Revelation 5 The Lamb of God
Are you planning on going to heaven? You might want to know something about it. You will find the Lamb there.
This chapter tells us about what is happening and going to happen in heaven.
The church will be in heaven with Jesus and not go through the Great Tribulation.
This is a Bible Study. Have your own Bible handy to look up the references mentioned.
If you do not have a Bible, I invite you to go to BibleGateway.com or another online Bible.
Open your Bible to Revelation 5.
1. John is telling us what he saw.
The person (God) sitting on the throne is holding a book in His right hand.
There are eight times that the word “book” appears in verses 1 through 9.
The book he is holding is a scroll.
There is writing on both sides of the paper.
Exodus 32:15-16 tells us that the Ten Commandants were written on both sides of the tablets.
This is an important document.
This scroll is “rolled tightly and sealed closely with seven seals.” (McGee, Thru the Bible: Volume V. [Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983], 932)
Jeremiah had a document sealed this way. (Jeremiah 32:9-15)
“Roman law required that a will be sealed seven times.” (McGee, 933)
“In handing the scroll to the Lamb, God shows that he has transferred his power and authority to the Lamb. (Easley, 90)
Who is Worthy?
2. The name of the strong angel is not given.
He proclaimed with a loud voice
His voice had to reach everywhere in the universe.
Someone had to be found “Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?”
“The nature of the question suggests that most will be precluded from opening the book due to their lack of worthiness.” (Patterson, Paige, The New American Commentary, Volume 39 Revelation [B & H Publishing Group, 2012], 163)
3. “No created being was worthy (morally deserving”) to open the book. (Easley, Holman New Testament Commentary: Revelation. [Nashville: B&H, 1998], 91)
No one is answering!
Everyone was quiet.
4. John wept.
In Luke 19:41 Jesus wept over Jerusalem.
John wanted to be able to see what was in the book.
5. One of the elders spoke up telling John to Stop weeping.
Look! The Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,
Jesus comes from the Root of David.
Genesis 49:8-10 predicts that a Messiah will come from the tribe of Judah.
Jesus “offered a spiritual kingdom”. (MacArthur, New Testament Commentary: Revelation 1-11. [Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1999], 167)
His lineage is recorded in Matthew 1 and Luke 3 back to David from both of His parents.
He prevailed to open the book.
“At the cross He defeated sin, and all the forces of hell.
Believers are overcomers through His overcoming.” (MacArthur, 167)
A Lamb
6. In the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders
He was literally in the middle of the throne.
Three descriptions showing us this is Jesus:
- I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain (NIV)
- The Lamb had seven horns (NIV)
- A seven-horned Lamb had never been seen.
- Horns symbolized power
- Suggesting diving power
- . Seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God (NIV)
- Seven spirits of God
- Holy Spirit
- Sent out into all the earth. (NIV)
- Seven spirits of God
These three descriptions can be found in Easley’s book. (93)
Stood a Lamb
“This speaks of His resurrection.” (McGee, 936)
He is standing ready for judgment.
“The judgment of the Tribulation is about to strike the earth.” (McGee, 936)
As it had been slain
“Indicates the redemptive and vicarious, substitutionary dead of Christ.” (McGee, 936)
The Lamb means a little lamb. This shows its gentleness and its willingness to be sacrificed.
“Christ was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and He did not open His mouth at all [see Isaiah 53:7].” (McGee, 935)
7. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
“He judges the world in righteousness before He reigns in righteousness.
“He is beginning to act as Judge. The movement here is important.” (McGee, 935)
Lamb takes the Book
8a. And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb,
They offered the same worship to Jesus as they did to God.
“This offers convincing proof of Christ’s deity, since only God is to be worshiped.” (MacArthur, 170)
Ephesians 1:20-22 Psalm 2:6-12
8b. Each one This refers to the twenty-four elders
“The harps held by the elders probably symbolize all of prophecy.” (MacArthur, 171)
1 Samuel 10:5 2 Kings 3:15 1 Chronicles 25:1
Golden vials full of odours
Used in worship at the temple.
Read more about the incense in Exodus 30:1-10
David “compared his prayers rising to God to the smoke of incense.” (Easley, 94)
Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2
God hears our prayers.
9a. they sung a new song, saying,
Sing unto him a new song. Psalm 33:3
“The new song is a song of redemption.” (MacArthur, 171)
9b. Speaking to the Lamb [Jesus] Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof:
Jesus is Worthy Why?
Because He wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood
By His crucifixion Jesus bought our salvation by shedding His blood for you and me.
Every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation are included.
You have been forgiven of your sins.
Lamb is Worthy
10. And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
“The present priesthood of believers (1 Peter 2:5,9) foreshadows that future day when we will have total access to and perfect communion with God.” (MacArthur, 172)
“During the millennial kingdom, believers will reign upon the earth with Christ.” (MacArthur, 172)
Revelation 20:6 2 Timothy 2:12
11. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne.
John is looking into heaven and heard many worshipping the Lord.
Not only are the beasts and the elders: singing but also many angels.
The number could not be counted.
12. saying with a loud voice,
Probably louder than a room full of children!
“The emphasis is on Christ’s death providing a perfect redemption, because of which He must be given worship, praise, and adoration.” (MacArthur, 173)
Jesus is Worthy… to receive:
- Power
- Riches
- Wisdom
- Might
- Honor
- Glory
- Blessing
13. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them,
Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. Psalm 150:6
Not only in heaven but the earth, under the earth, too, on the sea, and all things in them were singing:
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
To God sitting on the throne and to Jesus
“Endless blessing, endless honor, endless praise, endless glory, and endless worship belong to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”(MacArthur, 173)
Worship
14. And the four beasts said, Amen.
“Amen.”
“Let it be,” “make it happen.” (MacArthur, 173)
And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
“If you are not in the habit of praising and worshiping Him, why don’t you start right now?”(MacArthur, 173)
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB1995. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
Easley, Kendell H., Holman New Testament Commentary: Revelation. Nashville: B&H, 1998
MacArthur, John. New Testament Commentary: Revelation 1-11. Chicago: Moody Publishers, 1999
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible: Volume V. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1983
Patterson, Paige, The New American Commentary, Volume 39 Revelation. B & H Publishing Group, 2012
Throne in Heaven The First Four Seals
