Revelation 5:1-14 Lesson 475

Revelation 5:1-14
Lesson 475

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

Our peek at heaven continues from lesson 474.

The scroll, seven seals, and the Lamb.

Jesus takes the scroll from God (5:7).

Songs of praise (5:9-14)

The slaughtered lamb.

By the German-Swiss painter Hans Holbein the Younger (1497-1543).
Hans is considered one of the greatest portraitists of his time.

Study Tip:

Apply important verses to your life by asking yourself -
What lesson does this passage teach?
Does it warn me of something to avoid?
What difference could it make in my life?

The Revelation of Saint John the Divine

The King James Bible

Revelation 5:1-14
Worshipping the Lamb

1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.

2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.

7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.

9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;

10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

11 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and 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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.

14 And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

Margin notes:

"I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book." (5:1) - John saw God sitting on a throne holding a book (scroll). The scroll was sealed and had the secrets of the future. Only Jesus could break the seals and open the scroll. See "Today's Question" below.

"Written within and on the backside." (5:1) - There was so much information on the scroll that it took up both sides of the paper. The scroll records God's plans (judgments) for His church and all mankind.

"Seven seals." (5:1) - The number seven symbolizes perfection. A seal was made of clay. A scroll could only be opened and read once the seal was broken.

"Who is worthy to open the book, and to Loose the seals." (5:2) - "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll."

"No man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book." (5:3) - This means no one in the universe could open the scroll.

"Neither to look thereon." (5:4) - "Or able to look in it."

"The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, prevailed to open the book." (5:5) - The lion (a symbol of strength and authority) is Jesus, who is a root (descendant) of King David (Matthew 1:1; Luke 3:23-31) as written in Genesis 49:9, Isaiah 11:1, Hebrews 7:14 and Revelation 22:16. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross qualified him to open and read the scroll.

"And I beheld." (5:6) - "And I saw."

"A Lamb as it had been slain." (5:6) - "A lamb looking like it had been slain." The lamb (a symbol of submission or sacrifice) is Jesus (Isaiah 53:1-12; John 1:29). He is covered with the wounds of His crucifixion. Jesus was crucified for our sins. Jesus is the only one worthy to open the sacred scroll thanks to His sacrifice.

"Seven horns." (5:6) - The number seven symbolizes perfection while the horns represent power and authority (Deuteronomy 33:17; 1 Kings 22:11). Together, they equal perfect power and authority.

"Seven eyes." (5:6) - Again, seven symbolizes perfection. Thus, seven eyes represent God's perfect wisdom, all-seeing and all-knowing (Zechariah 4:10).

"He came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne." (5:7) - Jesus took the scroll from God.

"Golden vials full of odours, which are the the prayers of saints." (5:8) - "Gold bowls filled with incense, with are the prayers of Christians." To God, our prayers are like the sweet scent of incense. Additional note: It was a Jewish custom to burn incense while praying (Exodus 30:7-9; Luke 1:10-11). Tradition held that the rising smoke carried prayers to heaven.

"They sung a new song." (5:9) - They sang a song of praise to the Messiah.

"Hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation." (5:9) - Christ died for the sins of all mankind, every nation, nationality, language, and race. How? See Hebrews 10:1-18.

"Made us unto our God kings and priests." (5:10) - "Made us a kingdom of priests." In other words, Jesus redeemed us.

"Ten thousand times ten thousand." (5:11) - This equals 100,000,000 angels. Daniel 7:10 also tells us there are "ten thousand times ten thousand" angels in heaven.

New Living Translation

Revelation 5:1-14
The Lamb Opens the Scroll

1 Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals.

2 And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: "Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?"

3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

4 Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it.

5 But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, "Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals."

6 Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the sevenfold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth.

7 He stepped forward and took the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne.

8 And when he took the scroll, the four living beings and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they held gold bowls filled with incense, which are the prayers of God's people.

9 And they sang a new song with these words:

  "You are worthy to take the scroll
      and break its seals and open it.
   For you were slaughtered, and your blood has ransomed people for God
      from every tribe and language and people and nation.

10 And you have caused them to become
      a Kingdom of priests for our God.
      And they will reign on the earth."

11 Then I looked again, and I heard the voices of thousands and millions of angels around the throne and of the living beings and the elders.

12 And they sang in a mighty chorus:

  "Worthy is the Lamb who was slaughtered-
      to receive power and riches
   and wisdom and strength
      and honor and glory and blessing."

13 And then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea. They sang:

  "Blessing and honor and glory and power
      belong to the one sitting on the throne
      and to the Lamb forever and ever."

14 And the four living beings said, "Amen!" And the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped the Lamb.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's question:

1. What is the scroll?

These lessons are not meant to convert unbelievers. Only God can change lives. The purpose of these lessons is to introduce people to Jesus so that He can work on their hearts and minds.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. "Some say it (the scroll) is a contract, others a certificate of debt, others a deed and still others a will. But what seems clear is that the scroll contains the record of God's judgments, long since made but now to be enacted. Only Christ is worthy to open and enact those judgments."

(The "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; page 1780)

Application thought for the day:

"What is taught here about: the Judgment of man; Redemption; Blood of Christ?"

(Application thought comes from Irving Jenson's "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook,"
published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; page 1010)

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House, Wheaten, Illinois; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course, the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2023 evolke

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