5:1-3). The scroll contains the divine plan for the destiny of the church and the judgment of those who reject God. The scroll has writing inside and on the back, like a legal will of that time, and is sealed with seven seals. For a church under persecution, this vision of the divine plan was knowledge they needed to be complete and prepared for every good work in times of darkness, but no one could open it. In seeing this, the apostle John began to weep.Īs John is weeping, one of the elders says, “Weep no more behold the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals” (Rev. The Father is holding a scroll in his right hand, and no one is worthy to open it (Rev. We are not told who these elders are, but a reasonable guess is that they consist of twelve faithful prophets from the Old Testament and twelve apostles of the new, but there is a problem. Our heavenly Father is seated there, and four beasts with six wings surround him, much like Isaiah’s vision. At one point, the vision takes us to the throne. This revelation would paint a picture of the cosmic battle and the consummation of all things.
The apostle John is facing fierce persecution and is living on the Isle of Patmos when the Lord gives him a revelation. Put yourself in this situation. It is somewhere between 70 and 95 AD, and the church is under siege by the world. You have seen Nero take some of your brothers and sisters in Christ, tie them to poles, cover them in tar, and set them on fire to light his parties. The enemies of God have even killed some of the apostles. It seems as if evil is winning and the church will be destroyed, but the Lord is about to give them hope by reminding them of their destiny. To do this, he will provide them with a vision of his throne room.
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