The Lion Of Judah

all will be in vain".

The Lion

The use in C. S. Lewis's Chronicles of Narnia of a lion named Aslan as a messianic figure may be a potential reference to this section of Revelation, or simply more generally as an allegorical representation of Jesus. "Aslan" or "Arslan (Ottoman Arslān and aṣlān) is the Turkish and Mongolian word for "lion".

The lion has been an icon for humanity for thousands of years, appearing in cultures across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Despite incidents of attacks on humans, lions have enjoyed a positive depiction in culture as strong but noble. A common depiction is their representation as "king of the jungle" or "king of the beasts"; hence, the lion has been a popular symbol of royalty and stateliness, as well as a symbol of bravery; it is featured in several fables of the sixth century BC Greek storyteller Aesop.

The Lion of Judah The Lion of Judah has its origins in the Book of Genesis, where the Israelite tribe of Judah had the lion as its symbol.

"Lion" was the nickname of medieval warrior rulers with a reputation for bravery, such as Richard I of England, known as Richard the Lionheart. Lions are frequently depicted on coats of arms, either as a device on shields themselves, or as supporters.

Within Judaism, the Biblical Judah (in Hebrew: Yehuda) is the original name of the Tribe of Judah - traditionally symbolized by a lion. In Genesis, the patriarch Jacob refers to his son Judah as a Gur Aryeh ‫ גור ארְיֵה יְהודָה‬, a "Young Lion" (Genesis 49:9) when blessing him.

The Metropolitan Borough of Chelsea has a lion in its coat of arms, from which it was taken as the crest of Chelsea Footbal Club. The borough of Chelsea was granted a coat of arms by the College of Arms in 1903. The motto was Nisi dominus frustra or "Unless God be with us

“Then Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you what shall happen to you in days to come. "Assemble and listen, O sons of Jacob, listen to Israel your father. "Reuben, you are my firstborn, my might, and the firstfruits of my strength, preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. Unstable as 1

destroying and punishing, and of saving and protecting. In ancient Jewish art we find the lions in this protective role, guarding the Holy Ark or at the entrances to the chapel, as in the sculpture of the ancient synagogues at Sardis (in Asia Minor), Horazin and Bar'am (in Palestine), and in many mosaics dating from the early Byzantine period

water, you shall not have preeminence, because you went up to your father's bed; then you defiled it--he went up to my couch! "Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords. Let my soul come not into their council; O my glory, be not joined to their company. For in their anger they killed men, and in their willfulness they hamstrung oxen. Cursed be their anger, for it is fierce, and their wrath, for it is cruel! I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel. "Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons shall bow down before you. Judah is a lion's cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him? (Genesis 49;1-9).

Scholars speak of the influence of the medieval European heraldic lions decorating either side of the crests of the nobility, symbolizing balance, justice, order or guardianship. In medieval Jewish art, we find the lion pair commonly leaning up on either side of the Tree of Life, next to the crown; thus is the heraldic shield replaced by a symbol of God, and the lions are seen as serving the King of all Kings. During the last two centuries, lions on Jewish ceremonial art are generally portrayed carrying the Tablets, a continuation of the same idea.

From ancient times to the present, the "Lion of Judah" has been one of the most popular symbols of the Jewish people. The Bible mentions the lions that roamed the deserts and mountains of the regions more than 150 times by six different names. Both the tribes of Dan and Judah are compared to lions, although it is Judah whose name ultimately became inextricably linked with this symbol (David, a descendant of Judah, is identified with the lion, as is the Davidic monarchy and the Messiah who will spring from this royal house). The writings of the Jewish Sages often draw moralistic analogies between the lion and the righteous individuals.

Lion of Judah in Christianity In Christian tradition, the lion is often assumed to represent Jesus. Many Christian organizations and ministries use the lion of Judah as their emblem or even their name.

The lion motif was common in the ancient Middle Eastern civilizations as: a battling, fighting and attacking force. In the Bible, the lion is portrayed as both capable of

The phrase appears in the New Testament Book of Revelation. 2

who know God as He speaks to us through the Bible.

"Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, 'Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.'" (Revelation 5:1-5).

This appellation is not given elsewhere to the Messiah, but it is not difficult to see its propriety as used in this place. The lion is the king of beasts, the monarch of the forest, and thus becomes an emblem of one of kingly authority and of power. Christ. Christ Himself said: “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). Everything is under His control. He is the only one who has authority to open the secrets of the universe. Jesus here is not a vague universal principle, but he is clearly identifiable with historical events in a definite geographical location. He springs from the spiritual roots of Abraham. Isaac, Jacob, and David.

The Apostle John has been given the vision of a scroll (we would say today a book) which contains God’s revelation concerning His end-time judgments. We could widen this as including the meaning of all things, past, present and future, the mystery of God and the mystery of our own nature; including the way to salvation from all the problems that we suffer in this world or we are threatened to suffer in the next. Humanity has tried many times to open this book, but in vain. Prophets of all kinds, fortunetellers, scientific investigations etc. have proved deceitful and useless, in spite of their claims. This is really a desperate and frustrating attempt!

1. He is the Revelator. Jesus’ identity is linked with Jacob’s prophecy (Genesis 49:10), actually with all Bible prophecies. According to human nature Jesus belongs to the Jewish people and everything it represents. “Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 1:1-4).

The apostle John, nevertheless, was comforted and encouraged that what is impossible to people is possible in Christ. The only one whom God entrusted with revelation is the Lord Jesus Christ-

Jesus is the link between God and man. He who bears the office of Mediator between God and man, is fit and worthy to open and execute all the counsels of God towards men.

Jesus is here referred to as “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah”, a meaningful title for those who know the Bible, 3

shedding your blood” (Hebrews 12:14).

2. He is the Creator and upholds all things in His hands. He has designed everything for a purpose. “The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble” (Proverbs 16:4).

4. Lamb & Lion. Jesus will return, not as the Lamb that was slain, but as a Lion that will roar from Jerusalem for His judgment. Jesus has the right to open the book, to loose its seven seals deliver out all the prophecies in it, and fulfil them. He has merited them by shedding his blood, and in consequence of his sufferings and death. For this reason, in the next verse, he is represented also as a lamb as it had been slain. “And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead” (Revelation 10:29). “they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” (1 Peter 4:5).

“But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory-even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? (Romans 9:20-24). The King has legal rights to determine people’s ultimate destiny: salvation or damnation. His right is not tyrannical, but good and just. This thought comforts His people and make them rejoice. 3. Jesus is a valiant warrior against sin. “…looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of RESPONSE

1. The end-time judgments against evil are sealed in God's hands and can be set into motion only because of Christ's victory over darkness through 4

His death and resurrection. In what ways might the reality that God's judgments are sure, offer comfort to you in your daily life? 2. Jesus is a Lion, a warrior who faces for us every skirmish against sin, for He has already won the war and desires to daily empower us with greater freedom in His kingdom. As we look at each new day we consider all its parts in light of this truth. We thank Him for each situation in which He will demonstrate His power for victories already won. 3. Jesus, in dying on the cross engaged in a bloody battle for the territory of our heart. Through His resurrection, He has secured the victory, placing the banner for His name in the depths of your soul. Do we live with the wonder and joy of this reality? Why or why not? A Prayer O glorious King – even now I see you pacing back and forth, ready to roar at every move the evil one makes upon the territory of my heart. You have won it and I am yours, I belong to You. There is safety in the truth that You carry a victory banner, always before me in triumph. The reality that You are the Lion from the tribe of Judah comforts me and gives me courage. In You I hide, in You I rest, in You I find refuge for You have won it. Amen.

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