Rev 5:1And 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.2And 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.4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. (KJV)
The vision of Ezekiel needs to be mentioned here due to the similarity of the visions with John. Eze 2:9 &10 where Ezekiel is telling of his vision. " 9And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it 10And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe. ' (ESV) This is the same vision. Please note, it is NEVER up to us to use our imagination on these writings from John, every symbol used is explained or referenced to somewhere else in the Bible!
Now the "book" is a scroll used in those times. A scroll, typically was in a rolled up form, not in a current "page" form as seen now. The roll was made of papyrus of single sheets about 8x10 inchs. These sheets were then joined together horizontally depending on the amount of writing being done. There was a wooden roller at each end, held in the left hand, unrolled by the right. The scroll would be rolled up by the left hand and unrolled downward as the reading continued. To get an idea of the size of the scroll, the book of Revelation would occupy a roll needing to be 15 ft long.
This scroll in the hand of God mentioned in revelation:
1. Was written on the front and the back. Not usual unless much had to be said because it was easier to write on the side where the lines ran with the direction the words were written. The oppsite side was much more difficult to write on and thus to read.
2. It was sealed, with seven seals:
a. When the person was done writing, there were threads coming together that knotted around
document, then sealed at the knot. This was common practice for a will to be sealed seven
times, one for each witness. Then, the will could only be opened when the seven, or their
representatives were present.
b. The seven seals could also just represent the secrecy needed and to be sure that the
correct person was opening the scroll.
Moving on we hear a challenge being given from a strong angel. "Who is the rightful heir to open this? Who is worthy of this task?" This is the record of what will happen in the end times. The Jews have a similar record in the Book of Enoch. We need to be very careful here and remember this is vision and poetry, it is Gods plan. For us to take it literally would be for us to assume that everything was settled long ago. We must take God at his word and know we have free will and a choice to be in God's purpose and to know that God's will be worked out in the end.
Back to the challenge from the angel. We find that no one stepped forward and John wept bitterly. Why? Check out Amos 3:7, "7For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets."(ESV) If God does nothing without revealing it first.... where is the person who is fit to receive His word and knowledge? That is right, we are in a world where NO one is fit to receive it! This is why John is weeping. We have gotten so far from God that no one was found worthy.
Are you fit to receive a message from God, do you talk with Him daily, are you in His word, do you pray for His people? Get your relationship right with Him now, time is running out.
I am here for you as well as many people in God's kingdom, just pray and he will send someone, reach out, raise your hands and reach up!
Blessing on all,
Calabash
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