Revelation 5 | The Scroll and the Lamb
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 48:39
0 ratings
· 19 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
Kids portion:
I am going to ask you questions and I want you to answer:
Who is strong enough to pick this up? (Weight)
Who is fast enough to go run in place for 10 seconds?
Who is smart enough to tell me what 5+2?
Who is coordinated enough to stand on one foot for 5 seconds?
Introduction:
Good morning everyone! HE IS RISEN. I am so excited to be here with this church family celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
We are going to be walking through Revelation chapter 5, and my prayer has been that God would use this text to help us see the glory and power of our God.
A God who has had a plan from the beginning of time, centered on the person and work of Jesus Christ and His Resurrection!
Let’s begin by reading the text we are going to cover today:
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. 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, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 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. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 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.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
This is an incredibly exciting to text to be going through this Sunday. Let’s pray, then we will start back in verse 1.
Prayer:
Father, you are mighty and worthy of all our praise and worship. I ask that you would be exalted this morning through your word. Thank you for sending your son, Jesus, to die for us.
Thank you for your plan of redemption and the Resurrection. Give us ears to hear the proclamation of the gospel in this text, and transform our lives through it’s power.
In Jesus name, Amen.
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.
In this verse, the “one seated on the throne” is God the Father. And in His right hand—the hand of power and authority—He holds a scroll. But this scroll isn’t blank.
It’s written on both sides, which was rare in that day.
That means the scroll is full. Nothing more can be added.
And it’s sealed. Not once, but seven times.
So what is the scroll? This scroll is thought to be the title deed to the earth, God’s final plan to bring about justice on earth, to defeat evil once and for all, and to fully establish His eternal kingdom.
It contains all the judgments described in the chapters that follow.
It’s the story of redemption fully written—and yet, right now, in this moment, it remains sealed.
Closed. Inaccessible. Which means the plan is finished… but not yet completed.
Imagine the significance of this scroll.
Through it’s opening God’s judgement will be unleashed.
And through God’s judgment, rightousness prevails, and there will be a final resolution to everything that is broken in the world—every injustice, every pain, and every evil.
This is the final reconciliation we wait for, where all things are restored.
But as we are about to see in verse two: No one can open it.
To fully understand the significance of the hope we have in the resurrection, we need to recognize our inability to save ourselves.
Is there anyone worthy to open this scroll and complete God’s plan?
I’m not worthy! You’re not worthy!
No religious system. Or political power. Or prophet. Or angel. Or person. - Is worthy to open this scroll.
There is only one who is worthy.
And that’s the story Revelation 5 is about to tell us.
After John sees the scroll in the hand of the one seated on the throne, we’re drawn deeper into the tension. Read verse 2 with me:
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,
This isn’t just a quiet question whispered in the corner of heaven. It’s a loud, thundering proclamation—shouted across heaven by a mighty angel.
He’s not just asking out of curiosity. He’s calling for someone to step forward. He’s issuing a challenge to all of creation.
And notice what he doesn’t ask. He doesn’t say, “Who is strong enough?” or “Who is smart enough?” He says, “Who is worthy?”
That’s a very different kind of question.
This isn’t about power or intelligence. This is about moral authority. This is about someone with the “right” to open open the scroll.
This scroll contains the outworking of God’s covenant promises—During this final judgement He brings redemption, restoration, and the arrival of God’s kingdom.
To open the scroll is to bring God’s plan to completion.
But the problem still remains: no one is worthy to open the scroll.
“Who is worthy?”
And the answer, in that moment, is no one...…
Now, that might feel heavy—but this moment in the story is actually a means of grace.
Because before we can celebrate the resurrection, before we can shout “He is risen!”, we need to feel the weight of our need.
As I said before, we need to be reminded that that the perfection required to enter the kingdom of heaven is NOT something we can accomplish ourselves.
All the effort and wisdom of the world comes up short when faced with the holiness of God.
This moment in Revelation 5 is setting the stage for the greatest announcement in all of Scripture—that there IS one who is worthy.
But before we get there, verse 2 invites us to sit in the tension.
To feel the weight.
To ask the question with all of heaven: “Who is worthy?”
Because when we truly feel the silence, we’ll be ready to rejoice when the Lion, the Lamb, the Risen Christ steps forward.
After the mighty angel issues that challenge, John tells us his response:
4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
John weeps at this realization. No one is found worthy to open the scroll and complete God’s perfect plan for judgement and rightousness on the earth.
In this moment in his vision hope seems lost.
Illustration: “The Locked Door”
Illustration: “The Locked Door”
Imagine this with me for a moment.
You’re standing outside a hospital room where someone you love is dying.
Inside the room is the only cure.
There’s a vial—one small, simple cure that will save them. But the door is locked, and no one has the key.
Doctors, nurses, family members—everyone takes a turn, but no one can open it. Time is running out, and there’s no one who can help.
