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Read Revelation 5 the Seven-Sealed Scroll

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Read Revelation 5 the Seven-Sealed Scroll A Study of the book of Revelation 1 Read Revelation 5 The seven-sealed scroll - The key to Revelation This little seven-sealed scroll in the hand of the One on the Throne contains the secret of the chapters that follow and is the key, which opens the entire book of the Revelation. A correct interpretation of the mysterious scroll will give a correct understanding of the rest of the book of Revelation, however, a mistake here, and one will...with all probably... have a misunderstanding of the rest of the book of Revelation. In the first chapter of Revelation we have the vision of the glorified Christ in the majesty of His second coming. In chapters 2 and 3 we have the history of "professing" Christendom pre- written under the figure of seven churches. When the last of the church ages has run its course, it is then that John, representing the true Church, is caught away into heaven and sees, first of all Christ on the throne in all His glory and majesty, followed by heaven's song of praise and adoration of the entire hosts of glory ...the twenty-four elders, representing the saints of all ages, and the four "living creatures." (Revelation 4) The scene is in heaven where John was caught up to meet the Lord and where he saw Christ on the throne. At first John sees nothing but Him, the Savior, and is completely occupied by his rapturous vision of his Lord and his God. However, John, now, notices something else, of which he had not been aware. He sees another sitting on the throne and in the hand of this one is a scroll...a roll of parchment sealed with seven seals. Everything comes to a standstill in heaven while a diligent search is made to find someone who can break the seals and open the scroll. Until that man is found there can be no further revelation. Everything hinges upon the finding of one who is worthy to open the scroll. In this scroll is contained the revelation and the account of all that is to follow upon the breaking of the seven seals, the blowing of the seven trumpets, and the pouring out of the seven final vials (or bowls), of the wrath of God. For the interpretation of this "scroll" we must go back to Israel's history in the Old Testament. In the giving of the numerous laws and regulations there was a law, which dealt with what is referred to as "The Book of Redemption." This "Law of Redemption," found in Leviticus 25, stated that if anyone, because of neglect or misfortune, fell into debt and was legally tried and unable to pay, he was to serve his master to whom he owed this debt. However, the law provided that he could be redeemed, if, first of all, he was "fit" (meaning a close relative), second, he was able, and, third, that he was willing, to redeem whatever was lost. A Study of the book of Revelation 2 Whenever anyone fall into debt, and, as a result, lost his property, he was taken before the judge and a document was prepared which stated that the land had passed from the debtor into the possession of the one to whom he owed the debt. However, this was not to be a permanent transfer, but, rather, could be purchased back by a near relative. Originally, there would be two scrolls, on which were written the terms of the redemption of the lost possession. One scroll was left open in the court of the Temple or Tabernacle for all to read, but the other was rolled up, and sealed with seven seals and placed in the Temple to be brought out only when a kinsman redeemer gave evidence that he was willing and able to redeem it. He would go to the court of the Tabernacle, read the terms of redemption as found in the open public scroll, and then go to the priest or judge and demand that the sealed document be brought forth and the debtor be freed and his property returned! When this relative was, first, able to show that he could pay the redemption price and, second, that he was willing to meet all the conditions of the law, the sealed scroll was produced and he publicly tore open the seals and invalidated the mortgage and the man could return to his purchased possession. As time passed, the practice of using two scrolls...one public and the other sealed...was combined into one scroll. The terms of the redemption of the mortgage was written on both sides, within and without. The scroll was, then, rolled up and sealed with the seven seals, This is the picture we have in Revelation 5, where we see the Judge of all the earth sitting on His throne and in His hand is a scroll, and sealed with seven seals. [Verses 9-10 make it clear that this is a scroll “of redemption”] In the old Leviticus law three things could be redeemed: a servant, a wife and land. At this point in Revelation (chapter 5) the first two have been accomplished. The Church, the bride of Christ, has been caught up in the Rapture spoken of in Revelation 4 and we, His servants, have been fully redeemed, having received our resurrection bodies at the Rapture of the Church. The earth, both vegetable and animals, are still under the curse. The earth is still groaning under the curse of man's sin. These must be redeemed, for Christ is a perfect Redeemer, and every realm, which came under the curse of Adam’s sin, must also be delivered by the redemption of the Last Adam. Adam lost his dominion over the earth, which God originally gave to him, and, as a result, man battles the forces of nature...fighting weeds, thistles, insects, caterpillars, storms, droughts and floods. The animals prey one upon the other, and death and groaning and destruction are everywhere. Adam lost his inheritance, however, God has provided for a plan of redemption whereby that which Adam lost may be redeemed. All this is contained in the mysterious seven-sealed scroll in the right hand of Him that sits upon the throne, of whom we read in Revelation 5. A Study of the book of Revelation 3 The seven-sealed scroll contains the terms on which Adam's lost estate may be redeemed by the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes, even the last Adam, the Lord Jesus Christ. After the Church...represented by John...is caught away and in heaven, the next step is the redemption of the earth. The only One who could be found Who could meet the conditions of this seven- sealed scroll is One Who is "the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, He hath prevailed to open the scroll, and to loose the seven seals thereof (5:5). He is described as "a Lamb as it had been slain." He is, of course, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself! The story of Ruth is a beautiful illustration of this Law of Redemption, showing the work of the kinsman redeemer. The book of Ruth, in God's Word, helps us to understand the work of our great Redeemer, Christ, as He opens the seven-sealed book of which Revelation is all about. The story of Ruth and Boaz There was in Bethlehem a happy family consisting of a father, a mother and two sons. The father's name was Elimelech, the mother's Naomi and the two boys were named Mahlon and Chilion. For a time they were happy and then a famine came upon the land, and this family moved from Bethlehem and traveled to Moab across the Jordan in search of food. While they were in the land as strangers, the father Elimelech, died, leaving Naomi a widow. Then one of the boys married a Gentile Moabitess by the name of Orpah and the other married Ruth. After a period of time both the sons of Naomi died, leaving her with two daughters-in-law, Orpah and Ruth. Then the famine in the land of Bethlehem subsided and Naomi prepared to go back to her homeland. Orpah remained in Moab, however, Ruth refused to leave her mother-in-law and traveled with her to Bethlehem. However, when they arrived in Bethlehem they found that their home and land, under the terms of the Levitical law, had been confiscated, as a result of the debts, which they were unable to pay. They were penniless and Ruth was compelled to work in the field as a gleaner behind the harvesters. It so happened that she gleaned in the field of one Boaz who became interested in her and inquired regarding her identity. He found that she was the daughter-in-law of Naomi, a relative of his. Under the Levitical Law a relative could redeem a lost inheritance if he was willing, able and fit. To be fit he must be a relative; to be able he must be sufficiently wealthy to pay the redemption price. Boaz determined that the inheritance which Naomi had lost [which belonged to Ruth as well, by virtue of her marriage to Naomi's son] should be redeemed and returned to it s former owners. Remember that not everyone could be a kinsman redeemer. Only those who met the conditions could function in this capacity, and so the Holy Spirit gives us in Ruth 2:1 A Study of the book of Revelation 4 a bit of important and interesting information concerning this man Boaz, who was a type of the Kinsman Redeemer, Jesus, and opener of the seven-sealed scroll.
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