Revelation Chapter 5

The Book with Seven Seals

1And 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. 2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

The Lamb is Worthy

5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

6And 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. 7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8And 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. 9And 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; 10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

The Lamb Exalted

11And 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; 12Saying 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. 13And 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. 14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

1 I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals. 2 I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?” 3 No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it. 4 And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it.

5 One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.”

6 I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, 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. 7 Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 Now when he had taken the book, 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 They sang a new song, saying, “You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were killed, and bought us for God with your blood, out of every tribe, language, people, and nation, 10 and made us kings and priests to our God, and we will reign on earth.”

The Lamb Exalted

11 I saw, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands; 12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!” 13 I heard every created thing which is in heaven, on the earth, under the earth, on the sea, and everything in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb be the blessing, the honor, the glory, and the dominion, forever and ever! Amen!” 14 The four living creatures said, “Amen!” The elders fell down and worshiped.

The Lamb Takes the Scroll

1 Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It had writing on both sides and was sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”

3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look inside it. 4 And I began to weep bitterly, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.

5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6 Then I saw a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven Spirits a of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And He came and took the scroll from the right hand of the One seated on the throne.

8 When He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song:

“Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals,

because You were slain,

and by Your blood You purchased for God

those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

10 You have made them to be a kingdom

and priests to serve our God,

and they will reign upon b the earth.”

The Lamb Exalted

11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels and living creatures and elders encircling the throne, and their number was myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and riches

and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in 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

forever and ever!”

14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. c

Footnotes:

6 a Or the sevenfold Spirit
10 b Or they will reign over ; WH they reign upon
14 c TR includes Him who lives for ever and ever .

The Book with Seven Seals

1And I saw upon the right hand of Him who is sitting upon the throne a scroll, written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals; 2and I saw a strong messenger crying with a great voice, 'Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose the seals of it?' 3and no one was able in the heaven, nor upon the earth, nor under the earth, to open the scroll, nor to behold it. 4And I was weeping much, because no one was found worthy to open and to read the scroll, nor to behold it,

The Lamb is Worthy

5and one of the elders saith to me, 'Weep not; lo, overcome did the Lion, who is of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, to open the scroll, and to loose the seven seals of it;

6and I saw, and lo, in the midst of the throne, and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb hath stood as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the Seven Spirits of God, which are sent to all the earth, 7and he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who is sitting upon the throne. 8And when he took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, having each one harps and golden vials full of perfumes, which are the prayers of the saints, 9and they sing a new song, saying, 'Worthy art thou to take the scroll, and to open the seals of it, because thou wast slain, and didst redeem us to God in thy blood, out of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation, 10and didst make us to our God kings and priests, and we shall reign upon the earth.'

The Lamb Exalted

11And I saw, and I heard the voice of many messengers round the throne, and the living creatures, and the elders -- and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands -- 12saying with a great voice, 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive the power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing!' 13and every creature that is in the heaven, and in the earth, and under the earth, and the things that are upon the sea, and the all things in them, heard I saying, 'To Him who is sitting upon the throne, and to the Lamb, is the blessing, and the honour, and the glory, and the might -- to the ages of the ages!' 14and the four living creatures said, 'Amen!' and the twenty-four elders fell down and they bow before Him who is living to the ages of the ages.

The Favor of God paraphrase

The Scroll and the Lamb

¹ 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. ² And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” ³ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. ⁴ I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. ⁵ 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.”

⁶ 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. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ He went and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. ⁸ And when He had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. ⁹ 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.

¹⁰ You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,

and they will reign on the earth.”

Worship of the Lamb

¹¹ Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. ¹² In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!”

¹³ 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!”

¹⁴ The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Footnotes:

1.The scroll with seven seals (verse 1) represents God’s plan for history and judgment. The seals symbolize completeness and secrecy, which only someone worthy can open.

