The Scroll

I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals.   Revelation 5:1

Papyrus strips laid horizontally on top of a layer of vertical strips formed a papyrus sheet. These sheets were then joined together into a scroll, a stick was attached to each end, and the scroll was rolled up and sealed with blobs of wax in the middle.

Normally you would write only on the inside of a scroll. But if it was important to have all the information relating to a legal transaction in one place, you could use both sides. The scroll written on both sides is a picture of everything God has planned for the world. God holds this scroll in his hand. There’s nothing else to be written. The entire purpose of God is contained here.

Throughout the Bible’s story, God had promised to destroy evil and restore men and women into his presence. This is the whole purpose of God. But notice the scroll was sealed. In the ancient world, a will was sealed until the one who wrote it died. Then the seals would be slit, and the person who opened the seal would execute the will. The will of God had been declared, but not yet executed.

Then a mighty angel issued a challenge: “Who is worthy to break the seals?” (Revelation 5:2). Who could withstand the thunder and lightning that radiated from God’s throne? And after crossing the sea of glass and taking the scroll from God’s hand, who would have the authority to put God’s plan into effect?

“No one in heaven” could do it (Revelation 5:3); it was beyond the ability of the cherubim or the seraphim. “Or on earth” (5:3)—John knew it was way beyond his ability. “Or under the earth” (5:3)—Abraham couldn’t do this, nor could Muhammad, Krishna, or Buddha, nor any other religious leader.

When John saw that no one could destroy evil and restore humanity to God’s presence, he wept (see Revelation 5:4). Who was worthy to break the seals and open the scroll? Many have dreamed about a better world, and some have even promised it, but who can actually deliver a better world?

For further reading, see Revelation 5