In this part 2, let’s look at how Jerusalem and the future are connected to Yeshua’s identity as Lamb and Lion. If you missed part 1, click HERE!
The Messiah had to come and suffer as an innocent sacrifice in order to provide forgiveness and atonement for our sins. This happened on the cross. He will return to earth to rule and reign for a thousand years in the millennial kingdom (Revelation 20).
There is no contradiction between the two. On the cross, the sign over Yeshua’s head read, “King of the Jews”. He will return to rule and reign as Lion of Judah. As the cross took place in the past in Jerusalem, so will Jerusalem be the location of the capital of Yeshua’s kingdom in the future. The cross and the capital are both in Jerusalem (Psalm 2:6; 48:1-2).
The lion is the symbol of a ruling king. The lion of Judah is “king of the Jews” and therefore His capital has to be the city of Jerusalem in Judea. Judah himself stepped into his destiny as leader of the tribe of the coming Messianic king, when he humbled himself and offered to stay in jail in place of his half-brother Benjamin (Genesis 44:33). This moment of being a sacrificial lamb qualified him to be the father of the conquering king. The Lion and the Lamb are connected.
Developing His Qualities
Yeshua has both of these qualities. He is a lion and a lamb. As we follow Him and are conformed to His image, we also are to develop the qualities of both lamb and lion. The Lion is courageous, fighting and authoritative. The Lamb is gentle, weak and sensitive. Yeshua prayed with both tears and shouts (Hebrews 5:7). The tears come from feeling the pain of those He was praying for in love. The shouts came from fighting the forces of evil on behalf of those He loves.
Yeshua will forever be both Lion and Lamb. However, He came 2,000 years ago to fulfill the role of sacrificial lamb on the cross. He is coming again. He will not come to be sacrificed. He will come to fight, to punish and to rule. He came the first time on a donkey; He will come again on a white horse.
I saw the heavens opened and behold a white horse and the one who sat on it is called faithful and true; in righteous he judges and makes war. His eyes are flames of fire, and on His head are many crowns… the armies of heaven came out after Him, riding white horses… From His mouth came a sharp sword by which to strike the nations and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will trample the wine press of the wrath of almighty God. Revelation 19:11-15
Yeshua is returning to fight against all the nations who will attack Jerusalem (Zechariah 14); He will set up His kingdom over the whole earth, with Jerusalem as its capital city (Isaiah 2). It is interesting to note that the seal of the city of Jerusalem is a lion. There He came the first time to be crucified as a sacrificial lamb. There He will return to rule and reign as the lion of Judah.
Asher serves as president of Tikkun Global family of ministries and congregations, dedicated to the dual restoration of Israel and the Church. He is founder of the Revive Israel five-fold ministry team, and oversees both Ahavat Yeshua and Tiferet Yeshua congregations in Israel.
He and his wife Betty share a passion for personal prayer and devotion, local evangelism and discipleship in Hebrew, and unity of the Body of believers worldwide.
Asher was raised in a conservative Jewish home and holds degrees from Harvard University, Baltimore Hebrew College and Messiah Biblical Institute. He has authored numerous books, tracts and articles.