Revelation 5:1 - 7

1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.

4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 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.”

6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.

The last verse of the previous chapter identifies the one who sits on the throne as the creator of everything. This identifies the being as God.

In His right hand God has a scroll which is written on both sides of the sheet it consists of. In symbology such as what this part of Revelations consists of “a scroll or book” represents information about future events.

This scroll is sealed with seven seals which of course represents a complete number so that this information about the future is hidden until the seals can be broken so writing can be read.

Each of these seven seals represent a part of the events which are to come in the future.

The “strong angel” is making a proclamation offering anyone the opportunity to try to open the seals. If anyone can open the seals then the person can make the predictions of the coming events.

The proclamation brought no one qualified to open the seals on the scroll, no one from Heaven where God dwells, no one from the earth where living humans live, and no one from under the earth, the home of those who have already departed this earth. No intelligent being was qualified to open the seals.

This shows us the future is a sealed book as far as uninspired beings are concerned, whether they are in heaven or on earth. The future is only for God to know. He is the one who is providing the scroll containing the information about the future.

John began to weep because the way the announcement was made with a strong angel making a loud announcement showed the need for someone to open the seals was of most importance. No one was qualified to open the seals. This depressed John and he wept.

One of the 24 elders consoled John, this was one of the elders who represented both the Mosaic system of worship, and the Christian dispensation. He informed John there was no reason to be sad, because there was One who would be qualified to open the seals. He then explained who this being is.

One who would be qualified to be the Lion of Judah (Genesis 49:9 – 10) is predicted. He is identified (Hebrews 7:14) as Christ who came from the tribe of Judah. Being the Root of David indicates Christ is the very important descendant of the King David.(Isaiah 11:1,10)

This conversation between the elder and John, is one of equals because John is one of the apostles which are represented by the elders. This conversation shows that their work has born fruit because the One whose gospel they spread has become the only One qualified to open the seals and manifest this future information.

This individual appears “in the midst of” the living creatures and the 24 elders. Thayer describes this as: "In the vacant space between the throne and the living creatures (on one side) and elders (on the other side), accordingly nearest the throne."

John saw standing there a lamb which looked as though it had been killed and came back to life still bearing evidence of its wounds. Christ after He rose from the dead and still bore the wounds in His body which had led to His death. (John 20:20)

This lamb had seven horns, the horns represent authority, seven represents “complete authority” (Matthew 28:18)

This lamb also had seven eyes which represent the “perfect vision” needed to see into the future.

This authority and vision is given to the Holy Spirit to give to those who believe in Christ being the Son of God. We are given this Bible which is the word of God, and has the contents of that scroll shared with us.

The One qualified to open the seven seals (Christ) goes to the throne and takes the scroll containing the information about the future from the right hand of God.