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Revelation

About this book
Chapter 5

1 Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back and sealed with seven seals.⁠ 2 And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it. 4 So I began weeping bitterly because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has conquered;⁠ thus he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”⁠ 6 Then I saw standing in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.⁠ 7 Then he came and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne, 8 and when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders threw themselves to the ground before the Lamb. Each of them had a harp and golden bowls full of incense (which are the prayers of the saints). 9 They were singing a new song:⁠ “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals because you were killed, and at the cost of your own blood you have purchased for God persons from every tribe, language, people, and nation. 10 You have appointed them as a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.”⁠ 11 Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels in a circle around the throne, as well as the living creatures and the elders. Their number was ten thousand times ten thousand—thousands times thousands—⁠ 12 all of whom were singing in a loud voice: “Worthy is the lamb who was killed to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and praise!” 13 Then I heard every creature—in heaven, on earth, under the earth, in the sea, and all that is in them—singing: “To the one seated on the throne and to the Lamb be praise, honor, glory, and ruling power forever and ever!” 14 And the four living creatures were saying “Amen,” and the elders threw themselves to the ground and worshiped.

Texts in conversation

Compare Ezekiel 2:9 and Revelation 5:1

Hebrew Bible · New Testament

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Summary

Revelation’s description of a sealed scroll in front of the divine throne resembles Ezekiel’s description of a scroll written on both sides and filled with lament. In Ezekiel, the scroll commissions the prophet to deliver a message of judgment to Israel.

Passages

Ezekiel 2:9

Hebrew Bible
6 But you, son of man, do not fear them, and do not fear their words. Even though briers and thorns surround you and you live among scorpions—do not fear their words and do not be terrified of the looks they give you, for they are a rebellious house! 7 You must speak my words to them whether they listen or not, for they are rebellious. 8 As for you, son of man, listen to what I am saying to you: Do not rebel like that rebellious house! Open your mouth and eat what I am giving you.” 9 Then I looked and realized a hand was stretched out to me, and in it was a written scroll. 10 He unrolled it before me, and it had writing on the front and back; written on it were laments, mourning, and woe.
600–501 BCE (scholarly estimate) Read in Ezekiel

Revelation 5:1

New Testament
1 Then I saw in the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne a scroll written on the front and back and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming in a loud voice: “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or look into it. 4 So I began weeping bitterly because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
92–96 CE (scholarly estimate) Read in Revelation

References

"... we should take full account of the Old Testament source both for the scroll in chapter 5 and for the scroll in chapter 10. In many parts of this book we have seen that John's use of the Old Testament is not a matter of plucking phrases at random out of context, but consists in careful and deliberate exegesis of whole passages. He found reference to a scroll (Ezekiel 2:8-3:3) within the context of Ezekiel's inaugural vision (1:1-3:11), in which the prophet was both granted a vision of God on his throne and given by God the prophetic revelation which it was his prophetic commission to communicate to the people. In Revelation 4, John's account of his vision of God is considerably indebted to Ezekiel's vision of the divine throne (Ezekiel 1). Like Ezekiel's vision, this is intended to prepare for the communication of a prophetic message to the prophet. Revelation 5:1 is closely modelled on Ezekiel 2:9-10 ..."
Richard Bauckham, The Climax of Prophecy: Studies on the Book of Revelation (Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1993), 246.

References are not endorsements of their contents. Read each reference in full to understand its author's intentions in using these texts.

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Ezekiel 2:9 and Revelation 5:1

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