For some, photography has become quite lucrative. Annual auctions set records each year for the highest priced photograph. Prior to the 21st century, auction crowds gasped when a single photograph was purchased for over $800,000. Now it is common for the record-setting photos to be worth millions.

The old adage is that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. A photograph must be meaningful for someone to pay millions for it. Yet in photography, I believe it’s also true that beauty is in the eye of the photographer. Before a snapshot can become meaningful to me, a photographer had to have the eye to see it and capture it in a meaningful way.

Revelation 5 can be seen as a series of photographs taken by the Apostle John. Verses 1, 2, 6, and 11 all begin with the same Greek words kai eidon, which mean “I saw.” From these verses and this chapter, John gives us three photographs from heaven. In the way he captures them, you will see that each was meaningful to John the photographer. After we look at each of them, you will have to determine how valuable they are to you.

Before we look at them, however, it’s important to recognize how they have been framed and matted. Revelation 4 gave us a detailed description of heaven’s throne.

It is the constant in a word of change (v. 1-2).
The One on it can be trusted (v. 2-3).
He rewards and judges for He is holy (v 4-6).
When all of heaven sees the greatness of God through His throne,
they can’t help but worship Him (v. 6-11).

Undoubtedly the value of a photograph is enhanced by the frame. Each of the photographs in Revelation 5 is enhanced by the greatness of God displayed by His throne in Chapter 4.

Furthermore, many of the valuable photographs in history were given titles. I believe John could have done the same with his three photographs in Revelation 5. The first photograph could be labeled “A Scroll” with the subtitle “The Great Problem.”

A Scroll
The Great Problem

A description of John’s first photograph is provided in verses 1-4.

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. 2 And 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.

The focal point of John’s first photograph is a scroll. Because bound books have replaced rolled scrolls, a little history is necessary.

Dr. Robert L. Thomas explains that from the time of Nero on, rolled scrolls were used for contracts throughout the Middle East and by the Romans. The full contract was written on the inside of a scroll. Upon being rolled up, a summary of the contract was penned on the outside. The scroll was then sealed with seven seals. Among the Hebrews, the document most resembling this form was usually a title-deed.¹

If the scroll in the hand of the one on the throne represents a title-deed, a good question to ask is, “A title-deed to what?” I believe it’s a title-deed to the world. Here’s why. Genesis 1-2 describes the world as God created it. After each of the six days of creation, God looked at all He created, including man and woman, and said “It is good.” Then, in Genesis 3, Adam and Eve are tempted by Satan and sin against God. At that point, God’s creation was changed physically and spiritually. Physically, the world was marred, making it painful to give birth and live. Spiritually, the world was marred, as now everyone born is separated from God by sin.

This is not the world God created. It is a world altered by sin, a sin that was initiated by Satan. Furthermore, the Bible says this is a world ruled by sin with Satan in charge. 2 Corinthians 4:4 calls Satan, “The god of this age....” Ephesians 2:1-3 explain that the ways of this world are influenced by Satan. Before John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos and wrote the book of Revelation, he wrote 1 John to the churches of Asia Minor. Even then, God allowed him to see and write in 1 John 2:16, “For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world.” And in 1 John 5:19, John tells the believers in the churches, “We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.”

This explains a lot. No wonder we have such problems in the world. When governments are run without God, they are godless governments. They create and enforce godless laws that support godless living. In such a society, individual values are formed without God, and these godless values lead to godless priorities. If God is not in our priorities, He’ll not be in our decisions. If God does not govern our decisions, you will see it in our actions. Therefore, read a daily paper or watch the evening news and ask yourself, “Is this what God wanted when He created the world?” Look back to Genesis 1-2 and you will see that the answer is “No!”

But according to Revelation 5:2-3, the altered condition of the world is only part of the problem. John writes,

2 And 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.

Though Satan has altered the world and rules its ways, He still doesn’t own it. The title-deed remains in God’s hand. Like a landowner allowing an unscrupulous sharecropper to work the land for a season, the day will come when God will say to Satan, “That’s enough! I want you and all your workers off my land.”

According to verse 2, that day will come when God finds someone who is worthy to take His title-deed, open the seals and reclaim the world. Yet verse 3 states that God has looked throughout heaven, earth, and hell and found no one worthy. When John hears this, he confesses in verse 4, “I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.” In John 20:11, John uses the same Greek word to describe the weeping of Mary Magdalene outside Jesus’ tomb. It was the sob of a woman without hope. Now John sobs the same way—without hope.

