ESV Reformation Study Bible – Rev 5:1
Resources chevron-right ESV Reformation Study Bible chevron-right Revelation chevron-right Rev 5:1
Rev 5:1

5:1 scroll. The scroll might represent a number of things—God’s covenant, His law, His promises, His plans, or perhaps a legal will. The close parallel with Dan. 12:4 makes it likely that the scroll is a heavenly book containing God’s plan and the destiny of the world. The unsealing of the book implies the accomplishment of the things God has purposed. John weeps (v. 4) because he longs for God’s purposes to be accomplished (Matt. 6:10), and it is hard to see how that can happen. However, through Christ’s decisive sacrifice a whole host is redeemed (v. 9), and the purposes of the Exodus and of man’s original dominion are finally fulfilled (v. 10).