Is anyone in charge here? In the face of war in Ukraine and Gaza, of chaos in Congress and violence in American streets, this is not a rhetorical question. And as American culture continues its collapse into ever more perverse forms of immorality, even Christians may be tempted to look for a strong leader to take control and make everyone behave.

But today’s passage reminds us that there is already Someone Who is very much in charge, not only of the Church but of the whole world. As verse 12 points out, Jesus alone is able to take the book of history and open it. He alone is worthy “to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

But why is He worthy? Why is He able? It’s not just because He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the descendant of David that God promised would rule over all the world (v. 5; cf. II Samuel 7:13). And it’s not even because He is the Root of David, the One through whom all human beings have come into existence (see Colossians 1:16). In other words, it’s not Jesus’ awesome power, a complete and perfect power symbolized by His seven horns (v. 6) that gives Him the right to tell everyone else what to do.

No, as everyone in Heaven agrees, the reason that Jesus is worthy to open the book of history is because He is the slain Lamb of God (vv. 6, 9). The reason He will be in charge of the judgment of everyone who has ever lived is because He has shed His blood in order to ransom His people from that very judgment.

So no, we don’t need a strongman to bully everyone else into behaving: we already have a King Who rules over heaven and earth. And instead of stealing an election or staging a coup to seize power, He sets the ultimate example for us of a servant leader, of a humble Lord Who puts His people first, of One Who dies so that we might live.

So, it really doesn’t matter how bad things may become before Jesus comes again. We can trust the slain and risen Lamb to care for His people, and to judge the world with perfect justice.

Revelation 5:1-14 (NASB)

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.
2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?”
3 And no one in heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look into it.
4 And I began to weep greatly, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look into it;
5 and one of the elders said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals.”
6 And I saw between the throne (with the four living creatures) and the elders a Lamb standing, as if slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent out into all the earth.
7 And He came, and He took it out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
8 And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, having each one a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy art Thou to take the book, and to break its seals; for Thou wast slain, and didst purchase for God with Thy blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.
10 “And Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”
11 And I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,
12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”
14 And the four living creatures kept saying, “Amen.” And the elders fell down and worshiped.