So what do you do?
You weep. Not just tears. You cry out in grief. Because the one thing that could save them is out of reach.
That’s what John is feeling in this moment.
Except the reality of his vision is that all of humanity hangs in the balance.
Without someone who is worthy to open this scroll God’s righteous judgement and redemptive plan is not completed.
This is what the world feels like without the hope found in the resurrection.
John’s loud weeping is an honest moment of despair. And it prepares us for the joy to come.
But in the midst of John’s weeping, the silence is broken and everything changes!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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.”
This is the turning point of the whole chapter—and of all human history.
One of the elders turns to John and says:
“Weep no more.”
He says, “Behold—the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.” (Repeat!!!)
He is the root of David
AND HE HAS CONQUERED - So that HE can open the scroll!!
Jesus is the Lion of Judah, HE is the one who has conquered.
Jesus is referred to as “The lion of Judah”
This title for the Jesus is found in Genesis 49, where Jacob blesses his sons and says Judah is like a lion, and that the scepter will not depart from his house.
The Messiah would come from Judah’s line and reign with strength and courage.
Jesus is that Lion. Strong. Triumphant. Victorious.
He also calls him “The Root of David”
And this is so cool!
Because we know that Jesus is David’s descendant, born in Bethlehem in the royal line.
So why does this verse say He is the Root of David if He is David’s descendant?
Jesus is both the Root and the Son of David.
He came after David in history, Matthew 1:1 “...Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.”
But He also existed before David, as the eternal Son of God.
This is what Revelation 22:16 says:
16 “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
And Jesus made this exact point in Matthew 22:44–45, when He asked the Pharisees:
44 “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet” ’?
45 If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”
This is possible because of Jesus’ divine nature that he could be both “the root of David” and the "The son of David.”
Jesus is not just another king—He is the King of Kings. The source of the line and the fulfillment of the promise.
And it says: “He has conquered.”
The Lion has conquered.
He didn’t conquer through force or politics or armies, the way many expected the Messiah to come.
He conquered through a cross.
He conquered through death—and then by rising from the grave.
His resurrection is the victory cry of heaven:
The scroll can be opened. The curse can be reversed. Redemption can go forward.
Because Jesus is alive, we can live.
Because He is worthy, our eternity is secure.
We can declare what the elder declared to John:
Weep no more.
There is One who is worthy. He is the Lion and the Lamb.
He is the Root and the Ruler.
He is the King who conquered death by dying.
And He is risen.
John hears this glorious proclamation, then he looks and sees in verse 6:
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.
He hears about a Lion in verse 5,— but he sees a Lamb.
And not just any lamb—a slaughtered Lamb. A Lamb that bears the visible marks of death. A Lamb that had clearly been killed.
But this is what is incredible about this picture—
The Lamb is standing.
The lamb is alive!
The Lamb was slain, but now He stands—alive, present, reigning in the throne room of God.
This is one of the most powerful pictures of Jesus in all of Scripture.
The Lion conquers—but He conquers as a Lamb.
In Jesus’ death He bought the right to the title deed with His blood.
It is because of His death and resurrection that He is worthy to open the scroll.
Listen to what it says in Phil 2:8-11
8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Because He humbled Himself, even to the point of death, God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name that is above every name.
And now, in the throne room of heaven, Jesus is still that Lamb.
Still bearing the wounds of the cross. Still marked by His sacrifice.
But now—alive and victorious.
And he mentions 7 Horns and 7 Eyes — What does this mean?
Throughout the book of Revelation the number 7 is used to represent divine completeness.
In this imagery of Jesus He has seven horns, representing complete strength and power.
The seven eyes represent complete knowledge and omniscience.
And John explains that the seven eyes are - “the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”
This is a symbolic way of saying Jesus is filled with and empowered by the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
This description of the Holy Spirit can be traced back to Isaiah 11:2, where the Spirit is described with seven characteristics:
2 And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
Jesus has appeared in the vision as the lamb who was slain, worthy to open the scroll.
The text continues in verse 7:
7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.
This is the moment everything in heaven was waiting for.
The scroll has been in the Father’s right hand, but now the Lamb steps forward and He takes it.
Verse 8 is another big turning point in this chapter.
This is the moment where the weeping of verse 4 changes into the worship because Jesus has stepped forward, worthy to open the scroll.
The same Jesus who was mocked, beaten, and crucified now stands worthy to open the scroll that is in His hand!
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.
Let’s take a moment and picture this scene.
As soon as Jesus takes the scroll, the four living creatures—the angelic beings around the throne—and the twenty-four elders—who represent the redeemed people of God—fall down in worship.
Each elder is holding two things:
A harp, which represents the songs of praise offered to God. It represents worship.
And a golden bowl full of incense, which John tells us are the prayers of the saints.
The symbolism of the golden bowl of incense, which is the prayers of the saints mirrors what God established in his sacerdotal system with Moses in Exodus 30.
