What do you think?
Rate this book
The Victory of the Lamb
The Victory of the Lamb is a companion volume to Satan Cast Out, the author's much-appreciated study of the biblical teaching on Christ's victory over all the powers of darkness. In this book he traces the theme of Christ s triumph over sin, death and Satan from the first promise of redemption in Genesis 3:15 to the shout of triumph in Revelation 5:12.
- GenresTheology
126 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2001
2 people are currently reading
21 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 26, 2024
It’s been a while… I started reading this book ‘The Victory of the Lamb’ by Frederick S. Leahy and found it to be incredibly insightful. Its short chapters offer sharp Evangelical doctrine which cut to the heart of the Gospel message. From the fall of man to the reign of Christ over new heavens and a new earth this book charts the messianic journey in its entirety and gives sound advise to Christians living in a fallen world and does a good job of portraying the ever-present evils of the World to be guarded against. The book is anything but scare-mongering and doom-laden—the clue is in the name; victory, it’s a triumphant and hopeful message.
This is my second favourite book so far after the Robert Murray M’Cheyne book. I wrote some notes chapter bt chapter as I found so much useful information within its pages. This is another book published by the reliable Banner of Truth Trust. I would recommend strongly that every Christian should read this book and would be hard pressed not to be much the wiser for it.
The final chapter is on Revelation, which is a formidable book in the bible. The chapter does an excellent job of explaining the context and purpose of the book and deciphering its meaning and ultimate message of victory. I am especially please because I only got to attend part one of my Church’s bible study group in which we were reading Revelation. This chapter gave me a Cliff-notes style primer on a book I often put off reading and sorely needed a little education on.
The author frequently interjects passages from other authors, hymns and of course many many Bible quotes which is great and also analyses the original language of certain words in order to explain the significance of certain passages which is something I am always down for.
If you would like to read my chapter by chapter summary-come-review please read on to get an idea of the contents and nature of the book.
The Victory of the Lamb by Frederick S. Leahy follows the unrelenting efforts throughout mankind’s history by devil to defeat the Kingdom of God and establish his own everlasting rule.
The devil is very real and from the very beginning has sought to userp God. Having stolen mankind away from God by architecting the fall, Satan rules over Earth but thanks to God’s plan accomplished through Jesus’s death and resurrection, God remains forever the Almighty before whom every knee shall bow—including the devil.
Chapter one describes God’s Kingdom and his sovereign rule over all things.
Chapter two concerns the original sin of disobedience which has set mankind on a wayward trajectory from God. Satan’s devious plot to corner and seduce the woman to sin worked and she in turn breaks the will of man. Subverting the created order of a man leading the family with disastrous consequences.
In chapter three which deals with the aftermath of the fall and the consequences for Adam, Eve and their descendants; I found the topic of Augustine’s The City of God and the opposing cities of God and Man to (loving God, versus living for the self).
In chapter four we go to the struggle of God’s people in Egypt and how Satan tried to thwart the plan by ending the messianic line. Of particular note is when the King’s daughter Jehosheba saved one of the Princes, Joash from being murdered by Athaliah. As the author puts it ‘Had Joash been slain, the direct line of David would have been extinct.’
Chapter five revolve around the Devil’s meeting Christ and the three temptations in the New Testament. It describes how Jesus was unable to sin but nevertheless was able to fully feel the realities and emotions of temptation and how Satan sought to goad Christ into performing a miracle to save himself by suggesting if he is really the son of God and if so, then why can’t he simply turn a mere stone into loaf of bread. Christ never fell like Mankind because the spirit was with him and God was watching over him, however it would have subverted God’s plan and message again by forcing the hand of the saviour (leading again as in the Garden) and by getting the Messiah to help himself and relieve his own suffering when he has been ordained to be the Saviour of mankind, who must endure much pain and suffering in the act of love and mercy achieved on the cross with his blood, sweat, pain and humiliation.
Chapter 6 goes into that final chapter of the Saviour’s life when he died on the cross. Satan feeling desperate to stop whatever God was planning to accomplish through this Saviour set about to being his demise and death using all of his powers of persuasion and doubt to turn a tide of hatred against Jesus; but how in the end the very weapon Satan thought would give him victory over Heaven was his downfall and the Crucifix was the Divine plan to offer redemption to Mankind secured by the blood of the lamb. God is total truth, totally wise, and completely rational. Whereas the Devil shows himself to be irrational and contradictory by perusing a vindictive victory over God which can never be achieved.
