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. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.If we remember the basic message of Revelation, it will help clear up what is happening in this part of the vision. John was promised that he would see visions of what was to come -- visions, we will see, that describe the entire history of the Christian Church until the Last Day. Now, imagine being John as he sees this unfold. Here is a scroll -- THE scroll -- the very document on which are written the things John has been promised a glimpse of, and no one can open it. No one is worthy.John broke down and began to weep openly (the Greek tells us that he was weeping loudly much like the way people were paid to wail at funerals). Either he was upset that no one could show him the vision, or else (some think) he had some idea of the disasters to come and wept because of how bad things were going to get.Sometimes in Revelation (as in Daniel) an angel comforts the author. But here it is one of the elders.The comfort that the elder gives him is the final comfort for us all. No one is worthy to unseal the mysteries of God, whether plagues or blessings or prophecies. No one, that is, except the "Lion of the Tribe of Judah," Jesus himself. His title here (it's from Genesis) reminds us that he was prophesied all along. There was never any question about who the Savior would be. There was never any question that it would be Jesus Christ who paid for our sins, and who is the one who is able to open the scroll that will show the plagues that will be let loose on the earth from John's day until the last day.But whether plagues come upon us or worse, the Lamb has rescued us. Our sins are forgiven in Jesus. We are at peace with God.
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