The Royal Shepherd

The Lamb’s reign commenced with his Death and Resurrection. Since then, he has been shepherding the nations to the Holy City, New Jerusalem.

The Book of Revelation assures the beleaguered congregations of Asia that Jesus reigns and has events firmly in hand despite appearances. His sovereignty is based on his past Death and Resurrection. It is absolute, extending even over “Death and Hades.” His resurrection from the dead marked the start of his reign from the Messianic Throne.

However, Jesus is a king unlike any of the political rulers of this age, the nature of his reign is radically different than humanity’s systems of government. Christ is no Saul or Warrior King. Like David, he is a shepherd and governs the world accordingly.

[Shepherd - Photo by Alberto Bigoni on Unsplash]

The Messiah of Israel rules all nations and peoples from Mount Zion but does so as the “Shepherd of the Nations.” He is the “King of kings” who guides nations and kings to life in the “Holy City.”

Since his Resurrection, the Kingdom of God has been progressing on Earth. As the “Ruler of the Kings of the Earth,” Jesus possesses full authority over history, life, and death. However, the manner of his rule does not correspond to our expectations - (Revelation 1:17-18).

The Second Psalm is applied to Christ several times in Revelation, especially its promise that the “nations” would be “shepherded” by the Messianic “Son”:

• (Psalm 2:2-9) – “The kings of the earth take their station, and grave men have met by appointment together, against Yahweh and his Anointed One <…> Yet I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain <…> You are My son. I, this day, have begotten you. Ask of me and let me give nations as your inheritance and as your possession, the ends of the earth. You will shepherd them with a scepter of iron, as a potter’s vessel will you dash them in pieces.”

Jesus of Nazareth is the “Faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the Dead, and the Ruler of the Kings of the Earth.” He gave “faithful testimony” in his Death and became the “Firstborn of the Dead” through his Resurrection – (Revelation 1:4-6, 14:1-5).

Because his shed blood “loosed us from our sins,” we are now his “Kingdom of Priests.” We participate in Christ’s reign, carrying out “priestly” functions for his Kingdom. Because we “overcame as he did,” we are seated with the Son of Man on his “Throne.” We qualify to participate in his rule in the same manner as he did - Through faithful witness even “until death” - (Revelation 3:21, 5:6-10, 12:11).

When the “Sealed Scroll” appeared, John wept because no one could be found who was worthy to open it. But he was commanded to cease weeping since the “Lion from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, overcame to open the scroll and its seals.”

However, when John looked, instead of a “lion” he saw a “Lamb as though sacrificed.” Jesus is the “Lion of Judah,” but he fulfills that role as the “Lamb.” He did not come to slay his enemies but to redeem as many as possible, and his present authority extends to the “ends of the Earth” as promised in the Second Psalm - (Revelation 6:1-8).

The same passage is applied to Jesus in the vision of the “Woman clothed with the Sun.” He was the “son, the male” born from the Woman who, according to the Psalmist, was destined to “shepherd the nations”:

• (Revelation 12:2-5) – “And she brought forth a son, a male child, who was about to shepherd all the nations with a scepter of iron; and her child was caught away unto God and to his throne.”

Jesus Christ is the one “who shepherds the nations.” The Book of Revelation follows the text of the Greek Septuagint version of the Second Psalm by translating the Hebrew verb for “rule” or “break in pieces” with the Greek term for “shepherd.” Something other than the forced subjugation of the nations is underway.

THE REIGNING LAMB

In Chapter 12, the “Son” was “caught up to God and his Throne” before the “Dragon” could devour him. The same reality is portrayed in Chapter 5 when the “Lamb” appeared before the “Throne” after his death. The “Dragon” failed to stop his enthronement, and a great voice declared, “Now, is come the salvation, the power and the kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ, for the accuser of our brethren is cast down.”

The “Dragon” was defeated by the Death and Resurrection of the “Son,” therefore, there is no limit to the authority of Jesus. For example, the “Beast” could not launch its “war” against the “saints” until it was authorized to do so - (Revelation 13:5-7).

In the vision of the “Rider on a White Horse,” the Messianic figure rides while brandishing “the sharp sword that proceeds from his mouth with which he smites the nations. He will shepherd them with a rod of iron.” The same words from the Second Psalm are applied, and once more, the term “rule” from the original Hebrew psalm is changed to “shepherd.”

John saw “New Jerusalem” descending to Earth, and the “nations” and the “Kings of the Earth” were found in it. Revelation does not teach a form of “universalism.” Not all men find themselves in the “Holy City.” Those whose names are “not written in the Book of Life” will be cast into the “Lake of Fire.”

Nevertheless, the dimensions of “New Jerusalem” are enormous since it will be inhabited by the “Innumerable Multitude” of men and women redeemed from “every nation, people, tribe and tongue” – (Revelation 7:9-17).

Countless men and women will worship before the Lamb in “New Jerusalem” since his priestly envoys will persevere in the “Testimony of Jesus” before the courts of this world. They “overcame the Dragon through the word of their testimony” – (Revelation 12:11).

Jesus is the King who “shepherds” the nations from the Messianic Throne. His only “weapon” is the “sword” that proceeds out of his mouth, the “Word of God.” With it, he defeats his enemies. He also “purchases by his blood” men, women, and children from every “nation, people, tribe, and tongue.”

The “sword” of the “Rider on the White Horse” represents the proclamation of the Gospel by Christ’s royal priests to the “nations of the Earth.” This is how he “shepherds the nations” to the “City of New Jerusalem.” Paradoxical? Yes, but then, Jesus the Messiah is the “slain Lamb” rather than the roaring “Lion of the Tribe of Judah” or a tyrant who breaks the nations to pieces.

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SEE ALSO:

• Shepherding the Nations - (The Nations and the Kings of the Earth are found in the City of New Jerusalem because of the redeeming work of the Lamb)

• Salvation for the Nations - (The Good News announced by Jesus of Nazareth offers salvation and true life to men and women of every nation and nationality) 

• The Age of Salvation - (The Gospel of the Kingdom announced by Jesus of Nazareth offers salvation and life to men and women of every nation and people)