Revelation 5 narrows the throne-room vision to the scroll that is in the right hand of God the Father who sits on the throne, and to Jesus as the slain lamb who alone is worthy to open the scroll. Because the slain lamb alone is worthy to open the scroll, heavenly worship extends to the Lamb along with the one seated on the throne. The symbolism here communicates that Jesus is in a unique category of being. He is worthy of worship (divine) and what he accomplished in his death (appearing like a lamb that was slain) means that he alone fulfills the redemptive purposes of God in the creation (i.e., saves)
It is assumed here among readers (along with John), that the content of the scroll details the fulfillment of God’s redemptive purposes in the world as it approaches its end. In other words, the scroll contains “the things that must soon take place” (1:1). As Jesus will open the scroll, the “things that must soon take place” will unfold and God’s redemptive purposes fulfilled.
