The Scroll and the Lamb

In chapter five, the scroll of the first judgments is revealed.
¹ Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. ²And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” ³ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. ⁴ I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. ⁵ Then one of the elders said to me, “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.”
 ⁶ Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits^[a] of God sent out into all the earth. ⁷ He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. ⁸ And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. ⁹And they sang a new song, saying:
   “You are worthy to take the scroll
   and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
   and with your blood you purchased for God
   persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
¹⁰ You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
   and they will reign^[b] on the earth.”
 ¹¹ Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. ¹² In a loud voice they were saying:
   “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
   to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
   and honor and glory and praise!”
 ¹³ Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:
   “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
   be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”
 ¹⁴ The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.


John sees an God holding a scroll. The scroll had writing on the front and back, which seems to allude to the fact that there was a lot of details on the scroll. It was also sealed with seven seals, which means that it was shut by God Himself. An angel asks if there is anyone that is worthy to open this scroll. At first there is no answer, and John begins to cry because there was no one worthy to open the scroll. One of the elders tells him not to cry, that there is one being that is 
worthy.  Jesus is called the Lion of Judah and the Root of David. 
²⁹ Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. ³⁰ But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. ³¹ You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.³² He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, ³³and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” Luke 1: 29-33
 ⁸ “Judah,^[b] your brothers will praise you;
   your hand will be on the neck of your enemies;
   your father’s sons will bow down to you.
⁹ You are a lion’s cub, Judah;
   you return from the prey, my son.
Like a lion he crouches and lies down,
   like a lioness—who dares to rouse him?
¹⁰ The scepter will not depart from Judah,
   nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,^[c]
until he to whom it belongs^[d] shall come
   and the obedience of the nations shall be his. Genesis 49:8-10
When John looks up he sees a lamb that was slain taking the scroll from God. This obviously refers to Jesus who was slain for the sins of the world. The seven horns symbolize the divine power that Jesus possesses. The seven eyes represent the Holy Spirit. God allowing Jesus to take the scroll is showing that He has transfered power and authority to Him who was worthy. After this the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures all fall down and worship the lamb. They begin to sing that Jesus was worthy to take and open the scroll because He had been slain and with His blood had bought the forgiveness of men from all the world. A multitude of angels begins to sing that the lamb is worthy because He was slain to receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise. Then John hears all of creation singing this song of praise to Jesus. Then the four living creatures say "Amen" or may it be so.


This is all a prelude to Jesus opening the Scroll of Judgment. The one who is worthy to open the scroll has been found, all heaven rejoices. Next the judgments on the wicked left on earth will begin.