Revelation Chapter 5

(Rev 5:1) A sealed book in the right hand of the One Who sat on the throne

I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.

The “book” (Greek biblion) was not a book in the modern sense, but rather a “scroll” or “writing.” The same word is used in Matthew 19:7, “a writing of divorcement.” The word was derived originally from the name for the leaf of the papyrus plant, from which the paper used in antiquity was made. In this case, the writing was the scroll containing the title deed, not just to a parcel of land, but to the entire earth and all its inhabitants. In accordance with ancient legal custom, the deed was inscribed in full on the inside of the scroll, with enough information on its backside to indicate the land involved and the rightful owner who had purchased it. It was then sealed and deposited somewhere for preservation and record, and could only be opened by the owner when he arrived to take possession (see Jeremiah 25:11; 32:10-15 for an illustration of this principle).

Since the ultimate owner of the earth is its Creator (Psalm 24:1), only He has the right to deed it to anyone, and He did give Adam dominion over it (Genesis 1:26-28). Satan, however, usurped that dominion when Adam sinned and died, and now, “the whole world lieth in [the wicked one]” (I John 5:19). Nevertheless, the Creator is still the owner, and has retained the record of ownership in His own possession.

The Creator did deed a portion of the earth to each family of the children of Israel, commanding that: “The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine” (Leviticus 25:23). If any portion of the land was sold, however, it could always be purchased back—that is, “redeemed”—by any kinsman of the owner (Leviticus 25:25). The same principle of redemption by a kinsman applied also to individuals who had become bondservants (Leviticus 25:47-55). All such arrangements and transactions were actually types of the great transaction by which the Creator of the world would also become its Redeemer, paying the necessary price to purge it not only of sin but also of the evil usurper who has been “the god of this world” (II Corinthians 4:4) ever since Adam sinned. (Henry Morris)

(Rev 5:2-3) Who is worthy to open the scroll?

I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?" No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it. 



John had seen an important scroll, that is, a book, in God’s right hand. In order to carry out God’s future plans, someone needed to open and to read that book.

However, there was a serious difficulty. 7 objects called seals, which we described in our notes on verse 1, were on the book. That made the book private, and its contents secret. Nobody could open the book to read it unless they first broke the seals.

So, the question was who had the right to break those seals. An important angel (a special servant of God in heaven) declared that the angels must search for the person with that right. Perhaps one of the most important angels in heaven might have the right to open the book. Perhaps a great ruler on earth, or a very holy man, might have that right.

It seems that there was then a pause. The angels were searching for the right person. They searched heaven; they searched the earth; they even searched the world of spirits.

John waited anxiously for news of the results of this search. He realised the importance of this matter. He also knew that Christ had given him an important duty to record these things (1:19).

When the news came, it was a great shock for John. Nobody had the right to open that book, although God’s plans for his people depended on it. No angel had that right; no person had that right; no spirit had that right.

The reason for this search becomes clear when we read verse 5. God wanted John to see the importance of Christ. John needed to understand that God’s plans depend completely on Christ. (John Simons)

(Rev 5:4) John wept much because no one was worthy to open the scrolls

And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it.

John wept either because a previous promise to see the future may now be denied (Revelation 4:1), or more likely, because the consummation of history would now indefinitely be postponed. (David Guzik)

(Rev 5:5-7) The Lion of the Tribe of Judah has overcome and is worthy to open the scroll

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."  I saw in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle 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.  Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

 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." (5)

As John weeps because in all creation no one is found worthy to open the book, one of the elders is recorded in verse 5 as telling him that he shall not keep on weeping, for one is worthy to open the book, namely, “the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David.” The allusion to “the Lion” is a reference to Genesis 49:9-10, where it is predicted that the future ruler of the earth shall come from the tribe of Judah, the lion tribe.

Reference to Christ as the Root of David stems from the prophecy of Isaiah 11:1: “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots” (cf. Isa. 11:10). It is declared that He “hath prevailed” (Gr., enike„sen, meaning “to conquer”). In the Greek the verb comes first in the sentence for emphasis. Hence, translated literally it is “Behold, he has conquered, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.”

His victory is such that He has the right not only to take the book but to open it and loose the seven seals thereof. The Scriptures seem to distinguish between opening the book (which would involve beginning the process of unrolling the scroll) and the complete authority to break all the seven seals successively. It implies that Christ is completely worthy and has full authority and sovereignty in respect to the contents of the seven-sealed book. (John Walvoord)

I saw in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle 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. (6)

With this introduction John fixes his gaze upon one portrayed as a Lamb standing in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures. The Lamb is described as having been slain and then raised from the dead and as possessing seven horns and seven eyes. As J. Vernon McGee contrasts the lion and the lamb characteristics of Christ, he states that the lion character refers to His second coming, since the lion speaks of His majesty. As lion He is sovereign; as lion He is Judge. The lion speaks of the government of God. The lamb character refers to His first coming, for the lamb speaks of His meekness. As lamb He is Saviour; as lamb He is judged. The lamb speaks of the grace of God. As far as the book of Revelation is concerned, however, Christ is referred to as the Lion only once, here in 5:5, in contrast to the many times He is identified as the Lamb. The purpose of the use of the term “lamb” seems to be to identify the glorified Christ of Revelation with Christ the Lamb of sacrifice in His first coming.

