Originally posted on June 21, 2019 from the Study Guide: DIGGING DEEP INTO THE REVELATION OF JESUS CHRIST
Revelation 5:1
1And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
Commentary on verse 1: John sees in God the Father’s right hand the scroll sealed with seven seals. All the messages have been sealed by the authority of God. We know the Father is the One seated on the throne, because we learn in verse 6 that the Lord Jesus is standing in the midst of the throne, and He is in the midst of the elders. The breaking of the seals will reveal the message inside each part of the **scroll which contains the Tribulation judgments of God** (Ezekiel 2:9-10; Daniel 12:4; Revelation 6).
REFERENCE SCRIPTURE MENTIONED IN THE COMMENTARY:
Ezekiel 2:9-10 9Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10Then He spread it before me; inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.
In Ezekiel 2:9-10 the prophet *was forewarned that his ministry would be unpopular. We too are forewarned that a true presentation of the Gospel will be offensive to the unsaved. It is commonly known as “the offenses of the cross.” To some people we are the aroma of death* (2 Corinthians 2:15).
Daniel 12:4 “But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”
Daniel 12:4 teaches us that *(quoting Tregelles) “many shall scrutinize the book from end to end.” Many will study the prophetic Word and knowledge of it shall surely increase during the Great Tribulation.*
Revelation 5:2-4
2Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it.
Commentary on verses 2-4: **No one among mankind or angels could be found to remove the seals and read the scroll.** Only Christ can do so. (Isaiah 29:11)
REFERENCE SCRIPTURE MENTIONED IN THE COMMENTARY:
Isaiah 29:11 The whole vision [of the false seers—false prophets] 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.”
People’s willful blindness brings judicial blindness upon themselves. God’s Word is unintelligible—indiscernible—to them (1 Corinthians 2:14). To some it is a sealed…book, to others it is illegible. Everyone who does not accept it has an excuse. The Revelation of Jesus Christ is hereby opened.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
*Quotations and paraphrased quotations marked *.. quoted text * taken from The Believer’s Bible Commentary by William MacDonald Copyright © 1989, 1990, 1992, 1995 by William MacDonald. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com
**Quotations and paraphrased quotations marked **.. quoted text ** taken from The King James Study Bible. Copyright © 1988 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com
