Ascent of the Lamb

Ascent of the Lamb June 12, 2015

Revelation describes three scenes of singing. When the Lamb first appears in heaven, the elders and creatures and angels break out into a “new song” (Revelation 5:9). That same “new song” is heard by the 144,000, who are assembled with the Lamb on Mount Zion (14:1), and the 144,000 begin to learn the new song of heaven (14:2-3). After the harvest, the saints sing a harvest song, standing on the firmament, holding harps and singing the song of Moses and of the Lamb (15:2-3).

We should link these scenes: The song of heaven starts with the Lamb’s ascent; and the saints join in the song of heaven when they ascend. Or, we should perhaps make the connection stronger: Until the firstfruits of the church has ascended above the firmament, the Lamb’s ascent isn’t yet completed. The Lamb comes into His kingdom along with His people.

A further detail reinforces the point: When Jesus died, the temple veil was rent in two (Matthew 27:51). (This is not mentioned in John’s gospel, who indicates that Jesus Himself becomes the temple, flowing, like Ezekiel’s temple, with life-giving water [John 19:34].) After the 144,000 ascend, the heavenly “temple of the tabernacle of testimony” is opened (Revelation 15:5), revealing angels who emerge with bowls of blood. The Lamb opens the earthly sanctuary; the harvest of the saints opens the heavenly.

And that fits the Old Testament festival scheme that provides important background for these events. According to Leviticus 23, when the first sheaf of the harvest appears, the Israelites were supposed to take the sheaf to the priest to eave before the Lord and offer a year-old Lamb as an ascension offering (23:9-14). The Lamb’s ascent in smoke accompanies the elevation of the “sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest” (v. 9). 

In the Levitical ritual type, the Lamb and firstfruits are presented to God together; in the historical antitype, the Lamb and firstfruits ascend together.


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