Only the Lamb is Worthy
Revelation 5:1-10
I think that as we begin looking at our text today in Revelation 5:1-10, it would help us to understand something of the background that led up to this point in John's vision. John's Revelation of Jesus Christ begins with a powerful vision of the risen and glorified Christ in chapter 1 where we see Jesus walking among lampstands, holding stars in His hand, having eyes like blazing fire and a voice like rushing waters. Friends, this should remind all of us that Jesus is not only risen but sovereign, present among His churches, and actively overseeing His people.
In chapters 2 and 3, John is instructed by the Lord to write letters to the seven churches which are dictated to him by the Lord. These messages to the churches from Jesus are to encourage and correct those who follow Him. He knows their deeds, calls them to faithfulness, and promises great rewards to those who overcome. These letters illustrate to us that the church lives within a spiritual battle and must hold fast to the truth of Christ in a world filled with compromise, persecution, and temptation.
When we get to chapter 4, we see that John is taken up in the Spirit into the heavenly throne room, where he sees God seated in glory and majesty, worshiped by creatures and elders who cast their crowns before Him. It is a scene of perfect divine authority, holiness, and worship.
Now, as we come to chapter 5, the mood becomes more intense and expectant. A scroll sealed with seven seals is in the hand of the One on the throne, and no one is found worthy to open it or even look at it—until the Lion of the tribe of Judah appears. But when John looks, he sees not a lion but a Lamb that appears slain. This is an image of victory through sacrifice, and it ushers in a deeply moving act of worship. Heaven responds with a new song, proclaiming the Lamb's worthiness to open the scroll and fulfill God's redemptive plan.
Revelation 5:1-10 is a turning point. It teaches us who Jesus is, what He has accomplished, and why heaven and earth worship Him. Drawing from the vision of Christ in chapter 1, the call to the churches in chapters 2 and 3, and the throne of God in chapter 4, this passage connects it all with the mission and victory of the Lamb. As we reflect on all of this today, may we be moved to join in the worship of the One who alone is worthy.
Revelation 5:1-10 I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals. (2) And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?" (3) And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the book or to look into it. (4) Then I began to weep greatly because no one was found worthy to open the book or to look into it; (5) and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals." (6) And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. (7) And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. (8) When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one 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 book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. (10) "You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth."
It's been said that in order for a person to be happy; for a person to be fulfilled; for a person to have a meaningful life, they need 3 things. #1) They need someone to love. #2) They need something to do. #3) They need something to hope for. Someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for. And for those of you who are still wondering, still looking for those things that will give your life true meaning, fulfillment, and true happiness, the answer you're looking for is Jesus. Jesus is all those things and so much more. He is the one we love. He is the one we serve. He is our hope. He is all these things to us because as we see in our text today...
I. Jesus is Exclusively Worthy
Now, remember, John has been invited into heaven. He saw the One who was sitting on the throne and in His hand, he held a scroll that was written on both sides, which is a little unusual because a scroll was normally written on the inside so it could be rolled up to conceal or protect what was written. Then, on some legal or otherwise sensitive documents, the scroll would be sealed with a dollop of wax which the person who did the sealing would press his or her signet ring into the wax so that everyone would know who it was that sealed the scroll.
But what John saw was a scroll that was written on both sides, and it was sealed with 7 seals. Now, there are all sorts of thoughts about the scroll and what it contained. Some think that it was the title deed to all of creation because as the Creator, God held the title to everything He created. But in the Garden, He gave that over to man when He gave man dominion over everything. Then when the devil came into the picture, he beguiled Eve and ruined Adam. He conned them. He slickered them, and they sold the farm, so to speak. The dominion God had given to them, they turned over to Satan, so that he took possession, he got dominion.
This is why the devil was able to make his claim of ownership to Jesus at His temptation. Luke 4:6 "And the devil said to Him, 'I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.'" He told Jesus that he would give the dominion to Him if He would only bow His knee in worship to the one who the apostle Paul said was, 2Cor 4:4 "...the god of this world." So, in this scenario, the title deed to creation was foolishly lost, but it was legally lost.
However, others say that the scroll represents God's judgments and plans for the future. The fact that the scroll is in God's hand would represent His ultimate authority and the comprehensive nature of His plan for redemption, judgment, and ultimately, restoration. The 7 seals signify completeness and divine perfection.
Now, this theory is backed up by the fact that when each of the 7 seals is broken, specific judgments of God are poured out on the earth. But regardless of which theory is correct, if any of them are, one thing is true, that the scroll was sealed with 7 seals, and no one in all of creation was found to be worthy enough to break or open the seals. No one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth (which is just another way of say all creation) was found who could open the scroll and read it.
No one was worthy, and this upset John so much that he wept much. He didn't just weep, he wept much. He wanted the scroll to be opened. He wanted the seals to be broken. No one was worthy. Not himself. Not Peter. Not James. Not Paul. None of the apostles was worthy, so did that mean there was no hope for planet earth? No one could do it because all of us who are of Adam are slaves. We're slaves to sin. We're in bondage to sin. Only one who isn't in bondage would be pure enough, clean enough, worthy enough.
