Revelation chapter 5, continues the scene from around the throne of God. After the redeemed of the Lord are seen around the throne, God is ready to launch the events of the end of time. Remember the scene around the throne of God. Angels of all classes surround the throne and the redeemed are on their faces worshipping God the Father. Then John’s attention was drawn to the Father and a scroll laying in His right hand.
Revelation 5:1 NKJV 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.
The scroll was sealed and had not been opened. The future of the world and the rewards for the redeemed are in the right hand of God. The word “in” (epi) means on or upon. It appears the scroll was laying upon God’s opened right hand ready for whoever is worthy to take it and open the seals. There is much significance about this. When John first saw God on the throne, He offered no description of His person. Now he beholds the right hand of God. His right hand represents God’s ultimate control and power. It is important for us and the world to know that the future of all things is in God’s hand. God is not withholding His future purpose and plan that are revealed in the book. The book or scroll has writing on the inside and outside. It is apparent that this is the full purpose or complete purpose of God to which nothing can be added.
Revelation 22:18 declares “anyone who adds or takes away from the words of this prophecy shall be cursed.”
The scroll contains the redemptive plan of God and its victorious completion. The redemptive plan comprises the victory of the redeemed over Satan, sin, and evil and the removal of the curse and the tempter. While the church rejoices in the presence of God, the earth begins feeling the unrestrained influence of evil. The church that had hindered the complete expression of evil has been taken away and is rejoicing in the presence of God, (2 Thessalonians 2:7).
The opening of the seven seals presents successive steps God has prepared for the ultimate opening and reading of the book and establishment of the Kingdom of Christ. This makes it possible for the full inheritance of the redeemed to be revealed and the principalities and powers in heavenly places to see the manifold wisdom of God, (Ephesians 3:10). As the seals are opened, John was shown progressive events of the seven year tribulation, the events that bring about the end of the world as we know it, and the ultimate victory of Christ. Each of the seals builds upon the previous.
Seven is God’s perfect number and indicates that the secrets that are within have been hidden by God and are reserved for this time.
Revelation 5:2-3 NKJV 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.
It is good to consider those in attendance when the message “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” is proclaimed.
All of the saints (the redeemed of God) and Patriarchs of old are present. Enoch, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Samuel, David, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, Joel… Think about this. The Apostles of Christ and leaders of the early church will be present. The hosts of the saints from all ages will be on their faces before the throne of God.
“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.
The future and the inheritance of the redeemed of Christ are written in the seven-sealed-scroll. John had been told, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this,” (Revelation 4:1). Now it appears that no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. These are profound words. God the Father held the future in His hands, and no one was able to even look at it.
Revelation 5:4-5 NKJV 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.”
When John heard that no one was able to open or look at the scroll, he wept much. He was weeping because no one was worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at the scroll. At that moment, the future of the redeemed, their inheritance, and the defeat of Satan was uncertain to John.
One of the elders (not an angel) said, “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.”
Jesus Christ the Son of Man, the Son of David, the Son of God has prevailed. When He came to earth the first time, He was the Lamb of God that was sacrificed to take and bear away the sin of the world. In the end, He appears as the Lion of the tribe of Judah with judgment upon His enemies. The Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Lamb of God has prevailed and conquered. Here in Revelation He appears as the Lamb and the Lion. He has made it possible for the redeemed to have a place around the throne of God. As the Lion, He is able to open the scroll and loose its seven seals.
Revelation 5:6 NKJV 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.
Jesus Christ is the resurrected and glorified Lamb of God that has been slain as a sacrificial offering. When John saw Him, He was alive, but He had the marks of His wounds. After His resurrection, Jesus met His disciples behind closed doors.
In Luke 4:39 He said, “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”
When John beheld the Lamb of God, “He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”
The seven horns represent perfect power and might. The seven eyes represent the fullness of the Spirit of God and complete and perfect knowledge that is sent out into all the earth. These are a representation of the Lamb of God’s perfect and ultimate power, authority and watchfulness over all the earth.
