Behold, the Lion has prevailed. Friends, the Word of God does not whisper this, it thunders it: “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed” (Revelation 5:5). The hope of every soul, the fulfillment of every promise, the King of all kings—He is not weak, He is not uncertain, He is the Lion.
Core Identity and Lineage
From the beginning, Judah was called a lion: “Judah is a lion’s whelp… the sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come” (Genesis 49:9–10). That Shiloh, that promised ruler, is none other than Jesus Christ. Hebrews tells us plainly, “For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda” (Hebrews 7:14).
Matthew lays out His genealogy, tying Him directly to Judah and David (Matthew 1:1–3, 6, 16). Luke proclaims that “the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: and he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever” (Luke 1:32–33). John confirms the people’s expectation: “Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem” (John 7:42)? And Jesus Himself declares it: “I am the root and the offspring of David” (Revelation 22:16).
Can you see it? This Lion has a bloodline sealed in prophecy, verified in history, and exalted in eternity.
Royal Promises to David Fulfilled
God swore it by covenant: “I will set up thy seed after thee… and I will establish the throne of his kingdom for ever” (2 Samuel 7:12–16). Psalm after Psalm repeats it—“Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations” (Psalm 89:3–4). God promised that David’s lamp would never go out, His anointed horn would shine (Psalm 132:11–12, 17–18).
Isaiah cries, “The government shall be upon his shoulder… upon the throne of David, to order it, and to establish it… from henceforth even for ever” (Isaiah 9:6–7). Jeremiah sees it too: “I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign… and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS” (Jeremiah 23:5–6). God swore that a son of David would never fail to sit upon the throne (Jeremiah 33:14–17).
Brethren, has God lied? Or is every word established? The Lion of Judah is the fulfillment of the oath that cannot be broken.
The Scepter and Kingly Rule
Numbers prophesied, “There shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17). Psalms thunders: “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion… thou shalt break them with a rod of iron” (Psalm 2:6–9). Again, “The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies” (Psalm 110:1–2).
Revelation confirms it: “She brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron” (Revelation 12:5). And in Revelation 19, we see Him riding forth on a white horse, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS” (Revelation 19:11–16).
Tell me, is this a passive ruler, or a conquering King? The Lion rules with power none can withstand.
The Roar of the Lion
The prophets saw His strength. “He couched, he lay down as a lion: who shall stir him up?” (Numbers 24:9). Isaiah said, “Like as the lion… so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight” (Isaiah 31:4). Hosea declared, “They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion” (Hosea 11:10). Amos thundered, “The LORD will roar from Zion… The lion hath roared, who will not fear?” (Amos 1:2; 3:8).
Micah proclaimed, “The remnant of Jacob shall be as a lion among the beasts of the forest” (Micah 5:8–9). Friends, when the Lion roars, His people rise with Him.
Bethlehem, Judah, and the Shepherd-King
The Lion is born in Bethlehem: “Out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel” (Micah 5:2). He stands and feeds His flock in the strength of the Lord (Micah 5:4). Matthew quotes it: “Out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel” (Matthew 2:6).
Ezekiel foresaw one Shepherd: “And I will set up one shepherd over them, even my servant David” (Ezekiel 34:23–24; 37:24–25). Jesus Himself said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep… and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd” (John 10:11, 16).
Is He not both Lion and Shepherd? Mighty in power, tender in care.
Witness and Trust Among the Nations
This Lion is not only Israel’s King but the hope of the world. Paul wrote, “There shall be a root of Jesse, and he that shall rise to reign over the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles trust” (Romans 15:12). Isaiah promised that Gentiles would seek the Root of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1–10).
Psalms declared, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea… all nations shall serve him” (Psalm 72:8–11, 17). Daniel saw the vision: “There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him” (Daniel 7:13–14).
Friends, no borders, no nations, no tongues are excluded. This Lion claims them all.
Suffering Then Triumph
But before the roar, the Lamb was slain. “In the midst… stood a Lamb as it had been slain” (Revelation 5:6–10). Isaiah said, “He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter” (Isaiah 53:7). Paul explains, “Being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself… Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him” (Philippians 2:8–11).
The Lion and the Lamb are not opposites. They are one. Suffering brought victory. Death birthed dominion.
Zion, Kingship, and Worship
The Psalms declare, “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion” (Psalm 2). “Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psalm 110). Zechariah foretold, “Behold, thy King cometh unto thee… just, and having salvation” (Zechariah 9:9–10).
Revelation proclaims, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ” (Revelation 11:15). Brethren, the question is not if the Lion reigns, but when will you bow?
A Personal Response
Nathanael confessed, “Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel” (John 1:49). Will you confess the same? Paul wrote that He “is the head of the body, the church… that in all things he might have the preeminence” (Colossians 1:13–18).
And Timothy warns us to be ready: “The Lord Jesus Christ… shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (1 Timothy 6:14–16).
Conclusion
Friends, the Lion of Judah has roared. The throne is established. The nations are His. The rod is in His hand. The blood has been shed. The crown is eternal.
What will you do with the Lion of Judah? Will you bow in trust, or will you stand against the roar?
The time of decision is now.
Call to Action: The Question That Demands an AnswerIn Acts 2:37 Peter and the Apostles were asked the question – What Shall We do? And in Acts 2:38 Peter answered, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Do you understand this? After hearing the gospel and believing, they asked what should would do. The answer hasn’t changed friend, Peter clearly gave the answer. The question for you today is, Have you receieved the Holy Spirit Since you believed? If you’re ready to take that step, or you want to learn more about what it means to be born again of water and Spirit, visit: Come, and let the Spirit make you new. |
