Posted on 04/03/2014 8:49:55 AM PDT by pastorbillrandles
And 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. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. (Revelation 5:1-4)
Revelation chapter Five is the continuation of John’s vision of the throne room of God. We proceed from the vision of the wonderful,terrible,Holy beasts and Elders singing the Ancient and everlasting Hymn to the Sovereign Creator of all things into the setting for the New Song.
The indescribable One sitting on the throne, whom John said was “like a Jasper”(diamond), and “like a Sardine stone”, (a blood-red Ruby), holds out in His hand a book, which is covered in writing, but sealed shut.
A mighty Angel issues a loud call for any person worthy to break the seals and open the book. The search is universal, is there any man in heaven, on earth or under the earth, past present or future, living or dead who is worthy enough to open this book?
The search includes all of the great men of the past, and present the saints; the benefactors, the moral and spiritual leaders, martyrs, philanthropists, spiritual and religious leaders, and none measures up, the conclusion is the same as in Romans…”There is none righteous, no not one, there is none that doeth good…”.
And John wept, inconsolably for there was no one found who was worthy to open the book. And in those inconsolable tears lie all of the disappointment, frustration, despair, hurt, wistfulness, vanity, loss, death and spiritual pain that ever befell the race because of sin.
If this book is not opened all is lost. If this book is not unsealed, then Hell and wrath are indeed the last words for man.If this Holy and August book is left shut, man is forever estranged from God, forever and ever.
This book is of the gravest importance and the inability to find one worthy to open it would be the worst tragedy ever, as evidenced by the Apostle’s inconsolable weeping. Furthermore it must needs be opened by a man, a human being. Obviously the man must be qualified to open it, he must be worthy. What is the meaning of the sealed book?
I believe the book is the Word of the salvation and final purposes of God to undo the curse of sin, it’s damning effects and its final destruction by the Judgment of God and the commencement of the New heavens and the New Earth.
It is a complete plan, and there is nothing man can add to or take away from it, as evidenced by the fact that the writing was on all sides , and in and out of it. There is nothing left open to chance, God has provided a Righteous plan to save man, and to save the universe from the effects of man’s sin, and all is of God.
However it cannot commence without the agency of a man. A man brought sin and death into the world, therefore in God’s economy, it must be a man who brings resurrection and life , and who executes Judgment on the earth. As it is written…
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.( I Cor 15:21-22)
But what man? Who is worthy to execute God’s saving purposes? We know the answer to that question, for in Jesus, God himself became a man, putting himself under the limitations of a man. As Paul tells us, “He emptied himself and took upon himself the form of a slave…”. Hallellujah for the man of God’s right hand!
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.(Revelation 5:5)
OOPs, it should be titled “The Sealed Book” My bad!
(You might like my own Nine Words That Changed the World.)
That was beautiful.Thanks!
Thank you.
Thanks!
You're quite welcome.
Keep up the Great Work!
“What is the meaning of the sealed book?”
I always guessed that it may be the “Book of Life”, containing the names of all those saved by God’s grace. That may amount to about the same meaning as your interpretation though.
I Believe it includes that but it has to do with the consummation of God’s plan for the universe, something that could only be undertaken by a human being ,worthy enough to ‘enact’ it.As I corinthians 15 tells us,”Since by man came death, by man also comes the resurrection from the dead”. But who among all of humanity is worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof?
Ok, I’ve been reading a bit further, as the narrative in Revelation continues with the opening of the seals, and the seven trumpets sounding, and I got to this part that I had forgotten about in chapter 10, after the seventh seal is opened, and the first six trumpets blow:
“1 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:
2 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,
...
7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.”
I think this “mighty angel” may be a vision of Christ returning triumphant, in his glorified form, as when he speaks, “the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets”. The most important message of God’s prophets and servants was to declare the coming triumph of the Messiah, so I can’t think of what else this could be referring to.
If this is Christ, then the “little book” in his hand may be the same as the “sealed book”, just now opened as the seven seals have been broken. It is interesting that John is told to “eat” the book, and that it tastes sweet but makes his belly feel bitter. I can’t imagine John gnawing on a scroll, so there must be some symbolic meaning there that is still a mystery to me.
You know what is funny? I just got home from a church service, with a special speaker(Jacob Prasch) and a member took me to that scripture and told me he wanted to ask Jacob about it.
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