THE SEVEN SEALED SCROLL
“Who is worthy to open the sealed scroll?”
REVELATION CHAPTER 5
Scroll with
Seven
Seals
Scroll
”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 12:8-10)
Daniel 12:10-11 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. 7:4-8) and seeing the hand of God in the
judgments He sends on the earth. (Rev. 7:9-10)
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.
"Who is worthy to open the
book, and loose the seals
thereof?" (Rev. 5:2)
“And no man in heaven, nor in earth,
neither under the earth, was able to open
the book, neither to look thereon.”
(Revelation 5:3)
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 18:28,33;
19:9)
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 5:5)
Revelation 5:5 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.
There are two words translated in the New
Testament “lamb.” The word “amnos” is used by John in
John 1:29-29. The word stresses Jesus Christ as the
sacrificial lamb which God provides for nation of Israel.
(See Gen. 22:8, Exod. 12:5, 1 Cor. 12:5) 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 Christ’s 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.
Another interesting word is the Greek
word for "slain, " which is "sphatts." It
refers to a violent death. It is used in 1
John 3:11-12, 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.
. "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 118:22-24).
“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 5:7-8)
Note that in the Bible only once in Job 38:7 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
5:9-10)
“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 5:11-12)
“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 5:13-14)