The Seven-sealed Scroll

My last message - "The Rapture and the Throne of God" ends with heavenly worship of the now glorified Church. We are now going to study Revelation 5 where the scene changes from heavenly worship to the preparation for the Great Tribulation and the judgment of God.

The importance of the seven-sealed scroll (Rev. 5:1, 2)

"And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?' And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it" (Rev. 5:1 -3, NKJV).

John was still in heaven and beside God's Throne at the opening of Revelation 5. He saw a scroll in God's right hand that was sealed seven times with writing on both sides. Whatever this scroll was, there was no doubt that it was important. We can guess the importance of the sealed scroll from the way its need to be opened was proclaimed and from John's weeping (Rev. 5:4) because there was no one worthy to do the job.

John also saw a "strong angel." What made this angel appear to be stong is not revealed, but he had the authority to speak in the presence of God. We do not know who this angel is, but because the name "Gabriel" means "strength of God" in Greek, some believe he is indeed the archangel Gabriel.

This scroll was a title-deed. In Old Testament times God gave this commandment to the children of Israel concerning the land they would possess in Canaan:

"The land shall not be sold permanently, for the land is Mine; for you are strangers and sojourners with Me. And in all the land of your possession you shall grant redemption of the land. If one of your brethren becomes poor, and has sold some of his possession, and if his redeeming relative comes to redeem it, then he may redeem what his brother sold" (Lev. 25:23 - 25).

If a person bought a piece of land from his neighbor, that land became his possession. However, if the closest relative of the original owner came and wanted to repurchase the land, the present owner had to accept that claim no matter how much he desired to keep the land. This law was called, "The redemption of the land."

The title-deed to ownership of this earth

What kind of scroll (title-deed) was the scroll in the Hand of God? It was the title to ownership of this earth. Before Adam fell into sin, God had given him dominion over, or control of, the earth. When sin came in, however, the earth was corrupted and became the dominion of the evil one. Satan was making a valid offer to Jesus in Luke 4:

"Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, 'All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours'" (Luke 4:5 - 7).

Adam had forfeited his dominion over the world to Satan, and in effect making a title-deed of this world before God. How was the Devil used his power? He instigates bloody wars; he foments robbery, abuse and murder. For this reason Paul said, "For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body" (Romans 8:22, 23).

Therefore if humanity was to have any hope, someone had to repurchase the earth.

Qualifications required to open the sealed scroll (Rev. 5:2 - 4).

The one who could open the scroll had to be a close kinsman to the original "owner" of the world. Thus, the one who would redeem the earth from the Devil had to be a human being. But, how could sinful people, descendants of Adam, be qualified for this job? In addition, whoever would redeem the earth would have to want to do it enough to pay the price.

Who then would have all these four conditions or qualifications - (1) A kinsman to human beings; (2) not a descendant of Adam; (3) able to redeem the earth; and (4) willing to pay the price? The person could not be found in heaven, for the angels are not close kinsmen to us. Nor could the person be found among ordinary, sinful mortals. And the person certainly wouldn't be found under the earth, where the Devil and evil spirits are, for they would be the last to desire to redeem the earth.

Thus, there was no one able to open the scroll and look at it, and John wept bitterly as he realized there was no hope for human beings on earth. He also wept over his own incompetence in that situation, because he, too, was a member of the fallen human race.

The Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David (Rev. 5:5 - 14)

A Lamb that was slain (Rev. 5:6)

While John ws thus weeping, one of the elders said to him: "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals" (Rev. 5:5).

Then John saw that in the midst of the Throne, the four beasts and the elders, stood a Lamb. Jesus appeared not as the Son of God but as a Lamb, the sacrifice for sin.

When Jesus walked upon this earth, John the Baptist introduced Him by saying, "Behold! The lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29)! When the John of Revelation saw Him in heaven, he described Jesus as a Lamb that looked as if it had been slain. Jesus is our sacrificial Lamb.

Peter said Christians are redeemed "with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot" (1 Peter 1:19).

Jesus looked like He had been killed, but He was not lying on an altar, in bed, or in a casket. He was standing in the center of the Throne, surrounded by the four living creatures and twenty-four elders (Rev. 5:6).

Seven horns and seven eyes (Rev. 5:6)

Seven is the number of perfection in the Bible, and horns are symbols of power. Seven horns means that Jesus had ominipotent, perfect power. He may have looked like a little lamb, but He had all the power of God.

The seven eyes are defied as the seven Spirits of God - "The Spirit of the Lord shall be upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord" (Isaiah 11:2).