2.The title “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (verse 5) refers to Jesus’ royal lineage from David (Genesis 49:9), emphasizing His authority to fulfill God’s promises. The “Root of David” points to His role as the Messiah who fulfills the Davidic covenant (Isaiah 11:1).

3.The Lamb (verse 6) is a central image in Revelation, symbolizing Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). The “seven horns” represent His perfect power, and the “seven eyes” symbolize His omniscience, alluding to the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

4.The “harps” (verse 8) represent worship, and the “golden bowls of incense” symbolize the prayers of believers rising to God (Psalm 141:2). The idea is that prayers are precious and always before God.

5.The “new song” (verse 9) is a song of redemption, celebrating the victory and sacrifice of Jesus, who made salvation available to people from every nation, fulfilling the promise to bless all families of the earth (Genesis 12:3).

6.The multitude of angels (verse 11) emphasizes the vast and overwhelming chorus of heavenly worship, expressing the universal recognition of the Lamb’s worthiness.

7.The phrase “under the earth” (verse 13) includes all of creation, both seen and unseen, joining in praise. This reflects the universal scope of God’s dominion and Christ’s victory.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Revelation 5?

1.1Introduction to Revelation 5

1.2Context of Revelation 5

1.3Ancient Key Word Study

1.4Compare & Contrast

1.5Revelation 5 Unique Insights

1.6Revelation 5 Connections to Yeshua

1.7Revelation 5 Scriptural Echoes

1.8Revelation 5 Devotional

1.9Did You Know

What is the meaning of Revelation 5?

Introduction to Revelation 5

Revelation 5 stands as one of the most magnificent chapters in Scripture, presenting a breathtaking vision of heavenly worship and the cosmic significance of the Messiah. This pivotal chapter unveils the dramatic scene where John witnesses a scroll in heaven that no one is worthy to open – except the Lamb who was slain. The chapter masterfully weaves together themes of sovereignty, redemption, and worship, presenting Yeshua (Jesus) as the central figure of all history and worthy of universal adoration.

This remarkable passage transitions from the scene of God’s throne in chapter 4 to the introduction of the Lamb in chapter 5, forming a crucial hinge point in the apocalyptic narrative. It provides hope and assurance to believers of all ages that despite earthly circumstances, the Messiah alone holds authority over human history and its ultimate conclusion.

Context of Revelation 5

Within the immediate context of Revelation, chapter 5 follows the magnificent throne room scene of chapter 4, where John is caught up into heaven and witnesses the continuous worship of the One seated on the throne. This chapter serves as the second part of the throne room vision, introducing the Lamb and the scroll that contains God’s sovereign purposes for judgment and redemption. Together, chapters 4-5 form the theological foundation for everything that follows in Revelation 6-22.

In the broader biblical context, this chapter stands as a culmination of numerous prophetic threads woven throughout Scripture. It connects to Daniel’s vision of the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13-14), Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering servant (Isaiah 53), and the messianic promises given to David (2 Samuel 7:12-16). The chapter masterfully brings together the dual themes of the Messiah as both the conquering Lion of Judah and the sacrificial Lamb of God.

Within the larger narrative of Scripture, Revelation 5 serves as a divine commentary on all of human history, showing how the cross of Messiah serves as the focal point of God’s redemptive plan. It demonstrates that the same Lamb who was slain is the One who holds sovereign authority over all creation and human history.

