Revelation chapter 5

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Revelation chapter 5

• THE SEVEN SEALED SCROLL
• Who is worthy to open the sealed scroll?

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Scroll with Seven Seals
Scroll
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And I heard, but I understood not then said I,
O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
And he said, Go thy way, Daniel for the words
are closed up and sealed till the time of the
end. Many shall be purified, and made white, and
tried but the wicked shall do wickedly and none
of the wicked shall understand but the wise
shall understand. (Daniel 128-10)
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Daniel 1210-11 reveals the two fold response of
the people living during the events of the
Tribulation 1. Large numbers of people will
be saved including the Jews who receive the
witness of the 144,000 (Rev. 74-8) and seeing
the hand of God in the judgments He sends on the
earth. (Rev. 79-10) 2. Large numbers of
people will reject the Lord, following the
Antichrist and the false prophet. These people
will grow increasing evil as the seven years
unfold.
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"Who is worthy to open the book, and loose the
seals thereof?" (Rev. 52)
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither
under the earth, was able to open the book,
neither to look thereon. (Revelation 53)
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In the ancient Roman world, a will (a Praetorian
Testament) was sealed with the seals of seven
witnesses to attest to the validity of the will.
(Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities,
edited By William Smith, LL. D., Second Edition,
Boston, Little, Brown, Company, 1870)
A praetor was a Roman magistrate, a judge. When
Jesus was examined by Pilate this was done in the
praetorium or judgment hall (John 1828,33 199)
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This scroll could only be opened by the Praetor
who is the mediator. Only Jesus Christ could
open the seals because He is the Mediator of the
New Covenant.
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not
behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root
of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to
loose the seven seals thereof. (Revelation 55)
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Revelation 55 describes Jesus as a Lion. John
looks and behold he does not see a lion, but a
Lamb which had been slain.
Jesus is described as having seven horns and
seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God.
The seven Spirits are the seven Spirits that
God has sent forth into all the earth. This
represents the seven fold ministry of the Holy
Spirit.
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There are two words translated in the New
Testament lamb. The word amnos is used by
John in John 129-29. The word stresses Jesus
Christ as the sacrificial lamb which God provides
for nation of Israel. (See Gen. 228, Exod. 125,
1 Cor. 125) In the New Testament there are two
Greek words for lamb. One is the word,
"amnos," meaning a lamb in general. The other
word is "arnion," pronounced "r-non" and is
symbolically to refer to Christs character and
His substitutional sacrifice for the sins of the
world and here of Israel. Jesus position of
being the sacrificial Lamb gives Him His
authority to offer redemption and judgment.
Thus in the Tribulation Jesus is offering both
salvation and judgment.
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Another interesting word is the Greek word for
"slain, " which is "sphatts." It refers to a
violent death. It is used in 1 John 311-12,
describing how Cain slew his brother. Thus the
verse is telling us it was the innocent Lamb that
was rejected and brutally slain by Israel who is
the only worthy One to open the seals of the
book.
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. "The stone which the builders rejected is
become the head stone of the corner this is the
Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day which the Lord hath made we will
rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 11822-24).
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And he came and took the book out of the right
hand of him that sat upon the throne. And when he
had taken the book, the four beasts and four and
twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having
every one of them harps, and golden vials full of
odours, which are the prayers of saints.
(Revelation 57-8)
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Note that in the Bible only once in Job 387
are angels seen singing. The Scriptures also
never record angels as playing harps. Only men
on earth and here in heaven are men shown playing
harps.
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art
worthy to take the book, and to open the seals
thereof for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed
us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and
tongue, and people, and nation And hast made us
unto our God kings and priests and we shall
reign on the earth. (Revelation 59-10)
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And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many
angels round about the throne and the beasts and
the elders and the number of them was ten
thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of
thousands Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is
the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and
riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and
glory, and blessing. (Revelation 511-12)
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And every creature which is in heaven, and on
the earth, and under the earth, and such as are
in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I
saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and
power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four
beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders
fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever
and ever. (Revelation 513-14)