The Lion of the tribe of Judah (Rev. 5:5 - 7)

As the Lion of the tribe of Judah, Jesus met all four conditions for redeeming the earth:

1. To be a close kinsman of human beings (one of us), He left His Throne in heaven and became a man, born of the young woman Mary in Bethlehem.

2. In order to avoid being a sin-tainted descendant of Adam, He was supernaturally conceived and born of a virgin. Therefore, Jesus was free from the original sin of Adam and lived a perfect life.

3. Able to redeem the earth by virtue of His sinlessness. It freed Him to take the punishment we deserved for our sins upon Himself (read Romans 5).

4. He wanted to redeem the eath. For all His ability, if Jesus had not wanted to redeem us enough to go to the cross, we would have remained in sin. Yet He voluntarily gave up His life for us. And thus did He rightfully take the title-deed of the earth from the Hand of God.

When Jesus received the scroll, His identification as the Lion of the tribe of Judah symbolized His reign as the King of kings.


From Lamb to Lion (Rev. 5:7, 8)


Keep in mind that John was seeing those things that will take place after the Church is raptured. The Rapture is a very significant event because it marks a distinct change in the way Jesus deals with mankind. Up until now He has dealt with us as a lamb, but from this point on through the Great Tribulation period, He will deal with those who are left behind as a lion.


John watched as Jesus took the scroll from the right hand of God. All creation has waited almost six thousand years for this pivotal moment. Adam lost the title-deed to earth for all mankind, but Jesus has proven Himself a worthy redeemer and will get the deed back.


When Jesus took the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down and worshiped Him each with a harp and a golden bowl. The harps are musical instruments that will accompany the singing in heaven. The "golden bowls full of incense" (Rev. 5:8) are the prayers of the saints. Notice that in Scripture, incense always speaks of prayers of the saints.


The psalmist said; "Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands a the evening sacrifice" (Psalm 141:2).


Who and what will we be praying for in heaven? We will be praying for our loved ones on earth who are being persecuted. We will pray for the defeat of the "satanic trinity," and we will pray for the Second Coming and the subsequent reign of Jesus.


The Godhead is thought of as - The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Satan seems to try to duplicate that with his own trinity called the "satanic trinity." Satan tries to replace God, the Antichrist tries to replace Christ, and the false prophet tries to replace the Holy Spirit. Satan will indwell the Antichrist and the false prophet, so they will be pure evil. When the Antichrist supposedly dies and is resurrected some think he will come back to life because Satan has possessed his body.


The three songs in heaven


A new song - the song of redeemed saints (Rev. 5:9, 10)


The four living creature and the twenty-four elders sang a new song with a new form of praise. Their song speaks of what He has already done. It tells why Jesus is worthy to take the scroll and open the seals.


Jesus is worthy because He was slain on the cross of Calvary (Isaiah 53:4 - 6). Jessus is worthy because with His blood He purchased our sins. He paid the price of our redemption (1 Peter 1:18, 19). Jesus is worthy because He is no respector of persons. He died for the sins of all the world (John 3:16). Jesus is worthy because He made us a royal priesthood to serve and reign with Him (1 Peter 2:9; 2 Tim 2:12).


The song of the angels (Rev. 5:11, 12).


Next comes the song of the angels. First notice their position: "Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, ..." (Rev. 5:11). The redeemed saints are sitting on the Throne; the hosts of angels are standing. As angels were created to serve the redeemed saints (read Heb. 1:14), there is a distinction between the two. They praised Jesus thus: "Worthy is the Lamb who was lain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing" (Rev. 5:12)!


Since angels have never fallen and were made for a different purpose, their song does not refer to the precious blood of the Lamb, or being purchase or becoming priests. Their song simply a song of praise.


The song of all creatures (Rev. 5:13, 14)


All creatures include creature which are in heaven and on earth and under the earth and such as are in the sea (Rev. 5:13).


Following the song of the angels, all creatures sing thus: "Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever" (Rev. 5:14)!


When all these hymns are ended, the four living creatures respond with "Amen," and the twenty-four elders bow down and worship.


It seems to me that the most beautiful song of the three is the "new song" or the song of the redeemed saints. Isn't God's divine grace wonderful? We are the ones who rebelled against Him and consequently received the greatest love and destiny from God. Part of our response should be beautiful songs of praise to God, and He delights to hear them. That is the reason we need to praise Him regularly in our Church services and prayer meetings.


Thus, the preparation for God to reclaim the earth will be completed. As soon as our Lord opens the seals of the scroll, the curtain on the stage of the Great Tribulation will finally be drawn up. This will be my next messages.