Do you ever have trouble understanding the Bible? For example, do you know what this means?
“Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” Revelation 5:6
If you’re like most people, you’ve probably got an image of a very demented-looking newborn sheep in your mind as you read this. A lamb with seven eyes? That’s not only crazy, it’s creepy. Not to mention the seven horns. If I ever came across a sheep like that, I’d probably run away (after taking a picture first, of course).
If you’re having trouble understanding the Bible, it’s time to get help.
You don’t have to have all the answers.
but, hey, why not?
Bring me your questions about faith, life, God, the Bible… and I’ll help you find the answers.
In This Article
Um…what does this mean?
Revelation is one of several books in the Bible that readers frequently have trouble understanding. It’s a book full of strange pictures and bizarre battles between fantastical creatures, and everything seems to be numbered.
Sometimes it seems like it would fit better on the bookshelf next to Harry Potter.
But, if you’ve studied apocalyptic literature and have a strong understanding of the other parts of the Bible, you would know that in this section, images are not meant to be taken literally. All those weird visuals are symbolic.
That means there won’t actually be a red dragon with seven heads and ten horns going after a woman who is about to give birth. This is an image of Satan going after the congregation of believers. And in the case of the Seven-Eyed Lamb, the number seven represents perfection, a lamb is pictured as a sacrifice, and horns are a symbol of power. Therefore, a lamb with seven eyes and seven horns would see everything, have absolute power, and become a sacrifice.
It’s a picture of Jesus.
Did you know that?
When You Have Trouble Understanding the Bible, Seek the Truth.
What other parts of the Bible do you struggle to grasp? The perplexing visions of Ezekiel? The profound truths of Hebrews? And what in the world is going on in Song of Songs (Song of Solomon, in some translations)? How is a person supposed to grasp all of this?
Lucky for you and me, others before us had the same questions. They dug deeper and studied things like the original language of the Bible. They learned about the culture surrounding the time period when each book was written. They understand the differences between the different literary styles in the Bible. You might refer to them as Pastor Smith, or Minister John, or Deacon Joe, or Mrs. Brown who always sits in the fourth row of church, on the left side, and whose eyebrows do funny things when she sings high notes.
You are not expected to figure this all out on your own.
These are the people who have studied God’s Word. They’ve sought the gold within the perplexing writings, and they are usually very willing to share their wisdom with others.
All you have to do is…go to a Bible-believing church! And to really dig deeper, join a Bible study led by other Bible-believing Christians. You, Christian, are not expected to figure this all out on your own. If you are having trouble understanding any part of the Bible, don’t skip over it. Get help and seek out the full promises of God!
(P.S.: If you’re still stuck on Revelation, here’s a great 12-part online Bible study on Revelation for you to check out!)