Within the facet of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God lie hidden treasures of wisdom and knowledge that enrich us in our spiritual growth (cf. John 1:29 i.c.w. Colossians 2:2b-3).
John 1:29:
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
Colossians 2:2b-3:
..., 2b so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
..., 2b so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
With the understanding that Christ refers to Himself as the Alpha and Omega, among other things, it shows us that He, as the eternal King, is familiar with the realm of temporary time on earth because He came to earth in flesh and blood and carried out the commission of the Heavenly Father (cf. Revelation 22:13 i.c.w. 1 Timothy 2:5; John 5:19).
Revelation 22:13:
13 I [Note: Jesus.] am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
13 I [Note: Jesus.] am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
1 Timothy 2:5:
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, …
5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, …
John 5:19:
19 Jesus gave them this answer: ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. …’
19 Jesus gave them this answer: ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. …’
The ‘I AM’ in Time
Since Christ now lives in eternity and, like His Father, moves as ‘YAHWEH – I AM’ in all levels of time, it means that God can establish His moment or momentum in the form of the ‘I AM’ in our present, past and future.
From Revelation 1:4a and Revelation 1:8 we can see that God IS, was and is to come. It doesn’t say that God was, is and is to come.
Revelation 1:4a:
4a John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, …
4a John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, …
Revelation 1:8:
8 ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty [Note: Hebrew ‘`ēl šaddaj’].’
8 ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty [Note: Hebrew ‘`ēl šaddaj’].’
Since God is spirit, this statement means that it is God’s desire for us not to prioritize the past in our lives, but to walk in His spiritual ‘MOMENTUM => I AM’ and to view life stages and times from there.
For God, the period of the past, present and future is not dead, but completely alive, because as the ‘I AM – YAHWEH’ He fills and encompasses all time. The walk in Him includes progress in all times in spirit and in truth as well as in His kingship and government authority (cf. Colossians 3:1-3).
Colossians 3:1-3:
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.
In contrast to this, the four beings before God’s throne are authorized to name the Almighty (Note: Hebrew ‘`ēl šaddaj’) in a chronological order of time (Note: ‘who was and who is and who is to come’).
This naming of the time sequence is an indication that the LORD speaks to us in different ways in different facets at different times of our earthly life (cf. Revelation 4:8).
Revelation 4:8:
8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all round, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: ‘ “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,” who was, and is, and is to come.’
8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all round, even under its wings. Day and night they never stop saying: ‘ “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty,” who was, and is, and is to come.’
The Time of the Lamb of God
The temporary time of Jesus Christ when He lived on earth can also be described as the time of the Lamb of God, who is revealed in the Book of Revelation as ‘the wounded Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes’ (cf. Revelation 5:6).
Revelation 5:6:
6 Then I [Note: John.] saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
6 Then I [Note: John.] saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
This description of the Lamb in eternity encompasses the temporary time of Jesus on earth up to and including His death, along with His triumph over sin, death and the devil, as well as the level of the sevenfold character of the Spirit of God in His sonship. Furthermore, the sonship of God is accompanied by the effect of the seven horns in the form of power, riches, wisdom, strength, honour, glory and praise (cf. John 16:7.13-15 i.c.w. Revelation 5:12).
John 16:7.13-15:
7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. …
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.
15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.’
7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. …
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.
15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.’
Revelation 5:12:
12 In a loud voice they [Note: angels] were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!’
12 In a loud voice they [Note: angels] were saying: ‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!’
In the spiritual realm of Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God, various levels of time are hidden, which carry revelatory truth within them, as can also be seen from Isaiah 53:7 i.c.w. Acts 8:32.
Isaiah 53:7:
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.
Acts 8:32 [German Luther Bible Version]:
32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: ‘Like a sheep that is led to the slaughter, and like a lamb that falls silent before its shearer, he does not open his mouth. ...’
32 This is the passage of Scripture the eunuch was reading: ‘Like a sheep that is led to the slaughter, and like a lamb that falls silent before its shearer, he does not open his mouth. ...’
Based on these two biblical passages just mentioned, the past tense is first used in Isaiah, although Jesus’ sacrificial death was still several hundred years in the future. In Isaiah, the lamb is associated with the slaughter and the sheep with the shearer as representing the mature spiritual status in Christ.
In this we can also recognize the quality of true surrender in the form of laying down our own life as well as the strength of giving that results from the presence of the Word of God, in which we decrease so that Christ can increase in us (cf. John 3:30 i.c.w. Hebrews 4:12-13).
John 3:30:
‘… 30 He [Note: Christ] must become greater; I [Note: John the Baptist] must become less.’
‘… 30 He [Note: Christ] must become greater; I [Note: John the Baptist] must become less.’
Hebrews 4:12-13:
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Thus, the lamb in this case is related to the giving of life as an investment of time for the kingdom of God and the sheep is related to the giving of substance as wool herein represents economy into the kingdom of God.
In Acts 8:32, the passage from Isaiah 53 is read by the eunuch of the court of the queen of Ethiopia, whereby it is recorded in the present tense and the sheep is mentioned first in connection with the slaughter and only secondly the lamb with the shearer. This also conceals a secret of God’s instruction, as Jesus’ death on the cross had already taken place.
The Devotion and Serving in the Generations
It is the Holy Spirit, as the Spirit of truth, who draws our attention to the importance of the attitude of the heart within the generations (Note: older and younger generation), who make themselves one with the complete devotion of Jesus and His service in which they live symbiotically before the visible and invisible world.
Furthermore, it is about being led in faith in complete self-denial (Note: led to the slaughter => movement) and full obedience (Note: mute before the shearer => to hear and not to speak) in love for Jesus Christ.
On the basis of these two previously mentioned biblical passages, we can recognize the dimension of God as ‘the one who was, who is and who is to come’ and ‘the one who is, who was and who is to come’ as well as a return to the first love, because time enters the present within what has already been realized and thus rejuvenates itself (cf. Revelation 2:4-5a i.c.w. Job 33:25; Psalm 103:5; Isaiah 40:31).
Revelation 2:4-5a:
4 Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken the love you had at first.
5a Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. …
4 Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken the love you had at first.
5a Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. …
Job 33:25:
“… 25 let their flesh be renewed like a child’s; let them be restored as in the days of their youth” –
“… 25 let their flesh be renewed like a child’s; let them be restored as in the days of their youth” –
Psalm 103:5:
… 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
… 5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Isaiah 40:31:
… 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
… 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
The Prophetic Dynamic and Recognizing the Lamb on a New Level
The truth of the Word of God just mentioned makes it clear that the renewal of youth is mentioned together with the eagle, which points to a prophetic dynamic of the Spirit of God in our lives that must be embraced and operated in (cf. 1 Corinthians 14:5a).
1 Corinthians 14:5a:
5a I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy.
5a I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy.
Through this we are enabled to recognize Christ in the facet of the Lamb of God on a higher spiritual level, which is accompanied by the power of the testimony [Note: one of the 24 elders spoke to John], so that a new and higher spiritual realm of God’s reign is opened for us.
It is the level of the Lamb of God who leads us from the power of salvation and forgiveness into the realm of the eternal government of God and His mysteries (cf. Revelation 5:5-7).
Revelation 5:5-7:
5 Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
5 Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.
Thus, a revelatory testimony from a higher spiritual realm is needed to recognize the revelatory truth in the supernatural realm in which we sojourn (cf. Revelation 19:10e i.c.w. Revelation 4:1).
Revelation 19:10e (KJV):
... 10e for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
... 10e for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Revelation 4:1:
1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’
1 After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.’
Amen and Amen.
In His Wisdom,
Daniel Glimm