The horns seem to speak of the prerogative of a king (cf. Dan. 7:24; Rev. 13:1). The seven eyes are identified as “the seven Spirits of God” sent forth into all the earth (cf. Zech. 3:9; 4:10). Though this may be a reference to seven angels, the preferable view is that it is another reference to the sevenfold Spirit of God. The Holy Spirit was sent by Christ into the world (cf. John 16:7). (John Walvoord)

Then he came, and he took it out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. (7)

He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him that sat on the throne. What right had He thus to act? Because He went to the cross in infinite grace to pay the great debt of sin, thus to redeem this forfeited inheritance and free it from Satan’s domination. The Lamb has title to the book! The Lamb can claim the title deed to this world because when He died on Calvary’s cross He purchased the entire world to be His own. The glory of God is to be displayed in this world through a thousand wondrous years. It was His because He created it. He gave it to man, but man forfeited it through sin. The Lord Jesus Christ bought it all back when He hung on Golgotha’s tree; but for almost two thousand years He has been waiting patiently up there in the glory until the appointed time for claiming His inheritance. So the book of the title deeds has been sealed. In this interval, men have been having pretty much their own way down here. The devil has been running things to suit himself, but in a little while Christ is coming again. He is going to put everything right, but He will have to act in judgment to do so. For the very world in which the Lord Jesus died is going to be the sphere in which the glory of God will be displayed. This will be true not only in the millennium, but afterward in the new earth as well as in the new heaven. (H. A. Ironside)

(Rev 5:8-10)  The four living creatures and twenty-four elders fall down before the Lamb, and a new song was sang

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.

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,

and made us kings and priests to our God,

and we will reign on the earth."

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. (8)

In this we see how precious the prayers of the saints are to God. He regards them as a sweet smelling incense, as if set in precious golden bowls.

iv. The connection between prayer and incense is shown in Psalm 141:2: Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Incense has a pleasing aroma, it ascends to heaven, and it needs fire before it is of any use. (David Guzik)

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 (9)

In the praise of Revelation 4:11, the emphasis was on God’s work of creation. Here, the emphasis is on His work of redemption.

· The song honors the price of redemption: for You were slain

· The song honors the worker of redemption: have redeemed us

· The song honors the destination of redemption: have redeemed us to God

· The song honors the payment of redemption: by Your blood

· The song honors the scope of redemption: every tribe and tongue and people and nation

· The song honors the length of redemption: have made us kings and priests to our God

· The song honors the result of redemption: and we shall reign on the earth (David Guzik)

. . . and made us kings and priests to our God,

and we will reign on the earth." (10)

The peculiar purpose of God for His church is intimated in verse 10 of the Authorized Version in that the twenty-four elders are declared to be kings and priests who shall reign on earth. Here again it is more natural to refer this to men than to angels. The peculiar privileges of the church are clearly indicated. The church is a priesthood rather than having a priesthood, and is a royal family rather than merely being ruled by a king. The members will not be so much subjects of the kingdom as they will be reigning with Christ on the earth. Here again is intimated the purpose of God to consummate and fulfill the prophecies of an earthly kingdom in which Christ will reign as King of kings and Lord of lords. The phrase “on the earth” is significant as referring to the earthly millennial reign of Christ in which the church will participate. The Greek preposition epi is properly translated “on” or “upon.” In this glorious earthly scene to follow the dark hour of the tribulation, the church will share the glory of Christ as joint heirs with Christ and sharers of His sovereign rule. (John Walvoord)

(Rev 5:11-12) Many angels join in declaring the Lamb that was killed to be worthy

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; saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!"

The angels and the elders fell down before the Lamb together (Revelation 5:8). Yet it seems that only the elders sang the song of the redeemed (Revelation 5:9-10), because in no place does the Bible tell us of the redemption of angels.

In Revelation 4:9-10, the angels prompted the elders into worship. Here, the elders seem to prompt the angels. It is a wonderful cycle in heaven, with the angels and elders encouraging each other to more and more praise. (David Guzik)

the number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands (11)

This is an innumerable company of angels.

"Worthy is the Lamb who has been killed to receive the power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing!" (12)

In their song, the angels did not offer praise for their redemption. This is because angels are not (to the best of our knowledge) subjects of this redemption but they are careful observers of it, and are therefore able to praise God because of it (1 Peter 1:12 and Ephesians 3:10).

The angels can clearly see the greatness of God’s work in redeeming fallen men, so in response they credit power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing to the Lamb. In the same way, we can praise God for the way He works in the lives of other people. (David Guzik)

(Rev 5:13-14) The Father and the Lamb receive praises from all of creation

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!"

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

The expression of praise that began in heaven, in the end will fill the whole world. Everything that God has created will, in the end, give honour to Christ. That does not mean that the devil or the inhabitants of hell will choose to serve Christ. Instead, it means that they must give all the honour to Christ; they cannot keep any honour for themselves. That was what Paul declared in Philippians 2:10-11; that is what John seems to describe in verse 13.