Why is the Lamb described as "standing, as though slain" in Revelation 5:6? The Text Revelation 5:6—“Then I saw a Lamb standing in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders. He appeared to have been slain and had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” Immediate Literary Context John has just wept because no one in heaven or on earth could open the sealed scroll (5:1–4). The elder comforts him: the Lion of Judah has triumphed (5:5). Turning, John sees not a lion but a Lamb—alive, upright, central—holding the very authority required to break the seals and unveil God’s redemptive plan. The Lamb As Theotic Title Through Scripture • Genesis 22:8: “God Himself will provide the lamb.” • Exodus 12:5–13: the Passover lamb’s blood spares Israel. • Isaiah 53:7: the Servant led “like a lamb to the slaughter.” • John 1:29: “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” • 1 Peter 1:18-19: redeemed “with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish.” The title unites sacrificial substitution with royal victory, setting up the paradox John records. “Standing”: The Posture Of Resurrection And Royal Authority In biblical vision literature, the one who stands in God’s presence is alive, vindicated, and empowered (Daniel 12:13; Acts 7:56). The perfect active participle hestēkos (“having stood and still standing”) signifies permanence; the Lamb’s stance proclaims that death could not hold Him (Acts 2:24). Priests in the earthly temple stood to minister (Hebrews 10:11); the resurrected Christ now stands as both Priest and King (Hebrews 7:25; 8:1). “As Though Slain”: The Permanent Marks Of Atonement The Greek perfect passive participle esphagmenon emphasizes a completed past act with ongoing results. The Lamb bears visible wounds (cf. John 20:27), eternally testifying that redemption is accomplished “once for all” (Hebrews 10:10). His scars are not signs of weakness but credentials validating His right to open the scroll (Revelation 5:9). The Paradox Unpacked: Alive Yet Slain The vision fuses crucifixion and resurrection into one image. Christ’s death secures forgiveness; His life secures victory (Romans 4:25). By juxtaposing “standing” with “slain,” John compresses the gospel: the same act that paid the penalty also broke the power of death. Seven Horns And Seven Eyes: Emblem Of Fullness Seven horns symbolize perfect power (cf. Deuteronomy 33:17); seven eyes interpret Zechariah 4:10’s “eyes of the LORD” that range through the earth. The Spirit’s omnipresence manifests the Lamb’s ongoing work (John 16:7-15). Thus the Lamb is simultaneously the sacrifice, the sovereign, and the sender of the Spirit. Old Testament ROOTS OF THE PARADOX • The tamid (“continual”) burnt offering: a lamb offered morning and evening (Exodus 29:38-42) prefigures perpetual efficacy. • Levitical blood rites required both death (atonement) and presentation (sprinkling before Yahweh, Leviticus 4:6-7). • The Aaronic blessing promised Yahweh’s face would “shine” upon the people (Numbers 6:25); only a living mediator could carry blood inside the veil (Leviticus 16:15). The Lamb fulfills each type. Fulfillment Of Messianic Expectations Jewish apocalyptic works (e.g., 1 Enoch 90) anticipated a conquering lamb. Revelation reveals how: conquest occurs through self-sacrifice, not brute force, aligning perfectly with Isaiah’s servant-warrior motif (Isaiah 52:13–53:12). The slain-yet-standing Lamb embodies both roles. Resurrection Evidence Corroborating The Vision The early creed recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 circulated within five years of the crucifixion, declaring Christ “died…was buried…was raised…and appeared.” Minimal-facts analysis (empty tomb, post-mortem appearances, transformation of skeptics) finds no naturalistic hypothesis adequate. The Lamb’s “standing” coheres with historical data rather than myth. Eschatological Certainty The Lamb standing at the scroll’s opening guarantees that history moves under His authority toward consummation (Revelation 6-22). Because the Lamb lives, believers possess a “living hope” (1 Peter 1:3) and need not fear seal, trumpet, or bowl judgments. Pastoral And Practical Application • Worship: Heaven’s elders fall before the Lamb (Revelation 5:8-14); the church imitates their doxology, focusing on the cross and resurrection. • Perseverance: Believers “overcome by the blood of the Lamb” (Revelation 12:11); His scars assure suffering saints that victory lies beyond persecution. • Mission: The Lamb’s global purchase mandates global proclamation (Matthew 28:18-20; Revelation 7:9). Conclusion The Lamb is described as “standing, as though slain” to present, in a single image, the full gospel: the crucified Jesus is alive forevermore, bearing eternal marks of atonement, exercising unchallenged sovereignty, empowering His people, and assuring the ultimate fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. |
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