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Book of Seven Seals
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nd I saw in the right
hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside,
sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud
voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no
man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the
book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found
worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 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. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four
beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain,
having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent
forth into all the earth. (Rev 5:1-6)
The
apostle John’s vision of the Heavenly Sanctuary continues in today’s selection
from Chapter 5 – “I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a
book.” This is the Book that completes the full Revelation of
God. It is held in His Right Hand of Authority - the same hand with which
witnesses who testify in courts of law seal their testimony, or take an oath of
allegiance. This Book was “written within and on the backside.” Here we
have further evidence of its completeness. Note that portions of the Book are
sealed with one of seven seals. Before it can be understood, one of the seals
must be removed. But subsequent books will remain sealed until unsealed. This
is God’s manner of revelation – He reveals only that which we are able and
privileged to know sequentially.
The matter of completeness is reinforced at the end
of this Book: “18 For I
testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If
any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that
are written in this book: 19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this
prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the
holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Rev 22:18-19) In this
last passage is a dire warning to those who heretically tamper with the Word of
God to remove entire passages and change meanings for profit in publishing
counterfeit new Bible versions. I feel my understanding inadequate to explain
the mysteries of the Bible, but I do pray the guidance of the Holy Ghost to be
my Strong Tower in doing so – a Tower that lifts my soul above the mundane
matters of this world, and which will enable me to see spiritual truths at a
distance.
“And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud
voice.” This is
no ordinary Angel of the common fare of Heaven, but a STRONG Angel – possibly
of the caliber of the Archangel Gabriel or Michael. He is comparable to the
mighty angel of chapter 10: “And I saw another mighty angel come down from
heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and
his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: And
he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea,
and his left foot on the earth, And cried with a loud
voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders
uttered their voices.” (Rev 10:1-3)
If
the words of the Angel were of little significance, such a mighty Messenger
would not have been required, He had an important message! “Who is worthy to
open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?” Of course, no man –
minister, laity, or scholar - on earth is worthy to loose the seals of that Book
– only the Lord. “And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the
earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.” To their
spiritual ruin and damnation, many men today presume to know more of what our
Lord intended than He knew Himself. The Higher Critics have given us only
doubt, confusion and an altered perception of God’s Word as revealed in the
greater number of Bible manuscripts. Their ultimate goal is to render the Lord
Jesus Christ as a mere man like unto the rest of us. Not only do they not
understand the Word of God, but they care little for it as well.
Man,
left to himself, is powerless to know God. He is already dead in trespasses and
sins (Ephesians 2). The soul must be made alive (quickened) by the efficacious
ministry of the Holy Ghost to make him both alive and to know God. He cannot
understand Holy Scripture without the counsel of that Holy Ghost removing the
scales from his eyes long subject to the darkness of the depths of the sea. His
tears of sorrow will not avail to know God: “And I wept much, because no man
was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.” No
man was worthy then, and no man is worthy today. John was promised ob being
shown things which must surely come hereafter, yet he cannot understand the
sealed books. He wept at his own frustration. Should we not also be moved with
sorrow at our own lack of understanding, and seek to know more?
What
would we do without the Lord Jesus Christ as our hope, Master, Savior and
Redeemer? Would we not be without any hope whatsoever? He is able to perform
all things for our good; and He, indeed, has done so! “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.”
(Rev 5:5) His sacrificial death in our stead opens every
spiritual mystery in due course. “For when we were yet without strength, in
due time Christ died for the ungodly.” (Romans 5:6) Without His coming to pay our sin debt, we were weak and defenseless;
and our understanding shrouded in darkness and unbelief. He is the Lion of
Judah – Simba-wah-Yudah – as the Kenyan church calls our Lord. He
died for us in DUE time – not before the time of greatest need; or too late in
time to have maximum benefit for us – but in DUE time. One of the elders (or
fathers of the ancient Church – either Old or New) counsels John, and us, not
to weep for nothing is lost to the Elect of God. Not only is Christ accounted,
in genealogical tables of legal descent, the Son of David, He is also the Root
and Predecessor of David from which David derived his living and power.
Here
is the summation of the whole matter: “6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the
midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders,
stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are
the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” Our Lord Jesus
Christ is that Lamb that was slain as our Passover at Golgotha’s stony brow.
His death ripped the Temple Veil that separated the believer from the Holiest
of Holies (God) from top to bottom. No longer would we need a High Priest to
intercede before the Throne of Mercy on our behalf because our Lord Jesus
Christ has become our High Priest. We need no other intercessor – neither
saint, nor angel, nor clergy – to intercede on our behalf.
Remember the Seven Golden Candlesticks and Seven
Stars of Revelation 1? Here we have another illustration of the Seven Spirits
of God. He yet bears the marks of His sacrifice in Heaven perhaps making Him
the only Person with marks of wounds in Heaven. “And I beheld, and, lo, in
the midst of the throne.” The position we consider Christ to hold in the
Kingdom of God is important for us to know Him, God the Father, and God the
Holy Ghost. Where is Christ in relationship to that Throne of God? He is in the
“MIDST” of the Throne. He is the central Person of the Godhead, and He is
forever in the presence of the Father and Holy Ghost. But even more amazing is
the fact that so illustrious a Personage is also in the midst of His people –
the Church. He was in the midst of the scholars in the Temple at twelve years
age; He was in the midst of Israel during His earthly ministry (see Acts 2:22); He was in the midst of His disciples after the
resurrection (see John
20:19): He was in the midst of the
transgressors (you and me) on the Cross at Calvary (John 19:18); and He is now and forever in the midst of those
who are called by His Name (Matthew 18:20).
It is to be devoutly desired the Lord Jesus Christ is in the midst of our
hearts; in the midst of our marriages; in the midst of our families; in the
midst of our nation; and in the midst of our Nation.
Is He in the midst of all that you consider
important and enduring?
