B. Adoration of the Lamb as Conqueror (5:1-14)

Ch. 5 stands between the heavenly harmony of the chorus of creation (ch. 4) and the havoc unleashed by opening the sealed scroll (ch. 6). Ch. 5 is the key to Revelation.

John saw a sealed scroll. The scroll was a first-century symbol for a news bulletin from heaven announcing God’s purpose for history. But because the scroll was sealed, John wept. No one was found worthy to open the scroll. John wept because as long as the scroll remained sealed, no word of hope would come from heaven to the troubled churches in Asia Minor. For all John knew, perhaps the Roman Empire would have the last word in the struggle between church and state. John wept because if he could not find clarity in heaven, how could the churches find direction amid their stress on earth?

The adoration given to the Lamb (5:5-14) contrasts with the agony of John’s tears. As all of creation worshiped God as Creator in ch. 4, now all of creation worships the Lamb as Conqueror (5:5, 8, 12, 13). The announcement of the Lamb’s conquest (5:5) recalls the conquering promises of chs. 2-3 and anticipates the vision of Christ as the final Conqueror in 19:11-21. Because the Lamb has conquered sin and death, John anticipates the church’s final victory over sin and death. Charles Naylor’s “Be An Overcomer” captures the now-but-not-yet aspect of ch. 5:

Be an overcomer, you are heaven’s heir

And a crown of life you may ever wear;

So with courage press the battle to the gates,

Till you gain the prize which in heaven waits.

Christ has won the victory, but our final claiming of the prize remains an anticipation.

The language of Christian adoration contrasts with the actions of the beasts in ch. 13, where the beasts must force persons to adore them. What Caesar and the Beast claim blasphemously belongs by right to God and Christ.

In the figure of Conqueror, the Lion and the Lamb converge. Royal and suffering traditions merge in the slain Lamb. Although the Lamb receives the seven virtues ascribed to God (5:12) and is worthy of worship (vv.13-14), the Lamb became the Conqueror through suffering and death (v.9). The hope for a royal Messiah who will rule on earth has always existed in the church. But John’s Lamb is a crucified God. The way to victory for the church lies in following the Lamb in sacrificial living. God’s kingdom is a dominion of servants.

Ch. 5 announces the conquest of the Lamb. Therefore, the rest of Revelation can be read anticipating the victorious ending.