Lamb of God – for victory

Sheep and their lambs are so vulnerable to predators that they can hardly be used as symbols of victory. They are easy prey even for small predators like bobcats, wolverines, and cayotes.

The enemies of Jesus overpowered him quickly at night, and scattered his disciples. Before daybreak, they pushed him through four trials: before Annas, Caiaphas, Herod, and Pilate. At 9 am on a Friday, he was nailed to a cross.

On Sunday, the tables were turned. His new body began to breathe, he shed the funeral wrappings, walked through the stone door, and watched how his enemies and followers reacted in bewilderment to the empty tomb.

For 40 days Christ appeared to his followers and prepared them for what was coming: his ascension and the coming of the Holy Spirit.

Christ’s apparent defeat turned into an astounding victory. When Paul saw the glorified Christ, the fanatic persecutor became a devoted missionary. He took the gospel to Asia Minor, Greece, and Rome, and planted churches as far as he went. His letters to these churches inspired other churches worldwide for the past 20 centuries.

John had a vision about the birth of Christ, and the persecution of the church (Rev. 12). A light-radiating woman crowned with 12 stars (resembling Israel, Is. 49:6) gave birth to God’s Son. Satan wanted to destroy him, but he was caught up to God.

Satan turned furiously to the woman, who fled to a desert where she was protected against Satan’s persecution. The “desert” may point to Israel’s scattering worldwide.

Satan then persecuted “the rest of her offspring, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ” (12:17), a referral to the church.

Christ, the angels, and believers fought against Satan and banned him from heaven. “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony” (12:11, Acts 1:8). Here it is revealed that the serpent of Genesis 3 is Satan, the devil. The victory of Christ, the Lamb, over Satan the dragon, highlights the irony of the situation.

The Lamb’s victory is repeated in the rest of Revelation. John describes the rise and fall of three helpers of Satan. The beast from the sea (Antichrist) will try to replace Christ by deception (2 Thess. 2, Rev. 13). The beast from the earth (False Prophet) will do wonders to persuade people to worship the Antichrist (Rev. 13). And Babylon, the Harlot (Rev. 17-18), will lead many astray by economic and amoral temptations.

Christ, the Victor on the white horse will prevail over Satan and his three helpers (Rev. 19:11-21; 20:10), and cast them into the lake of fire. He is King over kings, and Lord over lords.

Jacob Van Zyl of Lethbridge is a retired counsellor and the author of several faith-based books.