Topical Bible: The Lion: Universal Terror Caused by Roaring of

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The lion, often referred to as the "king of beasts," holds a significant place in biblical literature, symbolizing both majesty and terror. Its roar, in particular, is emblematic of fear and awe, resonating with the universal experience of dread that it instills in both man and beast.

In the Bible, the lion's roar is frequently used as a metaphor for overwhelming power and impending danger. The prophet Amos vividly captures this imagery: "The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy?" (Amos 3:8). Here, the roar of the lion is paralleled with the voice of God, suggesting an unavoidable and fearsome authority that demands attention and response.

The terror induced by a lion's roar is not merely a literary device but reflects the natural reaction of creatures to the presence of a predator. In the ancient Near East, where lions were more prevalent, their roar would have been a familiar and fearsome sound, signaling the proximity of danger. This natural fear is echoed in the spiritual realm, where the lion's roar symbolizes the threat of judgment and the power of God.

The Book of Job also alludes to the lion's fearsome nature: "The lion may roar, and the fierce lion may growl, yet the teeth of the young lions are broken" (Job 4:10). This passage underscores the might of the lion, yet it also hints at the ultimate sovereignty of God, who can break the power of even the most fearsome creatures.

In the New Testament, the apostle Peter warns believers of the devil's prowling nature, likening him to a roaring lion: "Be sober-minded and alert. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8). This comparison serves as a cautionary reminder of the spiritual dangers that lurk, urging vigilance and steadfast faith.

The lion's roar, therefore, is a multifaceted symbol within the biblical narrative. It represents not only the natural fear of a powerful predator but also serves as a metaphor for divine authority, judgment, and the spiritual adversary. The universal terror caused by the lion's roar is a profound reminder of the power and majesty inherent in God's creation and the spiritual realities that believers must navigate.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Jeremiah 2:15
The young lions roared on him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Amos 3:8
The lion has roared, who will not fear? the Lord GOD has spoken, who can but prophesy?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Of Antichrist, and his Ruin: and of the Slaying the Witnesses.
... Bunyan conceives that previous to the universal triumphs of the ... slain by the sword:
though their terror was caused ... shall they say] did once the lion dwell; and ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/of antichrist and his ruin .htm

The Seven Trumpets.
... world, as the loud roaring of a lion would startle ... of the Pope to the title of
"Universal Bishop," and ... In the reign of terror following, the best blood of the ...
/.../bliss/a brief commentary on the apocalypse/the seven trumpets.htm

On the Ten Points of Doctrine.
... saith, he goeth about as a roaring lion, seeking whom ... but rocks were rent asunder
by terror because of ... Sun and Moon under various names was almost universal. ...
/.../cyril/lectures of s cyril of jerusalem/lecture iv on the ten.htm

The Second vision "On Earth"
... death (1 Kings 19:4); but this is to be universal. ... down, And fled apace, and look
not back Terror is on ... with a loud voice, even as when a lion roareth: and ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/the second vision on earth.htm

The Close of the Theban Empire
... ON THE MARCH, AND THE LION-HUNT]. ... and the rudiments of an empire which had struck
terror into the ... time limited the success of his endeavours and caused them to ...
/.../chapter iiithe close of the.htm

The Temples and the Gods of Chaldaea
... resemblance of their ruins to natural mounds caused by their ... however, such as the
bull and lion, were closely ... the earth sank into the earth" in their terror. ...
/.../chapter iithe temples and the.htm

Syria at the Beginning of the Egyptian Conquest
... in themselves sufficient evidence of the terror with which ... across the Orontes above
the town caused the waters ... Beards were almost universal among the men, but ...
/.../chapter iisyria at the beginning.htm

The Holy War,
... which then was very prevalent, if not universal, but which is ... partly because he would
not that the terror of strangers ... joy, and roared on it as a lion upon the ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy war.htm

The Holy City; Or, the New Jerusalem:
... 'Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his ... and from Christ, but that will
be universal among all ... among the saints, and that hath caused that lingering ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/the holy city or the.htm

Preface.
... Can rest from terror, dare his fate survey,. ... And tempest nature's universal
sphere. ... And slumbers man, who singly caused the storm? ...
//christianbookshelf.org/young/youngs night thoughts/preface.htm