Revelation 5:7-8 7And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one seated on the throne. 8And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints,
The Lamb took the scroll because only he was worthy to open it. No one else can ever approach the throne, where God the Father sits in full sovereignty and holiness. Jesus told his disciples that only the Father knows the day and the hour of his return (Matthew 24:36). In this passage, the time had come for things to begin unfolding. The Father holds the scroll until ready for the Lamb to receive it and begin the disclosing of the final plan. Since only the Lamb is worthy to begin the clock, those gathered around the throne fall down in worship. The worthiness of the risen Lamb is the cause of the praise and worship in chapters 4–5.
Verse 8 ends with anticipation of what will come next. The full opening of the scroll waits until chapter 8, after the seven seals that keep it closed are opened by the Lamb. The prayers of God’s people were about to be answered. The image of the prayers as incense comes from Psalm 141:2 and suggests that they had been accumulating for some time. Finally, it was the time for them to be brought forth. The original readers of Revelation could have the assurance that their prayers do count, and that God is listening. Christians throughout the ages have been crying out, “Maranatha,” “Come, Lord.” We look forward to Jesus’ coming again. We pray for it. While we wait, we must endure. These verses give us the confidence that God is indeed in control. We should not fear nor have doubts about the future. God has time under control and will set in motion the end events at the right time.