Date of Award

3-1-2004

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Exegetical Theology

First Advisor

Louis Brighton

Scripture References in this Resource

1 Corinthians 5:7-24; 1 John 1:29, 36; 1 John 2:2; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 Peter 1:25; Acts 8:34-35; Exodus 12:6; Exodus 29.10-30; Genesis 22:1-19; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 10:1-14,18-19; Hebrews 10:25; Hebrews 13:11-12; Hebrews 2:9,14, 15, 17; Hebrews 4:15; Hebrews 5:1-3; Hebrews 7:26-28; Hebrews 9.7,11-14; Hebrews 9:26; Isaiah 52:13-53; Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Isaiah 53:6; Isaiah 53:7; Judge 34; Leviticus 16, 17; Leviticus 23:26-44; Leviticus 3:7; Leviticus 4:32,35; Leviticus 5:6-7; Malachi 4:5-6; Revelation 12; Revelation 13; Revelation 7; Revelation 7:17; Romans 3:24,25

Abstract

The identification of Christ as the Lamb of God provides great potential for comfort to God's people. Although this designation of our Lord Jesus Christ occurs only twice in Holy Scripture, I a shortened version, the Lamb, is used extensively in the book of Revelation as one of His titles. While there is much debate as to the origin and precise meaning of this term, there is a significant amount of scriptural background that provides a context for understanding this title of the Lord Jesus.

The prominence of lambs in the sacrificial cultus of the Old Testament' prefigures the presentation and identification of Christ as a pure and innocent sacrificial Lamb. Theuse of the blood of lambs in the Passover as a means of God delivering His people prefigures the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God, as the means by which God delivers all mankind from sin (Exodus 12). This same blood sacrifice imagery, in the Day of Atonement ritual," helps Christians to understand the shedding of Christ's blood as the one, final, perfect atonement for the sin of the world.

The use of shepherd imagery to represent God's relationship with His people is fulfilled when the Lamb proclaims, "I AM the Good Shepherd" (Revelation 7.17).Especially important is the description of the Suffering Servant, the Messiah, as a Lamb in Isaiah 52.13-53.12. Certainly, the identification of Jesus as the Lamb of God draws deeply from this description of His vicarious atonement.

It is the purpose of this paper to explore briefly the biblical background of this title and to examine in detail how John not only utilizes this imagery in the Book of Revelation, but expands it by identifying the Lamb as Christus Victor, describing His worthiness, glory, honor, power, majesty and might. In describing all the conquests of the Lamb through the day of His glorious return, John provides the church with a greater understanding of our Savior and greater comfort in the self-sacrificial love and the ultimate victory of the Lamb.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

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