John sees in this vision a form like a "man on the throne." In his right hand he has a book written within, and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. Now, doctrinally this book is unidentified. It could be the Book of Revelation itself (as the Book of Revelation in the next two chapters begins with the opening of these seven seals). It could refer to the entire Bible. Some people believe it refers to the "Book of Daniel," because in Daniel 12 Daniel is told to "seal up these things until the end time," and unseal them then. It is absolutely impossible to identify this book, for certain, but doctrinally, the chances are very good that it is a reference to the Book of Revelation itself.

Spiritually, it is possible this "Seven Sealed Book" can be explained as the opening of a deed. Writing to the Ephesians (Ephesians 1:13-14), Paul said--"Ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession." Then there is a possession that is to be redeemed. What this is, Paul tells us in Romans 8:22-23. "We know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they (all earthly created things), but ourselves also, which have the "First fruits of the Spirit," even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body." (This will take place at the First Resurrection).

We see from these references that there is something that was lost to mankind and the earth that is to be redeemed, and we do not have to go far to find out what it was. It is the inheritance of the earth and of immortal life given to Adam and Eve, and that was lost in the Fall of Eden. When Adam sinned he lost his inheritance of the earth, and it passed out of his hands into the possession of Satan, to the disinheritance of all of Adam's seed. The forfeited Title Deed is now in God's hands and is awaiting redemption. Its redemption means the legal repossession of all that Adam lost by the Fall. Adam was impotent to redeem the lost possession, but the law provides (Leviticus 25: 23-34) that a kinsman may redeem a lost possession. That kinsman has been provided in the person of Jesus Christ.

To become a kinsman He had to be born into the human race. This, the Virgin Birth accomplished. Jesus paid the redemptive price, which was his own blood, on the cross (1 Peter 1:18-20), but He has not as yet claimed that which He then purchased. When the time comes for the Redemption of the purchased possession Jesus will do so. That time and the act is described in the scripture we are now considering. The "seven sealed book" is the "title deed" to the redeemed inheritance. In Old Testament days when a kinsman desired to redeem a property he took his position, with ten men (Elders) as witnesses, in the gate of the city and advertised his purpose. This is beautifully illustrated in the story of Boaz and Ruth. Ruth 4:1-12. The kinsman who redeemed the property was called the "Goel" or Redeemer.

"And no man in heaven (no angel, no saint), nor in the earth (no preacher, no scholar, no pope, no bishop, no priest), neither under the earth (no demon, no lost person, no devil), was able to open the book, neither to look thereon."

Another possibility is the idea is that no man was able to make anyone understand it. This is what the word "open" means, as it is used in other passages in the Bible. This is not merely to open the book to look at it, but open the book so we can understand it. Notice the comparative passage in Luke24:45 and Acts 16:14.

Luke 24:45, "Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures."

When John saw that there was no one worthy to open the Book he wept. Some say he wept because he was disappointed that he could not satisfy his curiosity as to the contents of the Book, but such a statement is irrational. A man under the influence of the Holy Spirit would not be so foolish. John wept because he knew what the Book was, and that if there was no one to open that "Book of Redemption," that all hope of the redemption of the earth and of man was gone. But John's sorrow was of short duration, for one of the Elders said--"Weep not: behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, (see Matthew 1:1) hath prevailed to open the Book, and to loose the 'Seven Seals' thereof." And John saw, what he had not noticed before a Lamb, as it had been slain, standing in the midst of the Throne, and of the "Four Living Creatures." John had not seen the Lamb before, because it (He) had been seated on the Throne with the Father, and advanced out of the Glory of the Throne as the Elder spoke.

John looked for a "Lion" and saw a LAMB. But the Elder was right in calling it a "Lion," for Jesus was about to assume His Title as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and reign and rule with kingly power.

This is the "due time," when the "man" Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a "Ransom" (on the Cross) for the redemption of the lost inheritance, will be testified to before the Throne of God, by redeemed mankind, angels, and every creature in Heaven and Earth, and under the Earth. 1 Timothy 2:5-6; Revelation 5:8-14.

When the Lamb leaves the Throne to take the Book, His Mediatorial Work ceases, and His redemptive work begins. When our "Kinsman Redeemer" is handed the "Book," the "Title Deed" to the "Purchased Possession," He has the right to break its seals, and claim the "Inheritance," and dispossess the present claimant Satan. This He will immediately proceed to do, as He breaks the seals. Satan is not evicted at once. He contests the claim and it is only after a prolonged conflict that he is finally dispossessed and cast into the Lake of Fire.

In the Gospels four titles are given to Jesus. He is the Son of David; the Son of Abraham; the Son of Man; and the Son of God.

1. As the Son of David, He has title to the Throne of David.

1. As the Son of Abraham, He has title to the Land of Pales-tine, and all included in the Royal Grant to Abraham. See Map of The Royal Grant.
2. As the Son of Man, He has title to the Earth and the World.
3. As the Son of God, He is the Heir of All Things.

