Lamb Power

War broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon. The dragon and its angels fought back, but they did not prevail and there was no longer any place for them in heaven. The huge dragon, the ancient serpent, who is called the Devil and Satan, who deceived the whole world, was thrown down to earth, and its angels were thrown down with it.

Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say: “Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of his Anointed. For the accuser of our brothers is cast out, who accuses them before our God day and night. 

They conquered him by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; love for life did not deter them from death. Therefore, rejoice, you heavens, and you who dwell in them.” (Revelation 12:7-12)

The Book of Revelation has a message of hope excellently described in the 2004 book “The Rapture Exposed” by Barbara R. Rossing.  Revelation is not easy to understand in this 21st century even though those seeking to profit from the fantastical concept of the Rapture aggressively pursue its nightmarish theme and outlook for the world’s future.  It’s pure rubbish unfortunately appealing to many conned by its proponents such the authors of the “Left Behind” books pushing armed conflict and war.  Skilled con men and women seem to be everywhere in politics, the media, and other walks of life.  Many of us are easily duped.

These passages from Revelation talk about “Lamb Power” and Rome’s Imperial Power for conquering.  The Dragon represents Rome and the presence of evil – Satan.  According to Rossing, we conquer “not by attacking anyone or shedding others’ blood but by identifying with Jesus’ own blood that was shed when he was crucified by the Romans. That blood was shed for us and the whole world.”  

Rossing said, “Revelation is more about terror defeated than terror inflicted.” She concluded we conquer Satan “by putting the unjust empire on trial and telling the truth about it – by the word of our testimony that has the power to change history both in heaven and on earth.”  

She adds, “We too live in a world in which terror makes us feel powerless and we wonder how God can be victorious over evil.  The ‘beasts’ of the Roman Empire are long gone, but today’s ‘beasts’ of violence, economic vulnerability, global injustice, and other threats, still stalk our world, causing almost irrational fear.”  Optimistically, she concludes, “Those who have conquered the beast – that is, we ourselves – are pictured standing in heaven with harps of God in our hands singing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb.”  

This imagery is instructive. We know the Dragons and beasts within and without.  We know when we see injustice and hear lies.  We must use our Lamb Power and sing the song of the Lamb.  The presence of evil at home and abroad must be defeated.

Deacon David Pierce