The Crucified Messiah

The kings and nations of the Earth are found in New Jerusalem because of the Lamb’s redemptive work . The Apostle Paul describes the proclamation of “ Christ crucified ” as “ God’s wisdom and power .” The proposition that God overthrew Sin, Satan, and Death through the execution of a lowly man from the small village of Nazareth is “ foolishness ” to men and contrary to this world’s “wisdom” and ideologies. Even the spiritual “ powers and principalities ” did not understand what God was doing and sealed their fate by crucifying the “ Lord of Glory .”

The Death and Exaltation of Jesus are inextricably linked in the Book of Revelation . The Book’s visions unveil the plan to redeem humanity. His sacrificial death, resurrection, and enthronement put it into action. However, he is no tyrant . He does not subjugate his enemies through force or violence. Instead, he “ shepherds the nations ” and purchases men from every “ tribe and people and tongue ” through his shed blood.

The Lamb’s reign began with his Death and Resurrection. Since then, he has been shepherding the nations toward New Jerusalem . The  Book of Revelation  declares Jesus is the “ Ruler of the Kings of the Earth .” When it describes how he reigns over the “ nations ,” it presents a King of an entirely different nature than Caesar or the political rulers of this evil age. Christ is the “ Lamb ” who was slain to redeem men from every nation, and now, he is “ shepherding ” the “ nations ” so that the city of “ New Jerusalem ” will be fully inhabited.

Paul described the proclamation of “ Christ crucified ” as the “ wisdom and power of God .” The proposition that God overthrew Sin, Satan, and Death through the execution of a lowly Nazarene was contrary to the “ wisdom of this world .” Even the spiritual “ powers and principalities ” did not understand and sealed their doom by crucifying the “ Lord of Glory .”