Verse 6
As with our dreams, John’s vision contained some unusual features. John saw the Messiah as a Lamb. The diminutive form of amnos ("lamb," namely, arnion) enhances the contrast with the lion. The lion is a picture of strength and majesty, but this lamb was meek and gentle. Christ combines both sets of characteristics. The Lamb is a symbol of Jesus Christ at His first advent, meek and submissive to a sacrificial death as our substitute (Isaiah 53:7; John 1:36; John 21:15). John is the only New Testament writer who described Jesus as the Lamb, though Peter came close in 1 Peter 1:19. The Lion is a symbol of Him at His second advent, powerful and aggressively judging the world in righteousness (Psalms 2).
John saw the Lamb now in the center of all the angelic creatures gathered around the throne as the central character and most important personage in the entire heavenly scene (cf. Revelation 3:21; Revelation 4:6; Revelation 7:17). The Lamb was standing, ready to complete His work, bearing the marks of His death. His self-sacrifice led to His supreme power.
"In one brilliant stroke John portrays the central theme of NT revelation-victory through sacrifice." [Note: Mounce, p. 144.]
The Lamb had seven horns representing the fullness of His power. The horn is a common Old Testament symbol for power or strength, and it came to represent kingly authority (Numbers 23:22; Deuteronomy 33:17; 1 Samuel 2:1; 2 Samuel 22:3; 1 Kings 22:11; Psalms 75:4; Psalms 132:17; Daniel 7:20-21; Daniel 8:5). Thus the Lamb is the all powerful warrior and king. The Lamb also had seven eyes representing the fullness of His divine wisdom and discernment (Zechariah 4:10). His eyes are the seven Spirits of God (the seven principal angels of God?). That is, they communicate to Christ all that transpires. The Lamb is omniscient as well as omnipotent.
An alternative interpretation, which I favor, is that the clause "which are the seven Spirits" refers to both the seven horns and the seven eyes. In this case John may have meant that the Lamb had the seven spirits, who are powerful and perceptive, at His disposal.
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