symbols, themselves apparently incompatible, to the same referent. John hears the promise that the triumphant Lion from Judah’s tribe has authority to open the sealed scroll of God’s purposes, but what he sees is a Lamb, standing though slain (Rev. 5:5–6). He hears the census of Israel’s army, 144,000 sealed from destruction, but he sees an innumerable host from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue (7:4–14; 14:1–5). The ambiguity intrinsic to symbolism helps to explain the diversity of interpretations