Study of Revelation 5

Key Verse 

“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.’”Revelation 5:9

Introduction

John sees a scroll that needs to be opened and its seals broken for God’s purposes to be accomplished in the universe, but to his dismay, nobody is found worthy to break the seals and reveal the content of the scroll. One of the elders then comforts John and points out that the Lion of the tribe of Judah has triumphed and is able to do it.

Commentary

“The scroll represents God’s redemptive plan to defeat evil once and for all, to rescue His people, and to transform His creation through the victory achieved by Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.”⁶

“This is the striking paradox: the conquering lion, warrior-king of Judah’s tribe and David’s line, champion of the people of God, appears before John’s eyes as a lamb slaughtered yet standing⁷ Jesus conquered not by using the power and force of a lion but by dying as the Passover Lamb. The great victory over all the forces of evil has already occurred at the cross and resurrection.”⁸

“That God has so many myriads (Rev. 5:11) to worship him reinforces the text’s example for us that he is worthy of worship. ‘Ten thousand’ was simply the largest number for which the Greek language afforded a ready term, so the plural (in the Greek) of “ten thousand times ten thousand” is a handy way of saying that they were innumerable.”⁹

“The Lamb’s seven horns show his supreme worthiness to receive the praises that greet his appearance, but they primarily portray his supreme power. They are the visual equivalent of the title Almighty, ascribed to the Lord God (1:8, 4:8).”¹⁰

“Here very definitely the Mediator’s present rule or dominion over the universe is described as being a reward for His suffering and death. Both the particular and universal aspects of the atonement are beautifully combined. The Lamb did not purchase the salvation of every single individual. No, He paid the price for His elect, that is, for men out of every tribe and tongue, etc. Yet, on the other hand, there is nothing narrow or national about this redemption. It is worldwide in its scope and embraces every group: ethnic (tribe), linguistic (tongue), political (people), and social (nation).”¹¹

Reflection

Take some time this week to prayerfully think about all the was accomplished by Jesus on the cross. 

Look at how Jesus is described in this chapter and pray that the Holy Spirit would fill you with love and adoration for all that He is and all that He has accomplished on your behalf.

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Works Cited

6, 8 Duvall, J. Scott. Revelation.

7, 10 Johnson, Dennis E. Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation.

9 Keener, Craig S. Revelation

11 Hendriksen, William. More than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation.