He is able
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Rev 5:3-5
Rev 5:3-5
Rev 5:3-5 “And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.””
Rev 5:3-5 “And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.””
Revelation 5:3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.
Revelation 5:3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.
no one . . . was able
no one . . . was able
All men, except one, are “born of Adam” and are lost in sin, and are therefore unqualified to bring about redemption
1Kings 8:46 ““When they sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin) and You are angry with them and deliver them to an enemy, so that they take them away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near;”
Job 15:14 ““What is man, that he should be pure, Or he who is born of a woman, that he should be righteous?”
Prov 20:9 “Who can say, “I have cleansed my heart, I am pure from my sin”?”
Ecc 7:20 “Indeed, there is not a righteous man on earth who continually does good and who never sins.”
Isa 64:6 “For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.”
Romans 3:9 “What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;”
Romans 3:19-23 “Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God; because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”
And what, indeed, have been all the endeavours of unsanctified men, in politics, in science, and in all the arts of civilization, improvement, philosophy, and even religion, but to work out this problem of successful repossession of what was lost in Adam, to attain to that forfeited perfection and supreme good which has ever danced before their imaginations.
A lost dominion
A lost dominion
When Adam forfeited dominion in the Fall, all men born of the line of Adam fell with him
Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—”
Having inherited the sin of Adam, none is able to prevail. Herein lies the need for the virgin birth of Christ. For Christ is the only man for which the truism “Absolute power corrupts absolutely,” does not hold.
Acts 17:26 “and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,”
Throughout history there have been many pretenders to earth’s throne who have sought to conquer and rule the world.
The first and most powerful and notorious usurper was Satan. After his rebellion against God was crushed, he and his angelic followers were thrown out of heaven Luke 10:18 “And He said to them, “I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning.” Revelation 12:3-4 “Then another sign appeared in heaven: and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns, and on his heads were seven diadems. And his tail swept away a third of the stars of heaven and threw them to the earth. And the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she gave birth he might devour her child.” , and he became the “god of this world”
(2Cor. 4:4). He inspired a host of humans to try their hand at conquest, men such as Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, Alexander the Great, the emperors of Rome, Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Lenin, Stalin, and Hitler.
In the future will come the most powerful Satan-possessed human conqueror of all, the final Antichrist. All of those men, and a host of lesser lights, have one thing in common: they failed. Only one individual has the right, the power, and the authority to rule the earth: the Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 5:4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it;
Revelation 5:4 Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it;
I wept much
I wept much
ἔκλαιον [eklaion], imperfect tense: I was weeping.
John evidently understood the significance of the scroll and the great need to open it and to read its contents. From this we understand overwhelming sadness attends any future which continues apart from redemption. For the horrors of sin, sickness, murder, death and the warping of all things God intended for good would continue unabated for unending millennia if it were not for the cross of Christ. If God had not sent His Son—at His own initiative—mankind would have forever and completely remained lost. Locked within an eternity of generations darkened by depravity and pain, there would have been forever no hope.
Aside from the cross, the history of man is one long testimony of inability to overcome the ravages of sin.
John knew by that Spirit in which he was, what that sealed book meant. He knew that if no one was found worthy and able to take it from the hand of God, and to break its seals, that all the promises of the prophets, and all the hopes of the saints, and all the preintimations of a redeemed world, must fail.
W. A. Criswell explains why John wept:
“[John’s tears] represent the tears of all God’s people through all the centuries. Those tears of the Apostle John are
the tears of Adam and Eve, driven out of the Garden of Eden,
as they bowed over the first grave, as they watered the dust of the ground with their tears over the silent, still form of their son, Abel.
Those are the tears of the children of Israel in bondage as they cried unto God in their affliction and slavery.
They are the tears of God’s elect through the centuries as they cried unto heaven.
They are the sobs and tears that have been wrung from the heart and soul of God’s people as they looked on their silent dead, as they stand beside their open graves, as they experience in the trials and sufferings of life, heartaches and disappointments indescribable.
Such is the curse that sin has laid upon God’s beautiful creation; and this is the damnation of the hand of him who holds it, that usurper, that interloper, that intruder, that alien, that stranger, that dragon, that serpent, that Satan-devil.
‘And I wept audibly,’ for the failure to find a Redeemer meant that this earth in its curse is consigned forever to death. It meant that death, sin, damnation and hell should reign forever and ever and the sovereignty of God’s earth should remain forever in the hands of Satan” [Expository Sermons on Revelation (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1969), 3:69-70]
Thankfully, man was not left abandoned to a history of self-perpetuated depravity. For history is HIS story—“History, then, has its center in Jesus Christ and its goal is his triumphant reign over all the powers of the world.”
