In the book of Revelation, John sees a vision of a scroll (document) in the right hand of God. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals (Revelation 5:1). But no one in heaven or on earth or the underworld was able to open the scroll and read it. Then John began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it. But what kind of document is God holding in His right hand? John’s intense sorrow reveals that this scroll must hold great significance, or carry a purpose so vital that its inability to be opened caused him deep distress..
The Significance of the Sealed Scroll
In ancient times, sealed scrolls were used for legal and royal decrees such as wills, testaments of inheritance, land ownership records, or covenant agreements. A sealed document could only be opened by someone with the proper authority.
In other words, the scroll contains God’s divine will, His ultimate plan for history, and His redemptive plan that has been in motion since the very beginning. It is God’s complete plan to defeat evil, bring justice, restore creation, establish His eternal reign, and bring eternal life and eternal joy for those who belong to God. You might wonder, how do we know this?
Well, it is evident from the context of the passage. The unfolding of the seals throughout Revelation demonstrates the progression of God’s judgment, justice, the defeat of evil, the restoration of creation, and the establishment of His eternal reign. The scroll’s contents, revealed progressively as the seals are broken, align with God’s ultimate purpose: the defeat of sin and evil, the establishment of His kingdom, and the promise of eternal life and joy for His followers.
According to John, no one in heaven or earth was found worthy to open the scroll—except for the Lamb who was slain (Jesus). The fact that only Jesus can break the seals emphasizes that He alone has the power to execute God’s ultimate plan for history. As Jesus breaks the seals, He initiates a sequence of events meant to dismantle the kingdoms of this world and ultimately pave the way for the establishment of God’s kingdom.
John notes that the scroll was written on both sides, an uncommon detail. In the ancient world, most scrolls were written on one side. A scroll written on both sides suggests it is full and complete, leaving nothing out.
A Kingdom Lost and a Kingdom Restored
To understand the scroll, we must go back to the beginning. God established His kingdom on earth in Genesis 1, where Adam and Eve were created to represent God, and given dominion to rule over creation in perfect harmony with God. They lived in perfect fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden, which was essentially the first “Kingdom of God” on earth—a place where God and humanity lived in perfect harmony. However, through sin, that relationship was severed, and humanity lost access to God, Eden, and all the blessings that came with it. As a result, the world became plagued by corruption and suffering. Satan took on the role of the “ruler of this world” (John 12:31, 2 Corinthians 4:4), and sin, death, and decay entered creation. The earth, once a place where God and humanity were united under His rule, became a broken world in dare need of restoration.
The overarching story of the Bible is all about God’s work to bring back what was lost in Eden. The scroll in Revelation represents God’s plan to fully reclaim His creation from sin and Satan’s rule. Only Jesus, the Lamb of God, can break the seals because He alone has paid the price for redemption.
From Genesis to Revelation: A Full Circle Restoration
The Bible begins with Genesis 1:1-2, where God creates the heavens and the earth. There is darkness over the deep, yet God’s Spirit hovers, bringing order from chaos. The Bible ends in Revelation 21:1-3 with a new heaven and a new earth, where God dwells with His people. The curse of sin is reversed, and God’s kingdom is fully restored—just as it was in Eden.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away… And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.’” (Revelation 21:1-3)
From the very first moments of creation to the final restoration, the Bible tells one unified story—a story of God’s faithfulness, justice, love, and the renewal of creation, with humanity at the heart of His eternal kingdom..
Aligning with God’s Plan
If God has a sovereign plan for history, the most important question is: Are we aligned with it? The opening of the scroll means the fulfillment of God’s justice and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. To ignore this reality is to risk standing outside of God’s plan. But to align with Him—through faith in Jesus—is to become a citizen of His kingdom.
Jesus, the only one worthy to open the scroll, calls us to be part of what He is doing in history. His kingdom is not just something we wait for—it is something we enter now through faith and obedience. Those who follow Him will reign with Him when the new creation and the new humanity or Homo Novus, as I call it, are revealed.
