Dennis E. Johnson (1944–2022) was a trusted theologian, pastor, and professor at Westminster Seminary California. With a sharp mind trained in Reformed theology and a shepherd’s heart attuned to the needs of Christ’s church, Johnson dedicated much of his academic life to helping believers rightly interpret and live out the Word of God.
One of Johnson’s gifts was his ability to synthesize deep theological truth with down-to-earth application. He wasn’t writing simply to win theological arguments or to entertain speculative curiosity—he wanted the Church to understand and endure. His most well-known works, including Triumph of the Lamb, Him We Proclaim, and Let’s Study Acts, reflect this dual emphasis on clarity and courage in the face of spiritual opposition.
His Eschatological Position: Amillennial Realism, Not Escapism
Johnson’s approach to Revelation is unapologetically amillennial—the view that the “millennium” (Rev 20:1–6) is not a future thousand-year political reign of Christ on earth, but a symbolic depiction of His present reign from heaven.
This means Johnson believes:
- The kingdom of Christ is already inaugurated and advancing.
- The “last days” began at the resurrection and will conclude with Christ’s second coming.
- Revelation is not a linear prediction of future events, but a repetitive, spiraling portrayal of the Church’s experience between the first and second comings of Christ.
And crucially: persecution is not future fiction—it’s present reality.
Revelation’s Message: Christ Reigns—But So Does the Dragon (For Now)
From the very beginning of Triumph of the Lamb, Johnson wants readers to discard the notion that Revelation is a mysterious road map for decoding global politics or calculating the Antichrist’s identity. That approach, he argues, is not only misleading but dangerous—it distracts from Revelation’s primary purpose: encouraging the suffering Church to endure by fixing her eyes on Christ.
A. The Central Drama
Johnson presents Revelation as a divine drama with two parallel themes:
- The Reign of the Lamb – Christ, crucified and risen, reigns even now from heaven (Rev 5). The throne is not empty.
- The Rage of the Dragon – Satan, cast down from heaven (Rev 12), now furiously wages war on the woman (the Church) and her offspring—those who keep God’s commandments and hold to Jesus.
Revelation tells us what time it is: it is the age of the Lamb’s triumph and the Dragon’s fury.
B. The Shape of History: Repeating Patterns of Conflict and Victory
Johnson follows the recapitulation model—the belief that Revelation’s major visions (seals, trumpets, bowls, etc.) don’t follow a strict chronological order but retell the same spiritual realities from different perspectives, with each cycle emphasizing growing intensity.
So what’s the key takeaway?
The Church will face persecution again and again—and it will intensify before the end.
This is a crucial theme often missed by Christians—especially in the modern West, where faith has largely been privatized and religious liberty taken for granted.
But as Johnson shows, the text itself assumes hostility, not harmony, between the Church and the world:
The call is not to escape persecution, but to endure faithfully through it.
The seals bring war, famine, martyrdom, and judgment.
The trumpets sound the alarm: partial judgment to awaken the sleeping.
The dragon and the beasts wage war on the saints (Rev 13).
Babylon seduces the world through luxury and sexual immorality (Rev 17–18).
The Blind Spot of the West and the Fire of the East
One of the most sobering implications of Johnson’s interpretation of Revelation is this: many in the Western Church are asleep—spiritually drowsy, ethically compromised, and utterly oblivious to the global persecution of their brothers and sisters.
While Revelation pulses with imagery of martyrdom, war on the saints, and beastly tyranny, Western Christians too often interpret these as metaphors or distant future events—not present, pressing realities.
A. Real Persecution: Today, Not Tomorrow
Consider what many believers endure right now in lands governed by Islam, Communism, or militant secularism:
- China: Christians face constant surveillance, government infiltration of churches, arrests, and forced indoctrination. The Communist regime continues to destroy crosses, rewrite Bibles, and punish underground churches.
- Nigeria: Islamist groups like Boko Haram have slaughtered thousands of Christians. Whole villages are erased. Women and children are abducted. Churches are torched on Sunday mornings.
- North Korea: To own a Bible is to risk execution or life in a labor camp. Worship must be secret. Faith is seen as treason.
- Iran and Afghanistan: Converts to Christianity are hunted. House churches are targeted. Family members report each other to authorities.
Johnson’s reading of Revelation aligns perfectly with this suffering: the dragon is not idle, and the beast’s image takes on different faces in different nations. Yet while the Eastern Church bleeds, Western Christians often yawn.
This ignorance is not merely due to lack of news—it is a result of comfortable theological paradigms that minimize suffering. Whether through overly optimistic eschatologies or prosperity-focused preaching, too many Western believers have been lulled into the false belief that persecution is a thing of the past—or something only for “tribulation saints” in the future.
But Johnson says otherwise.
Revelation’s readers were already being persecuted, and they needed assurance—not a timeline. They needed Christ, not escape.
