Chapter Fifteen/"Who Is Worthy to Open the Scroll?"

SUBLIME! AWE INSPIRING!  such is the stirring vision of Jehovah's throne in its setting amid the lamps of fire, the cherubs, the 24 elders, and the glassy sea.  But John, what do you see next?  John focuses on the very center of this heavenly scene, telling us: "And I saw in the right hand of the One seated upon the throne a scroll written within and on the reverse side, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice:  'Who is worthy to open the scroll and loose its seals?'  But neither in heaven nor upon earth nor underneath the earth was there a single one able to open the scroll or to look into it.  And I gave way to a great deal of weeping because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it." -Revelation 5:1-4.

Jehovah himself, Sovereign Lord  of all creation, is holding out that scroll. It must be full of vital information, for it has writing on the front and the back. Our curiosity  is aroused.  What does the scroll contain?  We recall Jehovah's invitation to John:  "Come on up here, and I shall show you the things that must take place."  (Revelation 4:1)  With tingling expectation, we look forward to learning about those things. But alas, the scroll is tightly closed, sealed shut with seven seals!

Will the strong angel find someone worthy to open the scroll?  According to the Kingdom Interlinear, the scroll is located  "upon the right hand" of Jehovah.  This suggests that he holds it out on his open palm.  But it appears that no one  in heaven or on earth is worthy to open that scroll. No even underneath the earth, among faithful servants of God who have died, is anyone qualified for this high honor. No he is not going to learn "the things that must take place" after all. In our day, too, God's anointed people have anxiously waited for Jehovah  to send forth his light and truth on Revelation.   This he would do progressively at the appointed time for the prophecy's fulfillment, in order to lead his people in the way of "a grand salvation." -Psalm 43:3, 5.  

Next time: Chapter Fifteen/"Who Is Worthy to Open the Scroll?" - The Worthy One

From the book of Revelation