In this verse we learn that John saw a mighty angel and heard him ask loudly, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?" The identity of the angel is not disclosed, but it may have been Gabriel. We know from Daniel 9:20–23 that the angel Gabriel appeared to Daniel with information about the end times. After delivering this information to Daniel, Gabriel commanded Daniel to seal the book of prophecy "until the time of the end" (Daniel 12:4).

The word "worthy" used here is the Greek axios, which signifies something "morally and legally entitled." John the Baptist used the word "worthy" to indicate he was not morally and legally entitled to untie the straps of Jesus' sandals (John 1:27). The angel's question called for heart searching. All who heard the angel's question would have to do honest self-analysis.

This would include all beings, not just humans. For example, the four living creatures described in chapter 4 (Revelation 4:6–8) had never sinned, but they were not legally entitled to open the scroll and break its seals.

Revelation 5:1–5 continues John's description of what he saw, while in the Spirit, in heaven. John saw a scroll in God's right hand. It was sealed shut with seven seals. A mighty angel shouted ''Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?'' We learn from chapters 6—8 that when the scroll's seals are opened, judgment falls on the earth. John wept loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll, but one of the elders comforted him because Jesus was worthy to open it.

Revelation 5 tells us John saw a scroll in God's right hand. The scroll had writing in it and on its back. Also, the scroll was sealed with seven seals. A search uncovered no one who was worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. However, one of the elders told John that Jesus could open the scroll, as the only one with the legal and moral right to do so. When Jesus accepted the scroll, universal praise in heaven and on earth rose to Jesus. He alone was found worthy to open the scroll because, as God's Lamb, He had shed His blood for all mankind.

Jesus commanded John to write ''the things that you have seen, those that are and those that are to take place after this.'' The first three chapters of Revelation contained those things which ''were'' and ''are,'' at the time John wrote. Chapters 2 and 3 provided the contents of Jesus' letters to seven churches. Chapter 4 begins the largest and last section of Revelation, regarding events yet to take place when John wrote (Revelation 1:19). John introduced God seated upon His throne, with twenty-four elders and four angelic creatures nearby. Chapter 5 focuses on a scroll containing God's judgments on sin, and a search for someone to open it. Only Jesus is worthy to open it. When Jesus receives the scroll from God, He receives praise from every creature in heaven and on earth.

The word ''revelation'' means ''an unveiling or disclosure.'' This writing unveils future events such as the rapture, three series of judgments that will fall on the earth during the tribulation, the emergence of the Antichrist, the persecution of Israel and her amazing revival, as well as Jesus' second coming with His saints to the earth, the judgment of Satan and his followers, and finally, the eternal state. This content, combined with the original Greek term apokalypsis, is why we now refer to an end-of-the-world scenario as ''an apocalypse.''

Accessed 11/21/2024 1:35:34 PM

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