Follow the Lamb

A Guide to Reading, Understanding, and Applying the Book of Revelation

Rob Dalrymple

• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Year: 2018
• ISBN:
  9781683592051
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Biblical Studies

The book of Revelation is one of the most rewarding books to study in all Scripture. But the problem for many today is that they have no idea what the book means or how to determine what it means. Follow the Lamb goes a long way in helping the student of Revelation grasp its richness and heed its exhortations.

Dalyrmple's guide provides key principles in reading Revelation responsibly. The first key is that the book is about Jesus—his supremacy and sovereignty. The second key is that the language and images used in the book of Revelation derive from the Old Testament. Though many readers get caught up in the mire of John's imagery and efforts to discern what the symbols mean, this principle simplifies the search for meaning.

Each chapter in Follow the Lamb concludes with an important For Further Study section, making it an ideal resource for individual or group study. These questions and exercises and reflection guides make personal application of Revelation meaningful and rich.

The book of Revelation contains an important message for the people of God, both then and now—namely, that the people of God must emulate Jesus and faithfully proclaim the kingdom of God, even to the point of death. This means they are called to "follow the Lamb wherever He goes" (Rev. 14: 4).

PART 1

Primary Keys for Reading, Understanding, and Applying the Book of Revelation

Introduction to Part 1

The message of the book of Revelation may be summed up as follows: Since Jesus is the “faithful witness” (1:5), and the Lion/Lamb who has overcome (5:5–6), then the people of God are to follow the Lamb. Simply put, the book of Revelation is an exhortation for the people of God to follow the Lamb. It is a manifesto of sorts. In this manifesto, God’s people are called to carry forth the testimony of Christ to the nations.

This mission will not be without its challenges. There will be challenges from without—namely, opposition that takes the form of persecution. And there will be challenges from within—most notably, false teachers who will endeavor to lead the people of God astray. In the end, those who faithfully follow the Lamb and overcome all that opposes them will dine with Him in His eternal kingdom.

This part of our study will set forth two primary keys to effectively reading, understanding, and applying the book of Revelation.

CHAPTER 1

Christ in the Book of Revelation

Christ is the center of the Apocalypse.1 Or perhaps it may be better stated: Christ is the Apocalypse. Author Paul Minear notes, “When one asks where, in the first eight verses, the focus of John’s interest fell, he can be fairly sure of the answer: on the work of Jesus Christ.… Whether we think of this document as a book, as a letter, or as a series of visions, Jesus Christ remains the central figure.”2

The book of Revelation is about Jesus Christ. Period. End of discussion. With all the debates and confusion related to the interpretation of the book, there should be none on this point.3 To understand the book of Revelation well it is essential to begin with John’s description of Jesus.4

There is no question that for John, Jesus is the resurrected and glorified Lord of all creation. Thus, our first and primary key to learning how to interpret the book of Revelation properly is that the book is about Jesus.

If our only objective were to read the book of Revelation to discern how Jesus is depicted, that would be a profitable exercise. Because Revelation presents us with the climax of the biblical story, and because this story focuses on Jesus, we neglect the study of this great work to our own peril. There is, however, further significance to John’s portrayal of Jesus in the book of Revelation that cannot be overlooked, namely, that for John, Jesus is the model for the people of God to follow.

We will begin our focus in this chapter by investigating the significance of Jesus in the book of Revelation. Here we will examine the rich portrait of Jesus in its opening chapter. The For Further Study questions at the end of the chapter will allow the reader to discern John’s depiction of Jesus in the remainder of Revelation.

THE BOOK IS ABOUT JESUS

To claim that the book of Revelation is about Jesus is easy to support. After all, the opening words of the book are “The Revelation of Jesus Christ” (1:1).

Although this phrase may appear straightforward and simplistic, its meaning is ambiguous—both in English and in the original Greek. This phrase can be understood to mean “The Revelation that is about Jesus Christ” or “The Revelation that is from Jesus Christ.”5

When it comes to an ambiguity like this, the interpreter’s best option is to read the text and see which meaning makes the most sense. Is it about Jesus or from Jesus? The difficulty is that after reading the book of Revelation one is still unsure which option best fits. This leads some to conclude, probably correctly, that John was intentionally unclear and that he wanted his readers to understand the book in light of both options: it is a revelation about Jesus Christ that is also from Jesus Christ.6

The great descriptions of Jesus in the book of Revelation highlight three principles: (1) Jesus is God made manifest and is worthy of the worship due to God alone. (2) Jesus is the fulfiller of God’s promises in that He has accomplished the mission of God’s people. (3) In fulfilling this mission, Jesus is the model for the people of God to emulate.

The last one is central for John. After all, John is not simply writing a theological treatise on the person and work of Christ. He is writing to the people of God. And He is not just telling us some great facts about Jesus. He is exhorting the churches to overcome as Jesus did.7 Consequently, as we survey the book of Revelation to discern how Jesus is portrayed, it is important to note that the book of Revelation not only describes Christ in terms of His person—He is God made manifest and He is the resurrected and glorified Lord of all creation who is worthy of worship—but also as the One who has gone before us.