Here now is the great problem seen in John’s photograph of the scroll. The scroll in verses 1-4 represents what was, what is, and what may never change. The scroll represents God’s titled-deed to the world He once created, a world that was created so that we could know Him in a meaningful way. But now the scroll represents what is. It’s a world that Satan has altered to keep us from experiencing God on earth and to keep us from spending eternity with Him in heaven. Deceived, diseased, physically and spiritually dying, this is not the life God planned for us when He created the world. That can change, however, because God still holds the title-deed to the world. He still owns His creation and can reclaim control. But while the scroll is still in God’s hand it represents what may never change. God looked in heaven, earth and hell and has found no one worthy to take the title-deed from His hand and act upon it. That’s the great problem, and that’s why John sobs.

Whether you realize it or not, God’s great problem and John’s great problem is your great problem. Think about it. How would you feel if your life in this world was as good as it gets for you? You may have been healthy, successful and had a wonderful family. You may have struggled financially, been abused, or never been healthy. Whether your conditions in life have been good or bad, what if this was as good as it gets for you and in this life you never experienced life with the One who created you, knows you, and loves you? Furthermore, in death, what if you were deprived of life with God in heaven and spend eternity away from God in hell? There, in hell, you finally realize how it all was a scam and Satan had set up a world designed to keep you from the life God always wanted you to have.

If you thought that there was no hope of that ever changing, no hope of you ever experiencing the life God always wanted you to have on earth and in heaven, then like John, you too should sob. However, you should know that this life is not as good as it gets. In verses 5-10, John’s eye is directed away from “A Scroll: The Great Problem” and he takes a photograph that could be labeled “A Lamb” with the subtitle “The Great Answer.”

A Lamb
The Great Answer

To be fair, John didn’t see the Lamb on his own. It’s possible that his head was in his hands as he wept. One of the elders mentioned in chapter 4 came to him and told him to stop weeping or he’ll miss seeing someone important. When you read Revelation 5:5-6, you will find that though John and this elder are looking at the same person, each gives a different description.

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 in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Both the elder and John are looking at Jesus, and yet they will describe him differently. It’s a matter of perspective, and both perspectives provide a complete picture. The elder’s view is eternal, while John’s view is personal.

The elder looks at Jesus and sees Him as the Lion of the tribe of Judah. This refers to the prophesy given in Genesis 49:8-10. It states that the line of kings will come from the tribe of Judah until the greatest king, the Messiah, holds the scepter. David was from the tribe of Judah as was Jesus. In heaven, Jesus stands as the last and greatest king in that line of kings. However, the elder also calls Jesus the Root of David. It’s not only that Jesus marks the end of the line of great kings, He also marks the beginning. The One reigning at the last was also reigning at the first. Jesus has been, is, and always will be the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Spend any time in heaven, like this elder has, and I’m sure that this picture will become even more clear.

There is much in the elder’s description that encourages me. As was described in chapter 4, it’s likely that the elders are representative of all who have surrendered their lives to Christ. That means when you die, if you have surrendered your life to Jesus on earth, you will be with Him in heaven. Furthermore, you will recognize Him and see Him as He truly is. No matter how hard we try to picture the greatness of Jesus, we still see Him through the lenses of earth’s limitations. We are only so strong and can only live so long, therefore it’s hard to picture someone who is all powerful, all knowing, and has always been and always will be. On earth we accept this by faith. In heaven, we will see it and understand when we see Him face to face.

John, however, sees Jesus differently. He hasn’t had the same time in heaven with Jesus as the elder has. But I also think the elder didn’t have the time on earth with Jesus that John did. That’s why John’s description isn’t so much eternal as it is personal.

In verse 6, John says, “I saw a Lamb.” This was the way John was introduced to Jesus. In John 1:36, John records how John the Baptist points to Jesus and says, “Behold the Lamb of God!” John remembers this well because he was there that day. He heard John the Baptist say this, and began following Jesus. His relationship with Jesus was so close that five times in his gospel John labels himself as Jesus’ “beloved” (John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20). John was the only disciple at the cross (John 19:25-27). He was the first disciple to reach the empty tomb (John 20:1-9). He saw Jesus resurrected and alive (John 21:20-25). And, he was there when Jesus ascended into heaven (Acts 1:1-14).

With all this in mind, try to picture John’s emotion when he says, “I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing….” John was at the cross, and the scars from that experience are still evident on Jesus in heaven. Revelation 21 talks of how in heaven the lame walk, the blind see, the deaf hear, and the broken are made whole. Apparently, this will apply to Jesus’ followers but not to Jesus. Though He is alive and healthy, Jesus still bears His scars. This leads Dr. Ed Hindson to ponder that the only manmade things to enter heaven are the wounds of Jesus.² Yet, the One John saw sacrificed is now standing.

