Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain

Quoting scripture in Revelation 5, Worthy Is The Lamb That Was Slain proclaims "blessing and honor, glory and power be unto Him forever". Like other choruses of the Messiah, it lines up precisely with text from the Bible. The verses are cherrypicked from Revelation 5 that center around the Savior's perfect sacrifice. The lamb with 7 eyes and 7 horns (7 representing perfection or completion) that John saw was the only one "worthy" to open the scroll. When the lamb takes the scroll from the right hand of the one sitting on the throne a powerful symbol emerges as the beasts and elders turn from worshipping the throne, and worship the Lamb. The Lamb is divine, and worthy of worship. His being the only to be able to open the scroll demonstrates how He was the only one capable of saving the world from death.

The final 4 minutes of the performance are singing only amens. Because "the song of the righteous is a prayer unto [God]", the exultant shouts seal the prayer of the oratorio. In finality, the piece recognizes in humility that the Lamb is worthy of glory and honor "forever and ever".