Worthy Is the Lamb: Revelation 5:1-14

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.

A scroll. In the right hand—the hand of power—of the enthroned One. Writing on both sides—full, complete, comprehensive. Sealed with seven seals—perfectly secured, requiring authority to open.

The scroll contained God's plan for human history, for judgment and redemption, for the consummation of all things.

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?

The question thundered through heaven. Who is worthy? Not just who is able—who has the moral standing, the righteous claim, the authority to open God's sealed purposes?

But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.

No one. Heaven searched—no angel, no elder, no living creature. Earth searched—no king, no prophet, no priest. Under the earth searched—no power of any kind. No one worthy.

I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

John wept. The beloved disciple sobbed. If no one could open the scroll, God's plan would remain sealed forever. History would have no redemption, no resolution, no hope.

Then one of the elders said to me, Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.

Do not weep! Someone was found. The Lion of Judah—the messianic title from Jacob's blessing. The Root of David—Isaiah's shoot from Jesse's stump. He has triumphed. He is able.

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.

John expected a lion. He saw a Lamb. Looking as if slain—bearing the marks of death while standing alive. At the center of the throne—the position of highest honor. The Lion triumphed by being the Lamb who was slain.

The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Seven horns—complete power. Seven eyes—complete knowledge. The seven spirits—the fullness of the Holy Spirit. The slain Lamb possessed all power, all wisdom, all Spirit.

He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

He took it. The Lamb walked to the throne and received the scroll. The only one worthy. The only one able. The plan of God now in the Lamb's hands.

And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb.

Heaven collapsed in worship. The living creatures fell. The elders fell. The Lamb who took the scroll received the honor given to the One on the throne.

Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people.

Harps for music. Bowls of incense—the prayers of the saints, collected, fragrant, presented. Every prayer ever prayed, rising before the Lamb.

And they sang a new song, saying: You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.

The new song. The song of the Lamb's worthiness. Worthy because slain. Worthy because of blood-purchase. The scope: every tribe, every language, every people, every nation. The redemption was global, universal, comprehensive.

You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.

The redeemed made royalty and priests. Serving God. Reigning on earth. The plan unfolding through the Lamb's sacrifice.

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.

The choir expanded. Millions of angels. Numbers beyond counting. Circling the throne, joining the song.

They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!

Seven attributes of worthiness. Power. Wealth. Wisdom. Strength. Honor. Glory. Praise. All belonging to the Lamb. All shouted by millions.

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!

Every creature. Universal worship. Heaven, earth, underworld, sea. All that exists. Singing to the One on the throne and to the Lamb. Forever.

The four living creatures said, Amen, and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Amen. So be it. True. Final. And the elders fell down once more.

The scene that John witnessed—the Lamb taking the scroll, heaven exploding in worship—this is the hinge of history. The slain Lamb is worthy. The scroll is opened. God's plan proceeds.