The Lamb / Revelation 5
Father, as we crack Your book now to look inside, we pray that as we see the Lamb that has risen—the one who is worthy—that we would cry out as Your saints of old have: “Holy, holy, holy, the Lord God Almighty, who was and who is and who is to come.” We pray that in our moments together, You might enlighten our hearts to understand what Word You would have for us. We pray this for Christ’s sake and for His glory.
I am excited about what we are looking at today. John had been caught up to see a prophetic vision of what was and what is to come. The book of Revelation is outlined very clearly: chapter one covers the things which were, chapters two and three cover the things which are, and in chapters four and five, the Lord spins the thing around, pulls us outside of time, and shows us what the throne room of heaven looks like. It is a glimpse of the beginning of the end. While chapter four focuses on the throne room itself, the focus of chapter five is on one specific Man in human history who is worthy to take the book, look inside, and sum up all things in Christ.
The Quest for Sovereignty
Before we begin, I have to make a disclaimer and kind of a confession. How many of you grew up as kids as total cartoon fanatics? Any of you? A bunch of us, right? I mean, that’s just what you do as a kid. What else is there to do on a Saturday morning? You wake up, you flip on good old-school cartoons like Scooby-Doo. You remember that? They’d always sum it up at the end: “I would have gotten away with it, too, if it wasn’t for you meddling kids!”
But if you look closely, there was a consistent theme with almost every cartoon villain. What were they all trying to do? They were trying to take over the world. They all had this diabolical plan to rule everything. Even Dr. Evil understood what taking over the world looked like. It was this constant thrust—some evil character with a terrible accent trying to hypnotize everybody and seize control.
It’s funny because cartoons often just take a snapshot of our reality, make a parody out of it, and try to make it funny. If you look over the pages of history, that drive is a reality. We’ve had figures like Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Alexander the Great, and even Hitler. They all had one thing in common: they all failed miserably. At the end of the day, there is only one Man in human history who will rule the entire world with a rod of iron. There is only one Man worthy to take the scroll.
The Sealed Scroll
In verse one, we are introduced to this book or scroll. It’s the Greek word biblion, where we get our word “Bible.” There are a couple of interesting things about this scroll in the right hand of God. First, it is comprehensive. If you notice, it’s written on the inside and on the back. Typically, these documents were only written on one side so that when they were rolled up, you couldn’t see the contents. This one, however, is full. It’s packed on both sides and then sealed with seven seals.
Revelation 5:1 (NASB)
I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.
The second thing you notice is that this scroll is the focal point of the chapter. It is in the right hand of God Almighty. It is held by Him, sealed by Him, and it is authoritative. Why is it so important that this book be opened? We have two Old Testament prophets who give us a snapshot of what is written in this scroll.
The first is Ezekiel. He describes a scroll written on the front and the back, full of lamentations, mourning, and woes. This scroll is a two-part story. The first part involves judgment, but the second portion is redemption. What you find in this scroll is the process of the Lord taking back the world and redeeming all mankind under the authority of Christ.
Ezekiel 2:9-10 (NASB)
Then I looked, and behold, a hand was extended to me; and lo, a scroll [was] in it. When He spread it out before me, it was written on the front and back, and written on it were lamentations, mourning and woe.
In this scroll, you sense the tension most people feel when they read Revelation. It can be terrifying because there is very little light at the end of the tunnel for those who do not know God. It is a scroll of mourning and woe, yet it is also the title deed of redemption for the world. The prophet Daniel was also given a snapshot of what would come, but he was told to roll it up and seal it until the time was right.
Daniel 12:4 (NASB)
‘But as for you, Daniel, conceal these words and seal up the book until the end of time; many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase.’
The Search for the Worthy
Now we find an angel crying out, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to look inside?” And behold, in verse three, no one is found. Think about that. No one was found worthy to approach God the Father and take that scroll.
Revelation 5:2-3 (NASB)
And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?’ And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it.
Consider the history of the people of God. Adam, the first man, is not worthy. Moses, the great lawgiver whose face glowed after spending time with the Lord, is not worthy. Elijah, who defeated the prophets of Baal and performed tremendous miracles, is not worthy. Noah, who was found righteous and preserved through the flood, is not worthy. Abraham, the father of the faithful, is not worthy. Isaac, the promised child, is not worthy. Jacob, who wrestled with God, is not worthy.
What about the New Testament? Peter, the Rock, is not worthy. John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, is not worthy. Matthew, Luke, and even the Apostle Paul, who wrote two-thirds of the New Testament, are not found worthy. There is no created being in heaven or on earth—not even the false prophet or the beast—who can take it. The search even goes “under the earth.” Even the adversary from the pit of hell is given an opportunity to see if he is worthy, and he is not.
If the story stopped at the end of verse three, it would be a tragedy. It would mean God created the world, man fell, Christ came and died, but in the end, no one could finish the plan. Because of this, John begins to weep greatly.
The Lion and the Lamb
But then, as if in a great movie where the hero appears just in time, John is rebuked by one of the elders. The elder tells him, “Stop. Behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome.”
Revelation 5:4-5 (NASB)
Then I [began] to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; and one of the elders said to me, ‘Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.’
The elder uses very specific titles. First, the “Lion of the tribe of Judah.” This goes back to Genesis 49, where Jacob blesses his sons. Judah was the strongest, the “lion’s whelp,” and the promise was made that the scepter of authority would not depart from Judah until it comes to the one to whom it belongs. Second, he is called the “Root of David.” This refers to the promise God made to David in 2 Samuel 7—that a King from his line would reign on the throne forever.
