“Who Else is Worthy”
In Revelation 5, we see a glimpse into the throne room of God and what John saw in his vision of the end of days. Something important to note about Revelation before reading is that this is apocalyptic literature that uses a lot of symbolism to convey its message. Much of the imagery is not to be taken literal. This book was meant to be an encouragement to believers in Jesus in the post-apostolic age and a reminder that Christ will prevail, judgement will prevail, and everything will be made right (Bauchaum, 2025). This drawing is based on this vision seen by John depicting a scroll with seven seals, containing lamentation, woe and judgement (Ezekiel 2:9-10). Jesus, the only one found worthy, opened it and is reading the contents of this scroll. With it not being clear what the scroll says, Revelation 5 is written out in Hebrew.
The chapter starts with him seeing at the right hand of God, a scroll that had writing on both sides with seven seals. A mighty angel proclaimed “Who is worthy to break the seal and open the scroll?” But nobody on heaven and earth or under the earth could open it. John wept because nobody was found worthy. A natural question when reading is why John would weep. This is because this scroll contains the complete and perfect judgement of God. If no one is worthy to open the scroll, then everything that is wrong, all of the pain, suffering and injustice, will never be made right (Bauchaum, 2025). The good news is, there is one who was found worthy to open the scroll. In verse 5 he sees one of the elders that said to him, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Judah was the father of David. Jesus was to come through this particular line, and for good reason. Voddie Baucham, in his sermon on Revelation 5, states, “David, as a representative of the people of God, goes down into the valley and defeats the foe of the people of God, thereby winning the victory of all God’s people as he was their substitute.” This mirrors the story of Jesus, who is the even greater substitute. Baucham continues in his sermon to describe why Jesus is found worthy. He states, “Jesus is the promised seed, and the promised seed has conquered (Genesis 3). Jesus had to come through a particular line to crush the serpent and conquer sin, death, and hell. Because He has conquered, He is worthy.”
We then see in verse 6, a lamb standing as though it has been slain. He is standing at the center of the throne of God, encircled by four living creatures and the elders. We are told that the lamb has seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. These seven horns represent complete power, while the seven eyes represent complete wisdom. This lamb represents Jesus, who offered himself as a living sacrifice, taking away the sins of the world so that we may spend eternity with Him. This scroll may sound like a scary thing, being filled with lament, woe, and judgement. This, however, is a glorious day for believers in Christ. Because of the Lion of the tribe of Judah’s triumph, the lamb that was slain’s sacrifice, we may also be found worthy to enter into eternity with him, where all will be made right. We are found worthy only because of Jesus’s dying as an atonement for our sins, and no other reason than that. We deserved death, hell and the grave, but Jesus came and died in our place. All we must do is repent of our sins and accept this gift of salvation He offers us. Because of this, we can have this blessed hope that it will not always be this way. All will be made right. For those who have not accepted Christ, he offers this free gift to you too. You are never too far gone, you haven’t done anything so bad that Jesus can’t forgive you. He is waiting for you with open arms. As we await our soon coming King, let us share this free gift with all creation until all have heard.
References
Baucham, V. (2025, April 5). Interpreting Revelation | Revelation 5:1-5 | Dr. Voddie Baucham. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7dSyxOQ2a4
New International Version. (1984). International Bible Society.