Ancient Key Word Study

Scroll (βιβλίον/biblion): This term refers to a scroll or book, but in this context, it likely represents God’s sovereign purposes and the title deed to creation. The word carries legal connotations in ancient documents, particularly in property transfers and inheritance rights.
Worthy (ἄξιος/axios): Beyond mere capability, this word conveys the concept of having the inherent right or merit to perform an action. In ancient Greek culture, it was often used to describe someone who had earned honor through their actions.
Lion (λέων/leon): A symbol of royal authority in Hebrew tradition, specifically connected to the tribe of Judah through Jacob’s blessing in Genesis 49:9. The term represented strength, sovereignty, and kingship in ancient Near Eastern culture.
Root (ῥίζα/rhiza): This metaphorical use points to both origin and sustaining power. In Hebrew thought, the root was not just the source but the continuing foundation of a plant’s life, suggesting both Christ’s origin from David and His role as David’s Lord.
Lamb (ἀρνίον/arnion): Uniquely in Revelation, this diminutive form suggests a young lamb, emphasizing vulnerability. Yet this Lamb bears the marks of slaughter while standing, combining sacrificial death with resurrection power.
Seven (ἑπτά/hepta): In Hebrew numerology, seven represents perfection or completeness. The seven spirits represent the fullness of the Holy Spirit’s power, drawing from Isaiah 11:2.
New (καινήν/kainen): This specific Greek word denotes something qualitatively new, not just chronologically new. It suggests a song with a new nature or character, reflecting the new covenant realities.
Purchased (ἠγόρασας/agorasas): A marketplace term meaning to buy or redeem, it carried significant weight in a culture familiar with slave markets and redemption prices. This commercial language emphasizes the real cost of salvation.
Kingdom (βασιλείαν/basileian): More than just territory, this term encompasses the concept of royal authority and governance. In Jewish thought, it connected to the anticipated Messianic Kingdom promised throughout the prophets.
Priests (ἱερεῖς/hiereis): This designation reflects the fulfillment of Exodus 19:6, where Israel was called to be a kingdom of priests. Now, through the Lamb’s work, believers from all nations fulfill this role.

Compare & Contrast

Verse 1: “Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll.” The word choice of “right hand” (δεξιᾷ/dexia) rather than simply “hand” emphasizes divine authority and power. In Hebrew thought, the right hand symbolized strength and honor. The scroll being in the right hand indicates its supreme importance and divine origin.
Verse 2: The “strong angel” (ἄγγελον ἰσχυρὸν) uses specific terminology that suggests supernatural might, contrasting with the inability of any created being to open the scroll. This emphasizes the extraordinary nature of the Lamb’s worthiness.
Verse 5: The juxtaposition of “Lion” and “Root” presents two distinct messianic titles. The Lion emphasizes royal power while the Root stresses ancestral authority. These terms were chosen to connect with both royal (Genesis 49:9) and prophetic (Isaiah 11:1) messianic expectations.
Verse 6: The description “a Lamb standing as though it had been slain” creates a deliberate paradox. The perfect passive participle “having been slain” (ἐσφαγμένον) suggests a completed action with ongoing effects, while “standing” (ἑστηκὸς) indicates current activity. This specific grammatical construction emphasizes both the permanence of the sacrifice and the reality of the resurrection.
Verse 9: The “new song” (ᾠδὴν καινὴν) uses καινήν rather than νέαν, emphasizing qualitative newness rather than temporal newness. This choice reflects the unprecedented nature of the Lamb’s redemptive work.
Verse 10: The phrase “kingdom and priests” deliberately echoes Exodus 19:6 but expands it to include people from every nation, demonstrating the universal scope of the New Covenant.
Verse 12: The sevenfold ascription of praise uses terms that would normally be associated with deity in the Greek-speaking world, deliberately attributing divine honors to the Lamb.

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Revelation 5 Unique Insights

The structure of this chapter reveals a fascinating pattern of heavenly worship that reflects ancient Jewish temple liturgy. The progression from silence (when no one is found worthy) to the crescendo of universal praise mirrors the pattern of Temple worship on Yom Kippur, where the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies in silence, followed by jubilant celebration upon his successful emergence.

Jewish apocalyptic literature often depicted sealed scrolls containing end-time revelations, but uniquely here, the scroll represents not just prophecy but the entire purpose and program of God for creation’s redemption. The Rabbinic tradition speaks of God writing the names of the righteous in the Book of Life with His right hand, which adds depth to the imagery of the scroll in the right hand of the One on the throne.

