Revelation 5:1-14 | Worthy Is The Lamb

Revelation 5:1-14 | Worthy Is The Lamb

Revelation 5:1-14
Worthy is the Lamb

I. Introduction

  1. We continue the heavenly scene that John was called up to from the Island of Patmos.
  2. He is about to receive a heavenly vision of future events.
  3. These chapters are setting the stage for the rightful place of Jesus to bring judgment upon the earth and reclaim His creation back to Himself.

II. vv. 1-4 The seven-sealed 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.[1]

  1. Scrolls were a common resource in the ancient world for recording important written documents.
    1. Scripture
      1. This was made from papyrus and rolled up.
      2. They were 8×10 and connected horizontally to each other and then fastened onto wooden sticks to roll it up.
      3. The scroll of Revelation would have been about twenty feet, and scribes would use only one side of the material.
    2. Wills, deeds, and other important documents were also recorded on scrolls.
      1. A sealed scroll with writing on both sides was known as a title deed in the ancient world.
      2. Jewish history gives us examples of documents in scroll form with writing on both sides.
      3. Jeremiah purchased a piece of property and sealed the scroll (Jer 32:6-12).
      4. The details of the contract would be written on the inside, and summary notes and signatures would be written on the outside.
      5. So, from both the historical record and Biblical evidence, a sealed document with writing on both sides could have been a title deed to property.
  2. Seven Sealed Scrolls
    1. It has been suggested that the scroll in Revelation 5 is the title deed to the earth.
    2. We know that each of these seals will be opened, which unleashes a terrible set of judgments upon the earth as the Lord reclaims His creation back to Himself.
    3. The Lord is reclaiming the earth and will reign upon it at the end of the Tribulation.
  3. Support for the title deed theory    
    1. God gave man authority over this earth.

      Genesis 1:28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”
      1. The environment was perfect, and there was no rivalry between man and the animal world.
    2. Man relinquished ownership.
      1. When Adam obeyed Satan, he became Satan’s servant, and Satan took ownership of what used to be Adam’s (Gen 3; Rom 6:16-18).
    3. Satan holds dominion over the earth.

      1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.

      2 Corinthians 4:4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.
      1. It is for this reason that Jesus came to earth and died on the cross, to redeem man from the stronghold of sin and Satan.
    4. The question is not who is willing but rather who is worthy?
      1. John weeps as He sees no one worthy to take this scroll.
      2. If nobody can fulfill the details of the contract, how would the world ever be redeemed from her fallen state?
  4. References to this scroll in Scripture
    1. Ezekiel seems to describe this same scroll in his vision of heaven.

      Ezekiel 2:9–10 9 Then I looked, and behold, a hand was extended to me; and lo, a scroll was in it. 10 When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, mourning and woe

    2. It may also be this scroll that was sealed in Daniel.

      Daniel 12:4 But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.

    3. The details of this scroll will be revealed as each of the seven seals of judgment is opened in the following chapters of Revelation.
    4. Each of these seals represents new trouble for planet earth.

III. vv. 5-7 Jesus is worthy

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.

  1. v. 5 Jesus is worthy by reason of birth.
    1. Jesus was of the tribe of Judah and a descendant of David and thus worthy to rule over Israel from a birthright perspective.
  2. vv. 5b-6 Jesus is worthy by reason of sacrifice.
    1. The lamb was a symbol of sacrifice for sin throughout Israel’s Levitical worship system established by Moses.
    2. Jesus is worthy to buy man back from the slave market of sin and this world because Jesus paid in full the price of redemption (John 19:30).
    3. Jesus prevailed over Satan to take the scroll and redeem the world back from His clutches, as well as the treasure of the field, mankind.

      Colossians 2:13–15 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.
  3. v. 6 Heavenly beings and Elders around the throne
    1. These four living creatures cry out the holiness of God repeatedly.
    2. Elders are either human representation or angels.
  4. v. 7 Jesus is a worthy redeemer.
    1. Jesus could take the scroll because He is our kinsman redeemer.
    2. In the Old Testament, the word for a redeemer is full of meaning.

      Redeem (goel) –  1) to redeem, act as kinsman-redeemer, avenge, revenge, ransom, do the part of a  kinsman 1a) by marrying brother’s widow to beget a child for him, to redeem  from slavery, to redeem land, to exact vengeance 1a2) to redeem (by payment)

    3. The kinsman redeemer, according to Scripture, had the right to buy back a sold piece of land and to redeem a relative who had sold themselves into slavery.
    4. In addition, the redeemer was responsible for raising up a child on behalf of the widow whose first husband died, leaving her childless.
    5. Jesus our redeemer (goel).
      1. This scene in heaven is all about who has the right to take the scroll (title deed to the earth) and redeem it from its lost state.
      2. Jesus came and redeemed this world, yet it wasn’t just a planet He was after; He was after a bride.
      3. The cost of our redemption.

        1 Peter 1:18–19 (NLT) 18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And it was not paid with mere gold or silver, which lose their value. 19 It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.

IV. vv. 8-14 Worship, the reasonable response to redemption.

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.

  1. We v. 9 is a verse that has a textual variant.

    NKJV 9 And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,

    NLT 9 For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God
    1. The variation from “us” or people impacts how one interprets whether these elders are those who have been redeemed or are some other creation that is singing about the creation God has provided for man.
    2. I believe the context and other external evidence weigh in favor of the NKJV translation.
    3. Not only do ancient texts use “us,” but so do early church leaders like Hippolytus, Cyprian, Augustine, and others.[2]
    4. The elders are wearing crowns and white garments that are often associated with the redeemed. [3]
    5. They are distinct from the living creatures and the multitude of angels that join in worship in Revelation 5:11.
    6. Angels are never referred to as elders in Scripture.
    7. The twelve tribal leaders held positions of authority in Israel.
    8. The Apostles were promised authority (Mat 19:28).
  2. v. 10 also carries a similar question around whether to use “them” or “us.”
    1. Here it seems likely to use “them.”
    2. This does not nullify the use of “us” in v. 9.
    3. This song could have an antiphonal song.
      1. With two groups singing at different times.
      2. At one point the elders sing, and at another point the four creatures sing.
  3. Heaven will erupt with worship when Jesus takes the scroll from God the Father who sits upon the throne.
    1. What a scene this will be with people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.
    2. Angels in heaven.
    3. Creation and the animal world rejoicing that the day has come for order and design to be restored to planet earth.
  4. v. 12 Heaven declares that Jesus is worthy of all we have.

    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!”
    1. William Macdonald states that Revelation 5:12 is a statement that believers will sing throughout eternity.
    2. Jesus is worthy to receive:

      “power—over my life, the church, the world, the universe;
      riches—all my silver and my gold;
      wisdom—the finest of my intellectual powers;
      strength—my physical strength for His service;
      honor—a single, pure desire to magnify Him in all my ways;
      glory—my entire life devoted to glorifying Him;
      blessing”—all my powers of praise for Him.”[4]

V.  Conclusion

  1. Are you among those who are redeemed?
  2. Do you offer up the praise and worship that our redeemer is worthy of?

[1] All Scripture quotations are from the NKJV unless otherwise noted.

[2] Paige Patterson, Revelation, ed. E. Ray Clendenen, vol. 39, The New American Commentary (Nashville, TN: B&H, 2012), 169.

[3] Ibid, 171.

[4] William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2363.

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