What concern would angels have about what is happening here? Christ’s sacrifice, you recall, makes no provision for fallen angels, Hebrews 2 and verse 16 [“For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham.”]. The faithful, holy angels need no provision that Christ could offer. Yet, as ministering spirits for those who have been redeemed, as the Hebrew writer refers to them, Hebrews 1, verse 14 [“Are they (angels) not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?”], they desire to look into the grand scheme of redemption. You recall that Peter alluded to the fact, in 1 Peter 1, and verse 12, that, even the angels were not privileged—were not privy—to that grand scheme of redemption. [1 Peter 1:10-12: “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ¹¹searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ Who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. ¹²To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.”] The angels are interested; they are intently looking; they are desirous to learn what is in that scroll as well.

They join their fellow servant, John, and his brethren. You remember that the great apostle was brought to tears (verse 4), “because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.” He must have felt the anguish, the suffering, that the information in the scroll would never be revealed or shared. Now he hears praise to the Lamb, the One Who could open the scroll and reveal its contents, the Lamb Who was slain to redeem us by His blood.

John hears the voice of these many angles around the throne, the four living creatures, and the twenty-four elders. The angels are described as fellow servants with John, and with his brethren the prophets in Revelation 19:10: “And I fell at his feet to worship him [the angel]. But he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the Testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy’” and in Revelation 22:8-9: “Now I, John, saw and heard these things. And when I heard and saw, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then he said to me, ‘See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the Words of this book. Worship God.’” So, they are praising the Lamb, Who is worthy by virtue of His victory in conflict and sacrifice.

Back in chapter 4 and verse 11, God received a three-fold ascription of praise “glory and honor and power.” Here, in chapter 5 and verse 12, we’re going to see that the angles will give the Lamb a seven-fold ascription of praise: “Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain To receive power and riches and wisdom, And strength and honor and glory and blessing!”

It may be difficult to explain about these seven words of praise ascribed to the Lamb, but I thought this information was worth sharing. The scholars who have analyzed this and have made a great study of the original language state that there is not a definite article [the “and”] in front of each of the seven expressions of praise. Other ascriptions of praise to God, like Revelation 4:11 and Revelation 7:12, do not share this type of expression. But in this particular one, this ascription of praise that is given by the angels, there is not a definite article in front of each of the seven expressions of praise. One scholar says, “We must regard them all as if they formed but one word.” I thought that was interesting. In our language, of course, the words are separated. We see them, we read them separately, but in the original language, there is not an article in front of each word of praise. Perhaps, the way it would have been expressed, the way John would have heard it, it would sounded as though and appeared to have been one continuous word. [In the English language, it would be like saying all the seven words together as one word, “powerricheswisdomstrengthhonorgloryblessing!”] That’s a little difficult for us to imagine.

The ascription of praise given by the angels in verse 12 begins: “Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain…” and then lists the seven ascriptions: “To receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” Let’s look just briefly in a Greek lexicon about the meaning of each one of these words:

1) The Lamb is worthy to receive “power.” That is, infinite, or divine power—power to rule equal to that of God.

2) The Lamb is worthy to receive “riches,” meaning wealth, or abundance; riches in the fullness of His creation and Godhead.

3) The Lamb is worthy to receive “wisdom,” insight into the true nature of things by virtue of insight into their underlying causes and consequences.

4) The Lamb is worthy to receive “strength” or “might.” This expresses the idea of strength, or might, the attribute by which the power is put into action.

5) The Lamb is worthy to receive “honor.” This means high respect out of the value placed upon one; merit; preciousness.

6) The Lamb is worthy of “glory.” This is brightness, splendor, or radiance; the splendor of that light unapproachable in which God dwells, 1 Timothy 6:16: “Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, Whom no man has seen or can see, to Whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.” That unapproachable light is now Christ’s, the Lamb.

7) The Lamb is worthy of “blessing.” This signifies praise. The word is often used as a benediction to wish happiness, honor, obedience to, and respect for, someone.

The seven-fold ascription is complete as a unit, as one.