Revelation speaks of young lions. Who does this represent?
I could not find any reference to “young lions” in the book of Revelation, but there is a verse that speaks of “lions’ teeth.” In Revelation chapter 9 we read of the 5th trumpet judgment which involves LOCUSTS rising from the bottomless pit (see verses 1-3). The Apostle John goes on to say they were given power to harm all unbelievers; they could not kill them but they were able “to torment them for five months” (verses 4-5). He then gives a detailed description of the locusts in verses 7-10 and it becomes obvious that these are NOT literal locusts, though there are some features that remind us of the destruction that comes with a plague of locusts swarming the earth and eating everything in their path. In verse 8 we read, “Their teeth were like LIONS’ TEETH.” This speaks symbolically of them being “FEROCIOUS as a lion.” If you’ve ever watched a documentary on lions preying on other animals, you know that once they catch their prey they literally tear it apart with their teeth and devour it. What a frightful picture this is of the torment that will be inflicted upon the human race in that judgment! I believe the locusts rising from the bottomless pit speak of demons that are set free from their temporary prison in order to wreak havoc on all those who have not trusted in Christ as their Savior.
Does this thought of lions devouring their prey remind you of a scripture? I’m thinking of 1st Peter 5:8 which reads, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” The Devil is the enemy of Christ and man; his mission is to destroy man in any way he can. In some scriptures he is portrayed as a wily “serpent” that uses DECEPTION to ensnare men and women (see Genesis 3:1-4 and 2nd Corinthians 11:3), but here he is seen as a “roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” because if he can’t deceive men he will seek to FRIGHTEN them by persecuting and afflicting them with physical pain. As one reads the description of the locusts and the harm they bring to mankind, it is obvious that the Devil is using demonic forces to inflict physical and mental pain upon them. The “demonic locusts” will surely be “ferocious as a lion.”
Since you mentioned “young lions” I thought it would be good to look at a reference in the Old Testament. In the book of Job a man named Eliphaz was trying to convince Job that God must be punishing him for some sin in his life and he makes his case with these questions: “Remember now, who ever perished being innocent? Or where were the upright ever cut off?” (Job 4:7). He goes on to use an illustration in verses 8-11, “Even as I have seen, those who plow iniquity and sow trouble reap the same. By the blast of God they perish, and by the breath of His anger they are consumed. The ROARING OF THE LION, the voice of the FIERCE LION, and the TEETH OF THE YOUNG LIONS are broken. The old lion perishes for lack of prey, and the cubs of lioness are scattered.” In short, Eliphaz was saying, “You used to be ‘strong like a lion’ but now you are being broken and punished like a lion who deserves to suffer because of the suffering they bring to others. Lions “reap what they have sown” and so are you!
We saw that the Devil is pictured as a “roaring lion” who seeks to destroy men and that he will use demons in this same way in a coming day, but there are scriptures which teach us that he also uses ungodly men for that purpose. A classic example of this is seen in Psalm 22:12-13 where we see wicked men surrounding the Lord Jesus as He hung upon the cross: “Many bulls have surrounded Me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me. They gape at Me with their mouths, LIKE A RAGING AND ROARING LION.” In verse 21 the Lord Jesus prays, “Save Me from THE LION’S MOUTH and from the horns of the wild oxen!” Perhaps this prayer included the Devil himself, for surely he was there inciting the mob to crucify Him and to torment Him while He suffered on the cross.
In the last words of verse 21 the Lord Jesus declares, “You have answered Me.” In other words, at that point, when the Lord had accomplished the work of suffering for our sins, God’s wrath against our sins was lifted and Jesus was delivered from wicked men and the Devil himself! He had gained the victory as seen in His triumphant cry, “It is finished” (John 19:30). What did that mean for his enemies? Ah, they would go on to perish for their treatment of God’s beloved Son. This is seen in Psalm 69:21-24, “They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Let their table become a snare before them, and their well-being a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; and make their loins shake continually. Pour out Your indignation upon them, and let Your wrathful anger take hold of them.” We saw from Job 4:8-11 that wicked men will perish like the roaring and fierce lion that preys on others and so it will be for all those who rejected Christ and put Him to shame. This includes the Devil and his angels who will one day perish (suffer “ruin”) in the lake of fire. “The devil…was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false prophet are. And they will be tormented day and night forever and ever…And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire” (Revelation 20:10 & 15). (416.5) (DO)