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Ezekiel was presented with a similar scroll, of which he was commanded to eat. We read in Ezekiel 2:8 – 3:4, "But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them".

This scroll contained the words that Ezekiel was commanded to speak to the Jewish people and as we see from the following chapters the prophecies were directed against (1) the Jewish people represented by what was “written within”, and (2) the nations at large, the things “written without”.

Paul used similar language when he said in 2 Corinthians 7:5, “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears”. The “fightings” he referred to came from those outside the truth and were persecuting the brethren and while “the fears within” refer to his concern for those in the truth.

From this we can conclude that the scroll contained prophecies concerning events “within” the ‘Christian body’ and the nations, “without” amongst whom they lived.

“sealed with seven seals”.

From what we read in chapter six, when one seal was broken it allowed part of the scroll to be opened up to the next seal, thus revealing events up to the next seal.

2. “strong angel proclaiming”.

The Greek word translated strong (ἰσχυρός) conveys more than just strength, this angel is “forcible, powerful and valiant”, yet he was unable to open the seal. The idea conveyed in this symbol is that which Paul expressed in Hebrews 2:14 - 18, speaking of Jesus he said, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took (the nature) on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted”.

Here Paul tells us that in order to bring salvation to human kind Jesus had to be of our nature and that he would not have been able to accomplish his work if he had the “nature of angels” as “angels cannot die”, and hence the “strong angel”, was “not worthy to open the scroll” as it had to be one who shared our nature yet overcame the sin that springs from it.

3. “no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book”.

Neither man, angels in heaven nor men living or deceased were able to open the book, for as we noted the angels do not share our nature and Paul said of mankind, “all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God.” Romans 3:23.

“neither to look thereon”.

As none were able to open the seals they were unable to read its contents.

4. “I wept much”.

What a contrast with the indifference shown to the word of God shown by ‘Christians’ today, let alone the indifference and even contempt held for this book. John like all true believers had a burning desire to understand these thing and when he realised that there was no one that could open “the things to come” he was moved to tears.

5. “Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David”.

John is comforted with these words, which were designed to direct Johns thoughts to passages of scripture he would have been familiar with.

When Jacob blessed his sons before his death, he said of Judah, “Judah is a lion's whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be”. Genesis 49:9, 10.

He Jacob prophesied of Jesus (the “Shiloh to come”), who would be King holding the “sceptre” and being “the lawgiver” that “shall not depart from Judah” seeing that he now possesses divine nature. He is described as a young lion that shall be “roused up” when he returns to establish his kingdom.

“Root of David”.

In Revelation 22:16 Jesus said he was “the root and offspring of David”. How can he be “the root” from which David sprang and “his offspring”? While Trinitarians would say that this is because he “pre-existed” before his birth that is not a scriptural answer.

In Jeremiah 23:5 God said “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth”. So Jesus is literally an offspring or “branch” in David’s family tree that God says he would “raise unto him”, which clearly leaves no room for the “pre-existence” idea.

We have seen previously that the promises that God made to David, require Jesus to come “after” David died, yet this one would guarantee David’s resurrection, and because of this Jesus is the “root of David”.

We have seen in the first three chapters of this book that Jesus is “the first begotten from the dead” and he through his sacrifice burial and resurrection has made it possible for all who are of the spiritual house of David to be raised from the dead, and in this sense he is the “root of David”.

6. “a Lamb as it had been slain”.

Any animal that “had been slain” would not be able to stand on its feet, and we must ask how would John know that it “had been slain” if it was standing on it’s feet?

The only answer is that John saw this lamb with a fatal wound. He probably saw the animal with its throat cut in the sacrificial way and possibly with blood stains around the wound, yet it was alive.

Clearly this is a symbol of Jesus who is described as “a lamb slain from the foundation of the world”, of whom it is said, he “died for us Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life”. Romans 5:8 – 10.

“seven horns”.

Horns are used in scripture as a symbol of power, for we read when a sinner went into the tabernacle as we read in 2 Kings 2:28, “Joab fled unto the tabernacle of the LORD, and caught hold on the horns of the altar”. The horns on the altar spoke of God’s power to save, while we read in Psalm 75:10, “All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted”. Clearly the Psalmist is saying that the power of the wicked will be destroyed while the power will be given to the righteous.

We have seen that seven is the number of completeness, and as this lamb has seven horns it indicates that all power resides in him, or as Peter said of Jesus in 1 Peter 3:22, “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him”.

“seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God”.

We have seen that eyes represent enlightened intelligences and the angels are described as the “the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him”. 2 Chronicles 16:9. These same angels of Elohim are described as “ministering spirits” (Hebrews 1:14) because the spirit of God courses through them.

When it is said there are “seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God” it is telling us that Jesus is all seeing and nothing does and will escape his notice in the Kingdom of God.

“sent forth into all the earth”.

In the current dispensation it is the angels who “go forth into all the earth” being “the eyes of Yahweh”, but of the Kingdom of God Paul says, “unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world (Greek ‘aion’ age) to come, whereof we speak”, the reason being the “age to come” or the Kingdom of God will be put in subjection of those that Jesus will associate with him in rulership.

