The Lion and the Lamb

The Lion and the Lamb

John R. Petrilli

The epic series Superman is known and loved by generations of Americans. It’s the story of a man who leads a double life. Clark Kent is your average, everyday kind of guy, a newspaper reporter by trade. On the outside he looks and acts no differently than any other human being on the planet. But, should the siren sound the call to action, Kent undergoes a total transformation from mere human being into larger-than-life superhero. Uniform donned, he can now respond to any crisis by leaping tall buildings with a step, whisking through the atmosphere at the speed of light and bringing the multiplied tonnage of a charging train to a screeching halt…all in a day’s work.

AS THE LAMB OF GOD JESUS’ MISSION WAS SALVIFIC, BUT AS THE LION OF JUDAH HIS MISSION WILL BE JUDICIAL. Rev. 1:1-18

While all parallels between man and God fall short, the contrast between how Jesus Christ appears at His first and second comings can’t be missed. At Jesus’ first coming He was more like mild-mannered reporter Clark Kent, but at His second coming, like Superman, will be a force to be reckoned with. The apostle John chronicles his firsthand encounter with the post-resurrected Person of Christ, showing the contrast in most vivid fashion. He first affirms the salvation purpose of Jesus initial coming (“To Him Who loved us, and washed us from our sins by His blood”), then gives a detailed description of what the Lion of the Tribe of Judah looks like in His glorified state (12-16). Shocked beyond belief, John relays a persona of the Son of God that is nothing short of spellbinding. The specific qualities John mentions all communicate the fact that the second coming is all about judgment.

Dressed in robes of heavenly royalty, Christ startles the aged apostle as He paces amongst the local churches of his day, each symbolized by a lamp stand. Jesus’ glowing hair signifies He possesses the wisdom to issue a final verdict upon earth and her inhabitants. Christ’s fiery eyes indicate the omniscience He has to see right through any and all facades, enabling Him to discern with absolute clarity and judge with total accuracy and perfect justice. Jesus’ feet of bronze communicate the thought of precious metal purified in the fires of adversity, thus attributing to Him the perfect holiness which all true justice must be rooted in. And His thunderous voice fills the entire scene with an authority that is unquestioned and unchallenged. Twenty-plus centuries have passed between the spring morn when He entered the world as a helpless Babe and this moment John calls the “Unveiling” (Greek word for “revelation” is “apokolypsis” from which we get our English word “apocalypse”).

The first coming was all about mercy and grace, but the second time around it will be all about justice and judgment (Acts 17:31). Everything in Christ’s persona and appearance communicates that fact. He will come then, not as the silent Lamb to be slain, but as a triumphant Lion-warrior with title deed in one hand and flashing sword in the other to fight and win the victory of the ages (Rev. 5:5-8 ; 19:11-16, 21). For those trapped in unbelief, such a scenario is terrifying to the point of tears (“all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of Him”). Millions will seek to escape the very sight of His holy face, to no avail (Rev. 6:16). But for all who’ve acknowledged His Lordship, His appearance will be a sight for sore eyes to see and an occasion for celestial celebration (“Look, He is coming with the clouds! … To Him be glory and power for ever and ever!” Rev. 1:6b, 7a).


AS THE LAMB OF GOD JESUS CAME WITHOUT FANFARE, BUT AS THE LION OF JUDAH HIS SECOND COMING WILL ENJOY GLOBAL VISIBILITY. Rev. 1:1-18

That quiet night in Bethlehem when the Son of God entered the world as a helpless Babe was anything but ostentatious. Practically nobody expected Him, and even when the testimony of the Scriptures confirmed His arrival, the religious folks chose to ignore that golden moment. If it weren’t for the angelic light and praise songs filling the skies, you would have never imagined that history’s most momentous event was taking place.
And even these tangible indicators were reserved for a small crew of blue collar workers pulling a night shift.

What a contrast when our Jesus returns to earth in all His post-resurrection glory! Instead of a few eyes curiously peering down into a makeshift cradle, the return of Jesus Christ will capture and rivet the full attention of every on the planet! Not a single person alive will miss this appearance (“EVERY eye will see Him” 1:7b). This time around will be more akin to the arrival of a powerful king, indeed, the very King of the entire universe! He’ll come with power and great glory, with a cloud for a throne, and a trumpet blast heralding the arrival of His honorable presence (Matt. 24:30-31).

AS THE LAMB OF GOD JESUS WAS UNRIGHTEOUSLY JUDGED BY SATAN AND WICKED MEN, BUT AS THE LION OF JUDAH HE’LL RIGHTEOUSLY JUDGE SATAN AND WICKED MEN. Rev. 1:18 ;19:19-20:2 ; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 ;

Few depictions of the have communicated the trauma of the kangaroo trial and crucifixion of Jesus Christ better than Mel Gibson’s film, “The Passion of the Christ”. Gibson skillfully recreated characters that were at the same time human yet demonic. The faces of babies, children and adults alike were contorted into inhuman shapes and expressions to depict the level of evil and depravity that carried the day on that dreadful afternoon.
Those charged with the administration of justice used lies, bribery and deception to insure that Jesus went to death row. The echoes of Satan himself must have filled the corridors of hell as those nails ripped through the Savior’s already beaten and broken body. The crucifixion was the most unlawful dispensation of injustice ever
dished-out to a human being.

But, oh, how the tables will be turned on that day when Christ comes back to earth! A thorough house-cleaning will ensue as He first incinerates two of the devil’s trinity, then incarcerates the devil himself (Rev. 19:19-20:2).
Next Christ will destroy all the remaining rebels on earth who have survived seven years of cataclysmic devastation only to rise up in revolt one last time, to their total doom at the edge of His Sword.

AS THE LAMB OF GOD JESUS CHRIST CAME TO REDEEM MEN’S SOULS, BUT AS THE LION OF JUDAH HE’LL COME TO RESTORE PARADISE LOST. Rev. 21, 22

It took a perfect Lamb to pay the price of sin, but it will take a powerful Lion to bring order back to a chaotic jungle. Commencing with Adam’s fall, the human race has been tumbling down one long, spiraling descent into spiritual and social chaos. In its proud refusal to acknowledge God much less thank Him, our race has sent itself racing down a slippery slope of depravity and darkness that’s left us helplessly and hopelessly lost (Romans 1:18-31). Emergency intervention was our only hope, and the Cross was God’s solution to the problem. In rich mercy and great grace the Father sent His only Son to pay the spiritual debt accrued by our sin. But the age of grace has a terminus point, and when that’s been reached, it will be time for a complete renovation of the entire creation. Peter states that personal restoration to God is accomplished through the cross (Acts 3:19-20), but the restoration of the cosmos is forthcoming when Jesus returns (Acts 3:21). This renovation will be universal as all creation will be released from the burdensome constraints placed on it by sin’s curse (Romans 8:18-21) to celebrate the liberty enjoyed by living under God’s direct and gracious rule. As the old hymn writer declared, “What a day, GLORIOUS day that will be!”