Worthy Is The Lamb
“Who Holds the Future?”
By Pastor Rodel
Introduction: When History Feels Unfinished
There are moments in life when everything feels unresolved—prayers unanswered, injustice
unpunished, suffering unexplained. The question rises in the human heart: Who is in control?
Does history have meaning?
In Revelation 5, the apostle John is given a vision that answers that question. What begins in
sorrow ends in worship. What begins with a sealed scroll ends with a singing universe. And at
the center of it all stands Jesus Christ—the Lamb who was slain, yet lives.
1. The SEALED Scroll (Revelation 5:1–4)
Revelation 5:1-4 NKJV
And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the
back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is
worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under
the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.
John sees a scroll “written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals” (v.1). In the ancient
Roman world, a scroll sealed with seven seals symbolized absolute authority and complete
security.
The word “sealed” (Greek: sphragizō) implies authentication and restriction—no one can
access or execute its contents unless authorized.
Then comes the crisis: “Who is worthy?” The word “worthy” (axios) means “morally fit,
deserving, qualified.” Without someone worthy, history remains locked, unresolved, and
meaningless.
The Scroll: Represents God’s sovereign plan for history and final judgment (seven seals
denote completeness).
The Search: No one in heaven or earth is worthy to unlock the future.
The Emotional Weight: John weeps because without the scroll being opened, history
has no closure and redemption is incomplete.
Quote
“History is not a random sequence of events; it is a scroll held in the hand of God.” – Adapted
from biblical theology tradition
2. The SOVEREIGN Savior (Revelation 5:5–7)
Revelation 5:5-7 NKJV
5 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.”
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the
midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven
eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the
scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
An elder speaks:
“Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah…” (v.5)
This title points to:
Genesis 49:9–10 – Messianic promise
Royal authority, power, kingship
But when John looks… he sees a Lamb.
The word “Lamb” (arnion) refers to a sacrificial lamb—gentle, vulnerable. Yet this Lamb
“stood as though it had been slain”.
The word “slain” (esphagmenon) implies violent sacrifice—but the Lamb is standing,
meaning resurrection victory.
The Paradox: John hears of a mighty "Lion of Judah" (Power) but sees a "Lamb
standing as though it had been slain" (Sacrifice).
The Victory: Christ conquers not by force, but by sacrificial love and resurrection.
The Authority: The Lamb takes the scroll, showing He alone controls the unfolding
future and the culmination of redemption.
3. The SECURED Salvation (Revelation 5:8–10)
Revelation 5:8-10 NKJV
8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down
before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers
of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying:
“You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth.”
The elders fall down with harps and bowls of incense—symbolizing:
Worship (music)
Prayer (incense)
They sing a “new song.” The word “new” (kainos) means fresh in quality, not just recent.
Why a new song? Because a New Act of Redemption has been accomplished.
“Redeemed” (agorazō) means purchased from the marketplace—a slavery metaphor.
Quote
“True worship is a response to the worth of God revealed in redemption.” – A.W. Tozer
4. The SINGING Multitude (Revelation 5:11–14)
Revelation 5:11-14 NKJV
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and
the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of
thousands,
12 saying with a loud voice:
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
To receive power and riches and wisdom,
And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 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, I heard saying:
“Blessing and honor and glory and power
Be to Him who sits on the throne,
And to the Lamb, forever and ever!”
14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the twenty-four elders fell down and
worshiped Him who lives forever and ever.
This sevenfold praise is not random—it is carefully structured, theologically rich, and
linguistically precise. The use of seven attributes signifies perfect completeness in biblical
literature.
A. “POWER” (dunamis)
Dunamis refers to:
Intrinsic ability
Miraculous power
Capacity to accomplish
It is not merely authority—but effective power in action.
B. “WEALTH / RICHES” (ploutos)
Ploutos denotes:
Abundance
Fullness of resources
Overflowing riches
Not merely material wealth—but spiritual abundance.
C. “WISDOM” (sophia)
Sophia is not just knowledge, but:
Divine insight
The ability to apply truth perfectly
Skill in ordering reality
D. “MIGHT / STRENGTH” (ischus)
Ischus refers to:
Physical strength
Enduring force
Manifested power
Distinct from dynamis, this emphasizes strength exerted.
E. “HONOR” (timē)
Timē conveys:
Value assigned
Public recognition
Esteem and reverence
In Greco-Roman culture, honor was tied to status and reputation.
F. “GLORY” (doxa)
Originally meaning “opinion,” doxa evolved to mean:
Radiance
Splendor
Manifest presence
In the Septuagint, it translates Hebrew kavod (weight, heaviness).
G. “BLESSING” (eulogia)
From eu (good) + logos (word), meaning:
Speaking well of
Praise and adoration
H. THE STRUCTURE: A PERFECT DOXOLOGY
The seven terms form a climactic crescendo:
1. Power (ability)
2. Riches (resources)
3. Wisdom (strategy)
4. Strength (execution)
5. Honor (recognition)
6. Glory (radiance)
7. Blessing (response)
This progression reflects:
Who Christ is (intrinsic attributes)
What Christ possesses (authority and resources)
How creation responds (worship and praise)
I. THE UNIVERSAL DOXOLOGY
“To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb…”
This is one of the clearest New Testament affirmations that:
Jesus receives the same worship as God the Father
Conclusion:
The Theology of Praise and Worship
Worship in heaven is not driven by emotional highs, but by accurate theological truth.
Every word matters. Every term reveals:
Christ’s worthiness
Christ’s work
Christ’s wealth
Church, do not just admire this vision—enter it.
Live as people:
Anchored in God’s sovereignty
Transformed by The Lamb’s sacrifice
Commissioned for mission
Consumed with worship
Because one day, what John saw—you will see.
And declare with heaven:
“Worthy is the Lamb.”
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