A kingdom is the extent of the rule of a king. The Kingdom of God is ruled by King Jesus over all.
The Old Testament prophesied that Jesus would rule in glory with king’s scepter and come in humility riding on a donkey. [FOOTNOTE: Genesis 49:10; Zech. 9:9 cf. John 12:14–15.] Jesus’ mocking enemies revealed His Kingship when they pressed a crown of thorns into His head and hung over it the sign, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” [FOOTNOTE: Matt. 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38; John 19:19.]
Following His resurrection and ascension to heaven, Jesus is revealed throughout Revelation no less than forty-five times to be seated upon a throne, ruling and reigning as sovereign Lord over all. Truth and judgment come from this throne while worship, praise, glory, and adoration will go to his throne. By placing the throne of Jesus Christ at the center of creation and history, John is radically displacing humanity; the goal of redemption and kingdom is to orient all worship toward God alone.
Most Christians view Jesus Christ as either Lion or Lamb and not both. Those of us with more lamb personalities will focus on the parts of the Bible where Jesus was meek, kind, patient, loving, and appears more passive if not even timid. Those of us with more lion personalities will focus on the parts of the Bible where Jesus was strong, firm, urgent, controversial, and appears more active if not aggressive.
Are you more of a lion or a lamb? Do you see Jesus more as a Lion or a Lamb?
The Bible presents Jesus as both a Lion and a Lamb. Looking into eternity and the realities of Heaven and Hell, Revelation 5:5-6 says, “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. And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”
A lion is the king of the jungle. A lion eats whatever it wants—buffalo, hogs, and even elephants or alligators. A male lion lives in a pride or pack with mainly females and children and will go to war against anything that threatens his pack. Sometimes Jesus is a Lion. Examples include His repeated wars with Satan, fights with demonic religious leaders, and making a whip to attack money changers at the Temple for exchanging the worship of God for the demon God of money, Mammon. As a lion, Jesus Christ is tough.
Lambs are meek creatures who stick together with their flock because they are very social animals. Lambs are vulnerable and so comforting and safe that we invite children to count them at night until they fall asleep. Lambs eat grass and are not a threat to any animal or human. We witness Jesus as lamb in His tender love for women, children, the outcast, and suffering. Examples include the healing of Jairus’ daughter, forgiving the sinful Samaritan woman at the well, weeping at the death of His friend Lazarus, and tenderly caring for His mother Mary from the cross. As a lamb, Jesus is tender.
Those who see Jesus more as Lion struggle with God forgiving and saving some people they struggle to forgive. Those who see Jesus more as Lamb struggle with God not loving, saving, and forgiving everyone forever.
Jesus is both tough as a Lion and tender as a Lamb. In Heaven, King Jesus will rule as a tender Lamb. In Hell, King Jesus will rule as a tough Lion.
One soldier is a good example of tough and tender. He serves in an elite military unit that goes on secret missions to kill drug cartel leaders, demonic military dictators, and terrorists. In combat, he is a fiercely ruthless lion. Upon arriving home from a mission, his young daughter plans special tea parties to welcome him. On one occasion, his daughter demanded he sit down for the tea party immediately after arriving home from a mission while still wearing his combat gear. Imagine a giant man covered in the sweat and dirt of battle sitting on a little chair in a pink room with a little girl in a dress eating cookies and drinking tea. That man is both as tough as a lion and as tender as a lamb. He fights to protect those he loves. This soldier loves Jesus who is perfectly lion and lamb forever as He rules both Hell to protect His people and Heaven to bless His people.