The manner of redemption of a lost inheritance is beautifully set forth in the Old Testament. A property could not be alienated from the original owner or his heirs for a longer period than 50 years, at which time it reverted to the original owner. If however for some reason the owner was forced to sell it, it could be redeemed by the next of kin on the payment of the proportionate amount of its value due until the next "Year of Jubilee." Leviticus 25:8-17.

Two illustrations of this method of redeeming a forfeited possession are given in the Old Testament;

• one in Ruth 4:1-12, where Boaz redeems the possession of Elimelech,
• the other in Jeremiah 32:6-12, where the Prophet Jeremiah purchased the possession of his cousin Hanameel.

The "Deed" was written on a parchment roll, and when the inside was filled, the outside was used, but enough space was left to not show the writing when the parchment was rolled up and sealed, and on the outside of the roll that showed, the Title of the Deed, and the names of the subscribing witnesses were written. Two copies of the "Deed" were made. One was sealed, and the other left unsealed for the purpose of reference. These deeds were handed to the purchaser in the presence of witnesses, and either kept by him, or entrusted to a custodian, or placed, as in the case of Jeremiah, in an earthen vessel, that would neither rot nor rust, to be preserved until the end of the Seventy Years of Captivity that the Prophet had foretold was to be.

This method of taking title explains the meaning and purpose of the "Seven Sealed Book" that John saw written within and on the back. The "Seals" were not in a row along the edge of the Book or Roll, but a Seal was broken and the parchment unrolled until the next seal was reached, and so on until all the "Seals" had been broken. We are not told that what happened as the "Seals" were broken was read out of the Book. The contents of the "Book" are not disclosed. We are simply told, as the "Seals" are broken, that certain things happened. They doubtless were preliminary to the Lamb's taking possession of the Purchased Possession.

It is not until Revelation 10:1-6, that Christ, as the "MIGHTY ANGEL," puts His right foot upon the sea, and His left foot on the earth, and cries--"There shall be time no longer," that is "NO LONGER DELAY," that He takes formal possession, but as the claim is disputed further steps, as we shall see, are necessary to secure possession.

If a "Church of Christ" preacher who preaches that you must be baptized to be saved could get to heaven, he would find saints there with more rewards than he ever thought of having, and those saints weren't even immersed in water. If a Campbellite got to heaven, he would be miserable! In heaven they don't sing about anything but the blood. They don't sing about the church; they don't sing about the sacraments, when Christians get to heaven, they sing about the B-L-O-O-D! "What can wash away my sins? Nothing but the BLOOD of Jesus. What can make me whole again? Nothing (nothing, NOTHING, man - no commandments, no works, no Golden Rule, no repent, believe, confess, and be baptized) NOTHING BUT THE BLOOD OF JESUS!"

Imagine a man getting to heaven and saying that he got there because he repented, believed, confessed, and was baptized, and kept the commandments and "endured until the end!" Surely, somebody would say to him. "Hush! We are worshipping Jesus Christ up here." "For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

Some versions of the Bible say, "And we reign on the earth." This puts the reign in the present tense. The Jehovah Witness group, for example, - would subscribe to this change of tense. They believe the Kingdom is here now and there is not going to be any literal Kingdom. These Bible "twisters" believe that the only kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, and therefore, the Christian is reigning now. This same group believe that will succeed in getting the crowns for themselves without carrying the cross. (Quite a trick, if you can do it.) The Lord Jesus Christ bore His cross the first time to get His crown the second time. If we are trying to wear a crown now, "spreading the kingdom," we've got the wrong dispensation!

1. What is the best choir or musical group you have ever heard? Why are the best?

 

2. Around your house are you lion or a lamb? What would your spouse say is your typical role? Which one do you really want to be with God's help?

 

3. What is so significant about the seven sealed book? Why are the seals so important?

 

4. Why is Christ the only one worthy to open the book? What titles are used to described Him?

 

5. In the Gospels four titles are given to Jesus. He is the Son of David; the Son of Abraham; the Son of Man; and the Son of God.

• As the Son of David, He has title to the _______ of David.
• As the Son of Abraham, He has title to the Land of _________, and all included in the Royal Grant to ________.
• As the Son of Man, He has title to the ______ and the _____.
• As the Son of God, He is the ____ of All Things.

6. What does it mean that He was both a Lamb and a Lion? Where does He appear? What does this mean for your life?

 

7. What is the response when He takes the book?

 

8. Analyze the three songs? Verses 9, 10; 12; 13. How is the Lamb described in each of these songs? Who comprises the first musical group? The Second? The Third? Which group are you in? What elements of praise and worship do you sense in these songs?

 

9. Are you ready to write a song to honor Jesus Christ? Will you share with the rest of our Home Group?

 

10. What would these visions of Chapter 4 and 5 have meant to the persecuted churches of Asia?

 

11. What do these visions mean to us in this out-of-control world? Based on this , what actions will you take this week?