Early church father Irenaeus saw in this chapter a perfect demonstration of the dual nature of Christ – divine and human – represented in the Lion and the Lamb imagery. This interpretation gained widespread acceptance in early Christian theology and continues to influence understanding of Christology.

The numbering of the praises in verses 12 and 13 (seven attributes and four categories of creation) reflects the Jewish understanding of seven as divine perfection and four as cosmic completeness. This mathematical precision in the doxologies suggests careful composition to convey theological truth through numerical symbolism.

The concept of the “slain Lamb” draws on multiple Jewish sacrificial traditions: the Passover lamb, the daily Tamid offering, and the Yom Kippur sacrifice. However, this Lamb uniquely bears the marks of slaughter while standing in power, creating a powerful new image that transcends all previous sacrificial concepts.

Revelation 5 Connections to Yeshua

This chapter presents one of Scripture’s most powerful portraits of the Messiah’s dual nature and work. Yeshua is introduced first as the Lion of Judah, fulfilling the royal messianic expectations of Jewish tradition, but appears as the slain Lamb, demonstrating how His sacrificial death was the means of achieving His kingly victory. This paradox lies at the heart of Christian theology – victory through apparent defeat, power through sacrifice, life through death.

The chapter masterfully connects Yeshua’s past work (His sacrificial death), present status (His position of authority), and future role (His opening of the seals that will bring history to its consummation). The worship He receives alongside the One on the throne establishes His deity while maintaining His distinct identity within the Trinity. His worthiness to open the seals stems from His redemptive work on the cross, showing how His past sacrifice qualifies Him for His future role as judge and king.

Revelation 5 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter resonates with numerous biblical texts and themes:

The Lion of Judah connects to Genesis 49:9-10
The Root of David echoes Isaiah 11:1
The Lamb imagery draws from Isaiah 53 and the Passover tradition
The kingdom of priests fulfills Exodus 19:6
The sealed scroll recalls Daniel 12:4
The universal worship echoes Philippians 2:10-11

Revelation 5 Devotional

This magnificent chapter challenges us to align our perspective with heaven’s reality. While the world may seem chaotic and beyond control, this vision assures us that the Lamb holds history in His hands. The worship scene invites us to join in heaven’s chorus, acknowledging Yeshua’s worth not just with our words but with our lives.

Consider today: Does your life reflect the reality that the Lamb is worthy? Are you living as part of His kingdom of priests, representing His authority and grace to the world? Let the heavenly worship scene shape your daily prayers and actions, remembering that every knee will ultimately bow before the Lamb.

Did You Know

The scroll described in Revelation 5 likely resembled a Roman will or contract, which was typically sealed with seven seals. Each seal would need to be broken in sequence to fully open the document.
The word for “new” song (καινήν) in verse 9 specifically indicates something unprecedented in quality, not just recent in time. This suggests the song’s content celebrates the uniquely new work of redemption accomplished by the Lamb.
The four living creatures mentioned represent the highest order of angelic beings, possibly the same as the seraphim in Isaiah 6.
The twenty-four elders likely represent the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles, symbolizing the unity of God’s people across both covenants.
The phrase “Root of David” would have reminded Jewish readers of the promised Messiah who would be both David’s son and Lord, a paradox Yeshua discussed in Matthew 22:41-46.
The number of angels mentioned in verse 11 (“myriads of myriads”) translates to millions upon millions, the largest number that could be expressed in Greek mathematics.
The incense mentioned represents the prayers of God’s people, showing how human prayers integrate into heavenly worship.
The term “slain” used for the Lamb suggests violent death by slitting the throat, directly connecting to sacrificial practice in the Temple.
The seven horns and seven eyes symbolize complete power and complete knowledge, attributes of deity in ancient Near Eastern culture.
The movement of worship in the chapter progresses in expanding circles: from the living creatures and elders, to the angels, to every creature in creation.

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After a dramatic early morning encounter with King Jesus, I just couldn’t put my Bible down. The F.O.G took a hold of me and this website was born. What is the F.O.G?

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