Worthy Is the Lamb
"Come, Lord Jesus!"
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John saw a scroll sealed with seven seals, and wept because no one was worthy to open it. An elder told him that the Lion of the tribe of Judah had triumphed, and John saw a Lamb who had been slain, standing at the center of the throne. All creation sang, "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain," and John saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation, in robes washed white in the blood of the Lamb, who will be their shepherd. At the end, Jesus says, "Yes, I am coming soon," and the church answers, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!"
Where it is in the Bible: Revelation 1, 5, 7 and 22
All the sections at a glanceA map of the message, with the verses for each section.
Map of the Message
| Section | Verses | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| 1. He Is Coming | 1:4-8 | Grace from the One who is, was, and is to come |
| 2. The Lion Is a Lamb | 5:1-10 | Only the slain Lamb can open the scroll |
| 3. Worthy Is the Lamb | 5:11-14 | All creation sings |
| 4. A Great Multitude | 7:9-17 | People from every nation, in white robes |
| 5. Come, Lord Jesus | 22:12-21 | "I am coming soon" |
Before You Read
Who wrote it. John, exiled on the island of Patmos because he preached about Jesus (1:9).
Who it was for. Seven churches in what is now Turkey (1:4, 1:11). Some were suffering for their faith. Others were growing comfortable and careless.
What this book is. Revelation is a vision full of symbols: a slain Lamb, a sealed scroll, a crowd in white robes. It pulls back the curtain to show what's happening in heaven while the churches struggle on earth. The message: Jesus has won, and he is coming back.
How to read it. This page walks through the passages read in church on Sundays. The final vision of the new heaven and new earth has its own page. Don't try to decode every detail. Watch who is worshiped, and why.
Section by Section
Section 1 of 5He Is Coming
John greets the seven churches with grace and peace from God and from "Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth" (1:5).
"To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood" (1:5).
"Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him" (1:7).
"I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and was and is to come—the Almighty" (1:8).
Section 2 of 5The Lion Is a Lamb
John sees God on his throne, holding a scroll sealed with seven seals.
The scroll holds God's plan for the world.
An angel calls out, "Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?" (5:2).
No one in heaven or on earth can open it. John weeps and weeps.
Then an elder says, "Do not weep! Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed" (5:5).
John turns to see a lion. Instead he sees "a Lamb who appeared to have been slain, standing in the center of the throne" (5:6).
The Lamb is Jesus. He won by dying, and he is alive.
Everyone around the throne falls down and sings a new song.
"Worthy are You to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and by Your blood You purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue and people and nation" (5:9).
Section 3 of 5Worthy Is the Lamb
Then John hears countless angels singing.
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" (5:12).
Then every creature everywhere joins in:
"To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power forever and ever!" (5:13).
The four living creatures say "Amen," and the elders fall down and worship.
Section 4 of 5A Great Multitude
"After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation and tribe and people and tongue, standing before the throne and before the Lamb" (7:9).
They wear white robes and wave palm branches.
They cry out, "Salvation to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" (7:10).
An elder asks John who these people are.
"These are the ones who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (7:14).
Tribulation means great trouble and suffering.
Now they serve God day and night. They will never be hungry or thirsty again.
"For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd" (7:17).
He will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
Section 5 of 5Come, Lord Jesus
Jesus says, "Behold, I am coming soon" (22:12).
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End" (22:13).
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates" (22:14).
Jesus calls himself "the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star" (22:16).
The Spirit and the church say, "Come!"
"And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely" (22:17).
Don't add to this book or take away from it.
Jesus says, "Yes, I am coming soon." And the church answers, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!" (22:20).
The Bible ends with grace.
Meaning
What does it mean?
Read It
What Does This Mean?
| The text says | It means |
|---|---|
| "Who is and was and is to come" (1:4) | God holds past, present, and future. |
| "Released us from our sins by His blood" (1:5) | Jesus freed us by dying for us. |
| "The Lion of the tribe of Judah" (5:5) | Jesus is the mighty King from David's family. |
| "A Lamb who appeared to have been slain" (5:6) | Jesus won by giving his life. |
| "From every tribe and tongue and people and nation" (5:9) | God's people come from everywhere. |
| "Washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb" (7:14) | Jesus's death makes his people clean. |
| "The Lamb... will be their shepherd" (7:17) | Jesus cares for his people forever. |
| "Come, Lord Jesus!" (22:20) | The church prays for Jesus to return. |
Back Then
Lambs were sacrificed at Passover and in the temple. John the Baptist called Jesus "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" (John 1:29).
