Worthy is the Lamb

Introduction

Last week I went to the Cove and heard Dr. Richard Blackaby speak on the book of Revelation. It was an interesting couple of days and I learned a lot, some of which I’m going to share with you today. Join me in Revelation 5...

Scripture Introduction

As we continue on with John’s vision of the throne we are introduced to a seeming dilemma that takes place in Heaven. It all begins with...

The Mysterious Scroll (v. 1)

Revelation 5:1 NKJV

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

As our attention is drawn to the throne John reveals that God the Father is holding a SCROLL in His right hand. In this culture the right hand was seen as the hand of power or the “hand of authority.”

Dr. Blackaby didn’t say much about Revelation 5 in the seminar I attended, but he did drop a couple of interesting tidbits about the scroll that is mentioned here.

First he said it was unusual that a scroll would have writing on both sides. Most likely this indicated this was the FULL plan of God. The scroll was so full the writing took up both sides.

While we cannot be 100% sure, I believe that this scroll is the same one Daniel mentioned in Daniel 12:4

Daniel 12:4 NKJV

“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

There were things that God had revealed to Daniel that were not to be revealed until the “end times”...a time when people would “run to and fro”...travel would increase, and also a time when knowledge would increase...

It may also be what was revealed to Ezekiel in...

Ezekiel 2:9–10 NKJV

Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.

Did you notice what was mentioned about the scroll in Ezekiel? The writing was on BOTH sides.

The other thing Blackaby mentioned was the seals. He said that a Roman “will” would be sealed with SEVEN seals, so it would have been a familiar concept with those in the churches that would have originally received this letter.

In other research most commentators agree that this was like a “legal document” or a “title deed.” It was an official document that would REVEAL something that was to come...

Another interesting thing Blackaby brought up about the Roman will was that there was only ONE person that could open and reveal what the will had to say...IT WAS THE EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE!

That leads us to Revelation 5:2-4

Revelation 5:2–4 NKJV

Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.

We see...

A Desperate Cry: Who is Worthy? (vv. 2-4)

The strong angel begins to announce that all of Heaven is looking for someone who is “worthy” to open the scroll and loose its seals.

The word that is translated “worthy” is from the Greek word “axios.” It literally means, “having the weight of another thing, of like value, or worth as much.” All of heaven and earth was explored and there was no one found that carried enough weight to OPEN the scroll or loose its seals.

No prophet, no priest, and no king was found worthy

The 24 elders around the throne were not found worthy

The richest and most powerful men and women on the earth were not found worthy

There are some suggested reasons for this:

In order to even approach God, much less to retrieve something from His right hand, meant the individual would have to be someone who had ABSOLUTE MORAL CHARACTER! Not someone who had imputed righteousness, but rather the One who was the epitome of righteousness!

As the reality of this sat in, that NO was was worthy, John began to cry. But it wasn’t a soft, quiet cry, but the word that John uses for “cry” is a word that means “a noisy grief, a wailing.” “To sob convulsively”

Could there be someone, anyone, able to open the scroll? Is all hope lost?

Yes there is ONE! He is...

The Worthy Redemptive Lamb (vv. 5-7)

Notice Revelation 5:5-7

Revelation 5:5–7 NKJV

But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.” And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb 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 took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

It seemed that John had been overwhelmed with sadness and grief when the search was made and no one was found worthy to open the scroll...UNTIL, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David victoriously stepped forward to DO WHAT NO ONE ELSE IN ALL OF HISTORY WAS QUALIFIED TO DO just as He stepped forward 2,000 years ago to PROVIDE THE REDEMPTION THAT NO ONE ELSE COULD PROVIDE!

He was qualified because of His UNIQUE IDENTITY...Someone who fulfilled the OT prophecies of the Messiah—someone who was:

The Lion of the Tribe of Judah (v. 5: Genesis 49...A King from the Tribe of Judah)—In Genesis 49 Jacob had prophetically given the scepter to Judah.

The Root of David (v. 5; Isaiah 11:1, 10 & Jeremiah 23:5...a descendant of David and as a root would be the source of God’s blessings on His people)

Isaiah 11:1 NKJV

There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots.

Jeremiah 23:5 NKJV

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

Someone who was a Lamb that had been slain (v. 6)—we must NEVER lost sight of the CENTRALITY OF THE CROSS (2x) and what He accomplished for us there!

Someone who was deity (v. 6—7 Spirits of God)

Warren Wiersbe says this:

The description of the Lamb (Rev. 5:6), if produced literally by an artist, would provide a grotesque picture; but when understood symbolically, conveys spiritual truth. Since seven is the number of perfection, we have here perfect power (seven horns), perfect wisdom (seven eyes), and perfect presence (seven Spirits in all the earth). The theologians would call these qualities omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence; and all three are attributes of God. The Lamb is God the Son, Christ Jesus!

He was qualified because He was the One who had PREVAILED—He had OVERCOME it all—temptation, sin, death, and the grave!

The word prevail is in the AORIST tense in the Greek, signifying that His victory was ONCE FOR ALL! He didn’t have to defend His championship, or fight any more battles. He won the battles of all battles and war of all wars when He stepped out of the TOMB victorious over death, hell, and the grave!

Remember that He is the ONLY Champion Able and Worthy to Deliver us from the Grip of the Enemy

What difference does this scene in Heaven make for us and our lives in 2025? Here are a few suggestions:

Live in Awe of the Lord Jesus Christ Everyday

Live in awe of the fact that He was CRUCIFIED, TORTURED, MAIMED, and REJECTED for YOU to PAY for YOUR SINS

Live in awe of the fact that He wants YOU to spend eternity with Him

Live in awe of the fact that HE has gone away to prepare a place FOR YOU

Live in awe of the fact that HE is working everything together for YOUR GOOD and HIS GLORY

Live in awe of the fact that if HE IS FOR YOU WHO CAN BE AGAINST YOU

Live in awe of the fact that HE is coming again to receive YOU to Himself!

Rest in Christ’s Victory

He has already OVERCOME!

We can read the “end of the book” and we know He is victorious!

Recognize Christ’s Lordship in Your Life

YOU have been bought with a price!

1 Corinthians 6:20 CSB

for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.

Gwyn Pugh put it this way:

 Believers are redeemed from the old masters—the world, the flesh, and the devil. The other side of this is new ownership by God.

Trust in God—His Timing, His Solutions

John was told to “weep not.”

Sometimes, not always, our grief and weeping is the result of having INSUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE of God’s plans and solutions. Therefore, we must TRUST HIM even when we cannot see!

Salvation

Re-dedication

Baptism

Church Membership