The Revelation of Jesus Christ: Lamb, King, and Victor

What is Revealed in Revelation?

When something is revealed, it is often exciting. We can reveal a secret: we're going to have a baby, we're getting married, or we got an exciting new job offer. All of these fill us with anticipation. A revelation is an unveiling of something we didn't know or expect. Because Revelation unveils the true glory, authority, victory, and future reign of Jesus Christ, Christians can face the future with hope rather than fear.

As the Gospels told us of Jesus' coming to the world in the flesh for the first time, Revelation reveals His coming for the second time. How blessed John was to be present for the first coming, and see visions of the second. And how blessed are we, as servants of God, to have these future events laid out for us so we can have eternal hope. Christ's sudden return does not have to find us unprepared.

Why Was Revelation Given?

The book of Revelation explains in Revelation 1:1,

"The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John,"

This unveiling of Jesus and the things He would do in the future was given to Jesus by His Father for a purpose. Revelation was written to churches facing pressure and persecution. It told them, and us, that what looks like chaos from earth is still under the authority of God and the Lamb.

Their sufferings were not going unnoticed by God. They were not forgotten. God wanted to provide a prophetic window into the future to show us that ultimately, Jesus rules and reigns forever with His people.

The Revelation of Jesus Christ as God

Revelation does not merely reveal future events. Above all, it reveals Jesus Christ. As the Pulpit Commentary explains,

"Christ is both the Mystery and the Revealer of it. He comes to reveal Himself, and in Himself the Father, whose Image he is."

Jesus says these things "must shortly take place." The word must in Greek expresses the necessity of something. These things will happen according to the purpose and plan of God. The time has come to show the world the glory of Jesus Christ and all His power and splendor. Satan's defeat is certain, his authority is limited, and his final judgment is coming. For those uncertain as to the deity of Christ and God, He is described in Revelation as One with the Father.

The same descriptions that we saw in the Old Testament to describe God are now used in Revelation 1:14-15 to describe Jesus. His hair as white as wool is also found in Daniel 7:9. His eyes ablaze with fire represent His ability to see everything and bring judgment. This imagery also appears in Daniel 10:6. He sees into our hearts where no one else can.

His feet were like refined bronze, echoing the overwhelming strength and brilliance of the heavenly figure Daniel saw. His voice is heard like rushing water, which displays His overwhelming majesty. Ezekiel 43:2 describes the God of Israel in much the same way. These descriptions, the same ones used of Yahweh in the Old Testament, show us that Jesus is God.

Jesus in Revelation: The Lamb Is the King

The beauty of Revelation is that the Lamb is the King. The One who conquered does so because He was slain. This time the King has come, not to sacrifice His life for us but to judge us.

We are told a sword comes from His mouth (Revelation 1:16). This sword is the Word of the Lord. His face shines like the sun with glory. He is both the triumphant Lamb slain and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah. He is shown riding a white horse and wearing a robe dipped in blood and bearing the title, "King of Kings and Lord of Lords." There is truly none like Him.

Worthy Is the Lamb

Whose blood is on the robe He wears? This imagery has been interpreted in more than one way. One view is that His own blood covers it from His sacrifice on the cross. This sacrifice gives Him the authority and power to judge the world. He is the worthy Lamb. The blood may also represent the blood of the enemies of God who will be slain. His robe is covered in blood before the final battle with evil takes place because it is already won by His cross and resurrection.

Revelation 5 tells us that Jesus is worthy. His sacrifice and the blood that covers his robe have made Him worthy to receive power, wisdom, riches, strength, honor, glory, and blessing. Because of who Jesus is and what He has done, Revelation repeatedly shows heaven responding with worship.

Normally you and I want God to bless us, but here, we are blessing Jesus. Not because He is lacking anything but our blessings acknowledge that He alone is worthy of praise and thanks because of His great goodness. He is worthy because He is our Creator, Redeemer, and victorious King.

In Revelation 5:13 everything created blesses God: those in the Heavens, on the Earth, under the earth, and in the sea. We can bless God in the here and now, but do we? One day every knee will bow before Him and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, even the most hardened atheist.

Revelation Is Not a Book to Fear

In Revelation 1:3 John says it is we, the readers, who are blessed by this prophecy. But only if we read it, hear it, and keep the words in it. When we hear these words we should pay attention to them. They aren't words that go in one ear and out the other as we say. These are words to be heeded. The same truth is found in Psalm 19:11 where we are reminded that there is great reward in keeping the word. Revelation uniquely opens with a blessing for those who read, hear, and keep its words. It is not a book to be feared. How are we approaching Revelation: with fear and dread, or expecting a blessing?

The King of Glory Is Coming

There is no need to fear death because Revelation tells us that Jesus has conquered death. The very thing that Adam and Eve's rebellion caused is done away with. We have the joy of living eternally with our Father. We have no need to fear that Jesus will ever leave us because He is the Alpha and the Omega, or as Isaiah describes Him, the First and the Last (Isaiah 44:6), and the Beginning and the End.

If we endure persecution, we know He did as well. He is our triumph. When troubles come, we know who is in control. He is the King of Glory who can be trusted to be faithful.

The psalmist knew who this King of Glory was so many years ago,

"Who is this King of glory?

The Lord strong and mighty,

The Lord mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O you gates!

Lift up, you everlasting doors!

And the King of glory shall come in.

Who is this King of glory?

The Lord of hosts,

He is the King of glory." Selah

--Psalm 24:8-10

We will bow before this King of Glory, but let us bow now and not wait.

Through the ages we have seen elements of the world Revelation describes. John's readers experienced tremendous persecution, and Christians have continued to suffer for their faith throughout history. We have witnessed terrible events in the world and rulers who have rejected God and exalted themselves in His place. Yet Revelation reminds us that evil will not reign forever. Its ultimate fulfillment is still to come. Therefore, we must always be prepared. Even in John's day, he wrote, "for the time is at hand."

At the end of the Revelation of Jesus, He announces that He is coming quickly and John's reply should be ours as well, "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (Revelation 22:20).

Enjoy "King of Glory" featuring CeCe Winans.