7. “took the book out of the right hand of him”.

This is the symbolical equivalent of Revelation 1:1 where we are told that of these events “God gave them” unto Jesus.

8. “harps”.

We not that “every one” possessed a harp, the reason being the harp is used in scripture as a symbol of joy and rejoicing.

We see this in the reverse in Psalm 137:2, “We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof”, and in Ezekiel 26:13, “And I will cause the noise of thy songs to cease; and the sound of thy harps shall be no more heard”.

9. “golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints”.

Just as John wept when he thought that there was no one to open the book that these thing might be reveal all true believers have had a passionate interest in the prophetic word and anxiously desired to see how the purpose of God would be revealed, they prayed (the golden vials) that their understanding might be enlightened.

Peter said, “Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you: Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow. Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into”. 1 Peter 1:10 – 12.

John’s passionate desire to understand was no different to the prophets of old and even the angels shared with them and all true worshipers of God an all consuming desire to understand what God has in store for this his creation.

“Thou art worthy to take the book, … for thou wast slain”.

This is the reason as we noted before why the “strong angel” nor any other angel could open the seals, for Jesus, being “born of a woman” had the dame nature as those he was sent to save, a nature which is prone to sin and for this reason “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”.

Jesus through his Divine begettal and parentage (on his fathers side) was strengthened to do what no other human has done, namely overcome the “sin which so easily besets us”, and in doing so he has triumphed over the nature that leads to sin and opened a way in which “all kindred nations and tongues” can be redeemed.

Having “died one unto sin”, when Jesus returns “he (will) appear the second time without sin unto salvation”, for all those who know and obey the truth.

He therefore alone is worthy to open the scroll.

“a new song”.

The song is not new in the sense that they have never sung of the redemptive work of Jesus or their joy at being offered that salvation before, but new in the sense of now they sing of their redemption in immortal bodies, the culmination of that redemption.

10. “Kings”.

Not only shall “the meek inherit the earth” but they will share with Christ in the rulership of the kingdom. Who better to guide and rule over the peoples of the world than those who share common experiences but have been faithful to God in their own lives.

This will be the fulfilment of so many scriptures;

Psalm 47:2 - 9. “For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. He shall choose our inheritance for us, … For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding, God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. The princes of the people are gathered together, even the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth belong unto God: he is greatly exalted”

Psalm 149:4 – 9. “For the LORD taketh pleasure in His people; He adorneth the humble with salvation. Let the saints exult in glory; let them sing for joy upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; To execute vengeance upon the nations, and chastisements upon the peoples; To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; To execute upon them the judgment written; He is the glory of all His saints. Hallelujah”.

Daniel 7:27. “And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them”.

Luke 19:15 – 19. “And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities”.

Those who will be kings in that day will have served their apprenticeship so to speak in the ‘day of their probation’; but how may you as can “the poor of this world” learn to rule others?

The answer is in Proverbs 25:28, where we read, “He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls”, and again Proverbs 16:32, “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city”.

Here the principle is put negatively and positively. How can you rule other if you cannot rule yourself? Those who will be kings in the age to come will have “followed in his (Jesus) footsteps” and have learned to rule themselves and the lusts or desires within themselves, and consequently have been prepared for the task of ruling the mortals in the kingdom.

“Priests”.

There are two facets to the work of a priest. Firstly Malachi 2:7 says, a “priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts”. How can a priest teach others unless they first study the word of God?

Clearly the basis of this knowledge is to be gained now in our “day of opportunity”, but it also necessitates that the priest have a knowledge of God’s truth before he can disseminate it in a manner that is pleasing to God.

Secondly, we are told in Hebrews 4:15, “we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin”. Here we have the other aspect of a Priest of which Jesus is the ultimate example, that is one who can empathise with those they are instruct in the way of truth.

It is one thing to know what we should do, but when a person fails a priest must also be able to be “touched with the feeling of their infirmities” so that they can empathetically lift that person up and encourage them to persevere in the was of righteousness. “A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth”. Isaiah 42:3.

In the kingdom those who will be “kings and priests” will be given the task of educating and guiding the mortal population of the earth. Isaiah 30:21 says of the mortal population, “thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left”.

11. “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands”.

Those who are the redeemed that are represented by their different symbols (representing different aspects), but are like the “stars of heaven which cannot be numbered” shall raise their voices in praise to the Lord Jesus Christ to who they are eternally indebted, “Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing”. verse 12.

13- 17. Universal Rejoicing.

This in one of those instances we spoke of at the beginning of this series, where events that were to happen, would have such a profound effect that it’s consequences are seen as ushering in the kingdom of God.

Here we have the universal rejoicing that awaits the Lord Jesus as a result of the whole of his work in opening the scrolls. It should be remembered that this vision commenced in 4:1 with a vision of the kingdom, and the reference to the seals is to tell us of events which were the foundation of the kingdom being established.

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