Revelation 5 Studies

For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each chapter is divided into a number of studies and each study or passage has a simple four-Part, verse-by-verse approach, to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Rev 5:1-6

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. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. 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.’ 6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the centre of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

A. Find Out:

1. What had the One on the throne in his right hand? v.1
2. What was the problem? v.2,3
3. What was John’s reaction? v.4
4. Who did one of the elders say could do it? v.5
5. Who does John then see? v.6a
6. Where was he standing? v.6b

B. Think:

1. What seems strange about the scroll that God is holding?
2. Why do you think John wept?
3. Read John 1:29,35 How many description of Jesus are given in today’s passage?

C. Comment:

     John becomes aware that the One on the throne is holding a sealed scroll, and then an angel asks who is worthy to open it. What is strange about this, and which we perhaps take for granted, is that God Himself doesn’t want to open it, He wants someone else to open it. Some how there comes the revelation to John that the one who opens the scroll must be very important and there just isn’t anyone in heaven apart from God Himself who is worthy to open it.

      Something within John makes him weep at this point. It seems to him that it is very important for it to be opened, for surely that is what God wants to happen. It seems tragic to him that there is no one to open it. But then he’s told there IS one who can open it, and that one is described as the Lion of Judah (see Genesis 49:8-10), a ruler from that family, the root (or sprout) of David, who came from David’s family. Suddenly John sees a lamb in the centre of the throne, and perhaps he remembers what he himself had recorded and realises that Jesus alone is worthy to undo the scroll, Jesus who stands at the very centre of heaven itself now, he alone can rule over the affairs of men.

D. Application?

1. No where in history is there a man who is “worthy” to rule over other men, no one except Jesus!
2. Jesus the Son, the lamb, deserves our worship.

Passage: Rev 5:7-14

7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. 8 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 God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:

‘You are worthy to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood you purchased for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
    and they will reign on the earth.’

11 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. 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

‘Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
    and honour and glory and praise!’

13 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 honour and glory and power,
for ever and ever!’

14 The four living creatures said, ‘Amen’, and the elders fell down and worshipped.

A. Find Out:

1. What did the Lamb do? v.7
2. What did the creatures & elders do? v.8
3. Why was he was worthy to open the scroll? v.9
4. Then how did the angels acclaim him? v.12
5. About whom were all creation singing? v.13
6. What did they say they should receive? v.13

B. Think:

1. What does the description of the being of the Lamb tell about him?
2. How does heaven respond to him?
3. Why do they respond like this?

C. Comment:

      Note first the description of Jesus: a lamb, a gentle animal offered for sacrifice in the Old Testament times. Standing in the centre of the throne, right next to God in the place of honour. With seven horns? Horns in the Bible are a sign of authority and power. Seven eyes? All seeing and all knowing! Seven? The Biblical number of completion or perfection. He is the perfect Son of God, divinity slain for the sins of the world. Note next the response to Jesus: the creatures who we said see all, know all and therefore proclaim the truth of God, and the elders who lead the human worship, all fall before this One and acclaim him for what he has done. He ransomed us and then he made us a kingdom of priests (those who bring others to God) and who rule in life.

      Next all the angels in heaven join in with a sevenfold acclamation. Seven again indicating Jesus’ right to receive blessing in every way possible. Finally, all of creation joins in and names God the Father and Jesus the Son together as objects of worship, equally receiving that fourfold blessing. Previously wealth, wisdom & strength were attributed to him as God-man but now they fall away leaving praise, honour, glory and power for the pure Godhead.

D. Application?

1. How do we praise and honour Jesus?
2. Do we give him that which is due to him?