So, there is hope for earth because one of the 24 elders said, Revelation 5:5 "...'Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.'" As I’ve already said, the 7 seals represent completion, divine perfection. All of creation was completed in 6 days, and then on the 7th God rested because all was found to be “good.” So, if the 7 seals imply divine perfection, divine completion, then folks, only someone who is divinely perfect, sinless, could be worthy enough to break those 7 seals.
The Lion of Judah, the Root of David, the second Adam is the only one who can break the seals. He is the only one who is worthy. He is the only one who can redeem mankind from sin and set him free. Only the second Adam could make right what the first Adam made wrong. He was born of a virgin and so therefore, He is not a son of Adam. Being born of a virgin made Him the Son of God. Perfect. Sinless. The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the earth!
The Lion was a Lamb, a Lamb who had been slain, but now standing! Meaning He’s slain no more, but alive, having paid our debt through His own blood. Only He could do what He did. No one else. And so, He is exclusively worthy. His ministry, function, and ultimate goal on earth was the redemption of mankind. This was exclusively His reason for coming, so therefore, He is exclusively worthy. And He is also...
II. Jesus is Exceedingly Worthy
Jesus is exceedingly worthy, and if you wonder about that…if you doubt that, then check this out: Rev 4:10-11 the twenty-four elders will fall down before Him who sits on the throne, and will worship Him who lives forever and ever, and will cast their crowns before the throne, saying, (11) "Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created."
And then in his gospel, the apostle John said Jhn 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] He was in the beginning with God. [3] All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
Oh friend, Jesus is exceedingly worthy for 3 reasons I can think of off the top of my head, beginning with…
Creation. In verse 11 of chapter 4, the 24 elders declare that He is worthy because He is responsible for everything that has been created. Friend, did you think that everything was about you? Well, it ain’t. It’s about Jesus, the glory of God and His purpose. Everything was created by Him and for Him, and because of that, He alone is worthy. He is the creator. No one else.
You know, some think that they can create life in test tubes, but they can’t. To create life, or anything else for that matter, you’d have to start like God did—with nothing! If you don’t start with nothing, then all you’re doing is manipulating the building blocks that God has already created. And friends, manipulating ain’t creating, and to say otherwise is a fraud.
Jesus is exceedingly worthy because He is our creator, but He is also exceedingly worthy because of…
Calvary. Rev 5:6-7 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth. [7] And He came and took the book out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
It was the Lamb, the sanctified Lamb who was able to come to the throne and take the scroll. He is able to take the book because He alone was the Passover Lamb who shed His blood for our sins. The perfect and sinless Lamb of God who freed mankind from the guilt and penalty of sin.
But that’s not all. He died for our sins, but He also rose from the dead. He is the resurrected Lamb who is alive and “standing” who also looks as “if slain.” In other words, He still bears the marks of Calvary. The marks from the scourge, the nail prints, the spear thrust—He still bears the marks of our redemption in His body throughout eternity as a constant reminder to all who have eternal life that their redemption came at an enormous cost.
Jesus is exceedingly worthy because of creation, calvary, and …
Conquest. Rev 5:5 and one of the elders *said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."
He overcame. He prevailed. The word used here for “overcome” is “nikao” which means to conquer, vanquish, subdue, to be victorious! The Lion, who was a Lamb, was victorious. He conquered. He prevailed. He brought about the death of death. It had its stranglehold on us for generation after generation. From the Garden to the moment you believed unto salvation, the fear of death has had its boney, scraggly claws in a death grip on your throat. But because the Lamb prevailed, the conquest was complete.
Jesus is exclusively worthy. He is exceedingly worthy. And finally…
III. Jesus is Eternally Worthy
Rev 5:8-9 When He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each one 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 book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
Rev 5:12-14 …"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing." [13] And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever." [14] And the four living creatures kept saying, "Amen." And the elders fell down and worshiped.
Jesus is eternally worthy, worthy of praise and worship because He was slain, and rose. He purchased mankind from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation with His own blood. And so, every created thing in heaven or earth declares Rev 5:12b “…to Him who sits on the throne, and the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever!”
Friends, there was never a time when the Son of God was not worthy, and there will never be a time when He is not worthy. He is exclusively, exceedingly, and eternally worthy of our worship. This is the eternal song of the ages to the One who secured our redemption and will judge this world in righteousness.
The more we understand the depth of His sacrifice for us and the expansiveness of His kingdom, the more we are called to live in reverence, with confidence in His plan, and actively participate in the redemption story through our praise, worship, prayers, and daily lives.
Oh friends, there is never a time that’s better than the present to place your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is worthy of your worship, and He is worthy of your faith and trust. So, won’t you believe on Him from your heart? Give your life over to Jesus. There is no one who knows you better or loves you more than the One who gave His life for you.
So, won’t you give your life to Him, today?
Would you pray with me?
Heavenly Father, thank you for the vision in Revelation 5. Open our hearts to be wonder and power of Your redemptive plan. Help us to live in readiness, faith, and in anticipation of the soon return of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us be ready so that when the day comes, we will not be found wanting. In Jesus’ name. Amen
