REVELATION 5.1 I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals. 5.2 I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?” 5.3 No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it.
5.4 And I wept much, because no one
was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it. 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.” -WEB Bible.
The Lion of the tribe of Judah refers to the genealogy of
Christ and the Messianic bloodline that can be traced back to Judah the son
of Jacob (who was the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham.) In Revelation, the Lion and the Lamb are the
same person: Jesus Christ.
An angel in the foreground of this image is asking, “Who
is Worthy?” We see the twenty-four Elders on their thrones, with musical
instruments. The four Seraphim are hovering around the throne. The book with
its seven seals is on the lap of God, while the Lamb stands by.
We don’t know what this book is, but it’s a very serious
problem when no one is found worthy to open it, or even to look on it. This is
a very sacred and holy book.
And then one of the elders comforts John, “Don’t weep. The
Lion of Judah can open it.”
IMAGE CREDIT: Artist is Hans Memling, 1430-1494.