One of the twenty-four older men steps forward and urges John not to weep. His tears are based upon incomplete knowledge. No created being could open the seals, but there was one who could. John is told to look at the lion of the tribe of Judah. Jesus is so called because he was the fulfillment of the great prophecy made by Jacob concerning Judah's descendants. (Genesis 49:9-10; Hebrews 7:14) Further, He is called a Root of David because he is the one who fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah 11:1-16. (See also 2 Samuel 7:12-17; Luke 1:32-33) How reassuring it must have been to those Christians to know He overcame, or conquered, sin and death and was worthy to pen the scroll. (Hebrews 2:14-18; 2 Timothy 1:10) Because He has overcome, Jesus has the keys to Hades and death. (Revelation 1:18)

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