The importance of the book sealed with seven seals.

The Importance of the Book With Seven Seals.

Daniel and the Revelation by Uriah Smith

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Revelation Chapter V

The Challenge of the Sealed Book

Verse 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.

As a new chapter opens, the same view is still before the mind of the apostle. By the words, "Him that sat on the throne," is evidently meant the Father, as the Son is later introduced as "a Lamb as it had been slain."

The book which John here saw, contained a revelation of scenes that were to be enacted in the history of the church to the end of time.

That the volume is held in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne may signify that a knowledge of the future rests with God alone, except so far as He sees fit to reveal it to others.

The Sealed Book.--

The books in use at the time the Revelation was given were not in the form of books as now made. They did not consist of a series of leaves bound together, but were composed of strips of parchment or other material, rolled up. On this point, John Wesley remarks:

"The usual books of the ancients were not like ours, but were volumes, or long pieces of parchment, rolled upon a long stick, as we frequently roll silks. Such was this represented, which was sealed with seven seals. Not as if the apostle saw all the seals at once: for there were seven volumes wrapped up on within another, each of which was sealed: so that upon opening and and unrolling the first, the second appeared to be sealed up till that was opened, and so on to the seventh."

This book was not written within and on the backside, as the punctuation of our common version makes it read.

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"Grotius, Lowman, Fuller, etc.," says the Cottage Bible, "remove the comma thus: 'Written within, and on the back (or outside) sealed.' " How these seals were placed, is sufficiently explained.

Verse 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.

The Challenge.--

In the vision God, as it were, held forth this book to the view of the universe, and a strong angel, one doubtless of great eminence and power, came forth as a crier, and with a mighty voice challenged all creatures in the universe to try the strength of their wisdom in opening the counsels of God. Who could be found worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? A pause ensued. In silence the universe owned its inability and unworthiness to enter into the counsels of the Creator. "No man in heaven, "  oudeis, no one, signifies not merely no man, but no one, no being, in heaven.

 Is not this proof that the faculties of angels are limited, like those of man, in respect to penetrating the future and disclosing what is to come? When the apostle saw that no one came forward to open the book, he greatly feared that the counsels of God which it contained in reference to his people would never be disclosed. In the natural tenderness of his feelings, and his concern for the church, he wept much. "How far are they," says John Wesley, "from the temper of St. John, who inquire after anything rather than the contents of this books!"

Upon the words, "I wept much," Joseph Benson offers the following beautiful remarks: "Being greatly affected with the thought that no being whatever was to be found able to understand, reveal, and accomplish the divine counsels, fearing they would still remain concealed from the church. This weeping

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of the apostle sprang from greatness of mind. The tenderness of heart which he always had, appeared more clearly now he was out of his own power. The Revelation was not written without tears: neither without tears will it be understood."

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"I wept much- BECAUSE- no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

(ISV)  I began to cry bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or look inside it.

There it was, placed before the apostle John's sight, this wondrous book, this PERFECT book. A book with the perfect number of seven seals sealing it so that it could not be read unless those seals of perfection were broken so the book could be opened and read.  Did John know what was in that book? No. But He knew merely by the One holding the book that it was of the utmost importance. God held that book in His right hand.

What sorts of things could be in that book?

We know books contain knowledge and John was being given these visions and being told to write down these visions and all who would read what John was told to write down would be blessed if they kept the things they read. John wanted to be used of God to bring others to God. Every single apostle desperately wanted to do the work given to them to do through the power of the Holy Spirit sent to them. They wanted to spread the news of God's love, of His plan of redemption through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. They wanted to share the news of the resurrected Savior who was preparing a place for all who would be His. They wanted to bring HOPE to those who comprehended that this WORLD in its fallen, sinful state is NOT the only home they could live in. They wanted people to realize their lives as pilgrims upon this earth in its fallen state. They wanted people to know that they are but strangers here and it's no wonder they realize that the awfulness of this world exists. We realize that this awful world, with the awful sinful acts committed over and over by people is NOT what was intended for us! We have HOPE, but the hope is not found in us or anything we do, but outside of us in what our SAVIOR did and does for us.  This is the hope that John wanted to share.  He knew already that every single person who would read and keep the words of the Revelation of Jesus Christ he was being shown, would have that hope.  So when he was shown this amazing book he knew that such a precious, perfect book desperately needed to be opened, to be shared.  When no one was found worthy to open the perfect book it broke John's heart. 

We've all wept bitterly before, we know the agony of bitter tears, of a heart aching in those tears. John's  weeping much because…

3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

… not a single entity existed - not in HEAVEN, not in EARTH, not UNDER the earth… none, dead or alive, not a single angelic being, not one principality or power existed that could open the book and read the words in that book. 

We can imagine this on a much lesser scale. You have the precious formula for curing cancer, or any disease that can kill a person and that cure is in a book set before you and yet NO ONE can open that book! The cure is there but it is out of reach! Just imagine how you'd feel especially if you have a loved one dying right then of one of these diseases. How bitterly would you weep over such a circumstance? 

In our sin-sick and dying world, where eternal death, the second death is a very huge reality to John, he knows the truth within the book of perfection right there in God the Father's right hand, a book that could unveil truths necessary for the blessing of people to the end that they might know the truth and be saved by that truth, Jesus Christ, he knows it's unattainable and weeping is his reaction. Deep, bitter, much weeping is all that's left to him in that moment.

We need to pause here and think about the importance of that book, the contents of that book with seven seals, that book in the hand of God in the vision John was given.  The GREAT importance placed upon that book is something worth contemplation.  It's too easy for us to just pass over this offhandedly. We need to feel the depths of John's disappointment along with him.  Just because we might know what comes next because we've read ahead another couple sentences, doesn't mean John knew what would happen, HE DIDN'T KNOW.  In that moment He cried heartbrokenly, believing the book before him would NEVER be opened!

We don't know the exact time frame that took place between the realization no one was worthy to open the book and John's crying. We have no clue as to how long he cried. I know for a fact I've cried bitter, agonizing tears that lasted only minutes, but the depths of those tears was so great they affected me for days afterwards.  I've also cried agonizing tears that last days, those tears were interspersed with exhaustion emotional, mental, physical exhaustion.  We can't know the length of John's crying, it could have only been a few moments of intense tears. What we do know is those tears were real and heartfelt on John's part.  The tears of hopelessness, who among us hasn't felt them?

Hopelessness.

No one worthy.

No hope.

Is it any wonder John was weeping much?

More tomorrow as we contemplate the reality of this situation John found himself in and just how immensely important the book in the hand of God sealed with seven seals must be.

All by the GRACE and MERCY, the LOVE of our LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST, NOW and FOREVER!

Amen!