Revelation 5:1

REV:5

Without any doubt whatever, this chapter is a continuation of the throne of God scene in Revelation 4. The same throne, the same living creatures, the same angels, the same 24 elders, the same solemn worship, and the same Person upon the throne are present here that were seen in Revelation 4. The great new element that comes to light in this portion of the vision is that of the Lamb of God "in the midst of the throne" with the Father. "Chapters 4,5 are one passage."[1] Nothing in these two chapters should be interpreted as "things that shall come to pass hereafter," for quite obviously they describe present and eternal realities in the spiritual world. As Beckwith stated it:

These are the supreme "things that are" (Revelation 1:19), out of which the "things that are to come to pass" must flow certainly and completely in spite of the powers of evil.[2]

And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back, close sealed with seven seals.

A book ... It is natural to assume that the book was of the scroll type familiar to the people of those times. Books were made of papyrus pith sliced exceedingly thin and carefully joined together in vertical strips and reinforced by an additional layer with the strips laid horizontally, then bonded with glue and water. They were pressed flat and sandpapered for smoothness, giving a sheet of "paper" similar to ones seen today. The scroll was made by piecing many of these sheets together, side to side, to form the roll of required length. In reading, the roll was transferred from the roller in one hand to another roller in the other. Barclay tells us that a book the length of Romans would have required a roll 11 1/2 feet long.[3] A characteristic of the scroll was that the strips of papyrus caused a horizontal grain on one side and a vertical grain on the other, called the recto and verso. Usually, scrolls were written only on the side with horizontal grain, because that provided easier writing. Longer writings, however, utilized both sides. From the fact of the scroll in view here having been written "on the back," a rather extensive communication is indicated.

What is the meaning of this scroll? From its being "in" or "on" the right hand of God, the exceedingly great importance of it must be deduced, but what is it? Many different answers are given: "It contained the whole of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven."[4] "It is God's redemptive plan for the denouement of human history, the overthrow of evil, and the gathering of a redeemed people."[5] "It is the New Covenant, since the New Covenant tells how God will save the church, Israel, the world, and the universe."[6] "This is a book of the future of the world and of mankind."[7] "It is some kind of legal document relating to the destiny of mankind."[8] "The book is surely that which contains the world's destiny."[9] There is perhaps a measure of truth in all these answers. Certainly, there is some bearing which the book had upon the mystery of redemption, and the long-secret device by which God would achieve it in the death of his Son. Human salvation, together with God's purpose of achieving it and the mystery of how it would be done, is included in it because we cannot agree with the notion that John's weeping in Revelation 5:4 was due merely to disappointment at not seeing the future revealed. See comment on Revelation 5:4.

Sealed close with seven seals ... Especially important documents were sealed with multiple seals; and the appearance of seven seals here indicates the inviolate nature of the document. The thought that as each seal was broken a portion of the scroll could be read is not correct. In fact, the scroll was not read at all in this prophecy! Only as the seals were broken, the visions conveyed part of the information to John. As Lenski pointed out:

The seals sealed the entire roll; all would have had to be broken to ready any of it. The opening of each seal is not undertaken to reveal seven successive lengths of the roll, each length then to be read. Nothing whatever is read. When each seal is opened, it releases the revealing symbolism of what the book contains.[10]

[1] William R. Newell, The Book of Revelation (Chicago: Moody Press, 1935), p. 94.

[2] Isbon T. Beckwith, The Apocalypse of John (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1919), p. 261.

[3] William Barclay, The Revelation of John (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1976), p. 208.

[4] A. Plummer, The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 22, Revelation (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 162.

[5] George Eldon Ladd, A Commentary on the Revelation of John (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1972), p. 81.

[6] Watchman Nee, "Come Lord Jesus" (New York: Christian Fellowship Publishers, 1976), p. 66.

[7] Isbon T. Beckwith, op. cit., p. 505.

[8] G. R. Beasley-Murray, The Book of Revelation (Greenwood, South Carolina: The Attic Press, 1974), p. 120.

[9] Leon Morris, Tyndale Commentaries, Vol. 20 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1969), p. 90.

[10] R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. John's Revelation (Minneapolis, Minnesota: Augsburg Publishing House, 1943), p. 193.