Revelation 5

Having seen the heavenly throne and the worship surrounding it in Revelation 4, John now sees a sealed book in the hand of the One seated on the throne and the Lamb who receives that book. The scene in which the Lamb opens the book's seals follows in Revelation 6 and the chapters after it (see The Seven Seals, Trumpets, and Bowls).

Outline

• Verses 1-4: A book lies in the right hand of the One seated on the throne. It is written within and on the backside and sealed with seven seals. A strong angel seeks someone able to loose its seals, but no one is found in heaven, on earth, or under the earth, and John weeps greatly.
• Verses 5-7: One of the elders tells John that "the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David" has prevailed. John looks and sees a Lamb standing as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes. The Lamb comes and takes the book.
• Verses 8-10: The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fall down before the Lamb. They hold harps and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints, and they sing a new song.
• Verses 11-12: Angels numbering ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, sing with a loud voice that the Lamb who was slain is worthy to receive power, riches, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and blessing.
• Verses 13-14: Every creature gives praise to the One seated on the throne and to the Lamb. The four living creatures say "Amen," and the elders fall down and worship.

Key Verses

• Revelation 5:5-6, "the Lion of the tribe of Juda … stood a Lamb": The one introduced as the conquering Lion appears as a slain Lamb. This contrast lies at the center of the entire chapter.
• Revelation 5:9, "redeemed … to God by thy blood": The song proclaims that the Lamb's death was the price paid for people of every kindred and nation.
• Revelation 5:12, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain": A representative hymn of heavenly worship.

Characters and Places

• The One seated on the throne: God, as introduced in chapter 4.
• The Lamb: The one who receives the book, appearing as one that had been slain. Christian tradition identifies this figure as Jesus Christ.
• The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures: The company that worships around the throne, first introduced in chapter 4.
• Angels: A strong angel who asks who is worthy to open the book, and a multitude of angels who praise the Lamb.
• John: The one who saw and recorded this vision.

Points for Reflection

• Messianic titles: "The Lion of the tribe of Juda" is interpreted as a messianic title drawing on the blessing of Judah in Genesis 49, and "the Root of David" as one drawing on Isaiah 11.
• Symbols with differing interpretations: The sealed book has been interpreted variously as God's plan for history, His plan of judgment, or His plan of redemption (recovery through payment of a price). Some understand "the seven Spirits of God" as a symbol of the fullness of the Holy Spirit, while others take them to be seven angels. Regarding the twenty-four elders, one view holds that they represent the twelve tribes and the twelve apostles, that is, the people of God in the Old and New Testaments, while another regards them as heavenly beings.
• Manuscript differences: In verses 9-10, some manuscripts read "redeemed us" and "made us." As a result, the wording differs between translations in the King James Bible tradition and the Korean Revised Version.
• Connections with the New Testament: "Kings and priests" connects with Exodus 19:5-6, Revelation 1:6, and 1 Peter 2:5, and the phrase is often cited in explaining the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers.
• "Reign on the earth": Some take this phrase to refer to a future reign in the millennial kingdom (premillennialism), while others understand it as the reign the church enjoys now (amillennialism and related views).

In the Korean Church

The final chorus of Handel's oratorio Messiah, "Worthy Is the Lamb," takes verses 12-13 as its text and concludes with "Amen." The piece is frequently performed at choir concerts around Christmas.