The Book of Life is held in the hand of God the Father (Rev 5:7). Only the Lord Jesus is worthy to take and open it (Rev 5:9). He can remove all the seven seals to reveal the contents of the Book which has eternal impact on us.

1. Worthy because of obedience (Rev 5:6-7):

The humanity of the Lord Jesus (not His Godhood) made Him worthy to open the Book (Rev 5:9). His life of obedience as the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, was the aspect of His humanity that made Him worthy to take the Book from the Father’s hand (Rev 5:7). He earned His worthiness by His complete and perfect obedience to the Father’s will.

Revelation 5:6 describes Jesus as “a Lamb as it had been slain.” Unlike us who will have glorified bodies without blemish, Jesus’ body still bears the marks of His crucifixion. The “four beasts” refer to the angelic beings, and the “four and twenty elders” represent all the believers. The Lamb has “seven horns and seven eyes.” This describes Jesus’ perfection in power and His omniscience. He sees everything. The “seven Spirits of God” represent the Holy Spirit. When the Book Jesus opened is given to us, the Holy Spirit takes the Word and brings conviction and conversion. The Book reveals the glory that awaits us, and nothing can be compared to that glory. All three Persons of the Godhead are involved in our understanding of God’s Word. Understanding His Word must lead us to obey His Word. 

2.  Worthiness that is acknowledged (Rev 5:8-10):

The angelic beings and the believers, who witnessed Jesus taking the Book from the Father’s hand, worship Him in praise and prayer (Rev 5:8). Without Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, we are not worthy to praise Him. Without Jesus, our righteousness are as filthy rags. It is only because of Jesus that we can praise Him together with the angelic beings. We can also bring our prayers to Him. If not for what Christ has done for us, God will not hear us.

The believers understand and acknowledge that Jesus died for their sins, that the blood of Jesus can save regardless of how heinous their sins and regardless of their background (Rev 5:9). From Revelation 5:9 onwards, the angels are excluded because redemption is for sinners only, and thus only the believers can sing that Jesus “hast redeemed us to God by thy blood” (Rev 5:9).

The moment we believe and receive Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, He turns us from His enemy into His child. And He makes us “kings and priests” (Rev 5:10), to rule and to pray.