Who Is Worthy to Open the Scroll?
Revelation 5 continues directly from the throne room of chapter 4. John now sees something in God’s right hand.
“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.” — Revelation 5:1
The scroll represents God’s sovereign plan for judgment, redemption, and the completion of His purposes for history. The seven seals show that its contents are perfectly secured and can only be opened by the One whom God has appointed.
A mighty angel asks:
“Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” — Revelation 5:2
The search is exhaustive.
“And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll…” — Revelation 5:3
No angel. No prophet. No king. No apostle. No created being is worthy. John responds emotionally.
“So I wept much…” — Revelation 5:4
His tears reflect the apparent impossibility of God’s redemptive plan reaching its glorious conclusion if no one can execute His purposes. Then comes wonderful news. One of the elders says:
“Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed…” — Revelation 5:5
The promised Messiah has conquered. He alone is worthy.
This reminds us that human beings cannot solve the deepest problem of history. Only Jesus Christ is worthy to fulfil God’s eternal plan. When everything seems impossible, our hope rests entirely in Him.
The Lion Appears as the Lamb
John expects to see a mighty Lion. Instead he sees something astonishing.
“And I looked, and behold… a Lamb as though it had been slain…” — Revelation 5:6
The Lion conquers by becoming the Lamb. Jesus bears the marks of His sacrifice even in His glory. The Lamb stands:
“…in the midst of the throne…” — Revelation 5:6
This demonstrates both His equality with the Father and His central place in heaven. John describes Him as having:
“…seven horns and seven eyes…” — Revelation 5:6
The seven horns symbolise perfect power. The seven eyes represent perfect knowledge through:
“…the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.” — Revelation 5:6
The Lamb then approaches.
“Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.” — Revelation 5:7
No hesitation. No resistance. The Father willingly entrusts His redemptive plan to the Son. The entire universe now prepares to worship.
Revelation 5 reveals the heart of the Gospel. Jesus is both the victorious Lion and the sacrificial Lamb. His authority to rule comes through His perfect obedience and His redeeming death upon the cross.
Heaven Worships the Worthy Lamb
The moment Jesus takes the scroll, worship erupts.
“Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb…” — Revelation 5:8
Each elder holds:
“…golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” — Revelation 5:8
Not a single faithful prayer offered by God’s people has been forgotten. Then heaven sings a new song.
“You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals…” — Revelation 5:9
Why is Christ worthy?
“For You were slain…” — Revelation 5:9
Through His blood:
“…You have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” — Revelation 5:9
Christ’s redemption extends to people from every nation on earth. He has made them:
“…kings and priests to our God…” — Revelation 5:10
Then John hears an even greater chorus.
“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne…” — Revelation 5:11
Their number is beyond counting. They proclaim:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain…” — Revelation 5:12
Finally, every creature joins in.
“Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb…” — Revelation 5:13
The chapter ends with universal worship.
“Then the four living creatures said, ‘Amen!’ And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.” — Revelation 5:14
This reminds us that the centre of heaven’s worship is Jesus Christ. The greatest song in eternity is not about human achievement but about the Lamb who gave His life to redeem sinners and now reigns forever.
Deeper Waters
Revelation 5 is one of the most glorious chapters in all of Scripture because it reveals the absolute worthiness of Jesus Christ. Chapter 4 focused upon worship of the Father as Creator. Chapter 5 now focuses upon worship of the Son as Redeemer. Together they reveal why the Triune God alone deserves the worship of all creation.
John sees:
**”a scroll… sealed with seven seals.”**
Throughout Scripture, scrolls often contain God’s decrees and purposes.
This scroll represents God’s sovereign plan for bringing history to its appointed conclusion—His righteous judgments upon evil, the redemption of His people, the defeat of Satan, and the establishment of Christ’s everlasting Kingdom.
Because it is:
**”sealed with seven seals.”**
its contents remain inaccessible until the divinely appointed Redeemer opens them. The question then echoes throughout heaven:
**”Who is worthy?”**
Notice the issue is not who is powerful enough, but who is worthy. Worthiness involves perfect holiness, absolute righteousness, and complete authority to carry out God’s eternal purposes. John observes:
**”no one.”**
No created being qualifies. Not Abraham. Not Moses. Not David. Not Isaiah. Not Peter. Not Paul. Not even the highest angels. Every created being falls short. John therefore:
**”wept much.”**
His tears reflect more than disappointment. If no one can open the scroll, God’s purposes appear unable to reach their glorious fulfilment. Sin would remain unjudged. Creation would remain under its curse. Redemption would remain incomplete. Then comes one of the Bible’s greatest announcements.
