Chapter 5 is a shift from focus on the glory of the Lord God Almighty to the glorified Lamb. According to Osborne,

The exalted majesty of God in chapter 4 leads to the exaltation of the Lamb, also at “the center of the throne” (5: 6) and also celebrated in worship (5: 8– 14). The unity of God and the Lamb is obviously a major emphasis of these two chapters…. On the whole, chapter 5 portrays the transfer of authority from God to the Lamb. Kindle Locations 5676ff.

This chapter reminds me a lot of Philippians 2:5-11, and is perhaps is the realization of Christ’s exaltation spoken of there. The Philippians passage makes it extra clear that the glory given to Jesus is because of his sacrifice and death. This is a major theme in Revelations 5, mostly through the titles listed to Jesus (granted, I don’t think I noticed that theme the first several passes through the chapter).

​1 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

The scroll is on (John used “epi” not “en”) the right hand of the one seated on the throne. The right hand symbolizes power and authority.

What exactly is the scroll?

• According to Osborne (Kindle location 5723) there are several common interpretations: The Lamb’s book of life; The OT, especially the blessings and curses of the Torah; God’s last will and testament; A divorce bill; The double inscribed contract deed, sealed with seven seals and with a       description of the contents written on the back; A heavenly book containing God’s redemptive plan and the future history of God’s creation, perhaps detailing the prophecies in this book.
• Osborne favors a combination of the fifth (the background of the image and sixth (the meaning of the image) views (kindle location 5768).       The description of the scroll with the seals very closely resembles the legal contracts of the day.

It is important here to note that the events of chapter 6 accompany the opening of the seals and do not constitute the contents of the scroll. The judgments of the seals are preliminary events that lead up to the unfolding drama of the eschaton and the completion of the divine plan. As Bauckham (1993b: 250– 51) argues, the scrolls of chapters 5 and 10 are actually one and the same scroll, and the contents of the scroll are behind the events of Revelation and not just identical with it. In other words, Revelation tells how God brings about the culmination of his plan, namely the contents of the scroll. Thus chapter 6 describes anticipatory visions, and the contents of the scroll are not revealed until later. That constitutes the plan of God behind the visions as a whole, namely those events that will end this world of evil and introduce eternity. Osborne, Kindle Locations 5781-5787).

2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it,

• The mighty angel is likely an archangel. God only speaks in 1:8 and 21:5-8, so for much of the book, he uses angels to communicate. In this case, the angel is especially clear to be functioning as a royal herald.
• The question is, who is worthy to open the book?!!
• Worthy = g0514. ἄξιος axios; probably from 71; deserving, comparable or suitable (as if drawing praise): — due reward, meet, (un-)worthy.
• Obsborne defines it more as “sufficient” (Kindle Location 5812)
• It is an incredible statement that none was found worthy to open the scroll!

4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

• Why was John weeping?
• Osborne answers that it must have been that John was afraid the contents of the scroll would go unrealized (e.g. God’s plan for the coming age).

The Glorified Lamb!

5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

What are the details given us about the Lamb/the one worthy to open the scroll?

• The Greek starts the sentence with the term Overcomer (enikesen), for emphasis. This is the same term for overcomer as is used in the seven letters to the churches. (Jesus isn’t asking us to do anything he hasn’t already done.)

What is the significance of title Lion of the tribe of Judah, and the Root of David?

• Lion of the tribe of Judah quotes Genesis 49:9-10 You are a lion’s cub, O Judah.…The scepter will not depart from Judah, and the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to who it belongs and the obedience of the nations is his.
• The root of David is taken from Isa 11:1 (the chapter is an interesting Messianic passage in its own rite). Isa 11:4b and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. This verse parallels the root of David we see in Rev 5.
• Both titles were interpreted by Jewish tradition as Messianic passages and reveal the power and authority (e.g. worthiness) of the Lamb to enact God’s plan (which started with pouring out if God’s wrath on the earth dwellers via the seven seals).

A Lamb standing as if slain…

• The Lamb was positioned firmly in the inner circle of the throne.
• Standing
• Lamb…Slain. In Jewish thought, what was the significance of a lamb? (innocent being gave it’s life for the sin of the people).
• Here we see how the victory was actually achieved, not by sword but by sacrifice. Christ is indeed the conqueror, but his victory was won on the cross. Guthrie (1981: 69– 70) believes the Lamb imagery is the “key” to the book, noting that most of the twenty-nine references occur in worship passages and center on salvation more than judgment. The Lamb fulfills the promise of God to establish righteousness….Here we see how the victory was actually achieved, not by sword but by sacrifice. Christ is indeed the conqueror, but his victory was won on the cross. Guthrie (1981: 69– 70) believes the Lamb imagery is the “key” to the book, noting that most of the twenty-nine references occur in worship passages and center on salvation more than judgment. The Lamb fulfills the promise of God to establish righteousness. Osborne, Kindle Locations 5914
• Seven Horns: power (and perfection)
• Seven Eyes: all-seeing (and perfection)

7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.

• God fulfilling his vow to have every name bow to [Jesus]! (Isa 45 and Phil 2) God gives Jesus the scroll, symbolizing that Jesus is to now enact God’s plan for the future!

Worship of the Lamb

8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,

for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

• This is a shift in which the celestial beings (and the saints, indirectly) are worshipping the Lamb directly!
• Golden bowls of incense as the prayers of the saints: a powerful image of how God feels about our prayers! (one of the woes, later, is the saints crying out for justice! In other words, part of God’s justice is in response to our prayers.)
• A new song…part of the pivot in worship to the Lamb. Now they are lauding the Lamb’s worthiness.
• Jesus is listed as being worthy because: he was slain and ransomed people for God…and have made them a kingdom/priests…
  • This again shows the paradox that Jesus is both Lamb and Lion–He conquered by laying down his life!!!
• Ransomed from every people: reminds me both of God’s will that not any should perish and of our obligation to bring the salvation to all people!
• Additionally, the idea of being ransomed and a kingdom and priests means that the saints are truly royalty and will reign with God. What an astonishing turn around–from wicked enemies of God, to reigning in his presence as priests?!!! (Little wonder the Lamb is “worthy”!!)