Genesis 48-50: The end of an Era or Beginning?

The house of Israel, all twelve of Jacob's sons are now safely ensconced in Egypt.  Jacob's heart is full because he has experienced what he never expected to see, a reunion with his long lost son Joseph.  Now, he can die a peaceful and blessed man.  All that remains is for him to pass a blessing on to his sons, and since family history repeats itself, the major blessing will not go to his eldest son, Reuben.  Nor will it go to the next two that were born, Simeon and Levi.  Jacob may have been old and feeble, his eyes may have been failing because of old age, but he could see clearly into the hearts of his sons.  Since the time they threw Joseph in the well, Judah had become the spokesman of conscience for the brothers:  in Genesis 37, Genesis 43, in his impassioned plea for Benjamin when Joseph wanted to keep him in Genesis 44 and in Genesis 46 when Jacob sent him on ahead get directions to the land of Goshen.  Jacob, the one whose name had been changed to Israel, saw into the future of all time and gave the blessing to Judah. 

"Judah, your brothers will praise you;

your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;

your father's sons will bow down to you.

You are a lion's cub, O Judah;

you return from the prey, my son.

Like a lion he crouches and lies down,

like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?

The scepter will not depart from Judah,

nor the ruler's staff from between his feet,

until he comes to whom it belongs 

and the obedience of the nations is his.

He will tether his donkey to a vine,

his colt to the choicest branch;

he will wash his garments in wine,

his robes in the blood of grapes.

His eyes will be darker than wine,

his teeth whiter than milk. Gen:49:8-12 NIV

And so,it comes full circle again.  Could Jacob see ahead to the future, did he see the same thing that the Disciple John saw on the Isle of Patmos?  "And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.  Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”  And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.  But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth." - Rev 5:1-6 NKJV