I see this as a teaching moment for you both
@Bob Estey @BlessedPeace
You have symbols (and figures) and types and both represent something else. However, a type represents something to come (future), while a symbol has no time reference. A type is fulfilled at a specific time by its anti-type.
Example:
The tabernacle in the wilderness was a type of Christ; as a type, no other tabernacle resembled and pointed forward to Christ. On the other hand in speaking of Christ as a lion, any lion can be thought of as depicting a certain characteristic of Christ.
Now the example of Christ being the Lion of the Tribe of Judah also has a future fulfillment so you could say the Lion is a symbol & type of Christ.
Rather simple really.
F2F