Chapter 7 is all about the Devil’s power and how he has a right to sift God’s people and how he yearns and prays for each and every soul to fall into his clutches. Christ’s people were a gift from God and one that Satan covets deeply. Satan makes a claim before God that each person is his and Christ prays to God that His people be resolute in their faith when they are tested and tempted by Satan.
I liked the reference to William H. Green’s 8 ways God overrules Satan’s schemes against his people: 1) they drive us to take refuge in God, 2) they train the believer in the duties and exercises of the Christian warfare, 3) they are made a means of intensifying our hatred of sin, 4) they can be an aid to self-knowledge as unsuspected germs of evil are brought to life, 5) they allow grace to develop, 6) they wean the heart from the love of the present world, 7) having been successfully resisted they heighten future glory, 8) they redound the glory of divine grace.
Chapter 8: Victory Achieved. ‘This was the death that overcame death.’ Christs death was the only way his people’s salvation could be assured. The author points out all the times Jesus speaks of the necessity of his death and on the cross when Jesus utters “it is finished” is when Jesus knew he had absolutely conquered the adversary that led to man’s fall. Tetelestai. Your debt is paid, victory is won, God’s plan is completed.
I found his argument about Christ not being a ‘victim’ to be very strong. Victim coming from the Latin word victima meaning ‘a beast to be sacrificed’ clearly does not accurately described the victory achieved willingly on the cross. Christ was fulfilling a holy duty and endured it willingly knowing that he was a victor and not a victim. Christ submitted to his Father’s will and was a lamb led to slaughter but it was a triumphant act in which he triumphed over death and was in complete control of the situation and able to command legions of angels or act himself supernaturally if he chose to do so but just as when he was tested in the desert by the devil he resisted the Devil’s attempts to derail God’s plan by persuading Jesus to perform a miracle to ease his own suffering—Jesus only performed miracles to help others. Jesus lived a perfect life as a man and didn’t use his divine power to help himself, had he have done so victory would have been forfeit. I also noted the passage ‘sin is lawlessness, the law of God is hostile to sin and is the enemy of the sinner. We should not expect it to fade away with time.’ Satan held God’s people to the law (Jewish) and waived their failings before them blackmailing them into sin but Christ took that and nailed it on his cross because he paid for our sins leaving Satan empty handed and ensuring God’s peoples’ salvation. The victory of the cross shows Satan as the imposter and sham that he is and he knows he is defeated and so do his followers, however they will fight until Christ returns nonetheless and accept defeat in the splendour and majesty of the Lord of Creation.
Chapter 9 starts off by explaining the part of Revelation about the dragon (Satan) and the woman (the church/christ’s people). How in failing to destroy the child (Jesus) the Dragon (Satan) turns his destructive nature towards God’s people—the Chruch. I liked the image of Christ standing (which he was not depicted doing at the thorn of God) in order to be active in vindicating Stephen before God and receiving him as a brother into glory.
I also found the story of Palissy before the French king to be inspiring. When the Protestant king told him he must conform to the established religion he replied ‘forced, Sire!’ ‘This is not to speak like a king; but they who force you cannot force me. I can die.’ What God-given spirit in the face of death. The author places emphasis on the persecution the Church has faced in every era of history and of the danger of false religions and humanistic philosophies. I liked the passage included by J.H. Thornwell about the organised system of evil at play in the world guided by Satan’s intellect. The description of events whereby the three pillars of religion have collapsed into paganism, pharisaism and popery is well made. The counterfeit religions and diluted spiritual movement is a weapon against true faith in the one true God. Unceasing vigilance is called for. The author states that in all history in various guises Satan has sewn tares where Christ has sewn wheat they are like perennial weeds. First there were false disciples then false apostles and finally the antichrist. ‘As the light becomes brighter the shadow becomes deeper.’
We then get a brief summary of how the Enlightenment period impacted Christianity.
Rationalism which aims to deny the supernatural, questions Jesus’ existence and denies his miracles and Godhood and aims to deny the Bible as the authoritative work of God. We then get a tour of postmodernism the idea that their can be no objective truth.
