The Book of Revelation
Chapter Five

Revelation 5:1
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.

It should be reiterated that John spoke and wrote about what he actually saw (Revelation 1:2, 11, 19) and heard (Revelation 1:10; 4:1) during his travel through time into the 21st century. He wrote only about those things to which he was a personal eyewitness. This is important especially as we get to John’s various descriptions of events starting in chapter 6. It should also be noted that this chapter is a continuation of the events before the Throne of God, which commenced in chapter 4.

John sees a scroll in the right hand of God the Father, which had writing on both sides of the parchment and was sealed with seven seals. Some translations use the word “book” instead of scroll, but the correct description is “scroll.” The ancient “books” of Israel were sheepskin scrolls (or rolls). To delineate chapters or sections, the scroll would be rolled up to a point and then a seal was applied to its edge. This allowed the scroll to be rolled out to the seal for the purpose of reading, at which time the seal would have to be broken in order to unroll the scroll further for continued reading. A scroll, depending on the number of its sections (or “chapters”), could be sealed many times. The scroll that John saw had seven seals, which had to be broken individually in order for anyone to read each of its seven sections.

What did this scroll represent? Various Bible scholars surmise that it is the “title-deed” to the planet earth. They refer back to Jeremiah 32 in which property is purchased, and the transaction is legally recorded with a sealed scroll representing the title or deed to the property. Only the person redeeming (purchasing) the property could then open the sealed title-deed scroll. This may be; I can’t be certain regarding this interpretation. Surely man lost title to this earth when he sinned in the person of Adam in the Garden of Eden. On that day Satan became the “prince,” “god” and “ruler” of this earth (John 12:31; 14:30; 16:ll; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Ephesians 6:12). From that day forward, man has been under the direct influence of Satan. In that sense Satan surely “owns” this planet earth and one may conjecture that he has its “title-deed.” But we will see that the hand of God reclaims title to earth for the establishment of His Kingdom. It is just as certain that only Jesus Christ is qualified as the “Redeemer” to make such a transaction (Romans 3:23, 24; Ephesians 1:7; 1 Peter 1:18, 19; 1 John 2:2).

The scroll may well signify the control and authority to rule the earth to the one who is able to open it. If this is the case, then Christ is certainly the one who takes control over the earth throughout the Tribulation and the His Millennium Reign, up until He brings forth the New Heaven and the New Earth (Revelation 21:1) and declares “It is done” (Revelation 21:6). Nevertheless, I submit another view regarding this scroll.

The scroll represents the “decreed judgments of God for the world.” This is clearly seen as we continue on through Revelation. As each seal is broken and out of each unrolled section comes a new judgment with new terrors for the whole world. No wonder that the only person qualified to open the seals of this scroll of judgments is our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the divine One who condescended to become true humanity so that He could die as the substitute for all mankind and thereby pay the price for (all) the sins of man by His spiritual death on the cross of Calvary. Thus He alone is qualified to judge those who reject His offer of free pardon, which He purchased with His own blood.

Revelation 5:2-4
And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.

A mighty angel cries out to Heaven and creation, asking if there is anyone worthy to break the seals of the “scroll of judgments.” John was distraught because it appears to him that no one is qualified to open the scroll and look inside it. He wept copiously because no one was found that could open or look inside the scroll.

Revelation 5:5
Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."

It is interesting that it wasn’t an angel that then pointed out to John that someone was indeed qualified to open the scroll and its seven seals. It was one of the elders, a representative of “believers” in Jesus Christ. The angels present had not fallen and therefore needed no redemption. On the other hand humans who had been redeemed by the “blood of the Lamb,” knew that there could only be one person who could open the scroll of judgments and exact judgment upon the earth.

That person was the “Lion of the tribe of Judah” (Genesis 49:9, 10; Revelation 19:16 - the lion as the “king of beast” revealed that surely it was Jesus Christ, King of kings) and the “Root of David” (Isaiah 11:1-5; Revelation 22:16), which is none other than Jesus Christ.

