Revelation 5King James Version
A scroll sealed with seven seals. Who is worthy to open it? John weeps because no one is found worthy. An elder says, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed. John looks and sees a Lamb as it had been slain. He takes the scroll. Every creature in heaven and earth and sea cries, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.
A scroll sealed with seven seals lies in God's right hand, and no one in all of creation can open it. John weeps. An elder tells him the Lion of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open it. John turns and sees not a lion but a Lamb standing as though slaughtered. The Lamb takes the scroll and the entire throne room erupts in worship, then every creature in heaven and earth and sea adds its voice. The song names the Lamb worthy because his blood has purchased people from every nation.
The one who opens history's sealed scroll is not the most powerful in conventional terms but the one who was slain: the Lamb's authority comes through sacrifice, not conquest.
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." The throne room chorus does not celebrate a military victory but an execution that became the basis for authority over all creation.
The scene builds like a concert reaching its full sound: first the four creatures and elders, then the thousands of angels, then every creature in all creation joining in. The Lamb stands at the center of the throne. The imagery of the slaughtered animal standing upright carries the impossible logic of resurrection into the heart of heavenly worship.
The Lamb, standing as slain and having seven horns and seven eyes representing fullness of power and knowledge; the four living creatures and twenty-four elders with harps and bowls of incense, which are identified as the prayers of the saints; ten thousand times ten thousand angels; every creature everywhere.
The scroll likely represents the plan or purposes of God for history and judgment. The Lamb having seven horns and seven eyes signals that power and omniscience belong to the crucified one. The prayers of the saints held in golden bowls connect the cosmic liturgy in heaven to the ordinary prayers of ordinary people in churches under Roman pressure.
For when everything seems closed, sealed, and unmovable. John weeps because no one is found worthy, and then a creature shows up that looks like it barely survived something terrible and proceeds to open everything.
1And 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.
2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5And 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.
6And 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.
7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8And 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.
9And 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;
10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11And 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;
12Saying 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.
13And 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.
14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.