Chapter 10. When we are saved we become locked in a battle with the evil one and his forces. The book goes on to explain the wonderful power of the Spirit in the saved and the tools it gives us to resist and stand firm amid the darkness.
I loved the highlight of the last word of the book of Acts ‘unhindered’. The idea that Rome crucified Jesus and persecuted his people but by the end of Acts the Church had spread through the Roman Empire and that for the last two years of his life Paul preached openly in Rome—‘unhindered’ is another remarkable victory.
Next we hear of the renewal of creation.
‘from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Children of God.’ - Romans 8:21-22.
The cross of Christ guarantees regeneration and rebirth of creation and universal peace.
‘Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.’ - Isa. 65:17.
I love it when analysis of Ancient Greek yields nuance in meaning and here the author outlines the distinction between regeneration and renewal versus a new creation. New creation would mean Satan won a victory by forcing God to destroy part of his creation and create a new earth but the Greek word is not ‘neos’ meaning new in time or origin, it is ‘kainos’ meaning new in nature or quality.
The author then contrasts the outlook of man versus the outlook of Christian man. The former looks forward to another world war, annihilation and nothingness, whereas the latter knows God has triumphed and a renewed Earth awaits—he has hope from the certainty that what the Bible tells us will happen will inevitably come to pass.
Chapter 11 paints the book of Revelation as the book of victory. Christ is introduced as ‘firstborn from the dead and ruler of all the kings of the earth.’
Written during a period of persecution these Visions of John tells us of the ultimate victory Christ has assured and depicts it in symbolic grandeur.
Jesus is called the lamb of God with seven horns (seven the number of perfection), standing triumphantly atop mount Zion and also as the lion of the tribe of Judah. The book brings together all of the depictions and metaphors of Christ from the Old Testament to the New and creates one powerful unified image of the messianic saviour triumphing over the dragon, the beast and the antichrist.
This is my second favourite book so far after the Robert Murray M’Cheyne book. I wrote some notes chapter bt chapter as I found so much useful information within its pages. This is another book published by the reliable Banner of Truth Trust. I would recommend strongly that every Christian should read this book and would be hard pressed not to be much the wiser for it.
The final chapter is on Revelation, which is a formidable book in the bible. The chapter does an excellent job of explaining the context and purpose of the book and deciphering its meaning and ultimate message of victory. I am especially please because I only got to attend part one of my Church’s bible study group in which we were reading Revelation. This chapter gave me a Cliff-notes style primer on a book I often put off reading and sorely needed a little education on.
The author frequently interjects passages from other authors, hymns and of course many many Bible quotes which is great and also analyses the original language of certain words in order to explain the significance of certain passages which is something I am always down for.
If you would like to read my chapter by chapter summary-come-review please read on to get an idea of the contents and nature of the book.
The Victory of the Lamb by Frederick S. Leahy follows the unrelenting efforts throughout mankind’s history by devil to defeat the Kingdom of God and establish his own everlasting rule.
The devil is very real and from the very beginning has sought to userp God. Having stolen mankind away from God by architecting the fall, Satan rules over Earth but thanks to God’s plan accomplished through Jesus’s death and resurrection, God remains forever the Almighty before whom every knee shall bow—including the devil.
Chapter one describes God’s Kingdom and his sovereign rule over all things.
Chapter two concerns the original sin of disobedience which has set mankind on a wayward trajectory from God. Satan’s devious plot to corner and seduce the woman to sin worked and she in turn breaks the will of man. Subverting the created order of a man leading the family with disastrous consequences.
In chapter three which deals with the aftermath of the fall and the consequences for Adam, Eve and their descendants; I found the topic of Augustine’s The City of God and the opposing cities of God and Man to (loving God, versus living for the self).
In chapter four we go to the struggle of God’s people in Egypt and how Satan tried to thwart the plan by ending the messianic line. Of particular note is when the King’s daughter Jehosheba saved one of the Princes, Joash from being murdered by Athaliah. As the author puts it ‘Had Joash been slain, the direct line of David would have been extinct.’
