Revelation

5.1-14

We read in this chapter the only example of crying in heaven. But it was premature and quickly halted. As John observes the sealed scroll of judgment in the hand of God, an unnamed angel proclaims loudly, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" (v2). Because no one in heaven, earth, or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it (v3), John was in despair. This same despair (weep - klaio) is described in Christ weeping over Jerusalem (Lk 19:14) and Peter after betraying the Lord (Lk 22:62). It is at this moment that we have the heavenly entry of the glorified Christ! Explaining what John is about to see, one of the elders commands John to "Stop crying!" (v5). Having declared the arrival of the Lion of Judah and the Root of David (v5), the contrast is remarkable when the "Lamb standing as if slain" is seen in the midst of the four creatures (v6). This would almost seem an unfair fight later in the revelation if you considered a lamb against a dragon (12:9), hordes of hellish locusts (9:3), frogs (16:13), and human soldiers who follow the dragon (19:19). But this is not a lamb. This is THE LAMB. He is also a LION, and the King of kings and the Lord of lords (19:16). And John noted that the Lamb had seven horns (v6). Horns throughout Scripture symbolize strength and power. Seven, being the number of perfection, symbolized the Lamb's "complete and absolute power." The Greek grammatical structure seems to indicate that the harp and bowls full of incense were held only by the elders. These would represent that the prophecy of all the prophets (harps) and the prayers of all God's children (incense) throughout the ages were finally to be fulfilled. The Worthy Lamb had arrived (vv9,12).

CHAPTER 5

The Scroll and the Lamb

1 Then I saw in the right hand of Him who sits on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.
2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break 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 into it.
4 Then I was crying greatly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
5 And one of the elders said to me, “Stop crying! Behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 Then I saw in the midst of the throne and the four living creatures and in the midst of 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.
7 And He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sits on the throne.
8 And when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying,
“Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, because You were slain and purchased for God with Your blood people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
10 “And You made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.”

Angels Worship the Lamb

11 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,
12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”
13 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 the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might forever and ever.”
14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.