^5:3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it.

But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the SCROLL or even look inside it.

The rightful owner is the only one who could redeem the earth; since the Creator is the owner, only He could do it.

None of the redeemed in heaven could; they are part of the inheritance, Ephesians 1:7-8.

None of the unredeemed on earth could; they have sin and are not holy, Romans 3:10-12.

None under the earth could; they died in their SINS and are waiting for judgment (taking over the squatters), Romans 6:23.

Consider that if the scroll contains the judgments to come, it would be awful to look into. Releasing or removing the seven bands are symbolic of the processes by which the earth is purged of SIN and evil.

The heaven must have been silent under the weight of the question...this looks like a hopeless situation, so,