Daily Devotional For April 15, 2025
And I saw to the right of the One sitting on the throne a scroll, written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll, namely, to break its seals?” And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. And I wept much because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. And one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has overcome to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Rev 5:1-5.
Many translations of the Bible suggest that the scroll is in the right hand of the one sitting on the throne. But recent research suggest that the phrase “in the right hand” probably means “at the right side” instead.1 This makes a lot of sense in the light of how thrones were used in the ancient world. It was generally felt that the right side of the king was the highest possible place of honor. In Psalms 80:17 and 110:1, the king of Israel is described as sitting at God’s right side and they are co-rulers of Israel.
Many ancient thrones were large enough for three to four people to sit on. Ranko Stefanovic thinks the ancient reader may have understood the scroll to be lying on the throne at God’s right side. If that is so, to take up the book is to sit on the throne at God’s right side. In other words, when Jesus takes the book into His hands, He also sits down at the right side of the Father, taking up His role as the new king in the line of David (Rev 5:5).
In Old Testament times the Israelites came out of an extended period in which they had no king except God. There was no clear central control for the country. While putting a king on the throne could cause them to look away from God, in practice things were rather chaotic without an earthly king to give direction (Jud 17:6; 21:25). So God permitted them to institute a monarchy, first in the person of Saul, from the tribe of Benjamin, and then in the person of David, from the tribe of Judah. David’s reign was so blessed in comparison with Saul that his reign, and that of his son Solomon, became models of ideal rulership for Israel.
So this concept of Davidic kingship lies behind the story of Revelation 5. The Lamb is “the Lion of Judah” and the “root of David.” Elsewhere in the New Testament Jesus sits down at the right hand of His Father on the throne in heaven (Matthew 26:64; Hebrews 8:1. etc.) So when Jesus comes and picks up the scroll, He is taking his seat on the throne in the heavenly sanctuary.
Lord, this is wonderful news. The one in charge of earth and heaven is the Lamb that was slain. He knows what my life is like, He has felt what I feel. I can trust Him to rule wisely, fairly, and compassionately.
1 Ranko Stefanović, The Backgrounds and Meaning of the Sealed Book of Revelation 5, Andrews University Seminary Doctoral Dissertation Series, 22 (Berrien Springs, MI: Andrews University Press, 1996).