He is Able to Open the Scroll

And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth
was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.
So I wept much, because no one was found worthy
to open the scroll, or to look at it.
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.
Revelation 5:3-5, NKJV

I have neither the time or the space to write a whole commentary on the lamb and the scroll, so let me sum up. John has been caught up to that place in the heavens where God's throne is, to the heavenly temple and the crystal sea. And there he sees the angels of heaven and the saints of earth surrounding the throne and filling heaven with their praises. He beholds God as fire and light, radiant brilliance, brighter than the light of a thousand suns, and out of that light he sees a scroll extended in the hand of the One Who Always Is.

It is a scroll with writing on the outside, mirroring the inscription on the inside. It is sealed with seven seals. It seems to be a title deed or a jubilee will, detailing the final disposition of planet earth. The breaking of the seals and the opening of the scroll will signal the beginning of the end for evil and wickedness and the devil's vain attempt at overthrowing the Sovereignty of God. Unfurling it will unleash the wrath of God on unrepentant humanity. But it can only be opened by the right person at the right place at the right time with the right witnesses present.

And as the voice calls for someone to step forward and open the scroll, no one is found to do it. Not among those angels and saints in heaven, not among the citizens of the earth, not among those unrighteous captives in hell awaiting judgment. No one is worthy to open it, and John weeps.

But then the words of comfort reach his ears. There is one worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals. There is one able to offer redemption for the purchased possession, to reclaim earth and reconcile all things to the Creator. There is one who has paid the price as the kinsman redeemer and who can lay claim to everything that is. It is the Lion of Judah, the Offspring of David, the Lamb slain from before the foundation of the world.

It is Jesus Christ the righteous, who died for the sins of the world and was raised for our justification. It is He who was dead, and now lives again to die no more. It is the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the Firstborn of many brethren, the Firstfruits of the resurrection, the King of kings and Lord of lords. And as he stands forward, bearing the scars that are proof of His payment, all of heaven erupts in declarative anthems of praise:

You are worthy to take the scroll,

and to open its seals;

for you were slain

and have redeemed us to God by Your blood

out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

And have made us kings and priests to our God;

and we shall reign on the earth.

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain

to receive power and riches and wisdom

and strength and honor and glory and blessing!

Blessing and honor and glory and power

be to Him who sits on the throne,

and to the Lamb, forever and ever!

I am so thankful for the One who was and is and always will be worthy, and able to take the scroll and to open its seals! Even so, come Lord Jesus!