CHAPTER 5

Revelation 5:1

Then I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides, it is sealed with seven seals.

Our attention is now shifted from the throne and He who sits on it to a scroll that He holds in His right hand. This scroll has writing on both sides of it, front and back and is sealed by seven seals. This is not the usual way of sealing a document, normally only one seal is used but this is not a normal scroll for this scroll comes from God and contains what the future holds for the human race. It will reveal to John what he is to write concerning those events. God has written the history of this world in advance and it is to be revealed through the scroll that God holds in His right hand. Everything is in sevens, it is God's perfect number, there are seven Stars, seven Lamp Stands, seven Scrolls, seven Judgments, seven years of Tribulation and the Scroll had seven Seals which are opened one at a time.

Revelation 5:2

Then I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seven seals and open the scroll ?"

A question is asked by an angel in a loud voice to all assembled there and to all who can hear, 'who is worthy to break the seven seals and open the scroll written by God'.

Revelation 5:3

And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look inside of it.

The answer to that question is the same today as it was back then, a search throughout the Universe revealed that no one in heaven or on earth, angel or man, is worthy to open that scroll and look inside of it because of what it contains, the future and destiny of mankind.

Revelation 5:4

So I wept and wept, because no one was found worthy toopen and read the scroll, or to look at it.

Because no one was found worthy, John wept much knowing that God's word would not be revealed if no one could be found to open the scroll.

Revelation 5:5

But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed and He is able to loose the seven seals and open the scroll".

Then one of the elders tells John to stop crying and points to Jesus who from times of old is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and who has overcome the world and is worthy to open the scroll. This is a reference to His lineage in the Kingly Tribe of Judah the Root of David means He was the rightful heir to the Throne of King David.

Revelation 5:6

And I looked, and behold, in the center of the throne and of the four living creatures, and surrounded by 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.

Instead of a lion John sees a Lamb with the scars of one who has been killed but here He stands alive in all His glory. The seven horns are said to represent His Omnipotence and the seven eyes His Omniscience. What a contrast from what the world would consider as an example of authority and power, a Lamb.

Revelation 5:7

Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

What a scene for John to behold, the Lamb, Jesus Christ, boldly walks up to the throne of Almighty God and takes the scroll out of His hand. His right to do such a thing was bought and paid for on a cross at Calvary.

Revelation 5:8

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

When Jesus took the scroll from God the four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell on their faces before Him who was counted worthy to take and open the scrolls.

Revelation 5:9-10

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, language, people and nation,

10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth."

They began to sing a new song that we won t know until we get to heaven. The song is about His work of redemption and God s acceptance of His sacrifice on our behalf and the blessings that await us, the glory we will share is beyond our earthly imagination and our ability to comprehend. He has made all sinners saved by Grace to be Kings and Priests to His Father our God and the promise that when He returns to this earth we will come with Him and reign with Him.

Revelation 5:11-12

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and thenumber of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, andthousands of thousands,

12 saying with a loud voice: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength andhonor and glory and praise!"

Even though the angels are not redeemed they still joined in with the others to sing the praises of the Lamb that was slain and has received from God power, wealth, wisdom and strength, honor and glory and is worthy to receive it from all of creation. Remember all of Heaven were observers to all that Jesus had done and all of Heaven rejoices because of it.

Revelation 5:13

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!"

Here we have all of creation joining in and praising both God who is on the throne and the Lamb, the Father and the Son. Here God is sharing His glory with Jesus, something He said He would share with no one and this should erase any doubts as to the deity of Jesus and His standing in the Godhead.

Isaiah 48:11

For my own sake, for My own sake, I do this. How can I let Myself be defamed? I will not yield My glory to another.

Philippians 2:6

Who (Jesus), being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

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Revelation 5:14

Then the four living creatures said, "Amen!" And the twenty four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.

All worship, all praise, all honor and all glory is rendered unto the Father and Son, the Triune God reigns eternally and every creature in Heaven must bow at His feet and render to Him all that is His due. The impact of this scene is to help those who will read this to put their full trust in God's pure righteousness and to once again be aware of the awesome power and majesty of Him who sits on the Throne (God the Father) and to the Lamb (God the Son) to whom every knee, Every Knee will one day bow down before Him.