Many apologists of a wimpy gospel see Jesus Christ exclusively as the sacrificial lamb, but not as the (judgemental) lion, let alone as the King of kings. A fundamentally wrong assessment.
Inhalt / Content
Softener Gospel
Jesus Christ is only the Lamb of God. The association with a lion is an inadmissible interpretation of the Bible. After all, Jesus Christ is not a warrior. Such theses can be read or heard again and again. The passage in Revelation 5:5 is not associated with Jesus Christ.
“And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.“
Here, lions definitely do not mean Jesus, as he is ultimately always the lamb.
Is Jesus Christ really exclusively the Lamb of God? To do this, we must first question whether Jesus was always the Lamb of God and what this Lamb actually symbolizes.
The sacrificial lamb because of sin
The lamb means a sacrificial animal. An innocent, flawless lamb no more than 1 year old served as a sacrificial animal for the people of Israel for the forgiveness of sin. The blood of the Lamb was carried into the sanctuary of the Tabernacle (Info) to cleanse the sanctuary once a year (Yom Kipphur, Day of Atonement). It symbolized judgment and the decision of whether the sin was actually removed (forgiven) or whether the sin remained attached to the sinner.
In fact, the Lamb’s Blood literally could not forgive sins because it represented a symbol of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. As today, people’s faith led to salvation. Back then with a view to a future, announced Jesus Christ (Messiah) and today with a view to the past. Jesus Christ fulfilled the symbolized Lamb himself and thereby also abolished the laws according to statutes (ceremonial laws, Mosaic laws). (Info).
In the beginning there was no need for a lamb
When God created our world (Genesis 1), there was no sin on the newly created earth. Everything was “very good”. There was no reason at all for Jesus Christ to be the (sacrificial) Lamb of God. Only with the first fall through the seduction of the serpent did man fall and depend on salvation through grace. From this point on, Jesus Christ took on the role of the Lamb of God. The fact that God clothed Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21) is a strong indication that the first lamb was sacrificed at this point.
At the latest in the report about Cain and Abel it is clear that the sin sacrifice using a lamb was already being practiced. Abel sacrificed the firstfruits of his sheep (Genesis 4:4). The symbol for the announced Jesus Christ.
This also makes it clear that the principle of redemption existed long before the people of Israel, who received the commandments and the ceremonial laws after the exodus from Egypt. After more than 400 years of residence, they simply didn’t know anymore. The Lord first had to reveal himself to Moses (“Burning Bush”) because he didn’t know who the true God was. The Lord introduced himself as “I am that I am” (Exodus 3:14).
Revelation 5:5 describes someone who has “overcome” and is a descendant of David, from the tribe of Judah, the Lion. Who should this be but Jesus Christ? The lion is already associated with the tribe of Judah in Genesis 49:9:
“Judah is a lion’s whelp“
Jesus Christ is also a judge
When you look beyond the “exclusive Lamb” you also see that Jesus Christ is also a judge. The Father has handed over all judgment to His Son (John 5:22). Jesus Christ will judge. Not exactly the characteristics of a lamb.
Jesus Christ is also King
The king is also associated with a symbolized lion, Proverbs 20:2:
“The fear of a king is as the roaring of a lion:”
And Revelation 19:16 clearly states that Jesus Christ is the King of kings:
“And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.“
These aren’t exactly characteristics of a lamb either.
More non-lamb properties
When Jesus Christ returns, His appearance will not exactly look like the appearance of a lamb. Revelation 19:11-14:
“And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.“
A lamb riding a white horse, if you stay in symbolic language. Things don’t look straight after that.
Jesus becomes a lion
Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God, but not exclusively. When Jesus ends His mediatorial service in the Holy of Holies, then the decisions have been made for each person. There is no more forgiveness. The verdict has been pronounced and from then on the judgment takes place in the sense of the execution of the verdict. The moment is depicted in Revelation 10:3:
“And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices..”
The thunders are a clear indication of God raising His voice, as in Revelation 4:5; Exodus 19:16 and Job 37:2 is the case.
Not on “always-dead”
Anyone who claims that Jesus Christ is exclusively the (sacrificial) Lamb of God is operating on the field of the “rainbow gospel”, looking through rose-colored glasses in which only love plays a role and completely disregarding God’s justice is left. However, God’s righteousness is an eternal righteousness (Psalm 119:142). Jesus Christ is not exclusively the eternal sacrifice who constantly hangs dead on the cross, as the Roman Catholic Church, for example, prefers to view it.
Jesus Christ will also be the roaring Lion who will bring forth the two-edged sword from His mouth to judge this world. All non-Lamb characteristics.
And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
Revelation 19:21
Bible verses from King James Version (1611)
