The Scroll and the Lamb

Who Is worthy?

Introduction: Revelation chapter 5 opens with a scene in heaven where John sees a scroll sealed with seven seals, which represents God's divine plan for judgment and redemption. The search for someone worthy to open the scroll begins, revealing the centrality of Jesus Christ in God’s ultimate purpose.

Scripture Reading: Revelation 5:1-14 (ESV)

Lesson Content:

The Sealed Scroll:

The best understanding of the scroll in Revelation 5 is the entirety of God’s will for history, both in judging the wicked and in redeeming his people. This scroll is written on both sides, showing that it contains the entire story of God’s will. According to William Hendriksen, the scroll “symbolizes God’s purpose with respect to the entire universe throughout history, and concerning all creatures in all ages and to all eternity.” G. B. Caird comments: “The scroll is God’s redemptive plan, foreshadowed in the Old Testament, by which he means to assert his sovereignty over a sinful world and so to achieve the purpose of creation.”

The scroll symbolizes God’s sovereign plan for the culmination of history, including judgment and redemption.

The seals indicate the authority and completeness of God’s plan, which only Jesus Christ can fulfill.

Application to Amillennial Perspective:

Amillennialism understands the seals as depicting events throughout history, culminating in Christ’s ultimate victory.

Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection are central to God’s plan for redeeming humanity and restoring creation.

The Search for the Worthy One:

This emphasizes humanity's inability to redeem itself or understand God’s plan without Jesus Christ.

The content of God’s book would not be revealed UNLESS it’s OPENED BY ONE WHO IS WORTHY.

This is a BIG deal. NOT anyone can just walk up and make known the WILL and Purpose of GOD to the world. JOHN IS in despair because as he LOOKS to the EARTH and NONE IS WORHTY- NO ONE IN ALL OF HISTORY, not Adam, not Moses, NOT Elijah, non of our BEST, find themsleves in the category of the WORTHY.

NONE IN HEAVEN- all those figures we read about in Chapter 4- NONE of them are WORTHY.

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.”

Notice that the ELDER Isn’t Weeping, the Elder knows, who can open the Scroll and HE delievers a message of hope to JOHN, WEEP NO more, BEHOLD,

HE KNOWS of the ONE WHO HAS conquered.

The Worthy Lamb:

Jesus Christ is revealed as the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” and the “Root of David,” signifying His royal and Messianic identity.

He is also described as a Lamb standing, symbolizing His sacrificial death and resurrection.

Worship and Adoration:

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.”

The heavenly beings and elders worship the Lamb, acknowledging His worthiness to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.

This worship underscores the unity of praise given to both God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son.

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Conclusion: Revelation chapter 5 highlights Jesus Christ as the central figure in God's plan for redemption and judgment. His sacrificial death and resurrection make Him worthy to execute God’s divine plan, bringing ultimate victory over sin and evil. As believers, we are called to worship and trust in the Lamb who was slain, recognizing His sovereignty and the fulfillment of God’s redemptive purposes through Him.

Application Questions:

How does understanding Jesus as the Lamb who was slain impact your view of His role in history and your personal faith?

What does it mean to worship Jesus Christ as both fully divine and the perfect sacrifice for our sins?

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for revealing Your plan of redemption through Jesus Christ, the Lamb who was slain. Help us to worship Him in spirit and truth, recognizing His sovereignty over all creation. May we trust in His finished work and live faithfully according to Your will. In Jesus' name, Amen.