God is depicted here as the one who holds "a book" that is "sealed with seven seals." The book contains a record of the judgments that must come upon the earth before the Lord Jesus can establish His kingdom on this earth.
 | Author: William MacDonald Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-07-01 Source: Title: Commentary on the New Testament Year (original): 1989 Author: William MacDonald Number of pages: 1504 Publisher/Editor: CLV Print: GGP Media GmbH, Pößneck |
The Scroll
[Verse 1]. In this new chapter your eye is focused on “a book” which is “in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne”. In the previous verses you’ve seen that all power is in the hands of the Lord Jesus. In the scene you see now, the way in which the Lord Jesus will take control is presented. He already has the power since His work on the cross [Matt 28:18], but here we have the moment that He openly accepts His power. Therefore it is an impressive moment.
The book is a scroll. Normally in a scroll there is writing only “inside”, but this one there is also writing “on the back”, or on the outside. It is fully written, with no room to add anything. Nor is there anything to add, for the book contains the property rights of Christ (cf. [Jer 32:6-16]; [Lev 25:23-25]). From this book it appears that He is authorized to execute judgments needed to purify the earth and then to fulfill the counsels of God with regard to creation.
The judgments are described in Revelation 6-19. In the chapters that follow the consummation of all God’s plans follows with blessing for both the old and the new creation. That all this has been documented in a book means that it is immutably fixed and verifiably executed as described. The book contains the history of the future. Only God is able to write history beforehand.
The book is “sealed up with seven seals”. This means, in order to open the book, the seals must first be broken. So the first acts of judgment are seen when in Revelation 6the seals are broken one by one.
[Verse 2]. But first the question arises who is worthy to open the book and break its seals. This question comes from the mouth of “a strong angel” and it sounds through the universe, through heaven and over the earth. The question is who the owner is of the inheritance described in it, which is creation. Also, the question is who has the right to redeem the inheritance. That question must be answered, because the inheritance has fallen into the hands of an unlawful owner, the devil, caused by the guilt of man.
A strong angel is asking the question, but he himself is not the answer to the question, however powerful he may be. It must be someone who is worthy to do it and who is able to do it, who has the power. The right on the inheritance is therefore about the personal dignity of the heir and about the personal strength to execute the content of it. He Who meets both conditions, dignity and strength, is the Son of Man [John 5:27].
[Verse 3]. The voice of the angel is heard everywhere, but no answer comes from anywhere:
1. not from “heaven”, the dwelling place of the chosen angels,
2. not from “the earth”, the dwelling place of men and
3. not from “under the earth”, the residence of other intelligent creatures.
The universe, in all its components (cf. [Phil 2:10]), does not contain one single creature that can deal with the book. No one is able to do that, no one has the suitable ability [Ps 49:7].
[Verse 4]. When John sees that there is no response to the question of the angel, he bursts into tears and weeps intensely. He weeps, not because he had been looking forward to the judgments, but which now do not pass, as once Jonah was displeased with that [Jonah 4:1]. No, he weeps, because he cannot bear the thought that evil will reign forever and will not be punished.
Countless people have sought to open the book and bring about the time of blessing. That is still the effort of man. But man himself is part of evil and therefore completely unfit and also incapable to deal with evil in a way that is pleasing to God. Is there really no one who is able to do it? Yes, there is a Man Who meets all God’s holy requirements regarding evil.
[Verse 5]. John is weeping greatly, but not for long. An elder – a glorified believer who has insight in the ways and the counsels of God – says to him not to weep. For there is Someone Who is able to open the book and its seven seals. It is “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah” about Whom Jacob has prophesied [Gen 49:9-11]. As the Lion He is the Ruler. He is also “the Root of David”. He belongs to the royal descendants, He is the true Son of David and has the legal right to reign. He is none other than the Lord Jesus.
He gained His dignity and right by His victory on the cross. There He regained the ownership of creation. There He crushed the head of satan, who by wiles and craftiness has illegally taken possession of creation. He has paid the full ransom and repurchased the whole creation for God. He has the right to open the seals, which is the right of redeeming the earth, in order to purify it from all injustice. He has overcome on the cross and will give shape to that victory in all that He does.
The book is a scroll. Normally in a scroll there is writing only “inside”, but this one there is also writing “on the back”, or on the outside. It is fully written, with no room to add anything. Nor is there anything to add, for the book contains the property rights of Christ (cf. [Jer 32:6-16]; [Lev 25:23-25]). From this book it appears that He is authorized to execute judgments needed to purify the earth and then to fulfill the counsels of God with regard to creation.
The judgments are described in Revelation 6-19. In the chapters that follow the consummation of all God’s plans follows with blessing for both the old and the new creation. That all this has been documented in a book means that it is immutably fixed and verifiably executed as described. The book contains the history of the future. Only God is able to write history beforehand.
The book is “sealed up with seven seals”. This means, in order to open the book, the seals must first be broken. So the first acts of judgment are seen when in Revelation 6the seals are broken one by one.