Revelation 5:5 and one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”
Revelation 5:5 and one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”
do not weep
do not weep
μὴ κλαῖε [mē klaie], a present tense imperative indicating that John continued to weep.26
the Lion of the tribe of Judah
the Lion of the tribe of Judah
God had revealed that the ruler would be like a lion, an offspring of Judah (Gen. 49:9-10; Ps. 60:7). Jesus was born in the line of Judah (Mat. 1:2-3; Luke 3:33; Heb. 7:14). Although Reuben was the firstborn, due to his sin and the sins of his brothers, the right of kingly rule fell to Judah:
Actually Reuben had the right of the firstborn. Nevertheless the Messiah is not “Lion out of the tribe of Reuben.” For, on account of sin (as recorded in Gen. 35:22), Reuben was deprived of his firstborn rights and the right concerning the Messiah (1Chr. 5:1; Gen. 49:3-4).
The next following brothers, Simeon and Levi, were also excluded (Gen. 49:5-7) on account of their bloody deed at Shechem (Gen. 34:25).
Thereupon Reuben’s rights as the firstborn were divided as follows: The double share of the material inheritance (Deu. 21:15-17) went to Joseph (in Ephraim and Manasseh; 1Chr. 5:1-2);
The priestly dignity (see Ex. 13:2, 13:15), having regard to Ex. 32:26-28, went to Levi (Num. 3:12, 45; 8:17-18);
and The ruler’s dignity (Gen. 43:1-34; 33:1-20; 48:14, 18-19) went to Judah, Jacob’s fourth son (1Chr. 5:2). Therefore is the Messiah the “Lion out of the tribe of Judah” (Rev. 5:5+; Gen. 49:9-10).27
A problem for the Jews
The genealogical records of the tribes of Israel were lost in the destruction of the temple in 70 AD. This poses a problem for Judaism which, having rejected Jesus, still awaits Messiah. If Messiah comes now, how will it be determined that He is the Lion from the tribe of Judah?
Messiah will have to come before the tribe of Judah loses its identity. This establishes a clear time period for the prophecy. The records by which tribal identities were maintained were kept in the Jewish Temple. All of these records were lost with the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D. Within a few generations all the tribes of Israel, with the exception of Levi, had lost their identity. Immediately after 70 A.D. the rabbis passed laws which would preserve the identity of the priestly tribe of Levi, but Jews from the other tribes quickly lost their identity. In order for this prophecy to have significance to humans (God still knows the tribal identities), Messiah had to come before 70 A.D.
Root of David
Root of David
Jesus was born in the line of David (Mt. 1:1, 6, 17, 20; Luke 1:27, 32; 3:31; Rom. 1:3; 2Ti. 2:8; Rev. 22:16+), He is the “son of David” (Mat. 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30-31; 21:9, 15; 22:42; etc.). Jesus is the “Rod from the stem of Jesse” (Isa. 11:1), the “Root of Jesse” (Isa. 11:10), David’s father (Ru. 4:22).Jesus is the fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant. God made an unconditional covenant with David where He swore that his throne would be established like the sun and moon (Ps. 89:33-37). At present, there is no “throne of David” upon the earth, but there will be when the Lion has completed His work (Rev. 20:4-6+) for the zeal of God will ensure it!
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. (Isa. 9:6-7) [emphasis added]
As a root springs anew from the stump of a tree which has been cut down and appears to be dead, so the line leading to Messiah was preserved throughout history. “For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut down, that it will sprout again, and that its tender shoots will not cease. Though its root may grow old in the earth, and its stump may die in the ground, Yet at the scent of water it will bud and bring forth branches like a plant” (Job 14:7-9). This root was repeatedly chopped back, but never completely terminated as Satan attempted throughout history to thwart the Messianic line of promise.
Jesus is the promised “Branch” that would come (King, Jer. 23:5-6; Servant, Zec. 3:8; Man, Zec. 6:12; Lord, Isa. 4:2).
Jesus is the promised “Branch” that would come (King, Jer. 23:5-6; Servant, Zec. 3:8; Man, Zec. 6:12; Lord, Isa. 4:2).
“Behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” (Jer. 23:5-6) [emphasis added]
Some see the root as including the idea of Jesus’ preexistence (cf. Mic. 5:2).31 Although this is true (Mat. 22:42-25), the present context deals with the origin of Jesus, not of David. Root here “is a metaphorical term for ‘offspring.’
has prevailed
has prevailed
ἐνίκησεν [enikēsen], from the same root (νικᾶω [nikaō]) which describes “he who overcomes,” ὁ νικῶν [ho nikōn].
