Revelation: The Lamb

Revelation 5:1-7

Bob has been one of my longtime friends. I was fortunate also to know his father, who lived with Bob and his family for a time. When their house was full of kids and cousins running around doing what kids do and making the usual noise, Bob’s dad would say, “There’s too much dang confusion in here. I am going up to my bedroom.” I cleaned up the language a bit, but part of his legacy is his quotable quotes, which I find so spot-on!  

When reading Revelation, many share that same feeling: “There’s too much dang confusion in here. I give up!” Let me emphasize that our goal for this study is to clarify what we can, highlight what we need to learn about end-time events, while not losing sight of what matters to us today. And let’s remember that this prophecy can be summed up in five words: In the end, we win!

After establishing the prophecy in a historical context (Rev. 2-3), we now move on to the events that are to come (Rev. 4-22). The main section of the book begins with a prelude in chapters 4 and 5. 

The first thing we see in Revelation 4 is God opening the door to heaven and showing us around the throne room where he sits in total control. Much chaos and suffering are coming, but everything we read about the future depends on the fact that God is sovereign over all. Yesterday, I promised that we would spend time exploring the four living creatures in more detail, so let’s start there. 

I believe the four living creatures are angelic beings, similar to those described in Isaiah 6:1-3, as the prophet was allowed a glimpse into heaven. The four living creatures were “full of eyes in front and behind” (Rev. 4:6). This may symbolize the omniscience and omnipresence of God, who sees everything and knows all. I believe Bible scholar Leon Morris explains the four forms best. He sees them as representing what is the noblest (a lion), strongest (an ox), and swiftest (an eagle in flight) in nature. Man is also embodied as one before the throne (Rev. 4:7-8).  These beings all participate in worshiping God’s majesty and carrying out his will.[1]

Continuing with this prelude to the tribulation (Rev. 6-19), the millennial kingdom (Rev. 20), and the eternal state (Rev. 21-22), John explains that he “saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals” (Rev. 5:1). 

Typically, due to the texture of parchment, writing is usually done only on one side. However, here, the scroll has writing on both sides, providing a complete account of what God, in his sovereign will, has determined for the world's future. The scroll’s content is so valuable that it has been protected with seven seals. Don’t think of seven seals just placed on the outside of the scroll, but each seal “affixed to the side in such a way that if unrolled, the seven seals would need to be broken one by one.”[2]

Upon noticing the scroll, John saw and heard a “mighty angel” loudly proclaiming, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” (Rev. 5:2). After an extensive search, no one was “found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it” (Rev. 5:3-4). John cried loudly, overtaken with the fear and dread that God’s plan was not going to be carried out (Rev. 5:4).

As John was weeping, one of the elders said to him, “Weep no more; behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals” (Rev. 5:5).

In Genesis, when Jacob was giving his final blessing to his sons, he likened Judah to a lion and promised that the ruling scepter would stay in the hands of the one whom all people would obey (Gen. 49:8-10). Jesus is the promised Lion of Judah. Jesus is also the “root of David,” as the prophet Isaiah predicted when he said of the coming Messiah, “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit” (Isa. 11:1). Jesus is the One who conquered, meaning he overcame every obstacle. Now, he has the supreme authority to open the scroll and its seals. 

John stopped weeping and looked up to see the conqueror. Here’s his description:

Revelation 5:6
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 

When countries want to visualize their power, they often associate with a powerful animal: Russia, the bear; Britain, the lion; France, the tiger; the United States, the eagle. In heaven, the One worthy is a lamb bearing the marks of death. 

John begins his gospel account by declaring that Jesus is fully God and the Creator of everything (John 1:1-3). The first personal introduction of Jesus in this Gospel occurs when John the Baptist declares, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). The apostle Paul also refers to Jesus as the lamb by reminding the Corinthians, “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed” (1 Cor. 5:7).

Jesus is no ordinary lamb. He was God in the flesh who became the perfect sacrifice for our sins. And God raised him from the dead! John saw him with “seven horns,” signifying his complete power, and seven spirits representing the Holy Spirit, who, in his omnipresence, is sent out to all the earth. Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, stands in heaven with complete authority. In this heavenly scene, Jesus walked to God the Father and “took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne” (Rev. 5:7).

Let’s pause here and consider the person of Jesus. He is the omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent One. He is God who took on flesh and rose from the dead. He is the Lamb, the perfect sacrifice, who died for our sins. And he is the One who holds power and authority over death—the One who died but is now alive forever (Rev. 1:18). 

To wrap up this picture of the Lamb, we’ll fast forward to Revelation 17:14.

Revelation 17:14
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.

The Lamb is indeed the “Lord of lords and King of kings.”

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Time in the Word: Read and reflect on Revelation 5:1-7. Focus on the Lamb and the sacrificial work he has already done for you.

Talking to God: When you picture Jesus as both the Lion and the Lamb, how does this deepen your awe and gratitude in worship?

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The Living Grounded Ministry has scheduled a tour to the Holy Land from November 4 to 15, 2026, as part of our Bible Immersion Experiences. We would love for you to join us. More details will be provided soon.