Revelation 5:7 NKJV Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
By taking the scroll from the open hand of the Father, the Lamb assumes His everlasting dominion and rule. Only the Lamb of God is worthy to redeem us from our sins and now He is presented as the only One worthy to take the scroll. By taking the scroll out of the Father’s hands, Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is demonstrating His authority to carry out the Father’s judgments and determined will. While He walked this earth, He perfectly fulfilled the Father’s will. By taking the scroll, He is declaring that He is able to fulfill whatever the Father has planned. After taking the scroll, John observes what happens from the throne (vs. 7), to the cherubim and all of the redeemed in heaven (vss. 8-10), to the innumerable hosts of angels (vss. 11-12), and to every creature in the universe (vs. 13).
Revelation 5:8 NKJV 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.
Earlier, the angels worshipped and cried, “Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty.” (Revelation 4:8) Then the twenty-four elders (the redeemed of the Lord) cast their crowns before the throne and said, “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created.”(Revelation 4:11)
When the Lamb of God takes the scroll, the cherubim and the hosts of the redeemed fall down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and a golden bowl full of incense.
The worship and singing in heaven is accompanied with musical instruments and the incense of heaven, which is the prayers of the saints. Your prayers will be offered up before God as a sweet smelling aroma. In the Tabernacle, the High Priest offered a double handful of incense on the altar before the mercy seat. In heaven, the four living creatures and the redeemed of the Lord offer up the prayers of the saints as incense before God and the Lamb. John heard the redeemed sing a new song of praise. The words of their new song helps to further identify who they are. They have already cast their golden crowns at the feet of God the Father and now they lift up a song of praise with harps and golden bowls of incense. In the tabernacle this was the function of priests.
In Revelation 1:5-6, the redeemed are washed from their sins in His blood and have been made kings and priests to His God and Father.
Revelation 5:9-10 NKJV 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, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
You are worthy to take the scroll.
“You are worthy” is a celebration of the standing that only Jesus Christ the Lamb of God has. He is worthy. He is worthy “to take the scroll,” the future and inheritance of the redeemed is in His hands. This is a celebration of Christ’s supreme and ultimate authority and control. No one else has the ability to open the seals that are upon the scroll. The future judgments and rewards of the saints is in the Lord’s hands.
This is the song of the redeemed of the Lord.
“For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.”
It is a song of praise for what the Lord has done for us. He has redeemed us to God by His blood and has made us kings and priests to our God. “And we shall reign on earth” is a view of the victory of the saints of God, the redeemed from all tribes, tongues, peoples and nations.
Revelation 5:11 NKJV 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,
Now the sound of worship is extended out from the throne to include the hosts of the angels. The numbers of worshipers is in the millions around the throne of God and the Lamb.
Revelation 5:12 NKJV 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!”
There are seven things the Lamb is worthy to receive.
- Power — (dunamis) over life, death, the church, the world and all created things
- Riches — (plutos) all of the wealth in heaven and on earth belongs to Him.
- Wisdom — (sophia) He is omniscient and whatever wisdom is found in His creation must return to Him.
- Strength — (ischys) all ability, might and capability belongs to Him.
- Honor — (ti-men) He is the Lamb of God and deserves all status and esteem.
- Glory — (doxa) all worship, praise and majesty and glory belong to Him.
- Blessing — (eulogia) all blessing and exaltation belongs to Him.
Revelation 5:13 NKJV 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!”
After hearing the worship and praise to the Lamb, all creation joins in with the praise. “Blessing and honor and glory and power Be to Him who sits on the throne, And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
Philippians 2:9-11 NKJV Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Every creature which is in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea will bow before Him.
Revelation 5:14 NKJV Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, The Lamb deserves all honor, glory and praise. It is fitting for the Cherubim to say “AMEN!” or “Truly and Indeed!”
