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1. The Preparations for the Enthronement (Revelation 5:1-6)
The Lion of Judah, Son of David
REVELATION 5:5
5 One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.”
One of the elders around the throne of the Most High had compassion with the sobbing John, talked to him friendly and commanded him not to weep any longer.
The seer does not designate the name of this elder. Yet Bengel writes, "Without doubt it was one of those who had been raised with Christ and ascended with him to heaven" (Matthew 27:52). Moreover, he thinks that the speaking person might have been Jacob, as he was the first to testify of the prophecy of the Lion of the tribe Judah (Genesis 49:9). The elder comforted John because he was certain of the accomplished victory of Jesus Christ. Everybody in heaven knows who the victor is! The bankruptcy of our world is not the end. Christ's victory and righteousness are the main issue of the Last Time.
The elder opened the eyes of John saying, Behold! Understand! No one is holy, worthy, full of love and righteous except Jesus. On the cross he has accomplished the salvation of the world. He has overcome the wrath of God, the power of sin, the cunning and power of Satan and even death. The peace of God is accomplished and is certain (Romans 5:1).
Christ is victor! Even hell knows that, and the demons know it. They confess desperately the power of the mightier (Mark 1:23-24).
As Jesus prophesied by faith that he had already overcome the world (John 16:33), likewise the elder confirmed that the victory of Jesus through his death on the cross and his resurrection has already been accomplished. Only Muhammad dared to maintain that Jesus had never been crucified but it only seemed to be "so" (Sura An-Nisa' 4:157).
The elder called the conqueror the "Lion from the tribe of Judah", and he was not only a "Ben Gurion", that is a son of the lion, but the lion himself. As the invincible king of the animals the lion growls and roars peremptorily; it does not fear any enemy. Likewise Jesus, too, is the Lord of lords unchallenged. There is no one who is able to measure himself with the holiness, love and power of Jesus except God, his Father.
The second name of the victor, "the Root of David", means that he is a natural descendant of David and at the same time Son of God (2 Samuel 7:12-15). Jesus accepted for himself this name consciously and deliberately (Matthew 20:30; Mark 10:47; Luke 18:38; Revelation 22:16). The term "Root" or "Branch" of the house of David is clearly emphasized in the Old Testament as well as in the New Testament several times (Isaiah 11:1-2+10; Jeremiah 23:5-6; 33:15-16; Zechariah 6:12-13; Romans 15:12).
The elder confirmed with these two names that the salvation comes from the Jews (John 4:22). Yet it was just John who said that non-Messianic Jews are not Jews (Revelation 2:9; 3:9). Jesus, however, was and remains a Jew, a descendant of David. He died as King of the Jews (Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:36-43). The people from which he was borne rejected their Lord (Matthew 21:33-46; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19). Thereby he became the world-embracing Prince of Peace, "Soter" (Acts 4:11; 28:28; 1 Peter 2:4-8). The Son of David is now the Lord of the nations (Isaiah 49:6).
The savior of the world solely has the right, power, and authority to loose the seven seals of the scroll. He only is able to implement the issues of this godly book. He will bring off his salvation confidently.
PRAYER: We thank You, Holy One, because Your Anointed One overcame Your wrath, our sin, Satan and death, and accomplished our salvation once and for all. You have promised David, the prophet, that one of his seed would be Your Holy Son, who would bring about this salvation to whoever opens himself to Him.
QUESTION:
- Why was Jesus called "the Lion of the tribe of Judah"?