God on the throne has a scroll with seven seals on it.
The "seals" are focused on in later chapters, but as of now, I envision them as literal seals on a scroll. The common way to bind a letter for antiquity and the middle ages was to seal it in wax. Here's, the scroll is folded over and seven wax seals keep it shut.
No one in heaven is found worthy enough to open the scrolls. John cries at this news. John does not explain why. I speculate that he feels that the scroll represents the full salvation, destiny, or redemption of God for humanity, and no one is found worthy to implement it.
Suddenly, a slain Lamb appears who is worthy to open the scrolls. This of course is Christ. The angels praise the Lamb for being worthy of opening the scrolls. The identified reason for worth is because the Lamb sacrificed his blood to purchase men for God.
One additional note - there is an image of prayers of saints filling golden bowls of incense held by angels. This is an interesting picture of what a prayer is. Our prayers go to heaven and are incense held in golden bowls.
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