Is anyone in charge here? In the face of hurricanes and wildfires and mudslides, of chaos in Congress and violence in the 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 wealth 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 He 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 (ESV)

Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”
3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it,
4 and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it.
5 And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”
6 And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
7 And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne.
8 And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
9 And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”
14 And the four living creatures said, “Amen!” and the elders fell down and worshiped.