John hears about a Lion, but when he turns to look, he sees something else. He sees a Lamb standing as if it had been slain.
Revelation 5:6 (NASB)
And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
We often gravitate toward the “Lion” imagery because we want the leader and the conqueror. But it’s interesting: Jesus is only referred to as a Lion once in the book of Revelation. He is referred to as the Lamb twenty-nine times.
Think back to the Exodus. When God sent Moses to Pharaoh, it wasn’t just about “let my people go”; it was about worship. The final plague required a lamb to be slain and the blood placed on the doorposts so that judgment would pass over. That Lamb is the focal point of human history.
I want you to notice the description: He is standing, but He looks as if He had been slain. He still carries the marks. Remember when Jesus appeared after the resurrection? Thomas said, “Unless I can put my finger in His scars, I’m not going to believe.” We call him “Doubting Thomas,” but maybe he just wanted to be sure it was the same Man who had suffered for him.
Think about the road to Emmaus. Jesus is traveling with two disciples, but they don’t recognize Him. They are weeping because they thought the Messiah had been crucified. Jesus explains the entire plan of God to them, starting from the scriptures. Then, He breaks bread with them, and the moment He does, their eyes are opened. Why then? Perhaps because when He reached for the bread, they saw the scars in His hands. Isaiah 52 tells us His appearance was marred beyond recognition during the crucifixion. He bears those marks as a trophy of His sacrifice.
Complete Authority and Universal Worship
This Lamb has seven horns and seven eyes. In the Bible, horns represent authority and power, and the number seven represents completeness. He has the fullness of authority and the fullness of divinity. He goes to the right hand of Him who sat on the throne and takes the scroll. He is not just worthy to receive it; He is worthy to execute everything written in it.
Revelation 5:7-8 (NASB)
And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
When He takes the scroll, the response is worship. The elders hold golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. I love that imagery. Psalm 141 says, “May my prayer be counted as incense before You.” Our prayers are like aromatherapy to God.
What are the saints in heaven praying? Probably what we pray: “God, bring this thing to an end. Set things right.” But I often follow that by saying, “But Lord, here is the list of people I know who don’t know You yet.” Aren’t you glad God didn’t bring the end fifteen years ago? Or ten years ago? We want to be in the presence of God, but we have friends and family who need Him. So we pray, “Your will be done,” and God continues to work.
Psalms 141:2 (NASB)
May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.
Then they sing a new song. They praise Him because He purchased people for God from every tribe, tongue, and nation. He has made us a kingdom of priests.
Revelation 5:9-10 (NASB)
And they sang a new song, saying, ’Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood [men] from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. ‘You have made them [to be] a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.’
Think about the Mount of Transfiguration. Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus, and Peter—who is an idiot like me—says, “Lord, it’s good to be here! Let’s build some tents and stay!” And God basically tells him, “Shut up, Peter. Listen to My Son.” Then Moses and Elijah disappear, and Jesus leads them back down the hill. Why? Because we can’t live our redeemed life just sitting on a mountain. At the bottom of the hill was a person in need.
Our ministry is not just about singing songs; it’s about being priests who introduce people to God. Paul says we are His workmanship, created for good works. We are a people for His own possession. Most of us feel like we don’t pray enough, and usually, that’s because prayer often comes from panic. When we get into the mess of ministry and start talking to people about Jesus, we find ourselves praying a lot more!
Every Knee Shall Bow
Finally, John hears the voice of unnumbered throngs—thousands upon thousands, myriads of myriads—all gathered around the throne.
Revelation 5:11-12 (NASB)
Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, ‘Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.’
They aren’t just singing; they are shouting with a loud voice. It’s not about how pretty the harmony is; it’s about the magnitude of the praise. They are declaring that the Lamb is worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing. Then every created thing in heaven and on earth joins in.
Revelation 5:13-14 (NASB)
And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, ‘To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, [be] blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.’ And the four living creatures kept saying, ‘Amen.’ And the elders fell down and worshiped.
I want to close with a thought from the prophet Isaiah. God says, “Turn to Me and be saved… for I have sworn by Myself… that every knee will bow and every tongue will swear allegiance.”
Isaiah 45:22-23 (NASB)
’Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. ’I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear [allegiance].
This is a harsh reality for our world: every knee will bow. It will either be bowed in worship or it will be bowed in judgment. At the end of the day, we are all going to bow the knee to the Lord.
If you are a non-believer and that makes you angry, I understand that emotion. But I have never found anyone else in history who died, was buried, and rose from the dead so that I could be reconciled to God. I want to encourage you to consider who Jesus is. Maybe it’s time you settled that question. My prayer is that we would all bow in a song of worship with a loud voice, and not in judgment.
If we can help you in that process, we would love to. Whether it’s filling out a card or coming up after the service to say, “I want to know more about Jesus,” we are here for that. As a church, we want to help people connect to God and to each other. On this Mother’s Day, if we can help you, please let us know.
Would you pray with me?
Father, help us as we worship tonight. Whether we are just beginning our journey or have walked with You for years, help us connect to You. For those of us who are believers, as we engage in these songs, may we be focused on the One who is worthy. We love You, and we thank You that there is a Lamb. Amen.