The Worthy One
12/3/25 Bible Thought (Revelation 5)
The cross of Jesus Christ is the most important historical event that has ever taken place.
As we proceed from the heavenly worship scene of Revelation 4, we see a brief downturn in John’s vision.
The One seated upon the throne holds a scroll which could be understood as the “scroll of destiny.”[1] One scholar points out, “the scroll is not only the repository of God’s plan for ending this world but is also an official document affirming the Lamb’s right to rule.”[2]
Essentially, it appears that this scroll is what connects the present to the future culmination of the plans of God.
A Temporary Problem
Yet, no one was found worthy of opening this scroll, which caused the apostle John to weep loudly in despair. In the midst of a world fraught with problems, surely he, and really any of us, wouldn’t want the hope-filled end to be pushed off any longer.
However, John needn’t weep any more.
There was a Lion in their midst. Yet not the kind we typically think of. This power and majesty came not through traditional methods of victory but through sacrifice. This Lion was really a Lamb, a Lamb that had been slain (Rev. 5:6).
The great irony is that the Lion’s conquest came through seeming defeat as a Lamb. Christ conquered the enemy using his own sword—death (see Heb. 2:15).
Now, there was One who was worthy to open the scrolls and to proceed to draw history to its God-ordained conclusion for He had conquered. Christ’s victory is sure even if the final installment of that victory is still awaited.
God’s plans for the end of history awaited the fulfillment of His plan of redemption which centered upon Jesus Christ.
The Exalted Lamb
Now, the Lamb is exalted. Though slain, He stands. Though crucified He was raised. Though humbled to the lowest of human experience He is now exalted to the highest heights as King.
In response all of creation cries, “He is worthy!”
As the Father was praised as Creator in the former scene, now the Lamb is praised as Redeemer.
The living creatures and the elders now sing a new song to the Lamb. There was a pause in the cries of “Holy, holy, holy” as they now sung:
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth” (Rev. 5:9-10).
Even more so, beyond the 28 immediately surrounding the throne there is the cries of innumerable angels, myriads upon myriads:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain” (Rev. 5:12).
He is worthy because of His work in redemption. Through His suffering conquest, He ransomed people for God by His blood. People of all tribes, languages, people-groups and nations were purchased by the precious blood of Christ.
The result of that purchase is a kingdom and priests unto God who will reign on the earth (Rev. 5:10).
He is Worthy
In light of the Lamb’s work in redemption—He is worthy. Not only worthy to open the seals and to bring history to an end, but worthy of our praise.
One day every knee will bow and tongue will confess (Phil. 2:10-11).
The apostle John foresaw every creature in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and in the sea—that is every living being—crying out in praise to the One who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb (Rev. 5:13).
This is something we can be part of, today.
Christ is bringing the plan of God to its intended goal. He will finish what He started. He is victorious and we can stand in His victory today, awaiting the final day of His eternal triumph.
Challenge for Today:
Do I ever find myself distraught looking at the world and wondering if God took His hands off the wheel?
We need not worry, Christ has conquered, He is worthy, and the plans of God are unfolding. He will bring all of creation history to the end He intends for it.
[1] Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1997), 128.
[2] Grant R. Osborne, Revelation: Verse by Verse, Osborne New Testament Commentaries (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2016), 108.