[Verse 2]. But first the question arises who is worthy to open the book and break its seals. This question comes from the mouth of “a strong angel” and it sounds through the universe, through heaven and over the earth. The question is who the owner is of the inheritance described in it, which is creation. Also, the question is who has the right to redeem the inheritance. That question must be answered, because the inheritance has fallen into the hands of an unlawful owner, the devil, caused by the guilt of man.
A strong angel is asking the question, but he himself is not the answer to the question, however powerful he may be. It must be someone who is worthy to do it and who is able to do it, who has the power. The right on the inheritance is therefore about the personal dignity of the heir and about the personal strength to execute the content of it. He Who meets both conditions, dignity and strength, is the Son of Man [John 5:27].
[Verse 3]. The voice of the angel is heard everywhere, but no answer comes from anywhere:
1. not from “heaven”, the dwelling place of the chosen angels,
2. not from “the earth”, the dwelling place of men and
3. not from “under the earth”, the residence of other intelligent creatures.
The universe, in all its components (cf. [Phil 2:10]), does not contain one single creature that can deal with the book. No one is able to do that, no one has the suitable ability [Ps 49:7].
[Verse 4]. When John sees that there is no response to the question of the angel, he bursts into tears and weeps intensely. He weeps, not because he had been looking forward to the judgments, but which now do not pass, as once Jonah was displeased with that [Jonah 4:1]. No, he weeps, because he cannot bear the thought that evil will reign forever and will not be punished.
Countless people have sought to open the book and bring about the time of blessing. That is still the effort of man. But man himself is part of evil and therefore completely unfit and also incapable to deal with evil in a way that is pleasing to God. Is there really no one who is able to do it? Yes, there is a Man Who meets all God’s holy requirements regarding evil.
[Verse 5]. John is weeping greatly, but not for long. An elder – a glorified believer who has insight in the ways and the counsels of God – says to him not to weep. For there is Someone Who is able to open the book and its seven seals. It is “the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah” about Whom Jacob has prophesied [Gen 49:9-11]. As the Lion He is the Ruler. He is also “the Root of David”. He belongs to the royal descendants, He is the true Son of David and has the legal right to reign. He is none other than the Lord Jesus.
He gained His dignity and right by His victory on the cross. There He regained the ownership of creation. There He crushed the head of satan, who by wiles and craftiness has illegally taken possession of creation. He has paid the full ransom and repurchased the whole creation for God. He has the right to open the seals, which is the right of redeeming the earth, in order to purify it from all injustice. He has overcome on the cross and will give shape to that victory in all that He does.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-5
1 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. 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.
 | Author: Ger de Koning Rank: Author Posted on: 2024-01-24 Source: Title: Revelation Author: Ger de Koning |
The apostle saw in the hand of Him that sat upon the throne, a roll of parchments in the form usual in those times, and sealed with seven seals. This represented the secret purposes of God about to be revealed. The designs and methods of Divine Providence, toward the church and the world, are stated, fixed, and made a matter of record. The counsels of God are altogether hidden from the eye and understanding of the creature. The several parts are not unsealed and opened at once, but after each other, till the whole mystery of God’s counsel and conduct is finished in the world. The creatures cannot open it, nor read it; the Lord only can do so. Those who see most of God, are most desirous to see more; and those who have seen his glory, desire to know his will. But even good men may be too eager and hasty to look into the mysteries of the Divine conduct. Such desires, if not soon answered, turn to grief and sorrow. If John wept much because he could not look into the book of God’s decrees, what reason have many to shed floods of tears for their ignorance of the gospel of Christ! of that on which everlasting salvation depends! We need not weep that we cannot foresee future events respecting ourselves in this world; the eager expectation of future prospects, or the foresight of future calamities, would alike unfit us for present duties and conflicts, or render our prosperous days distressing. Yet we may desire to learn, from the promises and prophecies of Scripture, what will be the final event to believers and to the church; and the Incarnate Son has prevailed, that we should learn all that we need to know. Christ stands as Mediator between God and both ministers and people. He is called a Lion, but he appears as a Lamb slain. He appears with the marks of his sufferings, to show that he pleads for us in heaven, in virtue of his satisfaction. He appears as a Lamb, having seven horns and seven eyes; perfect power to execute all the will of God, and perfect wisdom to understand it, and to do it in the most effectual manner. The Father put the book of his eternal counsels into the hand of Christ, and Christ readily and gladly took it into his hand; for he delights to make known the will of his Father; and the Holy Spirit is given by him to reveal the truth and will of God.
Verses that belong to this explanation: 1-7
1 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. 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. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
 | Author: Matthew Henry Rank: Priest AD: 1714 Source: Title: Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible Author: Matthew Henry |
A book written within and without. (1) Books were then skins, membranes, or parchments, and when written on both sides part of the writing appeared, though they were rolled up. — Sealed with seven seals, as containing mysteries and secrets of high importance. (Witham)
Footnote
(1) Intus et foris, esothen kai opisthen; on the back side.
 | Author: George Leo Haydock Rank: Author AD: 1849 Source: Title: Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary Year (original): 1859 Number of pages: 571 Print: Edward Dunigan and Brother, New York, New York |
The Apostle saw it at the right hand of the divine majesty, which is an honorable place where no creature, no matter how high he is, can open or even touch it. What could this book be?
