The Lamb, the Church, and the Seals: Seeing Reality from Heaven’s Perspective (July 12, 2025)
- Brian Lee
- Jul 12
- 3 min read
Revelation is a Christ-centered book, rich in symbolism, and covenantally unified. Christians in all ages find assurance, hope, and faithful endurance.
Revelation Unveils the King of Kings. See History Through Christ’s Lordship (Revelation 1)
“The revelation (ἀποκάλυψις) of Jesus Christ…” (Revelation 1:1)
This apocalyptic genre (symbol, vision, cosmic imagery) means to unveil the spiritual reality behind earthly events. Revelation is not a mysterious timeline of future predictions, but rather it is a pastoral writing given to Christians who are suffering in the present.
"When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades" (Rev. 1:17–18).
Christ stands at the center—glorified, risen, holding the keys of Death and Hades. The proper way to read this book is not speculation, but worship, faithfulness, and perseverance.
We should read Revelation as a symbolic depiction of the period from Christ’s ascension to His return, with Christ as the King, as his kingdom continues to grow and expand.
Christ Knows and Shepherds His Church in Tribulation (Revelation 2–3)
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev. 2:7 and repeated 6 more times)
Seven real churches are mentioned. These churches also represent the churches throughout time. We see a glimpse of ourselves in these churches.
The point is that Jesus is near, and Jesus knows us. He knows when we suffer for his name sake. He knows when we compromise, and he knows when we are faithful, even though being faithful often means earthly losses.
Modern readers may not realize this, but covenantal exhortations characterize the language in chapters 2 and 3, calling readers to repentance, issuing warnings of judgment, and offering promises of reward.
Revelation exhorts us to live today in faithful endurance for Christ's sake. No matter what your circumstances are and no matter how complex your life may be right now, Jesus knows. He is not far away. He walks with you today, here and now.
Christ our King does not promise escape from trials and tribulations, but true fellowship with him, just as he bore the cross. However, he promises that the present suffering does not compare to the future glory!
The Slain Lamb Reigns and Seals His People (Revelation 4–7)
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain...” (Rev. 5:12)
“Do not harm...until we have sealed the servants of our God...” (Rev. 7:3)
Chapters 4–5 lift the veil: the throne of heaven is occupied, and worship centers around God and the Lamb.
Chapter 6 depicts God’s judgment through symbolic seals (the Four Horsemen and cosmic shaking).
Chapter 7 reassures us: God knows His people, and they are sealed, preserved, and brought to glory.
The 144,000 is a symbolic number for the complete, redeemed people of God, Jew and Gentile alike—not a literal, end-time ethnic remnant.
Revelation’s use of numbers and symbols reflects a covenantal and redemptive-historical lens.
The Church is not an afterthought; it is the Israel of God (Gal. 6:16) brought into fullness by the Lamb’s blood.
Conclusion: Hope for the Church Today
Revelation 1–7 does not present us with puzzles to decode, but instead promises to hold.
The Lamb is already reigning.
The Church is already known and sealed.
The world’s chaos is not outside His control.
So we worship.
We repent.
We endure.
So, to be found "good and faithful" on the Day of Jesus Christ, we ask ourselves the question today, "How should we then live today?"
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