held together by Jesus (Colossians I think). To me it is sinister scare tactics to help bring in the New World Order and get more money out of us all! Have you not heard of the ‘email scandal’ from a U.K. University?
    Anyway, that’s what I think – I may be wrong, we shall have to wait and see.
    E.I.

  • Lord Monckton? No. But I did know about the grapevines (History Channel).

    I suspect the same about what goes on in the States when it comes to Israel. I don't know if you've ever heard the theory about when the US does something to hurt Israel, within 24 hours something happens. Right now we're supplying Israel's enemies with arms and we're in a cold-snap? The winter food-sources are suffering? Hmmm.

    EI, you ought to join us over on the Christ in Prophecy Facebook page. Big fun.

  • EI, I don't know of anyone on here that buys into global warming or climate change or whatever we're calling it today. We'd all agree that it's part of the globalization deal.

    And I think we've run into a language issue. What is "shirty"? 🙂

  • THAT Lord Monckton. I do remember seeing that clip you posted now. We Yanks have terribly short memories, you know.

    He raised quite a stink for a second. Of course, over here anyway, he got buried by the latest news about Paris Hilton or Michael Jackson or some other important news story about Lindsey Lohan shopping for a cell phone.

    Big, important stories over here always involve some Hollyweird or athletic type. That's why Americans have zero idea what's going on in the world.

  • E.I.

    Interesting…I knew you guys talk with an accent but it never occured to me you type with one too. 🙂

    It's very cool!

  • I.E.,

    I second "Thunders" motion…..You should join us over in the facebook group in addition to this group here. There is a link to it here on Lamb & Lion. Hope to see you there soon. If you join us, be sure to drop your "handle" here,I.E,over there. So we will know it's you.

    Oh and by the way…..Billy & Hartdawg….are either of you part of the Facebook group? Or is it just Thunder, Nathan, and myself??

    Buggg 🙂

  • buggg;
    i tried to open a facebook account but i dont have a computer (i acces this blog on my phone) i tried it at the library and after selecting a password it kept saying invalid password or some other stupid thing. i tried for nearly 3 hours then cussed the computer out for bout 5 minutes and left.

  • Wow Hartdawg, Sorry to hear that you couldn't get on Facebook. Have you talked with the Library staff? Maybe they can tell you if you can create a Facebook account on their computers. If you can, you can then do all your posts through your phone, if you wanted to.

  • Well Hardawg, I wish you sucess, as I look forward to seeing you become part of that group, in addition to this one.

    Buggg 🙂

  • Please excuse me for seeming to ignore everyone, I had forgotten about this thread.

    Sorry about my slang, I forget I am speaking to foreigners! 😉
    To be ‘shirty’ means ‘quick to take offence’. Imagine a man rolling up his shirt sleeves and pulling his shirt loose in order to start a scrap.

    Thank you so much for the kind invitation to meet with you on Facebook; I consider that a privilege, but I fear my ‘puter skills leave a lot to be desired and it terrifies the living daylights out of me.

    The way things are heading up, I feel sure The Lord will not delay His return for much longer. I earnestly pray that He will grab hold of those He is waiting for to accept Jesus, and send angels to grab hold of them as they did with Lot, and pull them into The Kingdom. The ‘falling away’ is really bothering me now, I don’t like it one bit. However it does mean we shall soon meet together and be forever with The Lord, then we can all have a great time getting to know each other. MARANATHA! Hugs.
    E.I.

  • E.I.

    Hope you do get over there to Facebook sometime. We would love to have you. And, you never know,at the "feast", we might just be sitting at the same table! 🙂

    Buggg

  • Shirty. I get it now (we foreigners can be slow sometimes). For a second I thought you'd misspelled something less pleasant.

    But, any time you want to venture over, we'd love to see you on Facebook. It's not as difficult as you might think.

    But when and if you jump over, just say "Hey".

  • Son of Thunder said
    "–For a second I thought you'd misspelled something less pleasant".

    Ooo yes! I see what you mean! Hehehe!
    E.I.

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