Revelation 5:1-5

In chapter 4 we stepped through a door only God could open, into the throne room of God, where his will is done — that he be worshiped and honored and glorified by everything that has breath. That is the same will he desires here on earth, done in his church, in us (John 4:19-24). Now in chapter 5 we are about to see something even more amazing.¶

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.

Revelation 5:1 (ESV)¶

The sealed scroll¶

John sees a scroll in the right hand of God on the throne, written on both sides and sealed with seven wax seals. Scrolls are how important documents were written and sent — deeds, decrees, betrothals, contracts. A seal meant only the person with authority could open it, securing its contents and showing the name and position of its author. This document has seven seals — the number of perfection, completeness, and finality — showing the wholeness of the document and the holy authority required to open it. That it is written on both sides shows it is complete, lacking nothing.¶

Some believe this scroll is the deed to the earth; some the Lamb's book of life; some the new covenant of the promised kingdom; some a testament assuring believers of their inheritance; others God's redemptive program predicted in the Old Testament. Later we will see what is revealed as the seals are broken: judgment on the earth and the second coming of Christ to take his rightful place as King.¶

"Who is worthy?"¶

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.

Revelation 5:2-4 (ESV)¶

Why is John so profoundly sad that there is no one worthy? He hasn't even been shown what the scroll means yet. The knowledge that no one — not him, not the living creatures, not the elders — is able to open it breaks his heart. This is the spiritual truth of the state of all creation, and John experiences it in his spirit in its full weight: none are worthy, none are able, none are qualified. This made me think of Romans 3:¶

as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."

Romans 3:10-12 (ESV)¶

John is weeping because he is experiencing the true weight of this truth in this very moment.¶

"The Lion has conquered"¶

And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals."

Revelation 5:5 (ESV)¶

The unbeliever is perpetually in the state John felt for a moment — a sad hopelessness, not knowing where they come from or where they are going, standing on the edge of an eternal abyss they cannot see the bottom of. No light, no net, only the inevitability of falling in — which they cannot stop, prevent, or change. This is the state of the lost; it is why they are called lost. John saw that emptiness for just a moment in the Spirit. But that hopelessness was quickly taken away when one of the elders leaned over and told him the good news: "Behold, the Lion has conquered!" John, you can stop crying now. It looked like there was no hope, like no one could accomplish the task — but look! The Lion has done it. He has conquered. This is the gospel of Jesus, the news we are to share with the world. I pray we would grow in compassion and urgency for the lost — to lean in and tell them that though they are not capable, there is One who is; though they are lost, there is One who has found them.¶