
[5:1] Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. [2] And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” [3] And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, [4] and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. [5] And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
[6] And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. [7] And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. [8] And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. [9] And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are you to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
[10] and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
[11] Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, [12] saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
[13] And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
[14] And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
(Revelation 5 ESV)
Introduction of the one who is worthy
So what do we know about Him?
So what is His purpose?
So what does this mean for us today?
- Verse 5 – Jesus came to conquer sin and death as the remnant, the Lion from the tribe of Judah and the root of Jesse. His plan has been foretold through prophets for hundreds of years. This was not a fly by night scheme but preordained by God from the beginning of time.
- Verse 6 – Jesus was the sacrificial Lamb as illustrated through the Passover in Exodus, prophesied about in Isaiah 49-56 as the suffering servant, demonstrated in the Gospels and explained in the Epistles (Hebrews 2:9, 2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus is the Lamb that gave His life that you may have life. He died for your and my sins on the cross. He is the perfect sacrifice.
- Verse 6 – The Lamb controls all, sees all and His spirit is all. Just because He was slain does not mean that He is inferior. It was the will of the Father for the Lamb to be slaughtered to redeem us from sin. He did this by choice. (Isaiah 53:6, 10-12; John 3:16)
- Verse 7 – Jesus’ will and desire is to do the will of God the Father.
As these things of God are revealed to me through this book of Revelation, I cant help but identify with the sentiment of worship to God as the elders and hosts of heaven did in verses 8-14 as they recounted all the things He has done and who He is.