B. Persecution Has Come West—Soft Now, Harsher Soon
Some in the West still scoff at the idea that they might one day be persecuted. After all, the First Amendment still stands (for now). Churches still gather. Bibles are still printed.
But Johnson’s commentary, rightly understood, reveals that persecution is not always violent or spectacular—it is sometimes subtle, legal, social, and ideological. The beast has many horns and many heads.
Over the last four years—especially under the Biden administration—Christians have begun to see glimpses of the dragon’s wrath closer to home. The Neo-Marxist ideological movement, repackaged as “equity” or “social justice,” has emboldened various forms of soft persecution in American life:
1. Censorship and Blacklisting
- Christian voices critical of transgender ideology, abortion, or CRT have been deplatformed or shadowbanned on major tech platforms.
- Christian ministries and schools have faced lawsuits for refusing to use preferred pronouns or hire individuals living openly contrary to biblical ethics.
2. Hostile Workplace Environments
- Employees have been fired or demoted for posting Scripture about sexuality or marriage on personal accounts.
- Corporate DEI training often requires participation in affirming ideologies that contradict Scripture.
3. Education and Coercion
- Children are taught gender confusion and critical race narratives, while Christian parents are labeled “domestic threats” for objecting.
- Christian colleges face growing legal challenges over Title IX compliance and accreditation if they won’t bow to sexual revolution dogma.
4. Criminalization of Counseling and Preaching
- Several states and cities have criminalized so-called “conversion therapy,” a term so vaguely defined that even pastoral counseling may fall under suspicion.
- Preachers in Canada and the UK have already been arrested for quoting Scripture publicly on sexuality—and U.S. politicians have voiced support for similar policies.
These are not hypotheticals. They are real policies, real court cases, and real lives disrupted. The Biden administration—while speaking of tolerance—has promoted policies and personnel openly hostile to orthodox Christianity. Whether through the DOJ’s harassment of pro-life activists or the redefinition of civil rights law to include gender identity, the government is laying down ideological tracks that could lead to full-blown legal persecution.
C. Revelation’s Warning and Encouragement
Johnson doesn’t deal with all these examples directly (his tone is more pastoral than political), but his message anticipates them: persecution is the norm—not the exception—for the faithful church.
The beast and Babylon are not waiting in the future. They are here. They always have been. The question is whether the church sees them—and refuses to bow.
Revelation teaches that this pressure will intensify as the return of Christ nears. The dragon, knowing his time is short, will grow more desperate. The church must be prepared not with escape plans, but with faithfulness unto death.
Worship, Witness, and the Weapon of Perseverance
If Dennis Johnson’s Triumph of the Lamb sounds like a call to prepare for battle, it is—but not with swords, protests, or political strategies. Revelation’s warfare is spiritual, not carnal, and the weapons are not conventional. The church overcomes not through brute force or legislation, but through worship, witness, and perseverance.
A. Worship: The Throne Is Occupied
At the heart of Johnson’s exposition lies one of the most beautiful and stabilizing truths in all of Scripture: heaven is not in chaos.
- Revelation 4 and 5 open with a vision of a throne, and One seated on it.
- At the center of the throne is a Lamb, standing as though slain—Jesus Christ.
- Around the throne are twenty-four elders, living creatures, angels, and countless saints, crying out, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!”
This heavenly vision reorients the persecuted and the weary. Whatever is happening on earth—whether Caesar’s threats or Biden’s executive orders—the true King reigns.
Johnson devotes rich reflection on how right worship emboldens the Church in a hostile world. When God’s people lift their eyes to heaven, they are reminded that history is not spiraling out of control—it is moving according to the scroll held by the Lamb.
In other words: worship is resistance.
It refuses to grant allegiance to the idols of our age—political, sexual, racial, economic. It anchors the soul in reality. It dethrones fear. Worship isn’t escape—it’s warfare.
B. Witness: Testifying Through Tribulation
Again and again, Revelation uses legal and prophetic imagery to describe the Church’s mission: she is a witness, like Moses and Elijah, sent to testify against the dragon’s lies and Babylon’s seduction.
- The “two witnesses” in Revelation 11 symbolize the Church’s prophetic voice.
- They proclaim truth, perform signs, and suffer martyrdom—then rise again in vindication.
- The dragon and the beast attack the saints because they “keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus” (Rev 12:17).
Johnson stresses that Christian witness is not optional. It is the defining mark of the faithful church. Silence in the face of sin, cowardice before the crowd, compromise to gain peace—these are not options for the Lamb’s followers.
And today’s church must reckon with the fact that truth-telling now carries a cost:
- Pastors who preach Romans 1 risk losing their tax-exempt status—or their freedom.
- Doctors who refuse to perform “gender-affirming care” risk losing their license.
- Students who quote Scripture on social media may face school discipline or public doxxing.
Yet Johnson reminds us: “They have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (Rev 12:11)
That is the posture of victory.
