Revelation 5:1-7
1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.”
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
John writes of who he saw on the throne of God, the one holding a sealed scroll. These seals were to be progressively opened as scroll was unfurled, not seven across one opening, so it could be opened a little at a time to read as time went on. This is the meaning behind this book, Revelation - it is an unveiling over time, not all to be known in one sitting. God wrote this for our warning and hope, judgement and salvation, but not with every detail to be known up front. We see more unveiling as we move toward the end of time and see glimpses here in the prophetic in a mirror, dimly (1 Corinthians 13:12). The angel then shouts out the question, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?’ John was sad and wept because nobody came forward who could do such a thing. Nobody could even look at it, much less be worthy to open a single seal to reveal what was written inside. Yet an elder spoke comfort and hope to John, proclaiming that the Lion of the tribe of Judah who descended from King David as God’s chosen Messiah was more than able to open and look at the scroll because He prevailed over life and death, paying the price of His own blood to do so. Christ alone could open the book for us! Then there was the Lamb of God who was sacrificed for us, standing in their midst. The living creatures and elders around the throne bore witness to the worthy One with the seven seeing angels of the churches looking over the world. This One then went to the Father’s throne to take the scroll to open and read what was and was to come. The revelation in part to us began with some things hard to understand, some we can comprehend by His Spirit in is, and some to be reserved for times to come in the consummation of all things by God’s plan and purpose.
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