Revelation 5:6 6And I saw in the middle of the throne and the four living creatures and in the middle of the elders a Lamb standing as though slain, having seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Every part of John’s vision is symbolic. John listens to the elder and looks at the lion, who now becomes a lamb. The symbolism shifts from lineage and covenant to redemption. John continues to see the deep implications of more Old Testament images. The slain Lamb recalls the sacrificial system of the Old Testament, particularly the sacrifice for the atonement of sins. John the Baptist called Jesus “the Lamb that takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). The Lamb now stands slain because he gave his life for the sins of all people. However, he lives because of his resurrection. He still bears the marks of his crucifixion to show the meaning of his sacrifice. The scene leaves no doubt that this Lamb had been slain for sin but now lives.
The Lamb stands symbolically at the center of the throne. This shows the Lamb’s sovereignty and association with God. There is now a merging of the imagery of God from chapter four and the imagery of the Lamb. The Lamb is the aspect of God that God sees. God’s awesome sovereignty is revealed as loving sacrifice. The same living creatures and elders of chapter 4 now circle the Lamb.
The seven spirits of God are combined with the imagery of seven horns and seven eyes. The perfection and completeness represented in the number seven is implied. Jesus is the “horn of salvation” mentioned in 2 Samuel 22:3, Psalm 18:2, and Luke 1:69. The imagery in these verses highlights the salvation he brought and how this salvation has been proclaimed throughout the whole earth. His power and sovereignty are revealed by his position on the throne of God. His seven horns, eyes, and spirits show how his salvation is complete. These images should cause the reader to pause and consider carefully, like the beings around the throne, the significance of Jesus, and like the creatures, fall down in praise and worship.