BY ESPOIR BYISHIMO
Revelation chapter 5 begins with the scene of the scroll in the throne room of heaven. John writes, “then I saw in the right hand of Him who was seated on the throne, a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.” The scroll is locked tightly, not with one seal, but with seven seals.
John is full of excitement when he sees this scroll. But first, the scroll has to be opened. He writes, “And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘WHO IS WORTHY TO OPEN THE SCROLL AND BREAK ITS SEALS?’” John hears this proclamation and awaits with great anticipation for anyone worthy to step forward and open the scroll.
John's joy-filled anticipation doesn’t last long but is replaced with great despair. He writes, “And none was found in heaven or on Earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it….I began to weep loudly because none was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.” We may ask, why is John weeping? What is it about the scroll that is so important to him? Why doesn’t he stand up and open it?
The scroll contains mysteries about the past, present, and future. John doesn’t want to miss any of this. He longs to be among the blessed, whom “the secrets of the kingdom of heaven” are made known to (Matthew 13:11).
John’s weeping is reminiscent of Mary Magdalene’s mournful cry. When Mary was asked why she was crying in front of Jesus’ tomb, she said, “they have taken away my Lord.” For John, he couldn’t see the mystery of ages unless the scroll was opened. So, at the moment, it appears that Mary and John’s hopes for the future were dashed.
But suddenly the condition for John and Mary changes: despair turns into great jubilance. An elder says to John, “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.” And to Mary’s amazement, Jesus appears to her alive. Mary joyfully runs to the disciples, calling, “I have seen the Lord.” The power and righteousness of Christ solely and definitively restores their hope and joy. And they weep no more.
Like John and Mary, we wait with great joy for the day of the Lord. We will see the Lamb of God—and we will weep no more.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.’” Revelation 21:1- 4