“And one of the elders saith 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.”
Then one of the elders said to me, 'Do not weep — behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he is able to open the scroll and its seven seals' — the elder announces Christ through Judaic messianic titles: Lion (Genesis 49:9-10; conquering warrior), Root of David (Isaiah 11:10; Davidic Messiah), has conquered (nikao, past victory). His conquest establishes his fitness to enact God's purposes.