In Exodus, Moses is instructed to make an alter to burn incense on. Incense was burned in the tabernacle morning and evening—always rising before the Lord as a symbol of intercession.
That incense was sacred—set apart, not to be used for anything else.
In Exodus 30, incense rises before the presence of God, representing the priestly role of interceding on behalf of the people.
Here in Revelation, the elders—representing God’s people—offer incense that is the intercession: the prayers of the saints.
We see this laid out perfectly in Psalm 141:
2 Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!
This is present in the throne room of God as Jesus prepares to open the scroll, and it is an incredible demonstration of the significance of prayer.
Let’s continue in verse 9, where all begin to sing and worship!
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 moment is marked by worship! Because Jesus didn’t stay dead, HE ROSE, and he defeated death.
Let’s look at this new song they are singing one line at a time:
“Worthy are you to take the scroll...”
“Worthy are you to take the scroll...”
Jesus is worthy to take the scroll because of what He accomplished at the cross—and confirmed in the resurrection.
His worthiness was due to His death and sacrifice as the Son of God.
“…for you were slain…”
“…for you were slain…”
He was slain. Jesus really died.
That is not a metaphorical part of the story!
He suffered. He bled. He was crushed under the weight of sin and judgment—not for His sin, but for ours.
Through the shedding of His blood He bought the right to the title deed.
“…and by your blood you ransomed people for God…”
“…and by your blood you ransomed people for God…”
Ransom is to purchase someone’s freedom at great cost.
We were enslaved—chained by sin, under the curse of death. And Jesus paid the full price to set us free.
1 Peter 1:18–19 explains this:
18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
The Lamb had to be spotless.
The Lamb had to be perfect.
And His blood was enough to cover the sins of all who trust in Him.
“…from every tribe and language and people and nation…”
“…from every tribe and language and people and nation…”
This is a global gospel.
Jesus didn’t just die for one group, one people, or one culture.
He shed His blood to ransom people from every tribe and every language.
The good news of Jesus’ Resurrection is to be shared across the globe, so that every people group can join in worshiping Him!
“…and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God…”
“…and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God…”
We weren’t just saved from sin—we were saved into something.
Jesus didn’t just wipe the slate clean—He brought us into the family of God.
We are now a kingdom, under His rule.
And we are priests in the sense that we have direct access to His presence.
“…and they shall reign on the earth.”
“…and they shall reign on the earth.”
The people who were once slaves to sin will one day reign with Christ.
Not because of what they’ve done, but because of what the Lamb has done for them.
This is what Jesus accomplished in His death and resurrection.
And as all this is taking place the worship begins to multiply.
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
John hears the voices of many angels, so many that he doesn’t even try to count them. He says there were myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands.
A myriad in biblical language typically refers to ten thousand. So a “myriad of myriads” is ten thousand times ten thousand—at least one hundred million.
But even that’s not the point.
John is not trying to give a precise number—he’s trying to say, “It was countless.”
This is meant to represent a number that is incalculable.
They are all singing in worship to Jesus!
Verse 12 tells us what this vast number of worshipers are saying: They are praising God for 7 intrinsic attributes.
Again, representing the completeness of His character.
12 saying with a loud voice,
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain…”
He is worthy of all the praise!
And He has conquered everything that once held us captive.
Verse 13:
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,
“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
This is nothing short of cosmic praise.
John hears the voice of every creature—not just angels, not just elders, not just believers—but everything God has made lifting its voice in honor of the risen Lamb.
This is Resurrection Sunday reaching its full conclusion—not just a moment of victory, but an eternal reign of the risen Christ.
The worship here is directed to both:
“Him who sits on the throne” — God the Father, reigning in majesty.
“And to the Lamb” — Jesus, crucified and risen, standing in the center of heaven.
This is a clear affirmation of the deity of Christ.
He receives the same worship as the One on the throne.
He is not a secondary figure. He is not just a good man who died.
He is the risen Lord, worthy of the worship of all creation.
And lastly, verse 14:
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.
This is John’s vision in the book of Revelation.
It is a prophetic picture of the judgement to come, when the end times are here and God unleashes His judgement on the earth.
Jesus is worthy to open the scroll, and we worship him for that!
He is worthy because of His resurrection.
This is good news and celebration for us because in Jesus’ death and Resurrection He purchased our salvation.
We stood condemned and guilty before a holy God, and He would have been righteous to execute His judgment on us.
But instead, because of His love and mercy for the world He sent Jesus to die, taking the punishment for sin, and when He rose from the dead He defeated death and purchased our salvation.
So when this judgment comes, we no longer stand condemned.
We will be raised with Christ in redemption, and we will get to see all things made new in Jesus’ kingdom!
All because Jesus paid the price, and rose from the dead.
Let’s close with this from first 1 Corinthians 15:
54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let’s pray
Communion