C. Perseverance: The Long Obedience of the Saints
Revelation returns again and again to a single refrain: “Here is a call for the endurance of the saints.” (Rev 13:10, 14:12)
Johnson explains that this “endurance” is not passive—it is faithful, active resistance against the pressures to give in or give up. Christians endure:
- By not bowing to false gods.
- By not compromising for political peace.
- By not trading gospel clarity for public applause.
- By suffering loss, humiliation, or even death, trusting that the Lamb will vindicate them.
This is why Johnson’s commentary is so vital for the motivated student of the Bible today. Revelation is not merely a book about “the end times.” It is about every time in which the Church has suffered—especially our time.
Endurance is needed not only in Syria or Sudan, but in Seattle and suburban Ohio. It is needed in school board meetings, medical ethics boards, publishing houses, and family living rooms. Endurance is needed when the cost of biblical fidelity is social suicide.
The dragon’s pressure is real—but so is the Lamb’s power.
Final Judgment, Final Victory
Dennis Johnson’s handling of the closing chapters of Revelation brings the full weight of the Lamb’s triumph into view. While the middle of Revelation calls the Church to endurance, the end presents a cosmic and conclusive vindication of all who have held fast to Christ.
A. The Fall of Babylon and the Return of the King (Revelation 18–19)
Babylon—symbol of worldly power, luxury, and idolatry—finally collapses. Johnson paints this not just as the fall of an ancient city but the toppling of every godless culture that opposes Christ. Whether that’s ancient Rome, Communist China, radical Islam, or Western secularism, the cry “Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great!” echoes across the centuries.
And in chapter 19, Christ returns—not as a lamb led to slaughter, but as the warrior-King:
- Clothed in a robe dipped in blood.
- Riding a white horse.
- Called Faithful and True, The Word of God, and King of kings and Lord of lords.
This is not a secret rapture or a quiet end. This is final, visible, sovereign glory. Johnson emphasizes that Christ’s return will bring justice for the martyrs, defeat of the dragon, and judgment of the nations.
The saints who suffered will sing. The kings who mocked will mourn.
B. The Millennium and Final Judgment (Revelation 20)
In keeping with his amillennial view, Johnson sees the “thousand years” as a symbolic description of Christ’s present reign, inaugurated by His resurrection and continuing until His return.
During this time:
- Satan is bound—not inactive, but restrained from deceiving the nations completely (Rev 20:3).
- The Church reigns with Christ spiritually, especially those who’ve died for their faith.
- At the end, Satan is released briefly, deceives many, and is crushed forever.
Johnson is clear: Revelation 20 is not about a future political golden age—it is about the Church’s present suffering and spiritual reign, culminating in final judgment.
The Great White Throne judgment follows. The books are opened. The dead are judged. Those not in the Lamb’s book of life are cast into the lake of fire. It is a sobering conclusion—but one the persecuted church has always longed for. Justice is real. Wrongs will be righted. The dragon will not win.
C. New Creation: The Home of the Enduring (Revelation 21–22)
The book closes, not with destruction, but renewal.
- A new heaven and new earth replace the old.
- The New Jerusalem descends—not as a place believers escape to, but as a renewed creation God comes to dwell in.
- There is no more death, mourning, crying, or pain.
- The throne of God and of the Lamb is there, and His people see His face (Rev 22:4).
Johnson’s exposition of these chapters is reverent, rich, and reassuring. He shows how Revelation’s end is not just the wrapping up of history—it is the unveiling of reality as it was meant to be.
For the Christian who has endured slander, marginalization, torture, and death, this is the finish line. This is the victory crown. This is the triumph of the Lamb.
Why You Should Read Triumph of the Lamb
There are many commentaries on Revelation. Some obsess over newspaper headlines. Others allegorize every detail beyond recognition. Johnson charts a better course: rooted in Scripture, saturated in Christ, and anchored in the Church’s calling to endure.
This is not just a book for scholars. It is for pastors, laypeople, and any motivated student of the Bible who wants to understand what God is doing in the world—and what He’s asking of His people.
In an age of rising hostility, Johnson offers:
- Clarity—Revelation is not meant to confuse, but to comfort.
- Courage—Persecution is not a detour; it’s part of the road.
- Hope—The Lamb reigns now and will reign forever.
This book will strengthen your theology, deepen your worship, and ready your heart for whatever lies ahead.
Final Thoughts
Too many Christians—especially in the West—have grown comfortable, complacent, or confused about suffering. They assume persecution is either past or future, but never present. They read Revelation as a puzzle to solve, not a summons to persevere.
Triumph of the Lamb corrects that course. It reminds us that the Christian life is a war, not a vacation. It tells us that Babylon still whispers, the beast still prowls, and the dragon still rages. But above them all, the Lamb reigns.
So read this book. Read it slowly. Read it prayerfully. Let it drive you to worship, brace you for conflict, and stir your soul to stand firm.
Because the Lion is coming. And His saints must be ready.
S.D.G.,
Robert Sparkman
MMXXV
rob@christiannewsjunkie.com
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