In the spring of 2000, James Montgomery Boice, beloved pastor of 10th Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, was diagnosed with cancer. Just eight weeks later, he was gone. On May 7, 2000, he stood before his congregation for the last time and said something remarkable:
“If God does something in your life, would you change it? If you’d change it, you’d make it worse. It wouldn’t be as good. So that’s the way we want to accept it and move forward, and who knows what God will do?”
That is an astonishing statement of faith — the kind of faith that sees the goodness of God even when the story doesn’t make sense yet. The great comfort of the Christian life is this: Jesus is good, and He is in control. This is the message of Revelation 5.
“Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals…”
(Revelation 5:1)
This is one of the most breathtaking passages in all of Scripture because it shows us who is really running the world. The main idea is this: Jesus is in control of the past, present, and future of world history. Jesus has taken over.
Jesus Christ Is the Lord of History
Revelation 4 and 5 belong together — one vision in two parts. Chapter 4 focuses on God the Father and Creation. Chapter 5 focuses on God the Son and Redemption.
John sees a scroll in the hand of the One on the throne — a scroll sealed with seven seals. This scroll represents the unfolding plan of God for the rest of history: His purposes for judgment and salvation, His plan to make all things new.
But there’s a problem. No one in heaven or on earth is worthy to open it. John weeps loudly because if the scroll stays sealed, history has no hope, evil wins, and God’s promises remain unfulfilled. Then one of the elders speaks: “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
(Revelation 5:5)
Notice that — has conquered. Not “will,” but “has.” Revelation is not a cosmic cliffhanger where the outcome is uncertain. The victory is already secured.
Jesus Christ Is the Lord of Victory
John turns expecting to see a Lion — but what he sees is a Lamb. A Lamb that has been slain — yet is standing.
This is the paradox of the gospel: Jesus conquered not by force, but by sacrifice. His death and resurrection secured the victory over sin, death, and Satan. The Lamb who was slain is now the Lamb who reigns.
The image is rich with meaning:
- In Genesis, God provided a lamb as a substitute for Isaac (Gen. 22:8).
- In Exodus, a lamb’s blood marked the doors of the faithful so death would pass over them (Ex. 12:5).
- In Isaiah, the Suffering Servant is compared to a lamb led to the slaughter (Isa. 53:7).
- In John’s Gospel, John the Baptist points to Jesus and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).
Now in Revelation, we see that Lamb standing at the center of the throne of heaven. The one who was crucified now holds history in His hands.
Jesus Christ Is the Lord of Glory
The moment Jesus takes the scroll, heaven explodes in worship.
First the four living creatures sing. Then the 24 elders join in. Then myriads of angels. Then every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea.
“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might
and honor and glory and blessing!”
(Revelation 5:12)
The worship grows louder, fuller, and more glorious until all creation is singing. This is where history is heading — to the day when every knee bows and every tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord.
What This Means for Us
Revelation 5 is not meant to satisfy our curiosity about the end times — it’s meant to give us courage for the present. When life feels chaotic, when evil seems to advance unchecked, when we wonder if God has forgotten us — we need this vision of the throne room. We need to remember that Jesus is in control, the scroll is in His hands, and the victory is already won. And we need to join the song.
When you see Jesus as He is — the slain Lamb who reigns as the Lion — you can’t help but worship. Singing has always been the natural response of God’s people to His goodness and glory. Worship redirects our attention away from our small, anxious lives to God’s grand, eternal plan.
JESUS IS WORTHY
That’s the final word of Revelation 5 — and the final word of history.
Jesus is worthy because He has conquered sin and death.
Jesus is worthy because He holds the future in His hands.
Jesus is worthy because He has made us worthy to belong to Him.
So, whatever you are facing, take heart: the Lamb is on the throne.
Click HERE to watch the sermon.
MichaelStovall 