For the mystery of lawlessness already works. Only there is one who restrains now, until he is taken out of the way.
And so from chapter four, John is now viewing the things that are happening on the earth from the heavenly viewpoint. He looks down as the seals are open in heaven. He looks down and sees the corresponding judgments upon the earth. But before this scroll is open, he first of all introduces the scroll in Chapter five, with writing both inside and outside, sealed with seven seals. And he hears the angel proclaiming with a strong voice, "Who is worthy to take the scroll and loose the seals" ( Revelation 5:9 ). The scroll being the title deed to the earth, which Jesus died to redeem back to God.