Furthermore, look where He is standing. John sees Him “…standing in the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.” The One John saw resurrected is now reigning. He’s reigning in the full glory John only had glimpses of while on earth (Matthew 17:1-9). In heaven, John sees Jesus with “seven horns” referring to His perfect power, “seven eyes” referring to His perfect wisdom, and “seven spirits” referring to the fullness of the Holy Spirit of God. Though John saw Jesus transfigured on earth, it cannot compare to how He is truly seen in heaven. Now the One who ascended out of sight stands before John in full view. And in heaven John sees the fullness of Jesus’ divine power, wisdom and character.

It’s no wonder that John’s weeping is about to turn to cheering and singing. But before we look at the next several verses, an important point needs to be made. The elders view and John’s view of Jesus are not two separate views of the same person. Jesus wasn’t one way to satisfy the elders and another way to satisfy John. He is who He has always been, and will always be the person He is. Therefore, you had better have the true picture of Jesus, for your salvation depends on it.

Throughout history, Jesus has been viewed differently by many. You have the Jewish Jesus, Islamic Jesus, Catholic Jesus, Protestant Jesus, Evangelical Jesus, Mormon Jesus, Jehovah’s Witness Jesus, and the New Age Jesus. Oh, and don’t forget the Agnostic’s Jesus and the Atheist’s Jesus. In a cordial conversation, each would say that their view of Jesus satisfies them. However, the real question is not if your view of Jesus satisfies you, but rather, “Does your view of Jesus satisfy God?”³ For God fully knows who Jesus is, what He has done, and that He alone is the great answer to our great problem.

Thus, your view of Jesus had better be the same as God’s, for God and all heaven know that only Jesus can take the scroll from God’s hand. Look at verses 7-8.

7 He came 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 the saints.

When you read Revelation 4, you say to yourself, “The worship in heaven can’t get any better than that!” Yet when Jesus takes the title-deed of the world from the hand of God in verse 7, the worship in heaven is raised to a new level. Here’s why.

Verse 8 says that the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders resume the same position of worship they had in chapter 4. This time it adds that the elders were holding harps and golden bowls. In the Old Testament, harps were associated with acts of worship and prophesy.⁴ The golden bowls were used to burn incense in the tabernacle and temple as the priests prayed for the people (Luke 1:8-10). At other times, the people used them to offer their own prayers unto God (Psalm 141:2).

Truly, only heaven knows the significance of all this. But it’s moving to consider that when Jesus takes the scroll from God, the harps and bowls are offered to God in celebration. Prayers for this day have now been answered. Prophesy has been fulfilled. The Lion of heaven became our sacrificial Lamb. But now our sacrificial Lamb is alive in heaven and is worthy to reclaim the world as Lord of all. It’s no wonder that with this act verses 9-10 record that the elders break into song.

9 And they sang a new song:
“You are worthy to take the scroll and
to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
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 on the earth.”

Verse 9 says, “And they sang a new song.” I believe “they” refers to the elders alone and not to the four living creatures who are angelic beings. Here’s why. There are fourteen songs recorded in Revelation.⁵ This song is the song of redemption.
The lyrics speak of the Lamb who was slain, whose blood purchased mankind for God from every tribe, language and nation and made them a kingdom of priests.

Angels have never been separated from God so they don’t know what it’s like to be lost. They’ve always known Jesus as Lord and never needed Him as a Lamb. But we have. Therefore, we relate to the elders. And the thrust of our song should be the same three words that opens their song—“You are worthy.”

This was the great problem before Jesus came to earth and it’s now the great answer because He did. Before He came, no one in heaven, earth or hell was worthy to reclaim the world for God. Yet because Jesus came, lived a sinless life, sacrificed Himself for our sins, rose form the dead and has ascended to heaven, no one but Jesus is now worthy to reclaim the world for God.

Before his murder, Russian Orthodox priest Aleksander Menn said, “Every religion is an attempt to reach God. But Jesus is the only answer.”⁶ In a radio interview two months before his death, Menn was essentially asked why he saw Jesus as the only answer. He said it wasn’t because of scripture (though I believe scripture validates it.) Other beliefs have writings they deem sacred. He also said it wasn’t because of His morality (though I believe no one ever lived as Jesus lived). Other beliefs promote moral values. For Menn, what makes Jesus the only answer for reaching God was Jesus himself. Jesus is unique.⁷ Menn is right.

