Oh, I begin to understand all right why John weeps. John is at the end of a long life. He has watched while all of his fellow apostles have gone to violent deaths, and he himself is exiled to Patmos. You see, if we think of history from a selfish point of view, we can hear Bill Bright say that God may have a wonderful plan for our lives, but apparently the premium may not be on our happiness. And what is the meaning of a church rent by divisions, where people who are less respectful of the Word of God advance politically.
Heretics get a hearing and are applauded, and faithful ministers are sneered at and caricatured.
Yes, now we can understand why we should weep. You can t decipher history, but there is one worthy to break the seals and reveal life s meaning. The Lion of Judah has prevailed to break the seals and open the scrolls. And John, at that moment, turns his tear-dimmed eyes, expecting to see a lion, but sees, instead, a stain lamb. The most meaningful dramatic event comes as the Lamb takes the scroll, and John hears a new song, an ode to the Lamb.