Revelation Chapter 5

VERSE 2 and 3 “Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals? AND NO ONE IN HEAVEN or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.”

“The Apostle was impressed with the strength of the angel—possibly because the angel possessed a Herculean figure, and a booming voice to correspond with the largeness of his stature and the solidness of his frame. Nevertheless, the angel’s loud proclamation “Who is worthy?” seems to be tinged with a note of pathos and a sense of futility that he, or any other being, could ever hope to merit the honor and the privilege of understanding the precious mystery held in the mighty Jehovah’s power.

This dramatic figure is introduced into the apocalyptic vision to accentuate in a striking manner the fact that, among the multitude of participants in the throne room scene, including John, none as yet were aware of anyone sufficiently worthy for the occasion. The angel may be a purely imaginary figure, an idealistic symbol, intended to personify that even the most promising candidate to aspire to such a task could entertain little or no hope in such an endeavor.

Although the explanation just given is preferred, there is an alternate interpretation of the meaning of the term “strong angel” that merits equal attention. It is that the angel represents the whole Law of God, that is, not merely the Ten Commandments written on tables of stone but the moral code of God in its entirety.

For example, we may be sure that when sin entered the Garden of Eden and man fell, the prior song of the angelic sons of God (Job 38:7) soon hushed and a deep sense of dismay and gloom pervaded the heavenly realm. Soon, however, their sadness was replaced with a laudable desire to help lift man up out of the quagmire of sin. Divine Providence foresaw the incapability of the angels to handle the situation but determined to alert them to their lack by affording them this opportunity. Their administration of the first age was tolerated, permission being granted to the holy angels to see what they could do.

What happened?

Many heavenly messengers themselves fell into sin through prolonged contact with the contaminated human race, thus visibly demonstrating the true axiom “evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor. 15:33). Several of the angelic host became inordinately enamored with the beauty of womanhood, the female sex being previously unknown and uncreated in the spiritual realm. “And they took them wives of all which they chose” (Gen. 6:2).

Since God did not act hastily either to prevent or to suppress their participation in this unauthorized action, many of the angels foolishly concluded He was powerless or disinterested in doing so. This assumption, in turn, emboldened them, and led to an increasing number of sons of disobedience who left their prior heavenly estate, preferring to settle here on earth. These are variously styled as fallen angels, unclean spirits, demons, devils, etc. Such were bound in chains of darkness at the time of the great flood (2 Pet. 2:4; Jude 6).

On the other hand, an encouraging factor in this time of trial and testing is that an even greater number of the angelic ministers of the first dispensation maintained their integrity and purity. As time progressed, they became proportionately disinclined to linger too long in their earthly ministrations, realizing their status as righteous agents could be compromised. They preferred instead to keep their heavenly habitation and to perform their services down here expeditiously.

Thus the fact remains that the holy angels, though imbued with great power and authority (Heb. 2:2), failed in their mission to uplift humanity; and therefore, in the world to come, in the third great dispensation or Messiah’s Kingdom, they will not be commissioned to be the agents of deliverance (Heb. 2:5). In spite of their earnest endeavors, history has demonstrated the declaration of the strong angel that “no man in heaven” up to that time, or subsequently up to the First Advent, was known to be worthy to “open the book” or break the seals thereof (Verse 3).

VERSE 2 and 3 “Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals? And no one in heaven OR ON THE EARTH OR UNDER THE EARTH was able to open the scroll, or to look at it.”

“The same unworthiness which was found in the angelic hosts would also be true with respect to fallen man, born and “shapen in iniquity” (Psa. 51:5). For such to perfectly obey the Law of God in the present life would be an utter impossibility. In view of the lack of success on the part of the holy angels, what chance of success would there be that a righteous man could be found—one who was worthy to open, reveal, or execute the undisclosed contents of the scroll?

Therefore, to the “strong angel”—whether it be a representation of God’s Law or the personification of the most promising imaginary candidate for such a role—the picture appeared bleak. The general lesson and pervading atmosphere of the dramatization remain the same: It is one of helplessness and futility in either instance.

In harmony with scriptural usage elsewhere, the words “heaven” and “earth” might be interpreted in terms of earthly society—that among those in positions of religious or civic leadership (“in heaven”); or among those who are governed (“in earth”), either the public at large in civilian life or those congregated under ecclesiastical control; or among the illustrious dead, both great and small (“under the earth”); no one worthy of such honor had yet been found or recognized.

However, the breadth and the depth and the significance of the vision seem to require a more comprehensive interpretation. “Heaven” refers to God’s heaven and the heavenly host of angels above; “earth,” the habitable earth and its occupants here below; “under the earth,” the buried dead in the earth.

That no one worthy could be found among the living or the dead of a sin-sick race comes as no surprise, but what about those living in the sinless realm above? Apparently, the virtue and merit of the holy angels, who did not sin either prior to or since the Flood, do not sufficiently qualify them for this privilege. Their goodness consists primarily in passive obedience and restraint from evil.

What about Michael the archangel, the Logos, namely Jesus, in his preexistent state before coming to earth in the likeness of man—was he not worthy?

Yes, he was, but only the Father knew the sterling character and superlative worth of His only begotten Son. Others perceived not the depth of loyalty, the hidden grace, and the potential strength of the Master. Although the angels had witnessed his devotion to his Father and his zealous interest in his Father’s every act, such enthusiasm had been exhibited under conditions most favorable to himself and had not entailed any suffering, dishonor, or sacrifice on his part. Already, as the most highly favored among the sons of God, he had been showered with honor and authority. Probably all, or most, of those beholding the actions of the Son reasoned that under the same circumstances they would likewise prosper and compare favorably to his example. Moreover, the angels would have attributed his previously exalted station as the Logos to parental favor— to the partiality of the Father—which would have been entirely proper irrespective of the fact that family relationship is a prerogative of the divine office (2 Tim. 2:20). Little did the angels then realize the residual worth of Jesus’ character.” (The Keys of Revelation)

We will continue unto Verse 4 in our next post.