Chapter five revolve around the Devil’s meeting Christ and the three temptations in the New Testament. It describes how Jesus was unable to sin but nevertheless was able to fully feel the realities and emotions of temptation and how Satan sought to goad Christ into performing a miracle to save himself by suggesting if he is really the son of God and if so, then why can’t he simply turn a mere stone into loaf of bread. Christ never fell like Mankind because the spirit was with him and God was watching over him, however it would have subverted God’s plan and message again by forcing the hand of the saviour (leading again as in the Garden) and by getting the Messiah to help himself and relieve his own suffering when he has been ordained to be the Saviour of mankind, who must endure much pain and suffering in the act of love and mercy achieved on the cross with his blood, sweat, pain and humiliation.
Chapter 6 goes into that final chapter of the Saviour’s life when he died on the cross. Satan feeling desperate to stop whatever God was planning to accomplish through this Saviour set about to being his demise and death using all of his powers of persuasion and doubt to turn a tide of hatred against Jesus; but how in the end the very weapon Satan thought would give him victory over Heaven was his downfall and the Crucifix was the Divine plan to offer redemption to Mankind secured by the blood of the lamb. God is total truth, totally wise, and completely rational. Whereas the Devil shows himself to be irrational and contradictory by perusing a vindictive victory over God which can never be achieved.
Chapter 7 is all about the Devil’s power and how he has a right to sift God’s people and how he yearns and prays for each and every soul to fall into his clutches. Christ’s people were a gift from God and one that Satan covets deeply. Satan makes a claim before God that each person is his and Christ prays to God that His people be resolute in their faith when they are tested and tempted by Satan.
I liked the reference to William H. Green’s 8 ways God overrules Satan’s schemes against his people: 1) they drive us to take refuge in God, 2) they train the believer in the duties and exercises of the Christian warfare, 3) they are made a means of intensifying our hatred of sin, 4) they can be an aid to self-knowledge as unsuspected germs of evil are brought to life, 5) they allow grace to develop, 6) they wean the heart from the love of the present world, 7) having been successfully resisted they heighten future glory, 8) they redound the glory of divine grace.
Chapter 8: Victory Achieved. ‘This was the death that overcame death.’ Christs death was the only way his people’s salvation could be assured. The author points out all the times Jesus speaks of the necessity of his death and on the cross when Jesus utters “it is finished” is when Jesus knew he had absolutely conquered the adversary that led to man’s fall. Tetelestai. Your debt is paid, victory is won, God’s plan is completed.
I found his argument about Christ not being a ‘victim’ to be very strong. Victim coming from the Latin word victima meaning ‘a beast to be sacrificed’ clearly does not accurately described the victory achieved willingly on the cross. Christ was fulfilling a holy duty and endured it willingly knowing that he was a victor and not a victim. Christ submitted to his Father’s will and was a lamb led to slaughter but it was a triumphant act in which he triumphed over death and was in complete control of the situation and able to command legions of angels or act himself supernaturally if he chose to do so but just as when he was tested in the desert by the devil he resisted the Devil’s attempts to derail God’s plan by persuading Jesus to perform a miracle to ease his own suffering—Jesus only performed miracles to help others. Jesus lived a perfect life as a man and didn’t use his divine power to help himself, had he have done so victory would have been forfeit. I also noted the passage ‘sin is lawlessness, the law of God is hostile to sin and is the enemy of the sinner. We should not expect it to fade away with time.’ Satan held God’s people to the law (Jewish) and waived their failings before them blackmailing them into sin but Christ took that and nailed it on his cross because he paid for our sins leaving Satan empty handed and ensuring God’s peoples’ salvation. The victory of the cross shows Satan as the imposter and sham that he is and he knows he is defeated and so do his followers, however they will fight until Christ returns nonetheless and accept defeat in the splendour and majesty of the Lord of Creation.
Chapter 9 starts off by explaining the part of Revelation about the dragon (Satan) and the woman (the church/christ’s people). How in failing to destroy the child (Jesus) the Dragon (Satan) turns his destructive nature towards God’s people—the Chruch. I liked the image of Christ standing (which he was not depicted doing at the thorn of God) in order to be active in vindicating Stephen before God and receiving him as a brother into glory.
