Revelation 5:1-3 Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.
John now sees the scroll that will dominate the plot until chapter 8. The scroll is mysterious for several reasons. It is sealed so no one can open it. Important ancient scrolls used by royalty for official business were often “encrypted” with a wax seal of the one who wrote it. Only the recipient could open the scroll or face punishment or death. Such ancient seals have been found by archaeologists, most recently one that may have been Isaiah the prophet’s seal (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/seal-prophet-isaiah-180968255/).
Whatever is written on this scroll is important. The challenge facing the heavenly crowd is that no one is found worthy enough to open the seven seals of this scroll. No one in all creation can open the scroll. This is a serious problem. Whatever the scroll contains will reveal God’s will for creation.
In application, people seek to know God’s will and use their powers and abilities to somehow coerce or manipulate God through magic or luck. The way to discover God’s will is to humble seek God in worship and allow God to reveal his will to us. The heavenly crowd must do that. Fall down in worship and ask God to reveal his plan and purpose for us, our churches, organizations, families, and so on.
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