The Revelation - A Book With 7 Seals ?
/ Ewald Frank
nyelv : angol
Más nyelvek
6. Chapter 5 - The mysterious book with the seven seals
- Foreword
- Chapter 1 - Introduction, The Day of the Lord, Origin and significance of the prophetic word
- Chapter 2 - The seven messages of the resurrected Lord, First message, Keep the first love
- Chapter 3 - The fifth message, The Reformation Age, Strengthening the weak in faith
- Chapter 4 - A glimpse into heaven
- Chapter 5 - The mysterious book with the seven seals
- Chapter 6 - The opening of the seals, The unveiling of the power of the antichrist, A general view
- Chapter 7 - The sealed from the Jews
- Chapter 8 - The seventh seal, The silence in heaven, Mercy seat becomes judgement seat, Introduction to the seven trumpet judgements, The first four trumpets
- Chapter 9 - The incomparable torment, The fifth trumpet the first woe
- Chapter 10 - An intermediate vision The open book, The Lord as the Angel of the covenant
- Chapter 11 - The second intermediate vision, The measuring of the temple and the ministry of the two witnesses
- Chapter 12 - The woman clothed with the sun, Christ and His Own, Satan the red dragon and his followers
- Chapter 13 - The visions of Daniel in review of and in connection with the Revelation
- Chapter 14 - The Lamb and the sealed 144,000
- Chapter 15 - The seven bowl judgements and the multitude at the crystal sea
- Chapter 16 - The seven bowls of wrath, The final judgements of Gods indignation
- Chapter 17 - The woman riding on the beast
- Chapter 18 - The destruction of the great Babylon
- Chapter 19 - The rejoicing in heaven over the destruction of Babylon, The marriage of the Lamb
- Chapter 20 - Binding of Satan, Completion of the first resurrection by the martyrs, The Millennial Kingdom
- Chapter 21 - Announcing of the new heaven and the new earth, The glory of the New Jerusalem, The terrible fate of the lost
- Chapter 22 - The river of life and the trees of life, The paradise-like condition during the Millennial Reign
- Appendix - The 70 weeks of Daniel and the current events with Israel in the light of Bible prophecy
Chapter five deals mainly with the mysterious book in the hand of Him Who sitteth on the throne. This book is sealed with seven seals on the back side. "And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the scroll, and to loose its seals?
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the scroll, neither to look on it." (5: 2-3).
This event transpires before our eyes like a drama showing the different roles to convey what is meant, so we can comprehend what lies behind these mysterious symbols. John wept, because nobody in heaven nor on earth was worthy to take the book and to look into the same. Then he was told that there is One. "Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the scroll, and to loose its seven seals.
And I beheld and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
And he came and took the scroll out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne." (5: 6-7). The Lamb, not the Lion, took the book, because this act transpires during the time of grace of the New Testament Church. Here the Son of God is being described as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, which speaks of Him as King. On the other hand He was seen as the Lamb, which shows Him as the Redeemer in connection with the Redeemed. Only the Lamb of God Who redeemed us is worthy to take this book, to break the seals and to reveal all that is hidden in this book.
"And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of saints.
And they sang a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nations;
And hast made us unto our God a kingdom of priests, and we shall reign on the earth." (5: 8-10).
It is certainly not so, that only a few priests as a clergy are destined to act in a state church, but rather that all Redeemed are dedicated unto God as it is written, "And hath made us a kingdom of priests unto God and his Father, to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (1: 6). "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a people of his own …" (1 Pet. 2: 9a).
The four living creatures before the throne do have a special task in connection with the redeemed Church. Therefore, they appear only at the opening of the first four seals. They are not mentioned and could not be in the last three seals. The four horse riders are also only shown in the first four seals and not in the last three. In the twenty four elders, almost unanimously, Bible scholars see the twelve patriarchs as representatives of the Old Testament and the twelve apostles as representatives of the New Testament. Here we find indicated that the fullness of all from the nations and also from the twelve tribes is complete in view of the Millennial Reign. In this connection nothing is said about the Rapture or the Wedding Supper in heaven but rather of the reign on earth.
The heavenly host is joined by ten-thousands times ten-thousands into the song of praise as was not known until that moment. They cry out together, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
And every creature that is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever." (5: 12-13).
From the description it is obvious that this has to do with the realisation and completion of the divine plan of salvation with humanity wherein the whole creation partakes and joins in the praise. At that moment all creatures which were put under vanity and were suffering and groaning will participate in the liberty that the Redeemed shall receive (Rom. 8: 19-25). It is impossible for us to visualise and to picture what freedom the whole universe will experience at that moment. God will place back all He created for His glory into its original destination and will receive the praise from the whole universe.