Revelation 5:6,7
Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if It had been slain, standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Then John sees the person who is able to open the scroll and its seals. Although his attention had been called to Christ as the “Lion” and the “Root of David,” he sees a freshly slain Lamb “in the center” of the Throne of God, and the Lamb is encircled by the four living beings of Revelation 4:6 and the 24 elders. The Lamb had “seven horns,” which speak of strength (Matthew 28:18) and “seven eyes,” which are the “seven spirits” of God sent out into all the earth. We know that the “seven spirits” are the 7-fold manifestation (or virtues) of the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 11:1, 2 - nature of Christ, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and respect), but here we see that the Holy Spirit is also seen as “seven eyes” that are “sent out into all the earth.” In other words, God is omnipresent (He is everywhere at the same time) and sees everything that is (past, present and future). The Lamb is Jesus Christ. As John the Baptist proclaimed in John 1:29 when he saw Jesus, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. It is Jesus Christ who always had and always will have the full measure of the Holy Spirit (John 3:34).

But the most interesting observation regarding this verse is this. John sees the Lamb, who is Jesus Christ and who has all strength and the full measure of the Holy Spirit, standing “in the center” of the Throne. We know that this is God the Father’s Throne, and He is sitting on it. Yet, standing in the center of the Throne, that is, standing in the center of God the Father is Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Here we see another expression of God in Three Persons (the Trinity). You cannot experience one without the others. Also, John sees Christ standing (ready to administer judgment) instead of sitting (ready to rule).

Revelation 5:7-10
He came and took the scroll from the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. And when He had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth."

John sees the Lamb (Jesus Christ) take the scroll from the right hand of God the Father. The four living beings or creatures and the 24 elders immediately fall down before Christ. It can’t be certain if the phrase “each one” refers to both the living beings and the elders or just to the elders; nevertheless, “each one” had a harp and they were holding golden bowls (not certain how many) full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. This tells us that our prayers matter. They are collected and filed in golden bowls in Heaven.

Then the four living beings and the 24 elders, as they are prostrate before Jesus Christ, begin a new song to Him (the only time we know they sing together). The song declares that Christ is worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because He was slain on Calvary’s cross and His blood purchased the salvation of all who will by faith alone accept Him alone for salvation. And they will be from every “tribe and language and people and nation” (1 Peter 1:18, 19). And this purchase was for the sake of God, who originally created man for fellowship. There is no favoritism or prejudice with God. He sees all men alike. No matter your skin color, your ethnic origin, your language or your status in life; you are precious in His sight and His salvation is freely available to you.

The song also declares that those purchased by the Lamb are a kingdom of priests and will reign on earth (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:6).

Revelation 5:11, 12
Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they proclaimed: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!"

A countless number of angels join in praising Jesus Christ. Although the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible actually uses the word “sang” in place of “proclaim,” this is not correct. The Greek word used is not consistent with singing. In fact many Bible scholars point out that nowhere in the Bible will you find angels singing. The great worldwide preacher, Henry Allan (H.A.) Ironside, points out that only in the 38th chapter of Job will you find that angels sing, given that “morning stars” are angels. In context they sang when this world in all its beauty was created. Then he points out that this ancient song ceased when sin came in and marred God’s creation. He says that from that time on you never again hear (or read) that angels sing.

Here they loudly proclaim that Jesus Christ as the Lamb of God, and specifically because of His sacrifice (“who was slain”) on the cross of Calvary, was “worthy to receive”:

      1.    Power (authority and foundation)
      2.    Riches (spiritual and eternal)
      3.    Wisdom (insight and understanding)
      4.    Strength (might and intensity)
      5.    Honor (character and worth)
      6.    Glory (fame and recognition)
      7.    Praise (exaltation and worship)


In brief and again due to the mercy and grace of God as evidenced by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as our substitute for the payment of our sins on the cross of Calvary, Jesus Christ alone is worthy of all that is good. As the book of Revelation is centered on Jesus Christ (Revelation 1:1), we should be focused on Him throughout our lives.

Revelation 5:13, 14
Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, "Amen," and the elders fell down and worshiped.

Finally John sees every living being in Heaven and creation exalting God the Father and God the Son. To this the four living beings proclaimed, “Amen,” that is, “it is the truth,” and the 24 elders who represent all believers “fell down and worshiped” the Godhead. The living beings worshipped by voice and the elders by action.