A SCROLL IN THE HAND OF GOD THE FATHER (Revelation 5:1-4)
After describing what he saw and the events that took place in chapter 4, in chapter 5 John turns his attention back to the throne and to the One seated on it, God the Father, whom the prophet Daniel calls the Ancient of Days, and John says, “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.” (Revelation 5:1, NASB95)[2]
The word translated “book” in Greek is the word for “scroll” which was a long piece of papyrus paper or animal skin that was used before the invention of the modern book.
This particular scroll was in the hand of God the Father and John noticed that it was sealed with seven seals. This scroll was sealed with seven seals showing that was fully written, that it words were final and could only be opened by the One for whom it was intended.
John noticed that the scroll was written both on the inside and the back, this scroll was the title deed to the earth, but unlike title deeds today, this one did not describe what would be inherited, but instead, like a kinsman redeemer, it described how the One to whom it belonged would regain what was rightfully his, this will occur by the divine judgments about to be poured out on the earth.
While this scroll is a scroll of doom and judgment, it is also a scroll of redemption. Not just mankind but all of creation.
John then says that he saw a strong, or mighty, or powerful angel and this angel had a message, and it was proclaimed to the universe, in a loud voice that could be heard throughout God’s creation. The angel asked who was worthy to take the scroll and break the seals.
At the end of his cry there is silence, no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it. No one in the entire creation of God is worthy to open the scroll.
John says he began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to break the seals and look into the scroll. Would evil possess creation for eternity?
But John’s sorrow, John’s tears were premature because the search for someone who was worthy was almost over.
WORTHY IS THE LAMB (Revelation 5:5-7)
One of the twenty-four elders stepped up to John when he saw him weeping and told him to stop weeping, look or behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has overcome, He can open the scroll and break the seals, He is worthy.
The elder used two names to describe Jesus that are from the New Testament, both refer to His human lineage to prove that He is worthy.
First, the elder referred to Jesus Christ as the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah. Back in Genesis 49 when Israel (Jacob) was about to die, he blessed and spoke prophetically about each of his children and in verse 8-10 he described Judah to be lionlike and promised that this tribe would be the royal tribe.
The promise was made that from this lionlike tribe would come a strong, fierce, and deadly ruler. This was the kind of Messiah the Jews of Jesus’ day were expecting, and tragically they completely misjudged their Messiah.
He is a Lion that will tear up and destroy His enemies, but it will be according to His timetable, not man’s. But His lionlike judgment is coming. It will be both fierce and deadly.
Secondly, the elder described Him as the Root of David and this comes from Isaiah 11:1 and 10, that tells that He is of the royal line of the house of David who God had promised would have a king to sit on David’s throne forever.
Both Matthew 1 and Luke 3 reveal to us that Jesus was a descendant of David both on His earthly father’s side and on His mother’s side.
Paul wrote in Romans 1:3 says that Jesus Christ, God’s Son was born a descendant of David according to the flesh.
So, Jesus Christ is the One worthy to take the scroll because of who He is—the rightful King from David’s descendants and because He is the Lion with the power to destroy His enemies.
As John listened to the words of this elder, his eyes were drawn to a figure between the throne with the four living beings and the elders.
What John saw was not the mighty, powerful Lion, but John saw a Lamb standing, as if it had been slain.
Jesus Christ could not be the Lion of judgment, the King of glory, unless He was first the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
Even though the Passover lamb represents and points to Jesus Christ, He is only called a Lamb once in the Old Testament, and outside of Revelation only four times in the New Testament, but in the book of Revelation He is referred to as a Lamb 31 times.
As John gazed at this Lamb, he describes several features about this Lamb that indicate this was no ordinary Lamb.
First, He was standing, alive on His feet, yet looking as if He had been slain. The scars from the deadly wound this Lamb received was clearly visible, yet He was alive. Though man and Satan had conspired against Him and killed Him, He rose from the dead defeating and triumphing over His enemies, and sin, and death forever.
Secondly, John says that this Lamb had seven horns. Horns in Scripture symbolize strength and power. Seven as we have learned is the number of perfection; the seven horns symbolize the Lamb’s complete, perfect, absolute power.