Jesus has “overcome the world” John 16:33 ““These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.””
Whoever is born of God shares in His inheritance as overcomer (1Jn. 5:4; Rev. 2:7+, 11+, 17+, 26+; 3:5+, 12+, 21+; 17:14+; 21:7+).
1 Jn 5:4 “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.”
“At the cross He defeated
sin (Rom. 8:3),
death (Heb. 2:14-15), and
all the forces of hell (Col. 2:15; 1Pe. 3:19).
Believers are overcomers through His overcoming (Col. 2:13-14; 1Jn. 5:5).
Christ defeated Satan and his forces when He paid the redemption price of His shed blood. Through the payment of that price, Christ defeated Satan and his forces in the sense that He gained the right to take tenant possession of the earth away from them and rule the earth as the last Adam. This truth sheds light on the meaning of Christ’s statement just before He went to the cross, “the prince of this world is judged” (John 16:11).
Christ’s death sealed Satan’s doom. At the proper time, determined sovereignly by God, Christ will exercise the right he gained at the cross to throw out the usurper.
“Since [the] captivity, the royal family of Judah has not exercised rule but has remained dormant, just as a stump gives no evidence of having life. The stump of this royal family will spring to life again suddenly when its King (the Messiah or Christ) springs forth from it to rule.”
Having prevailed, the Lamb qualifies as the promised Shiloh (Gen. 49:10; Eze. 21:25-27). Midrash Rabbah 98 states that Shiloh denotes “to he whose it is,” “to he who it belongs,” “he whose right it is,” or “to whom kingship belongs.”
Gen 49:10 ““The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”
to open the scroll
to open the scroll
Jesus has the authority to open the scroll because He has the key of David. “God [the Father] Himself will not break a single seal of it, for the Father has ceded the prerogative of judgment”37 (John 5:22-27).
to loose its seven seals
to loose its seven seals
Having paid the ultimate price of redemption, being made sin on our behalf (Isa. 53:6; 2Cor. 5:21), the Lamb has earned the right to loose the seals bringing judgments on those who continue to reject His gracious offer of redemption (John 3:35-36). As each of these seals is loosed, additional judgment is brought upon the earth. The first six seals result in preliminary judgments (Rev. 6:1+, 3+, 5+, 7+, 9+, 12+). At the loosening of the seventh seal, the judgments become more pronounced as all seven trumpet judgments are within the seventh seal (Rev. 8:1-6+). At the opening of the seventh seal, the first four trumpets are sounded (Rev. 8:7+, 8+, 10+, 12+). Because the last three trumpet judgments are especially severe, there is a pause in the judgments as angelic warning is given concerning the severity of the last three trumpets (Rev. 8:13+). Then the first two of the final three trumpets sound (Rev. 9:1+, 13+). At the sounding of the final trumpet, the declaration is made: “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ” (Rev. 11:15+). By this we understand the last seven bowl judgments to be subsumed within the seventh trumpet. Prior to the pouring forth of the seven bowls of wrath (Rev. 16:1-17+), three more additional angelic warnings are given (Rev. 14:6-9+). The judgments of God’s wrath are completed in the pouring forth of the seventh bowl (Rev. 16:17+).
In the loosing of all seven seals, and the subsequent trumpet and bowl judgments, Christ retakes that which He purchased at Calvary (John 19:30; Rev. 11:15+; 16:16+; 21:6+). To bring the kingdom of God to earth, the kingdom of Satan must first be overthrown. Much of what follows in this book must be understood in the context of the overthrow of Satan’s kingdom prior to the setting up of God’s kingdom on earth.
By the end of the 70th week, Satan and his forces will have drawn all the rulers and armies of the world into the land of Israel for the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 16:12-16+), which will take place at Christ’s Second Coming and will pit Satan and his ungodly allies against Christ and His forces (Rev. 19:11+-20:3+). This will be Satan’s ultimate challenge to Christ’s right to take tenant possession of the earth and rule it. The combined military might of rebellious mankind will be gathered to the precise location to which Christ will return to take possession of the earth, because Satan will want all the help he can get to try to prevent Christ from exercising His right (Ps. 2:1-3).38
No portion of the roll is said to be unfolded and read; but simply the seals are successively opened, giving final access to its contents being read as a perfect whole, which shall not be until the events symbolized by the seals shall have been past, when Eph 3:10 shall receive its complete accomplishment, and the Lamb shall reveal God’s providential plans in redemption in all their manifold beauties. Thus the opening of the seals will mean the successive steps by which God in Christ clears the way for the final opening and reading of the book at the visible setting up of the kingdom of Christ.