1939 Bible Studies - page 194

BIBLE STUDIES.

192

and Psalm 76. 7). The Lamb is specially brought before us at the Remembrance Feast ; and in eternity this will be our special theme.

" The Lamb that has been slain, " will be glorious subject of our praise eternally.

Herbert S. Bullock.

From Kilmarnock. -- A living lamb without blemish and

fulfilling all other requirements was not enough, its blood must be shed.

For centuries lambs had been slain in accordance with God’s command, but their blood could never take away sin (Hebrews 10. ), now John points them to " the Lamb of God which taketh away " not only Israel’s sin, but " the sin of the world. " His blameless and God-glorifying life could never take away sin, His blood must be shed. How this destroys the theory of those who hold up Christ’s life as an example to be followed and reject the value of His atoning death !  From 1 Peter 1. 18, etc., we learn that as believers we have been redeemed by Christ’s precious blood, and the exhortation is " Ye shall be holy, for I am holy. " Again in 1 Peter 2. 21, etc., we have the lamb-like

characteristics of the Lord Jesus (agreeable with the prophecy of Isaiah 53. 7), and we are exhorted to " follow His steps. " This is indeed difficult for the flesh, but is acceptable with God and brings blessing to our own souls.

In Revelation 5. the beloved Apostle John who had witnessed Christ’s sufferings as God’s Lamb, now has a vision of Him, not only as the slain Lamb, but as the " Lion " who had overcome and was found worthy.  He who had been the object of derision and shame on earth is now the centre of worship from the myriads of those who had been redeemed by His precious blood.

Alas ! for those who rejected Him on earth, " for the great day of their wrath is come. ’’ In Revelation 7 . there we have an innumerable company brought through the great tribulation, saved by the blood of the Lamb.  We thus see the excellency of the Lord Jesus as " the Lamb " in those myriads of redeemed souls, and the prophecy of Isaiah 53. 11 shall yet be fulfilled, when " He shall see of the travail of His soul and shall be satisfied. "

A. G. S.

[Note to Knocknacloy and Atherton. -- The perfect participle here does not signify that the Lamb was " newly " slain.  It simply indicates the appearance of the Lamb to John " as though it had been slain. " This does, of course, suggest the abiding efficacy of the death of Christ. This, we suppose, is what our friends mean by " the act of Calvary is still fresh. "--S. B. J Q U E S T I O N S AND ANSWERS.

Question from Atherton. -- To what period and to what nation do the words in Revelation 13. 8 apply ?

Answer. -- I do not quite understand what our friends want to know. Revelation 13. 8 relates to the time of the great tribulation, the second three and a half years of Daniel’s seventieth week.  All t h a t dwell on the earth shall at that time worship the beast, the man of sin, except those whose names are written in the book of life of the Lamb. All this is abundantly plain in the passage. -- J. M.