Thirdly, John says that the Lamb had seven eyes, this denotes His perfect and complete understanding and knowledge. John tells us that these seven eyes represent the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Again, this refers to the fullness of the Holy Spirit in His sevenfold role in the end times, resting on the Lord Jesus Christ and being sent out into all the earth to fulfill His role in the end times.
Verse 7 is the act in this vision in God’s throne room that everything from chapter 4 verse one has been building up to this moment.
This is a turning point in eternity, this is the final, culminating act in history, this moment brings about the end of man’s day. The ultimate goal of redemption is about to be seen, paradise will be regained.
The Lamb steps up to the throne and takes the scroll from the hand of God the Father. The One, the only One who was worthy took back what was rightfully His.
Daniel the prophet describes this scene with these words in Daniel 7:13-14, “I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13–14, NASB95)
WORSHIP WITH A NEW SONG (Revelation 5:8-10)
The appearance of the Lamb stepping forward and taking the scroll from God the Father’s hand causes praise to erupt in heaven and from everywhere in the universe.
Three more songs of praise are added to the two in chapter four.
This outburst of worship and praise is the result of realizing that the long-awaited defeat of sin, death, and Satan is about to be accomplished. The Lord Jesus Christ will judge the earth and return in triumph and establish His kingdom.
The curse will be reversed, the remnant of Israel will be saved, and the church will be granted the right and honor of reigning with the King of kings, Jesus Christ.
This spontaneous worship and praise begins with the four living beings and the 24 elders falling down in worship before the Lamb. They offer the same worship to Jesus Christ as they offered to God the Father in chapter 4. This is another convincing proof that Jesus Christ is God, since only God is to be worshipped.
John informs us that the 24 elders are each holding a harp and a golden bowl of burning incense, which is the prayers of the saints. Harps in the Old Testament were used in worship, but also were linked to prophecy. These harps may symbolize all of prophecy, which will culminate in the events beginning to take place.
Scripture associates the burning of incense with the prayers of the saints. David wrote in Psalm 141:2, “May my prayer be counted as incense before You; The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.” (Psalm 141:2, NASB95) These golden bowls of incense represent the prayers of believers through the ages.
The harps and the bowls symbolize all that the prophets ever prophesied and all that the saints ever prayed for is finally to be fulfilled.
The song opens reaffirming the worthiness of Jesus Christ, the Lamb to take the scroll and to break the seals.
Worthy is the Lamb, because you were slain and your shed blood purchased, this word in Greek means to purchase from the slave market and set free.
Your blood purchased for God men, women and children from all humanity.
Then the new song expresses the results of redemption, You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.
WORSHIP OF THE INNUMERABLE HOST (Revelation 5:11-12)
John’s eyes move outside the ring of 24 elders to see that they are surrounded by angels, John says their number is myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands.
Myriad is the Greek word for ten thousand, this phrase used by John was a phrase that meant this host of angels surrounding the twenty-four elders and the four living beings and the Lamb and the throne was innumerable (100 million), an uncountable host of angels and they too were worshiping and praising the Lamb.
They said 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.” (Revelation 5:12, NASB95)
Once again the emphasis of this praise is on Christ’s death providing a perfect redemption.
WORSHIP BY ALL CREATION (Revelation 5:13-14)
Following the worship of this innumerable host of angels, John said that he heard all of creation praising and worshipping the Lamb and God the Father.
John writes that every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them raised their voices in praise to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.
Paul wrote in Romans 8:18-21, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.” (Romans 8:18–21, NASB95)
All creation has been waiting for the Lord Jesus Christ to take back what rightfully was His and reverse the curse and free them from their bondage to corruption. As Jesus Christ takes the scroll, the title deed to the earth creation erupts in praise knowing that soon the curse will be reversed and they will be free of corruption, paradise regained.
John says that after each eruption of praise and worship the four living beings say “Amen” their affirmation that this will happen, the 24 elders fall down again in worship.
The throne room of heaven is set, the Lamb has received the scroll and judgment will fall as He begins to break the seals. Everything has been readied for the Lamb to take back what rightfully belongs to Him, His creation.
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