This message highlights one of the major features of John’s vision - the issue of power and who is (really) in control. All the church in Rome could see how brutal the roman empire, and particularly the god-like Caesar was. The church had no power, no control, no authority and those who had it were abusing it and crushing them. The world and its empires and systems - is a beast; they are beastly; brutal, bloodthirsty.

John’s vision of who really is on the throne is encouraging and challenging to the church. Yes Jesus is a Lion - powerful, majestic, authoritative - John “hears” about the Lion.

But what he “sees” is a lamb.