Revelation 5:4-7

"And," continues John, "I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and read the book, neither to look thereon." The exiled apostle is filled with anxiety to penetrate the secrets of futurity, and to know the fortunes of that Church which he loved better than he loved his own life. He was then. prisoner on. rocky isle of the sea. It was. time of persecution. He was separated from the saints who dwelt upon the shores, and among the mountains that he could dimly observe as he gazed to the east; and when he looks upon the sealed book his burdened spirit implores, with flowing tears, that the seals may be broken and that he may behold the results, in the future, of all the struggles, sufferings and blood of. persecuted people.

And one of the elders said unto me, Weep not; behold the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

His anxious heart is cheered by the assurance that the book will be opened and that the Lion of the tribe of Juda, his own dear Saviour, will break the seals and reveal to him the wonderful history. It is an elder who gives him this cheering assurance, and let it be distinctly noted that such. duty as instructing. prophet in heavenly things was never laid upon. human being under either covenant. Such duties mark the elders as belonging to the angelic realm. When John was told that the Lion of the tribe of Juda had prevailed to open the book, he looked--

And lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood it Lamb, as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. And he came and took the book out or the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

When John looked to behold the Lion of Juda, the root of David, who should open the book, he behold the only being in the universe who could take it from the hand of God. There is none other to whom the future is revealed. He only, to whom all power in heaven and earth has been given, can control the events of earth. He only can hold in his hand the book of destiny, open its leaves, and reveal its record to men. John looked to see this mighty one who was deemed worthy to exercise the prerogative of God. When his eyes rested upon him he saw, instead of the majestic symbol of. Lion,. Lamb,. sacrificial Lamb bearing wounds, the marks of having been slain. The Lion had become. Lamb. The Lamb became. Lion,. conqueror, and "prevailed," so as to be able to hold and open the book, or to hold the reins of all power, by submitting unto death. As John beholds the vision he observes seven horns and seven eyes, the symbols of unlimited power and the fullness of the divine spirit. The horn is always an emblem of power, and with the number seven, the number of perfection, indicates power that has no limit.