Passion For Jesus Ministries

The beauty of all that we are seeing (or, at least, able to see in our limited capacity to take it in) is almost indescribable, completely breathtaking, staggering in its captivating wonder and majesty. And John is weeping and weeping, as a thunderous question had gone unanswered. "Who is worthy to open the scroll and loose its seals?" The strong angel had proclaimed in a loud voice. No one. No one could be found to take hold of it - no one was even able or worthy to look at it, not in heaven or the earth or even under the earth. And so John, taking in this scene, is weeping and sobbing at the great tragedy he is witnessing. As long as the Father held that scroll in His mighty hand, as long as no human could be found worthy to take possession of that scroll, history would continue as it had been for centuries, and the waiting would continue as well. How long?

 
What was this scroll that John was observing, this item that was so important that John wept when considering the implications of its dormancy? It was, and is, a scroll that contains fourteen judgments inside of it that will shatter the earth and thus give possession of the nations to the one found worthy to bear it. Just to open the scroll with its seven seals on the outside would cause incredible shaking and unprecedented trial for all who inhabit the earth, before its contents are even revealed. This scroll is nothing less than the title deed of the earth, bestowing ownership and dominion and an everlasting kingdom to any who could open it and unleash its dreaded contents. It is also, therefore, the very leadership of history and its direction that is represented in the Father's hand - waiting for one who is worthy enough to manage its contents. Judging by this definition, it helps us to understand that "worthy" does not simply mean "qualified" - it means, in its fullest sense, "capable."

In other words, the key question of Revelation chapter five is this: "who can do this?" "Who has the capacity to handle what this scroll is and what it will do?" Only One. There is only One who, as the song later goes, who has the capacity and the ability to receive the requisite power, riches, and wisdom necessary to govern the nations of the earth in a manner the Father sees fit. There is only One who has the internal capacities cultivated and perfected in love and meekness to wield that kind of power and authority in a way that blesses and enriches the earth. There is only One who has the strength to receive even more supernatural strength to shatter opposition and govern the nations with might, only One who can receive honor, glory, and blessing and navigate all that accompanies such victory, success and prosperity with humility and beauty. The weeping of John is interrupted by one of the 24 elders that surround the throne of the Father, who reassures John that indeed, One has been found who can open the scroll.

Who is it? It's not who you might think (or at least, how you might think).
The elder identifies Him not as Jesus, but instead uses two other critical titles: the Lion of the tribe of Judah and the Root of David. Why do these titles matter? These titles signify Him not as One who is worthy as fully God, but as One who has the capacity to rule and lead because He prevailed as a Jewish man. In the vision John sees Him as a slain Lamb anointed by the Holy Spirit and understands immediately. He prevailed for this moment in His humanity. He loved and fought and died brutally, to rise again and stand victoriously - for this moment in time and eternity in which He would stand before His Father to receive something He had desired and longed and contended to win for quite some time: His inheritance of the nations. (Ps. 2:8) He will stand in that moment, not as the Second Person of the Trinity clothed in light as a garment, with a transcendent hand able to part the heavens like a curtain (Ps. 104:2). He will instead stand before His Father in that moment as a victorious Jewish man. He will be the same Jewish man that Daniel saw, so many thousands of years ago in Daniel 7:13-14, doing something unthinkable - approaching the Father!

He will be brought near by angels. He will stride into the very throne room of heaven at precisely the key moment (I realize that He is seated at the right hand of the Father living to make intercession for us...I just love the drama), or, to put it in John's terms, He will come and take the scroll right out of Him who sits on the throne. What a stunning moment this will be! What a glorious event! Imagine Daniel's shock - and the thrill that must have exploded in John's heart when he saw this! A human being - a Jewish man - will approach the Father at the key moment in history and take the scroll for Himself. The leadership of history will be His. For now, the next phase of history will begin. It will be time to open the seals that bind the scroll and begin the process of retaking the nations from their "un-rightful owner", Satan and his king. It will be time for Jesus to reveal for all to see the full measure of the beauty of His leadership, in a manner that will mark our hearts forever with love.