I also found the story of Palissy before the French king to be inspiring. When the Protestant king told him he must conform to the established religion he replied ‘forced, Sire!’ ‘This is not to speak like a king; but they who force you cannot force me. I can die.’ What God-given spirit in the face of death. The author places emphasis on the persecution the Church has faced in every era of history and of the danger of false religions and humanistic philosophies. I liked the passage included by J.H. Thornwell about the organised system of evil at play in the world guided by Satan’s intellect. The description of events whereby the three pillars of religion have collapsed into paganism, pharisaism and popery is well made. The counterfeit religions and diluted spiritual movement is a weapon against true faith in the one true God. Unceasing vigilance is called for. The author states that in all history in various guises Satan has sewn tares where Christ has sewn wheat they are like perennial weeds. First there were false disciples then false apostles and finally the antichrist. ‘As the light becomes brighter the shadow becomes deeper.’
We then get a brief summary of how the Enlightenment period impacted Christianity.
Rationalism which aims to deny the supernatural, questions Jesus’ existence and denies his miracles and Godhood and aims to deny the Bible as the authoritative work of God. We then get a tour of postmodernism the idea that their can be no objective truth.
Chapter 10. When we are saved we become locked in a battle with the evil one and his forces. The book goes on to explain the wonderful power of the Spirit in the saved and the tools it gives us to resist and stand firm amid the darkness.
I loved the highlight of the last word of the book of Acts ‘unhindered’. The idea that Rome crucified Jesus and persecuted his people but by the end of Acts the Church had spread through the Roman Empire and that for the last two years of his life Paul preached openly in Rome—‘unhindered’ is another remarkable victory.
Next we hear of the renewal of creation.
‘from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the Children of God.’ - Romans 8:21-22.
The cross of Christ guarantees regeneration and rebirth of creation and universal peace.
‘Behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former shall not be remembered or come to mind.’ - Isa. 65:17.
I love it when analysis of Ancient Greek yields nuance in meaning and here the author outlines the distinction between regeneration and renewal versus a new creation. New creation would mean Satan won a victory by forcing God to destroy part of his creation and create a new earth but the Greek word is not ‘neos’ meaning new in time or origin, it is ‘kainos’ meaning new in nature or quality.
The author then contrasts the outlook of man versus the outlook of Christian man. The former looks forward to another world war, annihilation and nothingness, whereas the latter knows God has triumphed and a renewed Earth awaits—he has hope from the certainty that what the Bible tells us will happen will inevitably come to pass.
Chapter 11 paints the book of Revelation as the book of victory. Christ is introduced as ‘firstborn from the dead and ruler of all the kings of the earth.’
Written during a period of persecution these Visions of John tells us of the ultimate victory Christ has assured and depicts it in symbolic grandeur.
Jesus is called the lamb of God with seven horns (seven the number of perfection), standing triumphantly atop mount Zion and also as the lion of the tribe of Judah. The book brings together all of the depictions and metaphors of Christ from the Old Testament to the New and creates one powerful unified image of the messianic saviour triumphing over the dragon, the beast and the antichrist.
March 10, 2025
Leahy was a master at producing short yet meaty theological works that speak right to the heart and this book is no exception. While I do prefer his book "The Cross He Bore" this was also an incredible (and different) reflection on Christ's death. The only downside of this book is that the chapters seemed at times to blend together and not always maintain a specific focus. Even so, every chapter was a great read, especially as the book picks up momentum after the first few. This book sparked great conversations with fellow readers and the confident and unapologetic note of triumph through Christ rings loudly through this book, stirring up the heart of Christians and making us wonder why we live with such negativity, lack of confidence, and low zeal in our Christian life and witness. Even so, the book drips with the grace of Christ. You won't regret reading this!
December 17, 2020
Just a great book. Leahy is one of those authors you probably haven’t heard of, but you should read everything you can of his. You will love Christ more as a result of his works. What more can you ask?
April 19, 2019
A helpful book which chronicles the Satan's defeat through scripture.
December 23, 2013
There are many biblical ways to consider the death of Christ. Among them are the ideas of atonement, ransom, propitiation, substitution, and even victory. It is this last concept that Leahy focuses his attention on here (though there are obvious overlaps), examining the paradoxical triumph that Christ won—quite decidedly—through His death. Full of welcomed insight and thoughtful application, Leahy has developed a helpful, Christ-exalting look at the Lord’s crucifixion and exactly what it accomplished.
March 17, 2016
A wonderful book to read as you approach Holy Week. Leahy , a pastor from Belfast goes bit by bit through this wonderfully short book , giving us a fullness of what Christ accomplished for us.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews