In the meaning of the church (Catholics, Protestants) people are children of the Lord. They are His flock. You see the image often in Saintly pics. It is a good representation (ok: maybe of meekness to some) but certainly not of people led to slaughter.
So you make me work hard, dear you. I just typed: ''What is the significance of the sheep in the Bible''. One paragraph refers to Psalm 23: ''The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall lack nothing''. Thus it speaks of the Lord as the Defender, the Protector. Not someone who leads you to slaughter. Kisses, Robert.