“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” Revelation 5:12
A door opens in heaven. John sees the throne of God, elders laying down their crowns, and a book no one can open, until the Lamb who was slain steps forward.
John looked, and “a door was opened in heaven.” A voice said, “Come up hither.” He saw “a throne was set in heaven,” with “a rainbow round about the throne,” “a sea of glass like unto crystal,” and “four and twenty elders” who “cast their crowns before the throne,” saying, “Thou art worthy, O Lord.”
In the right hand of Him on the throne was “a book … sealed with seven seals.” When “no man” could open it, John “wept much.” An elder said, “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda … hath prevailed.” John turned and saw “a Lamb as it had been slain,” who took the book. Heaven sang, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.”
Who’s who
John: an Apostle in exile on Patmos
The elders: faithful servants in heaven
Jesus Christ: the Lion of Judah and the Lamb
Where and when
A vision of heaven, seen from the island of Patmos.
Eight stops from a door in heaven to every creature singing. Scroll, or tap a number on the map.
Part 2 of 7
The story, plainly
Four scenes: an open door, crowns laid down, tears and a sealed book, and the new song. Look for the Savior in each one.
Read it plainly
The words that trip people up
Tap any dotted word for its meaning. The scripture stays exactly as written.2
Revelation 4:1“things which must be Meaning: in the future.”
Revelation 4:3“a jasper and a Meaning: a red gemstone.”
Revelation 4:4“clothed in white Meaning: clothing.”
Revelation 5:5“hath Meaning: won, overcome. to open the book”
Revelation 5:8“golden Meaning: bowls. full of Meaning: incense.”
Revelation 5:9“out of every Meaning: family, tribe.”
Part 3 of 7
Look closer
Small details tell the story. Some cards are details in the text; others share insights from modern scripture or Church resources. Each card says which.
0 of 9 turned
All nine. The door, the rainbow, the crown, the sea of glass, the scroll, the lion, the lamb, the bowl and the harp. Revelation 4–5
Part 4 of 7
Where are you?
Overwhelmed, looking up, giving it back, or praying. Which feels most like you right now?
A next step for you
Your choice is saved only on this device.
Try it
Who is worthy?
A sealed book, a loud question and a heaven full of tears. Tap each card to see what happened next.
“Worthy is the Lamb that was slain.” Revelation 5:12
Part 5 of 7
Their world, their words
A little background, including what modern revelation explains about John’s vision. Outside sources are labeled.
Scripture · Revelation 1
Where John was
John was in “the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.”1
Exiled for his testimony.
Modern scripture · Doctrine and Covenants 77
Questions answered
In 1832 the Lord answered Joseph Smith’s questions about this vision: the sea of glass “is the earth, in its sanctified, immortal, and eternal state.”4
Modern revelation explains it.
Church resource · Student manual
A sealed document
“Sealing an ancient document identified its owner and his authority, made the document legally binding, and protected it from unauthorized disclosure.”7
Only the rightful One could open it.
Church resource · Student manual
The center of it all
“Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is the only One worthy to fulfill the work of God.”7
The word appears again and again in these two chapters. Everything centers on the throne.2
Word study · Greek
arnion ἀρνίον · “Lamb” (Revelation 5:6)
Strong’s: “a lambkin,” a little lamb.9Outside · lexicon
The mighty Lion turns out to be a little Lamb, slain for us.3
What the text does not say
John doesn’t say the Lamb won by force or that anyone else could open the book. “No man in heaven, nor in earth” was able. Only the Lamb, “for thou wast slain.”3
Part 6 of 7
Look to Him
The whole vision turns on one question: who is worthy? The answer is the Lamb, Jesus Christ.
“His Firstborn, his Only Begotten Son who lived with perfection in the midst of imperfection.”
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, quoted in the student manual7
“God had promised Adam and Eve (and all the rest of us) that help would come from His pure, unblemished Firstborn Son.”
“Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29
The Lord (Doctrine and Covenants 77)
The seven seals
“The first seal contains the things of the first thousand years, and the second also of the second thousand years, and so on until the seventh.” Doctrine and Covenants 77:7
Part 7 of 7
Seek Him today
A question to ask in prayer
What feels sealed shut in my life that I can trust the Savior to open? Revelation 5:5
Ask Heavenly Father to help you trust the Lamb. He has already prevailed.
Try it today
One small act of worship each day. It saves on this device, one day at a time.
0 of 7 today
This week:0 of 7 days
Seven days of praise. Come again tomorrow.
A quiet moment
“Weep not.”
Read Revelation 5:1–9 slowly. Picture John weeping, then looking up to see the Lamb. What would you want to say to Him? Revelation 5:1–9
A verse to hold
Talk about it
What did John see through the open door?
Why did John cry?
Who was worthy to open the book?
Why is Jesus called both a Lion and a Lamb?
Open
For adults and deeper study
Go deeper
Longer readings, harder questions, and where to study next. Each one says what it is before you click.
Apostle
Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Behold the Lamb of God” (2019)
From Adam’s first offerings to the sacrament, how every lamb pointed to Jesus Christ.6
The Throne, the Scroll and the Lamb, ready to print $3.99
Everything on this page as a 11-page letter-size PDF: the map, scenes, cards, activity, word studies, tracker, Go deeper and sources. For home, class or a quiet Sunday.
The Throne, the Scroll and the Lamb is part of the Scripture Story Sketch Notes for the New Testament, set alongside Come, Follow Me for November 29–December 5, 2027 (Revelation 1–11).
Independent study notes from Weak Things, not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Scripture quotations are from the King James Version. The vision is in Revelation 4–5; the insights in “Look closer” are labeled by source.
