In the first two parts of “The Lion of Judah”, a mini-series based on Revelation 5, we learned that Jesus is called the “Lion of Judah” because He has prevailed over sin, He has defeated the enemy, and in His death and resurrection, He has reconciled us to God; and as such, He is very worthy of our praise. We then caught a glimpse from the Heavenly scene of the two-fold type of worship fitting of Someone who has done so much that includes both sitting at His feet and meditating upon what He has accomplished in His ultimate sacrifice, and also telling others of what He has done.
But is the purpose of the text introducing Jesus as the “Lion of Judah” (See Rev. 5:5) to simply inform us that He is the “Lamb” who has “triumphed” and to teach us how to praise?
When you read Rev. 5:5, you see that the elder who first addresses Jesus as “the Lion of Judah” actually does so for a very different purpose: “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.‘” (Rev. 5:5 NIV).
As we celebrate the greatness of the “Lion of Judah” this year, we understand from Revelation 5 that we are to worship Him for His death and resurrection and all that this has accomplished for our reconciliation with the Father; but in addition, we should also worship Him because, “He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals” (Rev. 5:5b)!
Just what does this mean to “…open the scroll and its seven seals”?
In order to fully comprehend this, we must remember that the information presented in the book of Revelation is prophetic in nature, providing us with a word picture of some of the things that are to come. As we continue to read through the book, we see that as the Lamb breaks each of the seven seals, an event happens on Earth (See Rev. 6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12, 8:1). Thus, when the Bible records that there was no one found worthy to open the scroll except the “Lion of Judah”, it means that Jesus is the only one worthy of setting prophecy into motion!
Taking this a step farther, when the Lamb breaks open the seventh seal in Revelation 8:1, this precipitates the appearance of seven trumpets: “And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.” (Rev. 8:2 NIV). The next four chapters (chapters 8-11) then describe what happens as each trumpet is blown, cumulating in the seventh trumpet: “The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.‘” (Rev. 11:15 NIV); and 2 verses later: “The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small–and for destroying those who destroy the earth.” (Rev. 11:17-18 NIV).
At the end of the trumpets, which do not begin until the Lamb has broken the scroll’s seventh seal, we see that because of all the “Lion of Judah” has done, the world becomes His Kingdom and He has earned the right to judge the nations. Because He has triumphed, it is His right to bring about reward for God’s People and destruction for the rest!
Let’s jump ahead one more time to the end of the book: “He who was seated on the throne said, ‘I am making everything new!‘” (Rev. 21:5a NIV); and one chapter farther: “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. ‘Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city'” (Rev. 22:12-14 NIV)
Therefore, because Jesus rose from the grave, the “Lion of Judah” can come again and make everything new! What a promise! What a King! What a Saviour!
The “Lion of Judah”; the One who has triumphed; Our Rock, our Salvation, our Judge, our King; the One who is worthy to set prophecy into motion; the One who has earned the right to judge the nations, the One who is coming again in the clouds of glory, the One who will make everything new. Isn’t He worthy of our worship and honor and praise?
In His love,
Lyn
Lynona Gordon Chaffart, Speech-Language Pathologist, mother of two, Author — “Aboard God’s Train — A Journey With God Through the Valley of Cancer”, Author and Moderator for The Nugget, a tri-weekly internet newsletter, and Scriptural Nuggets, a website devoted to Christian devotionals and inspirational poems, with Answers2Prayer Ministries. Follow Lyn on Twitter @lynchaffart.
(To access the entire “Lion of Judah” mini-series, please click here.)