Revelation 13:8 All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast -- all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. (NIV)
Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who died for the sins of the world (John 1:29). Jesus mission became clear to mankind only after He had been crucified on the cross. Yet the scriptures reveals in Revelations 13:8 that "the Lamb was slain from the creation of the world"
Peter repeats this truth in even more detail when he wrote about the precious blood of Christ.
1 Peter 1:18-20 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. (NIV)
The reality is this. The blood of Jesus was shed for us before the creation of the world, but was only revealed to us when Jesus was crucified on the cross, died and rose again. Not even satan knew about the shed blood until then.
Firstly Peter makes it clear (in verses 18 and 19 above) that we are "redeemed from the empty way of life by the blood of Christ" and that this was accomplished "before the creation of the world" In other words, the fall of mankind did not destroy God's purpose in creating mankind.
Jesus' death on the cross was not an after thought by God after the event of mankind falling into sin. No. It had been settled before in all eternity past.
Genesis 3:21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them
The garments of skin are a clear indication of the shedding of blood of an animal (or two) as well as the fact that Gods heart was to take away the shame they felt in their nakedness. (There goes the Lie that "God cant look upon sin" - here we see God searching out the sinner to cover his shame and continue the relationship they had and we see continuous communication between them and their children after this.) Earlier on in verse seven, Adam and Eve had used leaves to cover themselves. God no doubt found this inadequate. The skin of an animal (or animals) was used instead. The need of sacrifice was gradually being revealed. An animal was killed to pay for the sin of mankind. Needless to say that it was the shed blood, which was of more importance. The blood was covering their sins, physically and spiritually. The first time we witness the blood shed in the Old Testament has to do with the payment of sins. God made this even clearer in Leviticus
Leviticus 17:11 For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one's life.
The twelfth chapter of Exodus again records God requesting the slaying of an animal for each family to observe the Passover. The significance of the Passover lamb is rooted in the "lamb slain from the foundation of the world". An animal was sacrificed in order to protect the family.
Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. Exodus 12:3 NKJV
In Exodus chapter thirty and Leviticus 16: 3-34, God instructs Moses to have an animal shed for the nation of Israel. Do you get the trend now?
1. Genesis chapter three - An animal is sacrificed and its blood is shed for a person.
2. Exodus chapter twelve - An animal is sacrificed and its blood is shed for a family.
3. Exodus chapter thirty and Leviticus 16: 3-34 - An animal is sacrificed and its blood is shed for a nation.
4. John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God, is sacrificed, and His blood is shed for the world.
God has all along been revealing the "lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world". However this is just the beginning of the revelation. And you know what! The knowledge of this alone, when received into our hearts can cause us to walk in the abundance of riches that Christ's death made available to us.
(I edited this note found at: http://www.wordlibrary.co.uk/article.php?id=200)
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