1) Ibn-el-Assal says, [It is the scroll;... the symbol in the book is to acquaint God's knowledge with its content, and its abiding by what is coming.]
2) Bishop Victorianus says, [This book means the Old Testament, that our Lord Jesus Christ's hands had received, He who took the judgment from the Father.] That is to say, fulfill the prophecies in it, since His incarnation to the day of His coming on the cloud for judgment, to reward the innocent and condemn the wicked.
3) Origen, St. Jerome and Tikhon the African think that the sealed book is the Holy Bible with its two Testaments, for it is one book which declares God's intentions, His love to mankind, and His discipline.
It is written from inside and in the back, for its apparent meanings carry deep meanings in its folding. The inside writings point out to the New Testament, which takes the soul into the depth of fellowship with God. The back writings is like a covering for the New Testament, for it carries symbols, shadows and prophecies that only the New Testament can explain.
As for the secret of its sealing with seven seals, it is because its meaning and comprehension are hidden to the human understanding, for they rely on their human wisdom. And as the prophet says, "Pause and wonder! Blind yourself and be blind!... The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which, men deliver to one who is literate, saying, ‘Read this please;’ and he says, ‘I cannot, for it is sealed’" [Isa 29:9-11].
St. Jerome explained these seals in his letter to Bishop Paulinus (1) saying, [It appeared in the Book of Revelation a sealed book with seven seals, this that when you hand it to a man learned telling him "read this," he will answer you, "I cannot, for it is sealed!”]
So many think today that they have knowledge, yet for them the Holy Book is sealed, and no one can open it unless it is through Him, who has the key of David, "He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens" [Rev 3:7].
1) Ibn-el-Assal says, [It is the scroll;... the symbol in the book is to acquaint God's knowledge with its content, and its abiding by what is coming.]
2) Bishop Victorianus says, [This book means the Old Testament, that our Lord Jesus Christ's hands had received, He who took the judgment from the Father.] That is to say, fulfill the prophecies in it, since His incarnation to the day of His coming on the cloud for judgment, to reward the innocent and condemn the wicked.
3) Origen, St. Jerome and Tikhon the African think that the sealed book is the Holy Bible with its two Testaments, for it is one book which declares God's intentions, His love to mankind, and His discipline.
It is written from inside and in the back, for its apparent meanings carry deep meanings in its folding. The inside writings point out to the New Testament, which takes the soul into the depth of fellowship with God. The back writings is like a covering for the New Testament, for it carries symbols, shadows and prophecies that only the New Testament can explain.
As for the secret of its sealing with seven seals, it is because its meaning and comprehension are hidden to the human understanding, for they rely on their human wisdom. And as the prophet says, "Pause and wonder! Blind yourself and be blind!... The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which, men deliver to one who is literate, saying, ‘Read this please;’ and he says, ‘I cannot, for it is sealed’" [Isa 29:9-11].
St. Jerome explained these seals in his letter to Bishop Paulinus (1) saying, [It appeared in the Book of Revelation a sealed book with seven seals, this that when you hand it to a man learned telling him "read this," he will answer you, "I cannot, for it is sealed!”]
So many think today that they have knowledge, yet for them the Holy Book is sealed, and no one can open it unless it is through Him, who has the key of David, "He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens" [Rev 3:7].
Footnote
(1) Letter, 53.
 | Author: Tadros Yacoub Malaty Rank: Monk Posted on: 2023-01-10 Source: Title: The book of Revelation Year (original): 1996 Author: Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty Number of pages: 257 Publisher/Editor: St. George's Coptic Orthodox Church, Sporting, Alexandria Print: Anba Reuis Press, Abassia, Cairo, Egypt Translation: Victoria and Ramzy Malaty |
This book signifies the Old Testament, which has been given into the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ, who received from the Father judgment.
 | Author: Victorinus of Pettau AD: 303 |
book. this is the secret of the ordering of the times of the world.
For no one is capable of this, except the One who has created the periods of times. The seven seals are the secret of the full duration of the world, which is seven thousand years. In every seal there is what will come to pass in that millennium, one by one.
 | Author: Paul of Bush Posted on: 2022-11-13 |
in the right hand. Now in his right hand, that is, within his power and knowledge, all mystery of the Deity was enclosed in the books of the prophets. For the Lord does nothing which he does not reveal to his servants the prophets.
| Author: Nerses of Lambron AD: 1198 |
book within and without. the book is the entire holy Scripture. inside, the spiritual sense, and outside because according to its historical meaning it feeds souls
 | Author: Jerome Rank: Priest AD: 420 |
sealed with seven seals. that is, the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
| Author: Jerome Rank: Priest AD: 420 |
And one of the elders said 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 its seven seals."
 | Author: Cyprian of Carthage Rank: Bishop AD: 258 |
The listed verse explanations of the individual persons have nothing to do with the explanations of the other persons. This also applies to the Bible translations.
