What does Revelation 5:4 mean?

And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. Revelation 5:4

Explanation

Revelation 5:4 depicts a scene of profound sorrow experienced by the Apostle John, the presumed author of the Book of Revelation. In his vision, he sees a scroll in the right hand of one seated on the throne, sealed with seven seals, which no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth is worthy to open or to look inside. The scroll is said to contain the divine plan for the world’s conclusion, bringing about judgment and the establishment of God’s kingdom on Earth. John’s weeping reflects the sense of desperate anticipation and yearning for the revelation of God’s final plan and the recognition of human unworthiness in the presence of divine secrets.

Historical Context

The Book of Revelation, also known as the Apocalypse, was written in the late first century CE, a time of great persecution for Christians under the Roman Empire. This context is reflected in the book’s themes of hope, divine justice, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil. The literary genre of the book is apocalyptic, which is characterized by symbolic imagery and the revelation of hidden truths, often through visions. The seven-sealed scroll is a key apocalyptic motif, its opening symbolizing the unfolding of eschatological events.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this verse encapsulates the tension between divine sovereignty and human limitation. Different Christian traditions interpret the scroll and its opening differently:

• Evangelical View: The scroll’s seals represent a timeline of end-time events that will unfold as they are broken. The weeping signifies the longing for God’s redemptive plan to be unveiled.
• Catholic View: There’s an emphasis on the liturgical and communal understanding of Revelation. The tears of John represent the penitential sorrow and communal yearning for God’s salvation.
• Eastern Orthodox View: John’s weeping is seen in light of theosis, the process of becoming one with God; the sorrow here comes from a longing for a more profound union with the divine, which is obstructed by human unworthiness.

Practical Applications

Revelation 5:4 encourages believers to:

• Recognize human limitations and the need for humility before the divine mysteries.
• Long for the revelation of God’s justice and for understanding His plan.
• Find solace in God’s sovereignty and trust that He will fulfill His promises in His own time.
• Maintain hope and patience during times of suffering and uncertainty.

Cross-References

• Revelation 5:1-3: “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.”
• Daniel 12:9: “And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”
• Isaiah 29:11: “And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed…”

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the phrase “And I wept much” is translated from “καὶ ἔκλαιον πολύ” (kai eklaiōn poly), where “ἔκλαιον” (eklaiōn) is the imperfect tense of “κλαίω” (klaio), meaning “I weep” or “I cry,” indicating continuous action in the past. The word “πολύ” (poly) intensifies the weeping, suggesting a deep, profound sorrow. The term “worthy” is translated from “ἄξιος” (axios), which means deserving or suitable, implying a moral and spiritual qualification to undertake a significant task.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The idea of sealed books or scrolls is not unique to Christianity. For instance, in various cultures, sealed documents signify hidden knowledge or authority held by deities or rulers.

• In some strands of Judaism, it is believed that mysteries are sealed until the end times, similar to the sealed scroll of Revelation.
• In Mesopotamian myths, tablets of destinies contain the fates of all, and whoever possesses them holds supreme authority, much like the scroll in Revelation symbolizes God’s ultimate plan.

Scientific Perspectives

The verse does not directly touch on scientific perspectives as it pertains to spiritual and divine revelation. However, modern psychology might interpret John’s weeping as an emotional response to the magnitude of the situation, reflecting a deep human longing for understanding and meaning, which is universal regardless of cultural or religious background.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have provided their commentaries on this verse:

• Matthew Henry’s Commentary emphasizes John’s grief as a natural reaction to the possibility of the scroll’s contents remaining hidden and God’s purposes unfulfilled.
• The Expositor’s Bible Commentary points out John’s tears reflect the anguish that must be felt by the whole creation, awaiting redemption and the completion of God’s plan.
• The New International Commentary on the New Testament suggests that John’s weeping indicates an intense emotional response to the anticipation of the end times and the disclosure of God’s salvific history.