By the time the Book of Revelation came to be written, many Christians had become discouraged under the weight of persecution. Jesus had died and seemed far away. Some wondered whether His death at the hands of evil men was not really a defeat after all and a fate in which they would inevitably share.

Today's reading presents a vision which is symbolic of Christ's victory. He is identified as the Lamb, a term rich in meaning for a people still deeply imbued with the stories of the Old Testament. The image of a lamb recalled for them the story of the Exodus to freedom from slavery in Egypt.

Jesus is the new paschal lamb. By His death sin is destroyed and by His blood we are saved. We have been set free from sin so that we may pursue our journey to the promised land of everlasting life.

Another part of the vision shows the Lamb who had been slain as standing in heaven. This posture of standing is a sign of his resurrection. He is pictured not as lying in the repose of death but as standing in the fullness of life. His death was not a defeat but a victory over sin and death which led to His resurrection. The message to the early Christians and to us is: Take heart, be not discouraged. You too will share in the resurrection and enjoy the fullness of life.