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Revelation 5

Revelation book home•Chapter 5 of 22•14 verses

Chapter overviewAt a glance + deeper study

REVIEWED OVERVIEW

Revelation 5 Overview

A sealed book lies in the right hand of the One on the throne, and no creature can open it until the Lion of Judah appears as a Lamb that had been slain. The Lamb takes the book, heaven erupts in worship, and Christ is praised as worthy because He was slain and redeemed people to God by His blood from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation.

RevelationBook

5Chapter

14Verses

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Before you read Revelation 5

Coming from

John is caught up in the Spirit to a throne room in heaven. One sits upon the throne amid a rainbow, twenty-four elders, lightning, voices, thunder, seven lamps, a sea like crystal, and four living creatures full of eyes. Heaven continually declares God holy and worthy because He created all things.

In this chapter

Leads into

The Lamb opens the first six seals. Four horsemen bring conquest, war, famine, and death; martyrs beneath the altar cry for justice; and the sixth seal brings cosmic upheaval so terrifying that kings and common people alike hide from the wrath of the One on the throne and the Lamb.

Key understandingExplore deeper

The Lion and Lamb are the same person: Jesus Christ. His victory is inseparable from His sacrificial death.

The text presents the Lamb as uniquely worthy to open the book because of who He is and what He accomplished.

Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper

Christ conquers as the slain Lamb

His victory comes through sacrificial redemption.

Redemption is by blood

The worship song grounds purchased relationship to God in Christ’s death.

The Lamb receives divine worship

All creation joins in blessing, honor, glory, and power to Him and the One on the throne.

Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper

Genesis 49:9–10

The Lion of Judah title grows from Jacob’s royal prophecy.

Isaiah 53:7

The Servant is led as a lamb to slaughter.

John 1:29

John the Baptist identifies Jesus as the Lamb of God.

What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper

Do not separate Christ’s kingship from His cross

The Lion appears as a slain Lamb.

Do not make redemption depend on ethnicity

The redeemed come from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation.

Do not treat worship of the Lamb as creature-worship

The chapter places Him in divine worship alongside the One on the throne.

Read Revelation 5 watching for…

The sealed book.

John’s weeping.

Lion becoming Lamb.

The new song.

The expanding circles of worship.

Chapter outline3 sections

1-5A sealed book is in God’s hand, and the Lion of Judah is announced as worthy to open it 6-10John sees the slain Lamb, who takes the book and is praised for redeeming people by his blood 11-14Countless angels and every creature praise the Lamb and the one sitting on the throne

And 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.

And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

And 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.

And 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.

And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.

And 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.

And 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;

And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

And 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;

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.

And 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.

And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.

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Revelation 5:1

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