SECTION TWO VISION OF THE SEALED BOOK Revelation 5:1-14 1. THE LAMB WORTHY TO OPEN THE BOOK Revelation 5:1-7 1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back, close sealed with seven seals.--As the vision of chapter 4 shows God's power as Creator to bring to pass the things to be revealed, so the vision of chapter 5 shows Christ's power as Redeemer to reveal what things would come to pass. What John saw was God sitting upon the throne with a book in or lying upon his right hand. This changed view was for the purpose of giving proper praise to Christ as the only one able to make the revelation. This was in harmony with the statement already made. (See 1:1.) This book was not printed as ours are today, for there were no such books then, but it was a manuscript rolled as a scroll. (Jeremiah 36:2; Hebrews 10:7.) "Written within and on the back" probably means that it was written on both sides. "Close sealed" means that the edge of the roll was fastened down with a seal. Being rolled together and sealed indicates that the contents written could not be known till the seals were broken. Since the seals were opened in succession, and a vision appeared at the opening of each seal, the natural conclusion is that the roll was made up of sheets and when a seal was broken that sheet was unrolled and its writing seen. The book contained symbolic visions of what was to come to pass hence, revealed the destiny of the church and its enemies from that time till the end of the world. There is nothing said about the writing being read by the Lord when the seals were opened; in fact, it may have been only the symbols that were written. This may account for the fact that when a seal was opened there appeared before John the vision--living picture--not the reading of words. What John did was to put in words a description of the picture which he saw. Occasionally he tells what some feature of a vision means, but aside from that the visions are left without explanation. How their meaning may be determined will be discussed later. Seven sheets rolled together and sealed with seven seals probably indicate that the book contains a full revelation of the future history of the church. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?--The angel appeared as strong to harmonize with the fact that he proclaimed with a "great voice," as indicating perhaps that his question was to be heard by all intelligent creatures. This would put in bold relief the one who alone was worthy to open the seals. This means one whose rank and authority was such that God would grant him the privilege of revealing the future. 3 And no one in the heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look thereon.--The angel's question was a challenge to all creation. No one possessed either the ability or the moral worthiness to disclose the future hidden things. This inability belonged to all realms ; none of the angelic hosts in heaven, none of the nations of men on earth and none of the righteous dead in the intermediate state was able. This means that no creature in all God's universe could perform this solemn task. 4 And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look thereon:--To open the book meant to break the seals and to look thereon meant to see and describe the symbols that were written in it. When no one came forward to open the book, John was so affected that he wept much. Apparently the promise made in 4:1 that he was to be shown. things "which must come to pass hereafter" would fail. Being in exile and deeply concerned about the future of the churches, he was moved to tears because no one was ready to make the coveted disclosures. His sorrow and distress are no surprise, when we consider his love and sacrifices for the churches. Men and women yet claim to reveal the secrets written in the book of the future by some mysterious power or by communicating with the dead, but this vision is proof that the future belongs to God. All the revelations he wants us to have are now recorded in the Bible. 5 and one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book and the seven seals thereof.--Regarding the elders, see notes on Revelation 4:4. The text gives no reason why one of the elders rather than some other heavenly being spoke this message to John. This instructing the apostle by one of the elders shows that they were a class of heavenly worshipers. Christ's overcoming Satan and death is the reason for his exaltation to God's right hand (Philippians 2:7-11), and for "angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him" (1 Peter 3:22.) The elders here mentioned being in heaven would know of his exaltation and power; hence, could appropriately speak the comforting words to John. That this language refers to Christ is unquestionable, and the descriptions used show in a vivid way his worthiness to open the book. Jesus was of the tribe of Judah (Hebrews 7:14), and calling him a Lion is probably in reference to Genesis 49:9. The lion, as king of the forests, was a fitting symbol of Christ endowed with royal authority--a ruler exercising over angels in heaven, men on earth, and the spirits of the departed in Hades. The Root of David means a descendant of David--one whose lineage gave him, the right to exercise this royal authority. Being endowed with this authority because of his victory, he was the only one worthy and able to show John the future struggles and triumphs of the church. 6 And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth.--Here a change is made in the scene--a Lamb appears in the midst of the group composed of God, the living creatures, the twenty-four elders, and the strong angel. The Lamb was standing, which indicated it was alive, though it bore marks of having been slain. Since John had probably heard John the Baptist declare Jesus to be the "Lamb of God" (John 1:36), and had witnessed his crucifixion, he knew, of course, that what he saw in heaven was a symbol of Christ. The lamb was a type of innocence and sacrifice; Jesus was both manifested in highest form. The further description of the Lamb shows Jesus to be the proper one to open the book. He had "seven horns, and seven eyes." It is generally understood that the number "seven" signifies perfection. John explains that the seven eyes represent the "seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth." The "seven Spirits" probably refers to the Holy Spirit. See notes on l:4. As the eyes see all natural objects that come within the range of vision, they are appropriate symbols to represent the Holy Spirit's power to see and know what facts should be revealed. The disclosures therefore to be made would be perfect. The use of the word "horn" in the Bible indicates that it is a symbol of power, as the following passages show Deuteronomy 33:17; 1 Kings 22:1 Jeremiah 48:25; Zechariah 1:18; Luke 1:69. Seven horns mean perfect power to do what was necessary. In this part of the vision John was shown that whatsoever things that would appear in the symbols to follow were sure to come. to pass; for there would be sufficient power to accomplish what was predicted. This must have been great encouragement to the then suffering congregations to be faithful to God in spite of any trial. 7 And he came, and he taketh it out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne.---The one here called "a Lamb" is represented as taking the book out of the hand of the one who sat upon the throne. This means that Christ received the authority of the Father to open the book--make the revelations it contained. But scholars have asked this puzzling question Did John see the form of a lamb? If so, how could a real lamb be represented as taking a book out of the hand of the one on the throne? Some answer by supposing that the vision may have been changed just at this point from the image of a lamb to that of a man. The text does not so indicate. Others suggest that the word "Lamb" may be used figuratively, as in John 1:29, to describe the characteristics of Christ, but the real appearance was of some heavenly being in the form of man. When we speak of the "Lamb of God" now, we never visualize a real lamb, but only transfer the lamb characteristics to Christ. Then we should remember that human beings are probably unable to understand fully heavenly representations. The essential point here made is that Christ only was able to make the revelations of future events.