The Opening Of The Scroll And Its Seven Seals.

The Opening Of The Scroll And Its Seven Seals.

Revelation 5:1-14NLT

Upon our study of chapter 4, of Revelation, John the Apostle was caught up into the presence of God in heaven. There he saw the throne of God and the court of heaven.

Though the scene in Chapter 5 is still in heaven, the theme changes from the worship of the Creator, to the worship of the Redeemer.

Revelation 5:1NLT Then I saw a scroll in the right hand of the one who was sitting on the throne. There was writing on the inside and the outside of the scroll, and it was sealed with seven seals.

The first important piece of information John gives the reader of this revelation was that He was immediately caught up, from this prison camp called—Patmos, and taken into heaven.

An important truth to fully understand is—Your circumstance might not automatically change, but your understanding and knowledge of the truth has and will make you free.

John 8:31-32ESV  So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Notice, John sees a scroll (This scroll is rolled up parchment), but no-one in all the universe could read its content, because the writings inside and out had 7 seals.

Revelation 5:1 states, that these sealed writings were in the right hand of the ‘one’ seated on the throne.

In Ephesians 1:20-21, Paul proclaims that Jesus is seated at the right hand of His Father far above all rule and dominion, principality and powers.

Again, throughout the OT and NT, the right hand is a place of power and rule. References: Romans 8:34, Matthew 22:44, Psalm 118:16.

Not only was Jesus qualified to open these seals, He’s more than qualified to set you free! P.H

Revelation 5:2-3NLT And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: “Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?” 3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it.

Say, “no one.” No one was found worthy.

Ray Stedman pastor and author, who attended Dallas Theological Seminary writes—So this scroll is a "mystery" book…It answers questions that men have been asking for generations which no one has been able to answer.

He goes on and say’s, Why can't we solve the great problems of mankind?

We hear much these days of the progress that humans have made tremendous technological advances, the wonders that science has produced, and we pat ourselves on the back and say, "We are right on the verge of perfection."

But when we look back on history we find that the truly great problems, the ones we wrestle with every day, are the same that men and women were wrestling with since the very dawn of time. The problem of war, of conflict between human beings, the problems of crime, evil and prejudice, these have always been with us. As far back in history as you can go, no one has made any advance in solving them. They are with us just as they were at the very beginning.

Why can't we get a handle on these? Why can't we solve such problems?

This scroll offers the answers to that question.

In Revelation chapter 6, through chapters 10, we will read the unsealing of these scrolls, and the results of them.

Again, “Jesus is worthy to be trusted, to confide in, and to keep full confidence in.”

Revelation 5:4NLT Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it.

One of the writers of our day, Annie Dillard, asks what she calls, “the chief theological question of all time, What the Sam Hill is going on here anyway?"

Do you ever feel that way? Things happen in your life and you cannot understand them. They seem to be without meaning or reason. Again you say with disgust, "What is going on?”

She goes on and writes—That is the question this scroll answers. How will God ever straighten out this mess and fulfill his promise of a golden age when men will live in a world without war, without bloodshed, without hatred, without prejudice, when sorrow, death and tears have all been taken away? How is it to be brought about? Men have been dreaming of a world at peace, a utopia on earth, for centuries, but no one has found the answer.

Revelation 5:5NLT But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, “Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David’s throne, has won the victory. He is worthy to open the scroll and its seven seals.”