The Lion and the Lamb: One Messiah, Two Comings
The Lion and the Lamb “Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’ Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne...” — Revelation 5:5–6 (NIV) Have you ever wondered why Jesus is called both the Lion and the Lamb ? This isn’t poetic contradiction. It’s prophetic fulfillment. And it holds the key to understanding the entire narrative of redemption—from the cross to the crown. The Jewish Expectation: Two Messiahs? In rabbinic Judaism, there's a long-standing teaching that speaks of two Messiahs: Messiah ben Joseph , the suffering servant, who dies in battle or in some form of atonement. Messiah ben David , the conquering king, who defeats Israel’s enemies and restores the kingdom. This dual-expectation explains the disciples' question in Acts 1:6: "Lord, are you at this time going to restor...