Revelation · chapter 5 of 22
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Revelation 5 presents a scroll sealed with seven seals in the hand of the one on the throne. John weeps because no one is worthy to open it, but one of the elders tells him that the Lion of the tribe of Judah has conquered. Looking, John sees a Lamb who looks as though it had been slain, who takes the scroll, and all heaven and all creation worship him as worthy because with his blood he ransomed people for God from every tribe, language, people and nation.
In chapter 4 John saw the throne of God and the worship of the Creator. Now the focus falls on the hand of the one seated on the throne, which holds a scroll with seven seals. The chapter answers the question of who can carry God's purpose forward in history, and the central answer of the whole book is Jesus Christ, the Lamb.
John sees in the right hand of the one seated on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back and sealed with seven seals. A mighty angel asks in a loud voice who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals, but no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth is able to open it or look into it. John weeps loudly (vv. 1-4).
One of the elders tells him not to weep: the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals. But when John looks, he does not see a lion but a Lamb standing, looking as though it had been slain, with seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God. The Lamb comes and takes the scroll from the right hand of the one seated on the throne (vv. 5-7).
When he takes it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fall down before the Lamb, with harps and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. They sing a new song: you are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe, language, people and nation, and made them a kingdom and priests who will reign on the earth (vv. 8-10).
Then John hears the voice of countless angels around the throne saying with a loud voice that the slain Lamb is worthy to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory and blessing. Every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth and in the sea praises the one on the throne and the Lamb. The four living creatures say Amen and the elders fall down and worship (vv. 11-14).
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
An elder tells John not to weep, because the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered. The title gathers Old Testament promises of a king from David's line who wins the victory.
Where John expects a lion, he sees a Lamb standing, looking as though it had been slain. Christ's victory is not that of brute force but of a sacrifice that, still bearing the marks of death, lives and reigns.
The new song celebrates that the Lamb was slain and with his blood ransomed people for God from every tribe, language, people and nation. The reach of redemption is universal, and the church is a family from all nations.
Every creature in heaven, on earth and in the sea praises the one on the throne and the Lamb together. The Lamb shares the worship due to God alone, a strong affirmation of the deity of Christ.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: A scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. — Revelation 5:1
Answer: Because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look into it. — Revelation 5:4
Answer: The Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David. — Revelation 5:5
Answer: A Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and seven eyes. — Revelation 5:6
Answer: People for God from every tribe, language, people and nation. — Revelation 5:9
Answer: The prayers of the saints. — Revelation 5:8
Revelation 5 teaches that history is not in the hands of chance or of the strongest, but of a Lamb who was slain. This changes what we mean by power: Christ reigns because he gave himself. A group can discuss how to live that logic at work, at home and in church, where the temptation is to seek influence without service.
The song also reminds us of the mission: the Lamb ransomed people from every nation. If God's goal is a family from all peoples, our church can ask whom it is leaving out. And the bowls of incense assure us that prayers, even seemingly small ones, are received in heaven.
Revelation 5 leaves the Lamb with the scroll in his hand and all creation at his feet. In chapter 6 the Lamb begins to open the seals, and the first riders are released.
The text does not explain it directly. Many understand it as God's plan for history, which the Lamb brings to completion; others link it to the title deed of creation or to the covenant of redemption. What is clear is that only Christ can open it.
The two titles complete each other: the Lion announces the promised victory and the Lamb shows how it was won, through sacrifice. John hears one thing and sees the other, which teaches us to read Christ's victory through the cross.
A horn symbolizes strength and seven, fullness; the eyes are explained as the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. Together they express complete power and full knowledge, related to the work of the Spirit.