Daily Thought

Some thirty times in Revelation, the exclamatory word translated as ‘behold’ or ‘lo’ is used to underscore matters that should be of intense interest to the reader. The two occurrences in this chapter both relate to Christ, ‘Behold, the Lion . . . lo . . . a Lamb’, vv. 5, 6. No matters of greater interest are to be found in this or any other book.

In the chapter, the same verb is used in respect of things that were of great interest to John; twice the verb is translated ‘saw’, and twice ‘beheld’. He saw ‘a strong angel’ and he saw ‘many angels’, vv. 2, 11. Angels play a larger part here than in any other book in the Bible; their involvement would interest John. He saw a book in the right hand of the Throne-sitter, v. 1. The description of that book with its seals allows us to recognize it as a legal document like a will, but in this case the title-deeds of the universe. Jeremiah chapter 32 details what was involved in registering a title to property of any kind. John’s eye might have remained riveted on that important book, but, in the midst of the throne and its surrounding throng, he saw a Lamb. Well might John’s record contain the two interjections, ‘Behold! . . . lo!’.

John in the spirit was allowed to witness that climatic moment when the universe which men and demons have treated as their possession is to be returned to its rightful Owner. Men might throw the Son out of the vineyard, but the Owner still had the title deeds and dispossessed the trespassers in AD 70, just as the Lord foretold, Matt. 21. 33-44. The fulfilment of that parable was a foreshadowing of the greater exercise John saw begin in Revelation chapter 5.

The Lion that filled the patriarch’s vision, Gen. 49. 8-12, is David’s Lord, Ps. 110. 1; Matt. 22. 43, 44, the Root from which David sprang, and the sacrificial Lamb who paid the redemption price. None can withstand the Lion’s awesome power, or fathom the wonder of His Person, or prove worthy of the adoration that the redeemed universe will give Him. The Lion who has prevailed, whose is the victory, is the Lamb that was slain, Rev. 5. 5, 6, 9, 12. The first ‘beheld’ stemmed John’s tears; the second unleashed wave after wave of praise nothing could stem!