CHAPTER 5

(A.D. 96)

THE SEALED BOOK

¹And I saw in the Right Hand (signifies power) of Him Who sat on the Throne a Book written within and on the backside, sealed with Seven Seals. (The Seven Seals signify that the time of Jacobs trouble is about to begin, which will rapidly bring to a conclusion that which must be done.)

²And I saw a strong Angel proclaiming with a loud voice (this strong Angel is probably Gabriel, as evidenced by Gabriels appearance to Daniel), Who is worthy to open the Book, and to loose the Seals thereof? (This implies moral fitness [Rom. 1:4].)

³And no man in Heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the Book, neither to look thereon. (We should look very carefully at the words no man.)

⁴And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the Book, neither to look thereon. (This pertains to the fact that this Book is so very, very important. It contains not only the information regarding the coming Judgment upon this Earth, but as well the message that this Judgment, as tendered by God, will ultimately lead to the Redemption of the Earth.)

THE LION AND THE LAMB

⁵And one of the Elders said unto me, Weep not (states that mans dilemma has been solved): behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the Book, and to loose the Seven Seals thereof (presents Jesus Christ).

⁶And 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 (the Crucifixion of Christ is represented here by the word Lamb, which refers to the fact that it was the Cross which Redeemed mankind; the slain Lamb Alone has Redeemed all things), having seven horns (horns denote dominion, and seven denotes total dominion; all of this was done for you and me, meaning that we can have total dominion over the powers of darkness, and in every capacity; so there is no excuse for a lack of victory) and seven eyes (denotes total, perfect, pure, and complete illumination of all things spiritual, which is again made possible for you and me by the Cross; if the Believer makes the Cross the Object of his Faith, he will never be drawn away by false doctrine), which are the Seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the Earth (signifying that the Holy Spirit, in all His Perfection and universality, functions entirely within the parameters of the Finished Work of Christ; in other words, it is required that we ever make the Cross the Object of our Faith, which gives the Holy Spirit latitude, and guarantees the dominion, and the illumination [Isa. 11:2; Rom. 8:2]).

⁷And He (the Lord Jesus Christ) came and took the Book out of the Right Hand of Him (God the Father) Who sat upon the Throne. (All of Heaven stands in awe as the Lamb steps forward to take the Book.)

WORSHIP

⁸And when He (the Lord Jesus) had taken the Book, the four Beasts (living creatures) and four and twenty Elders (representatives of the Church) fell down before the Lamb (proclaims to us the Deity of Christ), having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of Saints. (In the Greek, this refers to the 24 Elders only. All the prayers that have ever come up before God for things to be rectified are about to be answered.)

⁹And they sung a new song, saying (which only the Redeemed can sing), You are worthy to take the Book, and to open the Seals thereof (proclaims that by His Death He has acquired a right to approach where no other one could approach, and to do what no other one could do): for You were slain (refers to the Cross, which has made everything possible), and have redeemed us to God by Your Blood (proclaims the manner in which Redemption was purchased) out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation (proclaims the fact that Salvation secured by the Death of Christ universally applies to all classes and peoples of the Earth);

¹⁰And have made us unto our God kings and priests (the Scripture abundantly proclaims that whatever Jesus is because of the Cross, thats what we are also): and we shall reign on the earth (refers to the coming Millennial Reign).

¹¹And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many Angels round about the Throne and the Beasts and the Elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands (ten thousand is the greatest number expressed by the Greek vocabulary, and in itself may denote an unlimited number; but here we have a quadruple plural ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands which in the Greek actually says myriads of myriads, i.e., an innumerable host);

¹²Saying with a loud voice (considering the tremendous number, actually beyond comprehension, what a sound this must have been), Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. (Through and by the Cross, the sevenfold Blessing is given to Christ and is given to us as well. Let us say it again and again, The Cross! The Cross! The Cross!)

¹³And every creature which is in Heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying (the Death of Christ as Atonement is the ground or basis of the Restoration of all things, and is implied in Phil. 2:8-11), Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him Who sits upon the Throne (God the Father), and unto the Lamb forever and ever. (What Jesus did at the Cross guaranteed the total defeat of Satan and all his minions of darkness, which will ultimately cleanse Heaven and Earth in totality and forever.)

¹⁴And the four Beasts (living creatures) said, Amen. (The four Living Ones say Amen to the fourfold Blessing.) And the four and twenty Elders fell down and worshipped Him Who lives forever and ever. (This records the fact that not only is God eternal, but what Jesus did at the Cross will have eternal results as well.)