Revelation 5:1-4 – Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. 4 I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.
In Revelation 4 the scene of these visions is set as John describes the throne room of God and who He sees in it. In chapter 5 the view begins to focus on events. The story begins to unfold.
“Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.” John saw in the right hand of the Almighty a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. In the days of John the scrolls were made by gluing together two thin pieces of papyrus, at right angles to each other. To make it longer they would join pieces edge to edge. Each piece was thought to be about eight by ten inches long. Short epistles such as Jude and Philemon would have been written on one piece of papyrus. These papyrus pieces had a smooth front side and a course back side. Usually only the smooth side was written on. The Book of Revelation would have been about fifteen feet long and written on both sides. The prophecy containing scroll that was unrolled before Ezekiel was also written on the back and front sides (Ezekiel 2:9-10).
What was the scroll representing and how was it sealed. The sealing of the scroll may be an indication of what the scroll was. Most hold that it represents the title deed to the planet earth. In that day, title deeds were sealed with a single seal. If the owner could no longer make his payments, the owner had to give up the deed. On the backside of this relinquished deed would be written the outstanding the debts of the owner. Also seven seals would be placed. Over the next seven years, if the owner could pay back the debt, the seals would be broken until the debt was paid in full and the title deed returned. We know who paid our debt, full of the seven-fold Spirit of God, it was Jesus our Savior and King.
Some hold that the seven seals were all on the outside edge of the scroll so that no part within could be seen until all seven seals are broken. What may be more likely is that the seals were not all on the outside, but each seal was placed before each part. Thusly, successive seals were broken only after the previous part had been opened and set forth.
“But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.” The challenge was issued, who could open the scroll and break the seals. No-one in heaven or on earth could open it. There was none worthy to open the seal. Worthy is not speaking of naked power, as in someone who by might could come by the power of their might to receive open the scroll. Worthy here is speaking of someone who by merit of person and deed, was in a position to open the scroll. Like a wise maiden seeking a worthy husband, no strongman will come and sweep her away. A wise maiden considers what is of true worth of a husband and gives her hand to that man. Handsome features and physical strength are not alone qualifications for her hand. It must be a man of God, who will lightly, but firmly hold her hand and bring her alongside him to walk along a Godly path which he has already been walking on. It is the proof of his character by the history of his walk with God and the wisdom of life choices that wins her hands. Worthiness comes from having merited it through performance. No man on earth had what it took to open the scroll, or even peek inside.
We also see that no creature of heaven or earth was found to open the scroll. This scroll revealed and set loose what was to come by the Almighty God. As a baton being passed in a race, none was worthy to receive the scroll. No-one. No angel was to be transformed into a god-savior. No-one was worthy!
“I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside.” This was no light sobbing, or weeping. It is not a tear that trickles down the cheek. John was heartbroken. Have you ever been so broken, so hurt, so wounded that you wailed out the pain? Yes tears flowed, but also agony flooded out of your heart and all boundaries of containment are broken by the flood that forces its way out. Tear stream from you, your chest heaves, it is uncontrollable soul pain that screams out of you and you loudly cry out, ache, and are helpless to stop. This is the type of weeping that John felt. For the last sixty years he has lived grasping onto the truths that Jesus taught Him. Has all that Jesus taught Him now come to naught as no-one could open the scroll? Where was Jesus? Surely He could! But why the silence? Where was the champion to step forward? John was in utter despair.
The champion will step forward, but there was a time of silence after the invitation was given for someone to stop forward. Can we imagine how excited John was at the giving of the invitation? Then when no one stepped forward, when no-one was able to be the champion, he was completely devastated. It is good for us to sometimes pause and consider the mighty work of our champion, the Lord Jesus Christ. What if Jesus had not come and made the way for us to heaven? We know that we would then have no hope. We know no-one can save themselves. We would still be lost, wallowing in the filth of our former lives with no hope of future eternal life with God. How lost, how forlorn we would be! Even the consideration of that can bring panic, desperation and fear. Yet we fear not because Jesus did come and make the only way to the Father that there is. Let us never take the work of God through Jesus for granted. May we never be unappreciative or complacent! Let’s keep our eyes focused on Jesus, and anxiously await to happen what John will see. Our champion will appear, just as John is about to see. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.