“Then 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. And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it.” Revelation 5:1-4
John is now introduced to an item of central importance, namely, a book which contains the prophecy of impending events to be unfolded in the book of Revelation. The document is made impressive by seven seals, apparently fixed on the edges of the scroll in such a way that the seals must be successively broken if the scroll is to be unrolled and read. It is evident that the contents of the book are impressive in character and require the power of God for their revelation as well as for the execution of their program. John records that he wept much because no one was found worthy either to open and read or even to look upon the book. The purpose of this dramatic presentation of the seven-sealed book was to impress upon John the importance of its contents and of the revelation contained therein. A sealed scroll means it is locked up until an appointed time. Daniel was told to close and seal up what he had been told (Daniel 12:8-10) because it was not revelation for his time but for the time of the end. The events, in this sealed scroll, must and will take place before the establishment of the Kingdom of God.
In the beginning, when God created the earth, the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters and God spoke things into being. When He spoke, these things became a reality. In this chapter, we see that in order for the Kingdom of God to become a reality, in this world, the scroll has to be opened. It has to be read and as these words are spoken they too will come into being. But there is a problem, there is no man who is worthy to open up this scroll and reveal its message; so that what is written there can become a reality. Left to ourselves we are utterly hopeless, and the Kingdom of God is out of reach.