Revelation 5:5

and one of the elders saith unto me,, Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book and the seven seals thereof.

Weep not ... Many commentators have quoted the beautiful words of John Wesley in this connection: "The Revelation was not written without tears; neither without tears will it be understood."[16]

One of the elders saith unto me ... We agree with Mounce that, "The fact of an elder's addressing John is of no particular significance."[17] It appears to be an inert factor in the vision.

The Lion that is of the tribe of Judah ... This expression occurs nowhere else in the Bible."[18] Despite this, the conception is nevertheless found in the patriarchal blessing of Judah (Genesis 49:10), who earned the right to have his name stand in a title of the Messiah when he unselfishly offered himself as a ransom for his brother Benjamin (Genesis 44:18-34).

John's application of this glorious title to Christ, or rather its being so done in heaven, confirms Jesus Christ as the true occupant of the throne of David. Jesus Christ is now the true and only King of the true Israel, "the seed of David" who sits upon David's throne exalted in the heavens. David was the first "lion of the tribe of Judah," although not so-called in Scripture; but Christ, David's greater Son, became the true Lion. David, as ruler of the temporal kingdom of Israel, was the type or forerunner of Christ the ruler of spiritual Israel forever. As Wallace pointed out, the adoption of this title by Christ is but a continuation of the New Testament pattern of ascribing to him all of those glorious things of David, such as "the tabernacle, the throne, the mercies, the blessings, the key of David, etc."[19] For a further discussion of these things see under Revelation 3:7b.

The Root of David ... This title goes back to Isaiah 11:1ff, in which it was prophesied that, "A rod out of the stem of Jesse ... there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people ... his rest shall be glorious." As Barclay noted, "This means that Jesus Christ, the son of David, was the promised Messiah."[20]

[16] John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament (Naperville, Illinois: London: Epworth Press, n.d.), in loco.

[17] Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing company, 1977), p. 144.

[18] Leon Morris, op. cit., p. 95.

[19] Foy E. Wallace, Jr., The Book of Revelation (Nashville: Foy E. Wallace, Jr., Publications, 1966), p. 133.

[20] William Barclay, op. cit., p. 214.