WORTHY IS THE LAMB WHO WAS SLAIN

Passage: Revelation 5:1-14

Key verse: 9,10

NIV

The Scroll and the Lamb

5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne(A) a scroll with writing on both sides(B) and sealed(C) with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel(D) 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(E) of the tribe of Judah,(F) the Root of David,(G) has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6 Then I saw a Lamb,(H) looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures(I) and the elders.(J) The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes,(K) which are the seven spirits[a](L) of God sent out into all the earth. 7 He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.(M) 8 And when he had taken it, the four living creatures(N) and the twenty-four elders(O) fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp(P) and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers(Q) of God’s people. 9 And they sang a new song, saying:(R)

“You are worthy(S) to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
    and with your blood(T) you purchased(U) for God
    persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.(V)
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests(W) to serve our God,
    and they will reign[b] on the earth.”(X)

11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.(Y) They encircled the throne and the living creatures(Z) and the elders.(AA) 12 In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb,(AB) who was slain,(AC)
    to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
    and honor and glory and praise!”(AD)

13 Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth(AE) and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne(AF) and to the Lamb(AG)
    be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”(AH)

14 The four living creatures(AI) said, “Amen,”(AJ) and the elders(AK) fell down and worshiped.(AL)

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Footnotes
  1. Revelation 5:6 That is, the sevenfold Spirit
  2. Revelation 5:10 Some manuscripts they reign
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Scroll and the Lamb

5 Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne (A)a scroll written within and on the back, (B)sealed with seven seals. 2 And (C)I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, 4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, (D)the Lion (E)of the tribe of Judah, (F)the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw (G)a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with (H)seven eyes, which are (I)the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. 8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders (J)fell down before the Lamb, (K)each holding a harp, and (L)golden bowls full of incense, (M)which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang (N)a new song, saying,

“Worthy are you to take the scroll
    and to open its seals,
for (O)you were slain, and by your blood (P)you ransomed people for God
    from (Q)every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them (R)a kingdom and priests to our God,
    and they shall reign on the earth.”

11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering (S)myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice,

(T)“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”

13 And I heard (U)every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying,

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

14 And the four living creatures (V)said, “Amen!” and the elders (W)fell down and worshiped.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Who is worthy to open the scroll? (1-8)

A sealed scroll was in God's right hand. If John were to see 'what must take place' 4:1) the scroll must be opened. John wept because no one was worthy to open the scroll. Then Jesus, the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, the Lamb who was slain, came and took the scroll. He alone is worthy.

2. He has made a kingdom and priests (9-14)

The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb and began to sing a new song. Myriads of angels joined in. Then, every creature in heaven and on earth began to sing praises to the Lamb and worship him. The Lamb is worthy because he was slain and with his blood he purchased men for God. He called people from every tribe and language and nation and made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve God. They serve God by taking his gospel of love and forgiveness to the world. Those who serve our God will reign with him.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for purchasing me with your blood and making us a kingdom of priests. Praise the Lamb who was slain.

One Word: Worthy is the Lamb