Revelation 5:1-14 - Worthy is the Lamb of God!

Revelation 5:1-14

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

1 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. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 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.”

6 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. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

Worthy Is the Lamb

8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice:

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, I heard saying:

“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”

14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!”
And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

This first vision given to John in the heavens saw him witness the sealed scroll symbolizing the unfolding events of the future of God’s work of the revelation of judgment on the world.  The question thundered and reverberated throughout the throne room of God’s presence, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”  None appeared to be able to do so, not on earth and neither in heaven, not to open the scroll nor even to be able to look at it!  What would happen if the scroll of time was not opened and the future events remained hidden to us?  John wept in despair that there appeared to be none worthy there who could open and read it.  Then the good news was proclaimed that the Lamb of God, the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David, the Messiah, was able to open and read it because He alone earned the right and had the ability to do so.  This was because the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, had put sin’s penalty to death and defeated death itself by His death and resurrection from the grave!  He was seen then by John there as a Lamb slain by sacrifice who had the seven Spirits of God and all power represented by the horns and eyes which roam the earth (Zechariah 4:10, 2 Chronicles 16:9) and watch over the seven churches as seen in chapters two and three.  He came and took the scroll from the right hand of God who sits on the throne in heaven, the hand and position of all power and sovereign authority.  When the Lamb took the scroll in hand, all fell down to worship before Him who is the divine Son of God that sacrificed Himself on the cross for us all to pass over our sins (Romans 3:25-26, 1 Corinthians 5:7) by taking the penalty of them on Himself as a scapegoat (Leviticus 16:10) and permanently carrying them away from us.  The elders there before the throne then San His praises for His work that enabled the Lamb to unseal the scroll and reveal the book of life to all who were found written there (Philippians 4:3, Revelation 13:8) and the events to follow until our final redemption and His reign upon the earth in our presence.  They sang his praises for being worthy for who He is and all He has done to be the One to open the sealed book to reveal all sealed as His!  We are redeemed by that sacrifice of His lifeblood out of every nation and not just Israel, chosen and justified through the faith of Abraham, and made to rule with Him in eternity and minister here as priests, each and every saved and justified soul who is His, not ones named by man as worthy to so serve as priests.  That earthly misinterpretation by those in Rome will be exposed at last at His return.  Then the heavenly chorus made up of the multitude of angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders all spoke His praise and worthiness.  They proclaimed the Lamb as being worthy of all power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing — attributes only ascribed to the Divine Lord God.  Everyone and everything in earth and sky and sea blessed and honored Him on the throne and the Lamb forever and ever as the highest praise.  The four living creatures serving nearest to God the Father then ended this statement with a hearty Amen and the twenty four elders then fell prostrate as well before Him in worship in this heavenly throng.  We also proclaim now, Worthy is the Lamb of God who was slain and takes away the sin of the world, as John 1:29 looked forward to at His arrival on the earth the first time.  Come, let us worship and adore Him in anticipation of the day we will be united in eternity before the throne come to earth (Revelation 21:3, 22-23, 22:3-4) and laud the Lamb who alone is worthy!