“And I saw.” John is in the spirit, taken up into the heavenly throne room (4:2). In the center of that throne room, God sits on His throne. He holds a book, inscribed on both sides, in his hand. But then John’s attention is asked for by a strong angel. We read in verse 2, “And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” The angel that John sees in the heavenly throne room is crying out with a great voice. The angel is strong and his voice is loud because what he is about to say must echo throughout all creation. We read in verse 3 that his words sound, “In heaven, on the earth and under the earth.” This is the familiar tripartite division that we find more often in the Bible, referring to the entire universe, nothing excepted. Apparently, every creature, wherever it is, needs to hear what this angel is speaking. So, what is heard everywhere? “Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” We know that the scroll contains “things which must be hereafter.” (4:1). The angel is looking for someone who is worthy, who is therefore able and qualified, to go and carry out God's plan. To take that plan to himself and then take it in hand. We understand that the one who does this must possess divine power, be completely righteous and holy, but also completely faithful and full of love to God who sits on the throne. Poignant how in a long series of negative terms it is described that no one can do this. Verse 3, “No one in heaven; Nor on the earth; Nor under the earth; Who can open, nor see into.” Verse 4, “No one is found; To open, read nor see into.” The conclusion is clear: no one is able to take God's plan in hand. We are reminded of Psalm 24:3-4: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Who among us is capable of that? None of us. How deep is our fall! We remember our creation, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” (Genesis 1:26). We were made kings under God to rule this earth. But we can no longer do that. How understandable it is that we read, “And John wept much.” (verse 4) Do we weep over our sins and the consequences of our sins? That we cannot fulfil God’s plan nor even look into it?