Revelation 5:1-7; Who Is Worthy?

Revelation 5:1-5 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 

Why is Jesus worthy to open the seals? Because He was sent by the Father to save the world from their sin! Jesus had finished His work of redemption on the cross. All who will believe in His finished work on the cross and resurrection on the third day will be saved.  And because He went all the way even unto death to win our salvation, He is worthy to judge all mankind who refused the Father’s love!  This was the declaration of one of the elders:

Revelation 5:5-7 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the  Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of  David, hath prevailed to open the book, and  to loose the seven seals thereof, 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand  of him that sat upon the throne.

Weep not for He who has redeemed is also He who will judge. The Saviour shall be the Judge. Jesus who has triumphed over sin and death is victorious. He prevailed triumphantly to be the worthy Judge! He knows all who have refused Him and the time of reckoning has now come.

The Lion who is of the tribe of Judah is a description of courage, and strength, and terror to His enemies, as the lion is the king of the jungle (Gen.49:9; Pro. 28:1). Jesus is the offspring of David, the Son of David (Matthew 1:1), of the root of David. Jesus has David as His ancestor. He was the Messiah promised in the Scripture. David was Israel’s King. Jesus is Israel’s Absolute King! The horns alluded to the power vested in Jesus in its fullness. He is Almighty in power and the seven eyes speak of His omniscience. He knows the rebellion of mankind against Him, their Creator, it, therefore, points to divine judgment to come, He sees their rebellion and He is now going to judge! And so John saw the Lamb came to take the book out of the hand of Him that sat on the throne. The Lamb shall open the seals of judgment upon the world.

John 3:17-21 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Amen.