Who is Worthy to Open the Scroll – Revelation 5:1-5

Revelation 5:1: “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.”

In Exodus 3:7-8, the Lord did not hand Moses a scroll with woes written on it for Egypt, but He said to Moses, “I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. So, I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up from that land to a good and large land…”

The Egyptians whipped, despised, insulted, cheated, and slew Israel without pity until the Lord intervened with mighty signs and miracles. God delivered His people from their oppressors.

In Exodus 7:5, the Lord said to Moses, “The Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the children of Israel from among them.”

Revelation 1:1 states this book is, “The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants—things which must shortly take place. And He sent and signified it by His angel to His servant John.”

In Revelation 1:2, John states that he is bearing witness to the Word of God, to the testimony of Jesus Christ and to all things which he saw.

In Revelation 5:1, John sees a scroll that is full of words in the right hand of God. These words have been sealed up. Their meaning has not yet been revealed. The events of Revelation chapters 6-16 are contained in the scroll. It is time to open the scroll and reveal its judgments.

In Ezekiel 2:9-3:1, the Lord revealed to Ezekiel a scroll that had writing on the inside and on the outside. The words on the scroll were lamentations, mourning and woe. The Lord said to Ezekiel, “Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.”

In Revelation 10:8-11, John sees a little book (βιβλαριδιον) in the hand of a mighty one. He is told by a voice out of heaven, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.” The angel said to John, “Take and eat it! It will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” So, John took it out of the angel’s hand and ate it. It was sweet to his mouth, but bitter to his stomach. And then the angel said to John, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

John had already wrote down many woes in Revelation chapters 6-9, now he has more woes to proclaim. The woes are not good news for those who love the kingdoms of this world. The woes reveal how Satan and those who serve his purposes will ultimately be cast into a lake of burning fire and brimstone, to be tormented day and night. Thus, God warns people via His prophets.

In Daniel 8:23-26, the Lord revealed that “in the latter time... when the transgressors have reached their fullness, a king shall arise with fierce features, who understands sinister schemes. “He shall cause deceit to prosper.” The Lord tells Daniel to, “seal up the vision, for it refers to many days in the future.” Hidden details of this vision are released in Revelation 12-13 when the Lord reveals to John details of Satan’s war with those who keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus. In Revelation 13:7, the Lord reveals to John a beast who is granted power “to make war with the saints and to overcome them.”

In Daniel 12:8-10, Daniel wrote, “Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, ‘My lord, what shall be the end of these things?’ And he said, ‘Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. Many shall be purified, made white, and refined, but the wicked shall do wickedly; and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.”

In Jeremiah 32:9-15, before Jerusalem was destroyed by the King of Babylon, the Lord told Jeremiah to purchase land in the city because after Jerusalem was destroyed, it would be rebuilt. Jeremiah’s title deed to land in rebuilt Jerusalem is a scroll that contains good news for those who believe God’s Word. God will raze that which is defiled and raise that which is holy. In fact, Jeremiah’s name can either mean “raze” with a “z” (to destroy) or “raise” with a “s” (buildup or resurrect).

Revelation 5:2: “Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to remove its seals?’”

“Who is worthy” is the resounding question that the strong angel asks. There is something important written on that scroll. Who can open it? Who can reveal its meaning?

The Lord does not reveal to hypocrites the meaning of the words on the scroll. In Isaiah 29:11, “The whole vision has become to you like the words of a scroll that is sealed, which men deliver to one who is literate, saying, ‘Read this, please.’ And he says, ‘I cannot, for it is sealed.’” In Isaiah 29:13-14, the Lord explained to His prophet, “Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but have removed their hearts far from Me... Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people... the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.”

In some cases, God gives a prophecy at one point in time, but does not make its meaning clear to people until later time. The Lord said in Daniel 12:9, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” In Revelation 10:4, John was not allowed to share what “seven thunders uttered.” He “was about to write,” but heard a voice say, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”

Revelation 5:3-4: “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 and read the scroll, or to look at it.”

John wants the scroll to be unsealed. He is intrigued by what the Lord has already revealed to him. He has seen in the right hand of God a scroll with seven seals on it. He wants to know what the Word of the Lord is for the end times. He is weeping because it seems no one in heaven or earth is worthy to open it.

Revelation 5:5: “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 remove its seven seals.”

The Heavenly Father has entrusts His Word to His Son to reveal it. In Matthew 11:27, Jesus said, “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.” In John 12:49, Jesus said, “The Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.”

The Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David are references to Jesus the Messiah!

Hebrews 7:14 says, “For it is evident that our Lord arose from Judah.”

The title, “Lion of the tribe of Judah” relates Jesus to a prophecy of the Messiah recorded in Genesis 49:9-10. “Judah is a lion’s whelp... The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”

In Isaiah 31:4, the Lord said to Isaiah, “As a lion roars, and a young lion over his prey... so the Lord of hosts will come down to fight for Mount Zion and for its hill.” Jesus fulfilled this prophecy when He defeated the power of death and prevailed over it in His resurrection.

The lion is an image of strength, kingliness, vigilance. Dr. Adrian Rodgers said, “Jesus is a lamb to those who believe in Him but a lion to those who reject Him.”

The title, “Root of David” relates Jesus to prophecies of Messiah recorded in Isaiah 11:1, 10. “There shall come forth a Rod from the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” “And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious.” While testifying for Jesus, Paul refers to Isaiah’s prophecy in Romans 15:12, “Again, Isaiah says: ‘There shall be a root of Jesse. He shall rise to reign over the Gentiles. In Him the Gentiles shall hope.”

In Revelation 22:16, Jesus says of Himself, “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you these things in the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the Bright and Morning Star.”

“Who is worthy to open the scroll?” “Who will reveal its meaning to us?” The resounding answer is our Lord Jesus Christ.