Only Jesus

• ... claimed to be God, while others merely claim to be His messenger.
• ... gave His life that we might surrender to God, while other beliefs will take your life if you don’t.
• ... promised life after death and proved it. His empty tomb is the exclamation point that He is unique. The occupied graves of all the others make the point they are not.

Our great problem has one great answer. It’s Jesus Christ. The Lion of heaven became our sacrificial Lamb. That’s why the saved sing, and why their celebration is about to get bigger.

A Choir
The Great Response

When still photographs are placed side by side, they can tell a story. That seems to be what is happening in Revelation 5. The first photograph is in verses 1-4 when John sees a scroll that represents our great problem. This is not the world God wanted. Satan’s lies and our sins have altered it. Though with the scroll God still owns the title-deed to the world, He hadn’t found anyone worthy to take the scroll, open it and reclaim the world. That’s why the second photograph is important.

The second photograph is of a Lamb. This is taken in verses 5-10. He is God’s great answer to our great problem. He takes the title-deed because He alone is worthy. The moment He does, the saved in heaven begin to sing. They sing of what Jesus has done. But once the saved start singing, it’s as though all of creation want to join them. This leads to John’s third photograph.

In verses 11-14, John takes a photograph of an ever growing choir singing “Worthy is the Lamb.” The saved were the first to sing and they sang their praises to Jesus for being the only one worthy to reach for the scroll. Now the rest of creation becomes a mass choir, and they sing of what Jesus will receive because He did.

Like a choir singing in sections, the saved began in verses 5-10. In verses 11-2, they are joined by the angels.

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 sang:
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”

For those who like numbers, verse 11 will frustrate you. You can’t simply multiply 10,000 times 10,000 to come up with the exact size of the angelic choir. The Greek word for ten thousand used here is “murios.” From it, we get our word “myriad.” It seems that ten thousand was the highest number used in the Greek language in everyday conversations.

You get the idea that John was saying the angelic choir was far too big to count. If you asked him if they numbered in the millions, he’d probably say, “No doubt, but I was more interested in hearing them than counting them. Besides, it wasn’t long before the section of creation added their voices to the song.” John records this in verses 13-14.

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, singing:
“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.

By this point everything created by God is in on the celebration. All creation acknowledges that Jesus was worthy to do what He did, and is worthy to receive all He has received, which is power, riches, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing. And as all creation is singing this unto Jesus, the four living creature have their own part. In the Greek grammar it states that they were saying “Amen” repeatedly throughout creation’s song. Like Handel’s Messiah with one section singing and another section responding...

When Creation SingsCreatures Jesus is worthy to receive... power! riches! wisdom! might! honor! glory! blessing!

The Four Living Respond... Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen! Amen!

Why would all creation celebrate when Jesus grabs the title-deed of the world? It’s not just because He can because He is worthy, tt’s because all creation knows that the world as it is is not the world God intended it to be—and Jesus will now make it right.

Making the Photographs Personal

At the first, I mentioned that photographs are being auctioned and sold for millions of dollars. Furthermore, I said that you would have to determine how valuable the photographs John took in Revelation 5 are to you.

How valuable to you is John’s photograph of “A Scroll”? I hope it’s valuable in opening your eyes that this is not the world God intended. It’s been altered by Satan’s lies and our sins. This world is not God’s fault, so stop blaming Him and surrender your life to Him. If you will allow this photograph to open you eyes to your need for God, it will become priceless to you.

How valuable to you is John’s photograph of “A Lamb”? It should be valuable at helping you realize who Jesus is. Many times we create the Jesus we want in order to do and believe what we want. John’s photograph of “A Lamb” reminds you that Jesus is who He is, not who you make Him to be. He alone is the great answer to the world’s great problem. He alone was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, and foretold His death and resurrection, and did it. Others throughout history said they knew the way to God. Jesus made the way. Furthermore, Jesus said, “I am the way.” If John’s photograph of Jesus enabled you to see Him for who He truly is and fully surrender your life to Him, that photograph would be priceless.

How valuable to you is John’s photograph of “A Choir”? If you have surrendered your life to Jesus Christ, it should be priceless. In hard times you are reminded of the great times to come. When weary in serving God and sharing your faith, this should strengthen and inspire you to stay faithful.

In my office, I have several photographs. You’ll not find any photographs of places I haven’t been or people I don’t know. The photos that are valuable to me are the ones that are personal. Usually I’m in them with people I love and they are valuable to me. I truly believe if you place yourself within the John photographs of “A Scroll,” “A Lamb,” and “A Choir” in Revelation 5, it will not only change the way you view these photographs, but the photographs will change the way you see your life. They will make a difference in you that is priceless.