And I saw to the right of the One sitting on the throne a scroll, written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a powerful angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll, namely, to 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 wept much because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. Rev. 5:1-4.
The scene in Revelation 5 builds on the one in the previous chapter. Revelation 4 describes the general realities of the heavenly throne room. The throne is in the center of the room, and everything happens in relation to the throne. The main thing going on, of course, is worship. Again and again in these two chapters the four living creatures break into song, and more and more worshippers chime in.
But a major difference exists between chapters 4 and 5. Whereas chapter 4 describes the general realities of the heavenly throne room, chapter 5 depicts a specific point in time. A crisis erupts in the throne room of the universe. All the praise suddenly stops, and everyone looks toward the center of the room with anticipation and silence, asking by implication, "What's going on?"
What is the problem? They see a scroll that no one can open. While this might seem at first to be a trivial problem, the silence in heaven and John's weeping suggests a life-and-death crisis. Someone must be found to unroll the scroll. What heightens the drama even further is the fact that the scroll is in the possession of God Himself, the one sitting on the throne. Why is it necessary to look for someone to open the scroll? Can't the Lord do that Himself?
The point of this scene seems to be that the universe has a huge problem, one so large that God Himself is reluctant to handle it on His own. It has to do with the right to rule. God is certainly powerful enough to seize control if He wanted to. But might does not make right. So ultimately only a "worthy" person can solve the difficulty.
The word "worthy" actually picks up from Revelation 4:11: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being' " (NIV). To be "worthy" is to be qualified or suitable for a task or an office. Here the task is to open the scroll. Being God is not enough to qualify. The issue represented by the scroll requires a special kind of qualification. Nothing less than the death of the Lamb allows Him to unroll the scroll.
Lord, thank You for reminding me of how much my sin costs both You and the stability of the universe. Thank You, Jesus, for the painful road that qualified You for the greatest task in history.
The scene in Revelation 5 builds on the one in the previous chapter. Revelation 4 describes the general realities of the heavenly throne room. The throne is in the center of the room, and everything happens in relation to the throne. The main thing going on, of course, is worship. Again and again in these two chapters the four living creatures break into song, and more and more worshippers chime in.
But a major difference exists between chapters 4 and 5. Whereas chapter 4 describes the general realities of the heavenly throne room, chapter 5 depicts a specific point in time. A crisis erupts in the throne room of the universe. All the praise suddenly stops, and everyone looks toward the center of the room with anticipation and silence, asking by implication, "What's going on?"
What is the problem? They see a scroll that no one can open. While this might seem at first to be a trivial problem, the silence in heaven and John's weeping suggests a life-and-death crisis. Someone must be found to unroll the scroll. What heightens the drama even further is the fact that the scroll is in the possession of God Himself, the one sitting on the throne. Why is it necessary to look for someone to open the scroll? Can't the Lord do that Himself?
The point of this scene seems to be that the universe has a huge problem, one so large that God Himself is reluctant to handle it on His own. It has to do with the right to rule. God is certainly powerful enough to seize control if He wanted to. But might does not make right. So ultimately only a "worthy" person can solve the difficulty.
The word "worthy" actually picks up from Revelation 4:11: "You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being' " (NIV). To be "worthy" is to be qualified or suitable for a task or an office. Here the task is to open the scroll. Being God is not enough to qualify. The issue represented by the scroll requires a special kind of qualification. Nothing less than the death of the Lamb allows Him to unroll the scroll.
Lord, thank You for reminding me of how much my sin costs both You and the stability of the universe. Thank You, Jesus, for the painful road that qualified You for the greatest task in history.
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