**”Do not weep.”**
Hope enters because:
**”the Lion of the tribe of Judah.”**
This title comes from Jacob’s prophecy in Genesis 49, where Judah’s descendant is promised everlasting royal authority. The elder also calls Him:
**”the Root of David.”**
Drawing from Isaiah 11, this title identifies Jesus as both David’s promised descendant and David’s divine source. Most importantly:
**”has prevailed.”**
Christ’s victory has already been accomplished. John turns expecting to see:
**”a Lion.”**
Instead he sees:
**”a Lamb as though it had been slain.”**
This is one of Revelation’s greatest surprises. The Lion conquers by becoming the Lamb. Power and sacrifice meet perfectly in Jesus Christ. The marks of His crucifixion remain visible. Heaven never forgets Calvary. Throughout Revelation, Jesus is repeatedly called the Lamb because His sacrificial death remains central to His eternal glory. The Lamb possesses:
**”seven horns.”**
Throughout Scripture, horns symbolise strength and kingly authority. Seven represents perfection. Christ therefore possesses complete and unlimited power. He also has:
**”seven eyes.”**
John explains that these represent:
**”the seven Spirits of God.”**
The imagery communicates Christ’s perfect knowledge and the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Nothing escapes His awareness. Nothing limits His authority. The Lamb then:
**”took the scroll.”**
This simple action changes the entire course of history. No one objects. The Father willingly entrusts the execution of His eternal purposes to the Son because the Son alone is worthy. Immediately heaven erupts in worship. The elders hold:
**”golden bowls full of incense.”**
John explicitly interprets these as:
**”the prayers of the saints.”**
This is profoundly encouraging. Every faithful prayer offered throughout history is remembered before God’s throne. No prayer prayed according to His will has ever been forgotten. The worshippers then sing:
**”a new song.”**
Throughout Scripture, new songs celebrate fresh demonstrations of God’s saving work. The content explains Christ’s worthiness.
**”You were slain.”**
The cross remains the foundation of Christ’s authority to execute God’s redemptive plan. The song continues:
**”You have redeemed us to God by Your blood.”**
Redemption speaks of purchasing freedom through payment. The price was not silver or gold but Christ’s own blood. Notice the global scope. People are redeemed from:
**”every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”**
The Gospel was never intended for one ethnicity alone. God’s eternal Kingdom includes redeemed people from every part of the world. Christ has also made believers:
**”kings and priests.”**
This fulfils God’s original purpose for His covenant people (Exodus 19:6; 1 Peter 2:9). Believers serve God with direct access to His presence while sharing in Christ’s future reign. John then hears:
**”many angels.”**
Their number is astonishing:
**”ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.”**
The heavenly host joins in proclaiming:
**”Worthy is the Lamb.”**
Notice they do not merely say that Christ became worthy. They recognise the worthiness He has demonstrated through His redemptive work. They ascribe seven attributes to Him:
– power, – riches, – wisdom, – strength, – honour, – glory, – blessing. Together these express the completeness of Christ’s supreme majesty. The worship then expands beyond heaven.
**”Every creature.”**
All creation ultimately acknowledges the rightful reign of God and of the Lamb. This anticipates the universal confession described in Philippians 2:10–11, where every knee bows before Jesus Christ. Remarkably, the Father and the Son receive identical worship.
**”to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”**
This powerfully reveals Christ’s full deity. The worship due to God alone is freely and joyfully offered to the Son because He shares fully in the divine nature. The chapter concludes with:
**”Amen.”**
All heaven joyfully agrees. The elders then:
**”fell down and worshiped.”**
The only appropriate response before the worthy Lamb is humble adoration. Revelation 5 encourages us to: re.member that history remains under Christ’s sovereign control, – recognise that only Jesus is worthy to accomplish God’s eternal purposes, – continually centre their worship upon the cross, – rejoice that Christ’s blood has redeemed people from every nation, – find confidence that their prayers are precious before God, – remember that believers now serve as God’s royal priesthood, – join heaven’s continual worship through lives of joyful obedience, – rest in Christ’s perfect authority and perfect knowledge, – proclaim the Gospel to every people group, – and eagerly await the complete fulfilment of God’s redemptive plan.
Ultimately, Revelation 5 reveals Jesus Christ in the fullness of His glory. He is the Lion of Judah who conquers every enemy, yet He triumphs as the Lamb who was slain. He alone is worthy to open the scroll because He alone perfectly fulfilled the Father’s will through His sinless life, atoning death, victorious resurrection, and exaltation. Heaven’s worship centres not upon power alone but upon sacrificial love displayed at Calvary. The Lamb who redeemed His people with His own blood now reigns upon the throne, and one day every creature in heaven and on earth will joyfully declare that He alone is worthy of all blessing, honour, glory, and power forever and ever. Amen.