The Lamb is as if slain, but stands in heaven (Revelation 5:6). That might appear odd, John knows his sacrificial system. This is precisely what happened to all lambs that were slain on Israel’s altars.

The sacrificial procedure was not completed when the Lamb was killed. The Lamb was killed, dismembered, and then turned to smoke that ascended to God. The sacrificial sequence moved from presenting and slaying of a Lamb to its appearance in the presence of Yahweh. Standing is a priestly posture, and so the Lamb is slain and turned to smoke so that He can enter the smoky cloud of God’s presence and stand before the Lord to minister as priest.

Lambs also ascended to Yahweh’s throne to share it. No human being was qualified to share Yahweh’s throne, but what the worshiper could not do, a lamb-turned-to-smoke does. The Lamb, again, does what all sacrificial lambs do - ascends to the throne as Priest-King.