It will be none other than the Lord Jesus Christ, Who as the Lamb of God was slain and rejected of men, Who will yet be manifested as the Lion of the tribe of Judah breaking the seals of God’s wrath against sinners upon the earth. He Who alone was worthy to redeem mankind with His precious blood, is worthy to take man’s judgment in hand. Happy are they who shall in that day be with the ransomed ones in heaven joining in the new song, associating with Him in judgment and preparing to reign with Him.
Revelation 5
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 Juda, 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.
Revelation 5 Intro – J. Vernon McGee
Revelation 5:1 – J. Vernon McGee
Revelation 5:2-4 – J. Vernon McGee
Revelation 5:5-6 – J. Vernon McGee
Revelation 5:7-10 – J. Vernon McGee
Revelation 5:11-14 – J. Vernon McGee
Revelation 5:1-8 – The Book with Seven Seals
This “book” is a roll of papyrus or parchment, written on each side to prevent unauthorized additions. Probably it contains the history of the successive steps to be taken to win the empire of the world for Christ. In other words, it tells of the successive stages of the coming of the kingdom of God. As the seals are opened, certain phenomena occur which in part reveal the mysteries hidden in the book, but the whole is in the hand of the Lamb of God. He alone knows the contents; He alone presides over their development. We must not weep because the future is unknown. “Jesus we know, and He is on the throne.” We must trust our own future to Christ without fear or tears of foreboding. The Lamb who shed His blood to redeem may be trusted to order and perfect that which concerneth us.
What contrasts presented themselves! The Apostle looked for a lion, and behold, a lamb; for one who had overcome, and instead, one who had the appearance of having been slain; for one who had the majesty of a king, and instead, the emblem of humility. But in the lamb were the seven horns of perfect power, seven eyes of perfect wisdom, and seven spirits traversing the world, denoting omnipresence. What homage can be offered worthy of this combination of Redeemer and Creator? —Through the Bible Day by Day
Revelation 5:6—In the midst of the throne stood a Lamb as it had been slain.
It is a marvellous combination, but how reassuring; Not the throne without the Lamb, else sinners dare not venture nigh: not the Lamb without the throne, or we might question his victory, his omnipotence to succour and save. No; but the throne with the Lamb, the Lamb and the throne, the Lamb in its very midst.
How does the Lamb come there? Surely meekness, humility, gentle submissiveness to an irresistible lot, are not the virtues that win thrones! Perhaps not in man’s world, but they do in God’s. In the eternal world the passive virtues are stronger than the active; sufferers wield more might than wrestlers; to yield is to overcome; to be vanquished is to conquer. It is because He was God’s Lamb that He is now God’s Anointed King, having seven horns for his omnipotence, seven eyes for omniscience, and seven spirits sent into all the world for omnipresence.
But see: the marks of suffering, of agony and death, of sacrifice, are stamped upon his flesh. “A Lamb as it had been slain.” The redeemed ones that stand around tell the story; He purchased and cleansed them by his blood; He is worthy to fill the throne and rule for ever. He who could make Himself the supreme sacrifice and offering for the sins of the world is worthy to be the world’s King. The angels corroborate their verdict. In concentric rings they stand around the throne in their massed myriads. From ten thousand times ten thousand clear voices the acclamation rings out, Thou art worthy!
Take the scroll of history, of empire, of our lives, O gentle, holy, victorious, mighty Lamb. Break the seals, and unroll it page by page. All must be well that passes beneath thy tender and mighty hand. —Our Daily Homily
Revelation 5:9-14 – The One Worthy to Open It
Jesus is worthy to unroll the mystic scroll of history, because He loved and loves our race as no other has ever done; and He is equally worthy to open each new phase of our lives. When He came into the world He said (Hebrews 10:7), “In the volume of the book it is written of me.” We need not fear those pierced hands. If we are His purchased property, He will provide for us. If we are priests and kings in His ideal, we may trust Him so to arrange our life-plan as to secure the best exercise of those sacred functions.
Notice how the out-circling song of the redeemed reaches out in further and yet further response. It begins with the little group around the throne; then it spreads to the angels in their myriads; and thence it is borne forward and outward in concentric rings until the utmost shores of space are struck by the billows of song and it reverberates back to the living creatures and the elders. Heaven is full of the sacrificial side of our Savior’s death. The heavenly beings describe themselves as His purchased chattels, and stand closer to Christ than the angels; but these bright ministers of God’s will have learned their deepest lessons of God from His redemptive dealings with men. —Through the Bible Day by Day
Revelation 5:9
Peter Mackenzie, a Wesleyan preacher in England was once preaching from the text, “And they sung a new song,” and he said: “Yes, there will be singing in heaven, and when I get there I shall want to have David with his harp, and Paul and Peter and other saints, gather round for a sing. And I will announce a hymn from the Wesleyan Hymnal. Let us sing hymn No. 749, ‘My God, my Father, while I stray.'”
“But some one will say: ‘That won’t do. You are in heaven, Peter; there is no straying here. And I will say, Yes that is so. Let us sing No. 651, ‘Though waves and storms go o’er my head.’ But another saint will say, ‘Peter you are in heaven now, you forget that there are no storms here.’ Well, I will try again. No. 536, ‘Into a world of ruffians sent.’ ‘Peter! Peter! some one will say; ‘we will put you out unless you stop giving out inappropriate hymns,’ and then I will ask, ‘What shall we sing?’ And they will all say, ‘Sing the new song, the song of Moses and the Lamb.'” (Moody)