Who is Worthy?
Revelation 5 sets up a breathtaking scene where we see God’s fulfillment of His promises. Our author, John, describes the throne room where God is seated, holding a scroll sealed with seven seals. A powerful angel declares, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seven seals?” And yet, upon searching the entire earth, under the earth, and the spiritual realm, the search came up empty for any worthy being. John is utterly heartbroken by this news, knowing that the scroll holds the fulfillment of God’s promises to judge the earth. If no one opens the scroll and enacts His decrees, there is no hope for salvation from evil! An elder turn to encourage John, saying, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” John then looks to see not a lion like the elder described, but a slain lamb who enters and takes the scroll from God. Everyone in the throne room is amazed and breaks out in worship! (Rev. 5)
The chapter describes Jesus in a couple of different ways: first as a Lion of Judah, then as the Root of David. The Lion of Judah is a name given to Jesus throughout the Bible, originating in Genesis 49 when Isreal blesses his sons, the twelve tribes. In Judah’s blessing, Isreal refers to Judah as a lion’s cub and describes Judah as a victorious lion who is praised by his brothers and obeyed by the peoples. Isreal prophesies that “the scepter shall not depart from Judah” hinting at the royal nature of
Judah’s bloodline (Gen. 49:9-10). This prophetic blessing lays the groundwork for God’s promise to bring Jesus the Savior through the line of Judah.
The next descriptor given to Jesus by the elder is the Root of David. This name alluded to Jesus’ divine nature. How can a man be both born of the line of David and the root or origin of David? Only by God’s divine power can such a dichotomy even exist. Jesus was born in the line of Judah and David, and yet through his trinitarian nature he also created Judah and David (Rev. 4:11). Jesus even describes himself in this way, declaring, “I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” (Rev. 22:16b) By Christ’s holiness He is eternal, the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End, the Root and Descendant of David. He alone can open the scroll because of his holy, divine, and eternal nature.
All of creation is groaning in anticipation for the moment when Jesus fulfills His God-given purpose to enact God’s judgement upon all the inhabitants of the earth. This powerful scene of the Lion of Judah being found worthy to open the scroll is the culmination and fulfillment of God’s promises since Genesis 3. We have hope for salvation because by God’s grace, He provided a slain lamb sacrifice on the behalf of every tribe, nation, people, and tongue. Christ–the Lion of Judah and Root of David– alone is worthy to break the seal and open the scroll. Through God’s Word we have blessed assurance knowing that he keeps His promises to redeem His creation by means of the slain Lamb and mighty Lion.
Works Cited
MacArthur, John. Because the Time Is near: John Macarthur Explains the Book of Revelation. Moody Publishers, 2007.
“Revelation 5:5.” BibleRef.com, www.bibleref.com/Revelation/5/Revelation-5-5.html. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version Containing the Old and New Testaments. Crossway Books, 2016.
“Who Is the Root of David (Revelation 5:5)?” GotQuestions.org, 22 July 2024, www.gotquestions.org/root-of-David.html. Accessed 4 Mar. 2025.
