The Lion and the Lamb: Worthy to Open the Scroll

Introduction: The Silence of Heaven 🌌

In Revelation chapter 5, the Apostle John describes one of the most terrifying and dramatic moments in all of Scripture. The scene is set in the throne room of heaven, a place of thunder, lightning, and emerald rainbows. In the right hand of the One seated on the throne lies a scroll. This is not just a piece of parchment; it is sealed with seven seals, written on the front and the back.

In Roman law, a will or a title deed was often sealed with seven seals to ensure its validity. This scroll represents the title deed to the earth, the final judgment of evil, and the culmination of human history. It contains God’s plan to reclaim His creation from the grip of sin and Satan.

But when the mighty angel cries out with a loud voice—“Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?”—the response is a deafening, terrifying silence. No angel in heaven, no king on earth, and no saint under the earth is found worthy. The silence implies a horrific possibility: that history has no resolution, evil goes unjudged, and suffering has no end.

This despair causes John to weep uncontrollably. It is the ultimate moment of cosmic dread. But just as we turn to Psalms for anxiety when our own personal worlds feel out of control, John is about to receive a revelation that calms the universal panic of all creation.

Part I: The Theological Shock (Revelation 5:5-6) ⚡

The Lion is a Lamb

While John is weeping, one of the twenty-four elders interrupts his grief with a command.

• The Key: “But one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’ And I looked, and behold… a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain.” (Revelation 5:5-6 NKJV)
• Deep Dive: This verse presents the central paradox of the Christian faith. John hears the announcement of a “Lion”—a symbol of ferocity, royalty, and raw power, fulfilling the ancient prophecy of Genesis 49. He expects to turn and see a conquering warrior tearing through his enemies.But when he turns, he sees a “Lamb.” And not just any lamb, but a slain lamb (literally, “a little lamb” in the Greek diminutive, symbolizing vulnerability). God reveals that true power is not found in the sword of the tyrant, but in the sacrifice of the Savior. Jesus is the Lion because He is the Lamb. He conquered the enemy not by spilling the blood of others, but by willingly spilling His own.
• Application: We often pray for God to be a Lion. We want Him to roar into our lives, fix our financial problems, and crush our opposition with force. But often, He works as the Lamb, redeeming our pain through quiet sacrifice and love. If you are struggling to trust His methods, remember that Psalms for trusting God remind us that His ways are higher than ours, even when they seem quiet.

Part II: Slain, Yet Standing (Revelation 5:6) 🩸

The Wounds are the Credentials

John notes incredibly specific details about the appearance of this Lamb. It is a vision that combines horror with majesty.

• The Key: “Having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.”
• Deep Dive: In biblical imagery, a horn represents power and a lamb typically has none. But this Lamb has “seven horns,” symbolizing perfect, complete omnipotence. He has “seven eyes,” symbolizing the Holy Spirit and perfect omniscience.Most importantly, the Lamb is standing. Usually, a slain lamb is dead, lying limp on the ground. But this Lamb bears the mortal wounds of the cross—the evidence of death—yet He is alive, standing in the center of the throne. His wounds are not badges of defeat; they are His credentials of worthiness. He wears His scars as trophies of His love.
• Application: This is the same Jesus who ascended to glory. As we explore in The Ascension: Not a Goodbye, He did not leave us to escape His humanity or His wounds. He took those scars to the throne as eternal proof that He understands our suffering. Your scars do not disqualify you from God’s service; in Christ, they can become part of your testimony.

Part III: The New Song (Revelation 5:9-12) 🎶

Redemption by Price, Not Force

Why is the Lamb worthy to take the scroll? The song that erupts in heaven gives the specific legal and spiritual reason. It is not because of His wisdom or His strength, but because of His purchase.

• The Key: “You are worthy to take the scroll… For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9 NKJV)
• Deep Dive: The Greek word for “worthy” (axios) was originally a marketplace term describing a set of scales that balanced perfectly. The song declares that the price Jesus paid (His own blood) perfectly balanced the weight of the sin of the entire world. No other price—no good works, no animal sacrifices, no angelic power—was heavy enough to tip the scales.This song is a “new song.” The old song of Scripture was the song of Creation; this is the song of Redemption. It celebrates a victory won for people from every corner of the globe.
• Application: The Lamb who holds the scroll also holds the future. This act of opening the seals initiates the events that eventually lead to the restoration of all things in The New Jerusalem. We can live with hope today because we know the end of the story: we will live with Him, unbroken, forever.

Conclusion: The Center of the Universe 🌍

The vision of Revelation 5 transforms our understanding of reality. It teaches us that at the center of the universe sits not a tyrant, not a bureaucracy, and not a void—but a Wounded Healer. The Lord who holds the mysteries of eternity in His right hand is the same Lord who extended His hands to be nailed to the cross for you.

Redemption is not won by force—but by sacrifice. The silence of heaven has been broken by the song of the redeemed.

Reflection: When you face a crisis, do you instinctively look for a Lion (force) to save you, or do you trust the Lamb (sacrifice)? How does knowing that Jesus reigns through His scars help you face your own pain today?

📚 For Further Study