Palm branches were waved to welcome kings and to celebrate victory (John 12:13).
Christians faced pressure to worship the Roman emperor. Revelation shows who is truly worthy of worship.
Literal Reader Alert
Does Jesus actually look like a lamb with seven horns and seven eyes? No. These are symbols. In the Bible, seven means complete. Horns mean power and eyes mean knowledge. The Lamb has all power and sees everything.
Is Revelation a secret code for predicting the future? Revelation does point to the end, but its first job was to comfort real churches with this message: Jesus has already won.
How can robes be made white with blood? It's a picture. Jesus's sacrifice washes away sin.
How People Feel
| Who | Feeling | Why |
|---|---|---|
| John | Weeping | No one could open the scroll (5:4) |
| All creation | Joyful | The Lamb is worthy (5:13) |
| The great multitude | Rescued | They came out of great trouble (7:14) |
| The church | Longing | "Come, Lord Jesus!" (22:20) |
For you
What does it mean for me?
Your Turn
What does this vision say to you? Tap one.
The world feels out of control
The Lamb holds the scroll. God's plan is in his hands.
I'm going through great trouble
The Lamb will be your shepherd and wipe away every tear.
I feel unworthy
Your robe is washed white in the blood of the Lamb.
I'm waiting for things to get better
Jesus says, "I am coming soon."
You Might Have Heard
"Revelation is a scary book about the end of the world."
What's true: Revelation has frightening pictures of judgment.
What the passage is mainly about: At its center is a Lamb who was slain and lives, and a song of praise from every nation. "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain" (5:12). It's a book of hope.
Where Jesus is: At the center of the throne, the Lion who is a Lamb, shepherding his people and coming soon.
Good News
The Lion of Judah won his victory as a Lamb.
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" (5:12).
By his blood he bought people from every nation. He will shepherd them, and he is coming soon.
Jesus, the Lamb who was slain, is worthy of all praise. By his blood he gathered people from every nation, and he is coming soon to wipe away every tear.
Big Idea
Jesus is the Lion who won as a Lamb. Worthy is the Lamb who was slain! He gathers people from every nation, shepherds them, and is coming soon.
If this message brings up big feelings, talk with someone you trust, like a parent, pastor, or counselor.
For leaders and parentsLuther, church readings, and notes for teaching.
From Luther
Luther struggled with Revelation at first. Later he came to read it as a book of comfort: no matter how much the church suffers, Christ is with it and will win in the end.
In Church
Many churches follow the Revised Common Lectionary. In Year C, it reads Revelation on the Sundays of Easter: 1:4-8, 5:11-14, 7:9-17, and 22:12-21. Revelation 1:4b-8 is also read on Christ the King in Year B. The hymn "This Is the Feast" in Lutheran worship comes from Revelation 5.
We quote Luther for what he got right about grace. He also wrote terrible things about Jewish people. Read our note on that.
Memorize
How do I keep it?
One line from this story to learn by heart. Practice a little now. It will come back later so it sticks.
Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing!
How did that feel?
Using this at church
Read in church on
- Second Sunday of Easter Year CSecond reading, Revelation 1:4-8
- Third Sunday of Easter Year CSecond reading, Revelation 5:11-14
- Fourth Sunday of Easter Year CSecond reading, Revelation 7:9-17
- Seventh Sunday of Easter Year CSecond reading, Revelation 22:12-14, 16-17, 20-21
- Christ the King Year BSecond reading, Revelation 1:4b-8
For a newsletter or sermon notes
Worthy Is the Lamb, explained in plain words. John weeps because no one can open the scroll. Then he sees a Lamb who was slain, standing at the center of the throne. About 11 minutes. https://freescripture.org/stories/worthy-is-the-lamb/
Lines for the next eight Sundays, on Digital Lutheran Church