Who Can Open and Read the Scroll?

¹Then I saw that the one who was sitting on the throne was holding a scroll in his right hand. The scroll had writing on both sides, and it was sealed with seven seals.

²I saw a mighty angel calling out in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”

³But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll and read what it said.

⁴I cried and cried because no one could be found who was worthy to open the scroll and read it.

⁵But one of the elders said to me, “Don’t cry! The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has won the victory, and he is able to break the seven seals and open the scroll.”

⁶And then I saw, in the center of the area around the throne, surrounded by the four living creatures and the elders, a Lamb. He looked as if he had been put to death. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which stand for the seven spirits of God that are sent out into all the earth.

⁷The Lamb went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne.

⁸Then the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down in front of the Lamb. Each one had a harp, and they were holding golden bowls full of incense. These bowls stand for the prayers of God’s people.

⁹They sang a new song that said,

“You are worthy to take the scroll

and break open its seals,

because you were put to death,

and you bought people for God with your blood.

They come from every tribe, language, race, and nation.

¹⁰You’ve made one kingdom out of them,

and you’ve made them priests who will serve our God

and rule on the earth.”

¹¹Then I looked, and there were countless millions of angels surrounding the throne and the living creatures and the elders.

¹²They were all shouting together,

“The Lamb who was put to death is worthy

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!”

¹³Then I heard every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and in the ocean—the entire creation—speaking and saying,

“Praise and honor and glory and power belong

to the one who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

for ever and ever!”

¹⁴The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.