Unit: Revelation (Part 1)
Theme: Call to Arms
Lesson Text: Revelation 5:1-14
Supplemental Texts: Isaiah 53:7; Daniel 7:13-14; Mark 10:15; Luke 24:50-51; John 1:29; Acts 1:9-11
Aim: Worship the Lamb who was slain.
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By Mark Scott
Revelation 5:1-14
Worship in heaven is on-going. It never ends—and never gets old. That is why the transition between chapters four and five is smooth. What started in chapter four continued in chapter five. We move from the throne (and the one seated upon it) in chapter four to the scroll (and the one who can open it) in chapter five.
The Scroll (1-4)
The chapter began with the words “Then I saw.” Many chapters in Revelation begin with that phrase. John was taking notes as fast as he could and was pushing language to the breaking point. John was very observant and noticed that the scroll had writing on both sides (symbolic of being a very full message) and sealed with seven seals. This was a common thing in the ancient world. Documents would be sealed with wax and the king’s signet ring would be pushed down into the wax to make an official “stamp.” The fact that there were seven seals shows the secure nature of the document.
Next a mighty angel, in contrast with the myriads of angels mentioned later (11), proclaimed (preached) in a loud voice (similar to 1:10?), “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” If “throne” was the key word in chapter four, then “worthy” is the key word in chapter five. The word occurs four times in 14 verses. The word referred to what was weighty or of great value and was used in terms of scales and weighing things.
A search was made through the universe for one weighty enough to break the seals and open the scroll. The search came up empty. No one was worthy. This caused John great distress because he knew that the message on the scroll would be kept hidden if the seals could not be broken. John wept and wept. The expression meant to lament to the point of showing it outwardly.
The Lamb (5-8)
John’s lament was met by an elder’s assurance. A worthy one was found who could break the seals and open the scroll. He was a lion who was also a lamb. This lion is from the tribe of Judah and is also the Root of David. There is no question that this is Messiah Jesus (Genesis 49:8-10; John 1:29). In fact, this would be the last time that Jesus would be identified in Revelation as a lion. But this is no mere kitty cat. This lion/lamb caused people to run for the hills in fear (6:16-17).
The elders told John that the lamb had triumphed (conquered—and the verb tense indicated that the conquering has already taken place). Due to his victory (in the cross and resurrection?) this lamb can break the seals, open the scroll, and reveal the message on the scroll.
The lamb showed signs of having been slain already. The verb tense again matters. The lamb was slain sometime in the past, but the results of that sacrifice were on-going. The lamb was standing front and center at the throne. To look upon the one on the throne was also to look on the one before the throne. The elders and the living creatures encircled this lamb. The lamb had seven horns and seven eyes—a symbol of complete power and omniscience. These eyes are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth (probably indicative of the Spirit of God working to point people to Jesus—John 16:14).
At this point in this vision Jesus took the scroll from God’s right hand, and that was all that was necessary for heaven to break out in praise. That one act of revelation caused the living creatures and the twenty-four elders to go into full worship mode. Harps used in song and incense symbolic of prayers filled heaven with music and sweet smells.
The Song (9-14)
There are many songs in the Bible, but this one was new. It had good predecessors (e.g. Exodus 15; 2 Samuel 22; Psalm 145; Luke 1), but no equals. This was the song of the lamb sung by the elders and living creatures. The song celebrated the worthiness of Christ as the only candidate that could break the seals and open the scroll due to his sacrifice on Calvary’s cross.
As a result of that sacrifice salvation had been purchased and people from everywhere had been enlisted to serve the lion/lamb. They would co-reign with this king. Thousands of angels joined in the chorus. Seven qualities of this worthy one were shouted: power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise. What else can be said other than “Amen!” What else can be done other than “bow down?”
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