JESUS: THE FULFILLER OF THE MISSION OF GOD’S PEOPLE

In the book of Revelation Jesus is portrayed in terms of His work as the fulfiller of the mission of the people of God.8 We will expand on this theme in chapter 2. For now, it is important to note that throughout the Scriptures the people of God are called to fulfill a mission. That mission is to make God known to the nations: “I will appoint you as a covenant to the people, as a light to the nations” (Isa. 42:6).9 The book of Revelation highlights the fact that Jesus, as God among us, has faithfully accomplished this mission.10

Now this does not mean that the mission has been completed and that there is no mission left for the people of God. On the contrary, Jesus has faithfully accomplished the mission and now He summons the people of God to carry it out to the nations.

JESUS: THE FAITHFUL WITNESS, THE FIRSTBORN FROM THE DEAD, THE RULER OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH

In light of the fact that Jesus is depicted throughout Revelation as the resurrected, glorified, Lord of all creation, the opening description of Jesus comes somewhat as a surprise: “Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth” (1:5).

There is something rather astonishing here, almost anti-climactic—if one can have a climax this early in the book. Throughout the book of Revelation, we see glorious descriptions and titles applied to Jesus: He is the One who is routinely worshiped by all who are before the throne of God (5:8). He is the One who is “the first and the last” (1:17; 2:8; 22:13). Yet despite all this, the first title ascribed to Jesus in the book of Revelation is the rather mundane “the faithful witness.” This appears to be surprising. But once we begin to grasp John’s larger purpose in the book of Revelation, we begin to realize that this is quite an appropriate opening description.

If John were merely writing a treatise on the person of Christ (which would be a worthy goal), we might have expected him to introduce Jesus by some other, loftier title. But if, as we will see throughout this book, John is also writing to exhort his churches to fulfill the mission of God’s people to persevere in faithful witnessing as Christ has done, then it makes perfect sense why the first description of Jesus in the book of Revelation is that He is “the faithful witness.”

In addition to this, Jesus is called “the firstborn of the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.” Adding these two titles are meant to affirm that though Jesus’ faithful witnessing led to His death, He is the One who defeated death and now reigns. In fact, one may well contend that the means by which Jesus became king was through His faithful witnessing, His suffering and death, and His resurrection.

Why, then, did John begin with these three titles? Because that is what we are to be also. Now, go follow the Lamb!11

We will continue to explore the significance of these titles over the next several chapters. The rest of this chapter will examine the opening description of Jesus in 1:12–20.

THE VISION OF JESUS CHRIST IN REVELATION 1:12–20

The primary vision of Jesus in Revelation 1 declares:

In the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand, He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” (1:13–18)

In this opening vision, John sees the resurrected Christ. Jesus appears in all His unveiled glory! John begins by telling us that Jesus is wearing a “robe reaching to [His] feet” (1:13). Though this robe may in one sense portray Christ as both priest and king, the fact that John sees Jesus walking among the lampstands—which are themselves connected with the temple12—suggests that Jesus is more likely depicted here as the great priest.

Much of the description of Jesus in this vision is in language that is often applied to God. For example, John says that “His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow” (1:14). This description echoes Daniel’s vision of God Himself: “And the Ancient of Days took His seat; His vesture was like white snow and the hair of His head like pure wool” (Dan. 7:9).

John also observes that Jesus’ “eyes were like a flame of fire” (1:14). This corresponds to the numerous occasions in which God, as holy and judge, is associated with flaming fire.13

The description of Jesus’ voice “like the sound of many waters” (1:15) parallels the portrayal of God in Ezekiel 43:2: “And behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.”

In addition, Jesus is also described in language corresponding to other essential attributes of God. The description of Jesus’ feet “like burnished bronze” (1:15) suggests one who is morally pure. That Jesus has a “sharp two-edged sword” (1:16) coming from His mouth may well depict Him as the end-time judge. This is supported by the description of Jesus in Revelation 19. There John describes the returning Christ and indicates that

from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations.… And the rest were killed with the sword which came from the mouth of Him who sat on the horse (19:15, 21).

It is important to note that we must not think of Jesus as the end-time judge solely in relationship to His judgment on the nations. After all, that Jesus has a sword coming from His mouth serves as a strong warning to the church in Pergamum: “Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth” (2:16).

The final feature of John’s description of Jesus in this opening vision is that “His face was like the sun” (1:16). Though there is a parallel with Matthew’s description of Jesus at the transfiguration,14 the language here accords more closely with the depiction of the victorious warrior in Judges 5 (cf. v. 31).15 The link with Judges 5 may well serve to associate Jesus with God as the divine warrior—a theme that is certa...