In the previous two chapters John had described what he saw in heaven. He had seen the Lord God Almighty on his throne with living creatures and elders praising him unceasingly. Then he witnessed the Lamb (= Jesus Christ) take the sealed scroll out of God’s hand and every creature everywhere throughout God’s creation sing up the worthiness of the Lamb. Now that the Lamb has the scroll in his hands, he may begin to open its seven seals. As he does so, John will see details of what must take place after this (as the voice had declared in Revelation 4:1).