Revelation 5:1-14
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. 11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, 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 honour, and glory, and blessing. 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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. 14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
God made a perfect creation. When He had finished all He had made in six days, He declared, “It is very good” (Genesis 1:31). Sin entered the world through the deception of the serpent (Satan) and the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The entire creation was put under a curse and mankind was subjected to sin and death. God had a plan to reconcile the world to Himself. That plan would be carried out through His only begotten Son who came to die on a cross to atone for our sins that we might be forgiven, cleansed, justified, and reconciled to God by faith. Jesus came as the redeemer of fallen man and the One through whom God would redeem His creation from the curse of sin.
Throughout the Bible, God is a saving God. He saved Adam and Eve by covering them with animal skins. He saved Noah and his family by instructing Him to build an ark. He saved Israel by bringing them out of the bondage of Egypt and bringing them into the Promised Land. He saves sinners through the sacrifice of His Son on the cross and His glorious resurrection.
Revelation 5 is the second part of John’s heavenly vision of future events in the book of Revelation. In Revelation 4, the focus is upon God on His throne as the Father and Creator of all things. In Revelation 5, the focus is on “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). There are three things about the Lord Jesus that make Him our great Savior. As we consider God, our Savior, let us join with heaven in declaring, “Worthy is the Lamb!”
First, we worship God, our Savior, as the Messiah. The Messiah is the “anointed One” that God promised in the Old Testament who would come as a sacrifice for sins (Isaiah 53) and as a great King to rule all things (Psalm 2; 110). A scroll is extended from the hand of God on the throne and no one is found worthy to take it from His hand and open its seven seals. That is because all men “have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). This scroll was a title deed to the earth and the unfolding plan of redeeming it from the curse of sin. John weeps as the plan of God’s redemption is halted, but one of the 24 elders comes with good news. One has overcome and is worthy to take and open the scroll. The One is identified as “the Lion of the tribe of Judah” and “the root of David.” Both of these are Old Testament references to the Messiah who would come as a man to be King over the earth. Jesus is the Son of God who took on human flesh, was of the tribe of Judah from Israel, and was the descendent of David. He has overcome to represent us when we have all failed.
We worship Jesus as God our Savior because He is our redeemer. He appears in this vision as a “Lamb as it had been slain.” All of the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament ultimately point to the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Lambs were offered twice each day in the temple in Israel in the morning and evening. Lambs were offered at Passover and their blood applied on the doorposts so that God’s death angel would pass over (Exodus 12). Jesus came and shed His blood on the cross that the judgment of God that we deserved would pass over us. It was all placed on Him. “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7). Sin is never overlooked or dismissed. It must be paid for. Jesus made the payment for sin at the cross. He is “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). He takes fallen sinners and makes them “kings and priests” unto God.
Lastly, we worship God our Savior as Lord over all things. All of heaven erupts in worship as the Lamb takes the scroll and proceeds to accomplish the plan of God in taking ownership of His creation and redeeming it from the curse. “Worthy is the Lamb” will be the cry throughout all of eternity. He is worthy of all praise, honor, worship, and glory because He is the only Savior. The Apostle Paul writes to the Philippian church and tells them that by His work on the cross, God has “highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-11).
As a loving, gracious Creator, God has made a way for fallen sinners to be reconciled to Him. He has a plan to redeem and set free from the curse His creation through His Son Jesus Christ. There is only One way to God. It is through Jesus Christ. He is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (John 14:6). It is only through faith in the Son of God that people are saved from their sin. Do you know Him as Messiah, Redeemer, and Lord? He is our only hope and forgiveness is only found in His work on the cross. He is “the Savior of all men” (1 Timothy 4:10). Is He your Savior?