Rev 5:5-6 | TNotes | STEP | 5:5 Designations for Jesus as the Lion of ... Judah (see Gen 49:9-10 ) and the heir to David’s throne (see Isa 11:10 ) are Old Testament metaphors for the Messiah (see Jer 23:5 ; 30:9 ; John 7:42 ). • Because Jesus won the victory at the cross (John 16:33 ), he is the only one worthy to open the scroll and reveal God’s purposes (Rev 4:11 ; 5:2 , 12 ). God’s plan for history centers around Jesus and what he has done. His relationship to the scroll indicates his control of history.

5:5 ^a Designations for Jesus as the Lion of ... Judah (see Gen 49:9-10 ^b) and the heir to David’s throne (see Isa 11:10 ^c) are Old Testament metaphors for the Messiah (see Jer 23:5 ^d; 30:9 ^e; John 7:42 ^f).

• Because Jesus won the victory at the cross (John 16:33 ^g), he is the only one worthy to open the scroll and reveal God’s purposes (Rev 4:11 ^h; 5:2 ⁱ, 12 ^j). God’s plan for history centers around Jesus and what he has done. His relationship to the scroll indicates his control of history.
5:6 ^k The Jews expected the Messiah to appear as a conquering lion. Instead, Jesus came as a Lamb (John 1:29 ^l, 36 ^m; Acts 8:32-35 ⁿ; 1 Cor 5:7 ^o; 1 Pet 1:19 ^p). The Lamb that had been slaughtered but was now standing refers to Jesus’ death and resurrection.

• The Lamb’s seven horns represent his complete power, and the seven eyes represent his complete knowledge (see Zech 4:10 ^q). He is also fully related to the perfect Spirit of God (Rev 1:4 ^r).