Lion of Judah
“Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’ Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne” (Revelation 5:5-7).
John was told not to weep. This showed his sincere heartbreak over the things of God, but comfort was given because all was not lost. One of the elders let him know that there was someone worthy of opening the seals. Jesus, who became the sacrificial Lamb, was the only One worthy to open the seals. The Bible says: “The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29). Many people may wonder about the significance of Jesus being referred to as the Lion of Judah, so let’s dive into the importance of this symbolic reference. Before Jacob’s death, he gave a prophetic word to each of his twelve sons. Upon addressing his son Judah, Jacob prophesied using the reference of a lion concerning the One who would come, the ruler to whom all nations would be subservient. The Bible says: “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his” (Genesis 49:10). Jacob foretold of Jesus’ royal lineage, coming in the line of Judah and the Root of David, thus conquering sin and death as the Savior and Messiah of the world. Jesus was the fulfillment of that prophecy. Therefore, when we read about Him in Revelation, Jesus is the Lion of Judah, who was the one worthy of opening the scroll because the lion represents strength, courage, authority, royalty, and divine magnificence.[1]
The tribe of Judah held an important position amongst the twelve tribes of Israel. Jesus’ genealogy to the tribe of Judah is detailed in great length in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 1. He came through the line of David, as did Joseph and Mary, who were also descendants of David. While Joseph was not Jesus biological father, His marriage to Mary and his role as Jesus’ earthly father are significant because they establish His royal bloodline on earth and His divinity as the King of kings and Son of God, being both God and man.[2]
Then John saw the Lamb that looked like He had been slain. The Bible lets us know that Jesus still has physical evidence of the ultimate sacrifice He made for us. No one will be able to deny that He died and rose again. The evidence is profoundly clear and still evident in His hands, feet, and side. The Bible says: “Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe’ ” (John 20:27).
John goes on to say that Jesus was encircled by the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders. On him were seven horns and seven eyes. Jesus being the center of all things, was surrounded by the four living creatures who are the embodiment of who He is. The twenty-four elders who represent the Body of Christ will one day surround Him and never again be separated when Christ comes to take His children home. The seven horns and eyes represent the Holy Spirit, who does a complete and perfect work throughout the earth and sees all, where nothing is hidden.
Jesus, being worthy to open the scroll, took it from God the Father, who was seated on the throne.
Twenty-Four Elders
“And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth’ ” (Revelation 5:8-10).
John describes the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders as having a harp and golden bowls with incense. God loves to hear the praises of His children. He is worthy of all praise. The Bible says: “Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his and not we ourselves; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations” (Psalm 100: 1-5). Not only did they have a harp, they also had incense in their bowls, which are the prayers that goes up before God. The Bible says: “May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice (Psalm 141:2). We never have to worry about our prayers not being heard. For we know that when we pray the will of the Father, He hears and sees all and will answer in accordance to His perfect will.
The song that they sang told of God’s Salvation through His son, Jesus, who came to save the world from sin. The Bible says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). God made us priests, and all who are faithful to Him will serve Him with the grace of humility that He freely gives so that we can be a witness to the world. The Bible says: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).
Worthy is the Lamb
“Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying: “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!” The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped” (Revelation 5:11-14).
John described all of the Heavenly host proclaiming the worthiness of the Lamb of God who was slain. Within this tribute are six highlights about what the Son of God, Jesus, received as a result of His sacrifice.
a.) Power—“By his power, God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also” (1 Corinthians 6:14). All power belongs to God. Therefore, what belongs to God also belongs to His Son.
b.) Wealth— “For every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird in the mountains, and the insects in the fields are mine. If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world is mine, and all that is in it” (Psalm 50:10-12). God created everything that exists. All riches belong to Him, and therefore, He gave them to His Son.
c.) Strength—“The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song, I praise him” (Psalm 28:7). Jesus did what no other man on earth could do. He bore the sins of the world upon His shoulder. This required strength that could only come from God the Father.
d.) Honor— “Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all” (1 Chronicles 29:11). No other being in Heaven above or earth below deserves more honor than God. He gave this honor to His Son as a gift for all that He had done.
e.) Glory— “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven” (Hebrews 1:3). Because God is glory and there is no one above Him, Jesus is Glory for He and the Father are One.
f.) Praise— “Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom” (Psalm 145:3). There is no other name that deserves more praise than Jesus. For without Christ, we would be spiritually and eternally lost.
John described everyone in Heaven, on earth, below the earth, and sea as worshiping Jesus and proclaiming the greatness of who He is. The Bible tells us that all will bow before Him as the Mighty King that He is. The Bible says: “Who, being in very nature of God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;)rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is
Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:6- 11).
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