Revelation 5:4

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

This is a continuation of the second vision and again presents the majesty of God together with His eternal love. A new incident is introduced: And I saw on the right hand of Him that was sitting on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Not in the clenched hand, but on the open hand of the Lord there lay a scroll, the form in which books were then produced, a long roll of parchment or of sheets of papyrus fastened together. The writing on this scroll covered not only the front, but also the reverse side. But the scroll was not open to be unrolled by any one that chose to do so, but it was sealed, and not only with one seal pressed upon the cord that was passed around the roll, but with seven distinct seals, secure against prying hands and eyes. This book contained the thoughts and works of God as they were to be executed among men, the divine course and counsel in the latter days.

The prophet now relates: And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll and to break its seals? All the good angels are powerful spirits, they excel in strength, Psalms 103:20. But here it is specifically stated that it was one of the mighty ones of Jehovah that stepped forth with his challenging cry, which was intended to penetrate through the universe and to reach every created being. He wanted to know which man on earth was able to unroll the scroll in the hand of the Lord, after breaking its seals. Only echo answered him: And no one in heaven, nor on earth, nor under the earth was able to open the scroll or have a look at it. No angel from the realms of heaven, no man nor any animal in all the wide world, none of the spirits of darkness, whose abode is commonly placed in the regions beneath the earth, was able to find out and to tell what God had planned in His secret counsels concerning events in the last days of the world. Satan is a mighty spirit and is able to perform many wicked deeds, but only if God permits it. There is no creature familiar with the counsels of the Lord, nor can any man uncover them. John misunderstood the meaning of this fact for a moment: And I wept abundantly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to take a look at it. He supposed that prophecy and revelation had ceased forever, that the Lord would never again make known His counsels to men. It was not disappointed curiosity, nor was it weakness of faith which caused the tears of the seer, but only his fervent love for the Church of Christ, which is often obliged to walk through so many dark valleys, with no light from the hills to show the way or to promise help. To this day it is not the weeping Christian that is objectionable to the Lord, but the indifferent church-member.