Revelation 5

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.