Chapter 16.5
The Seven Seals
The
Scroll and the Lamb - Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?
No
one in heaven or earth or under the earth could open the scroll or look inside.
Chapter Five - The Seven
Seals
Revelation 5:1 - Then I saw in the right hand of him who
sat on the throne a scroll with writing on BOTH SIDES and sealed with SEVEN
SEALS.
The scene unfolds in heaven
before the Tribulations begin, in fact it is the opening of the seals that
causes the tribulations to slowly unfold. Seals can be used to seal up something or a
seal can be a MARK OF A
COVENANT with
someone. Seals are placed by the owner
as his mark
of ownership.[1] Neither Angels, nor Satan himself could open
the seven
seals on the scroll.
The one who is deemed worthy must be able to open ALL SEVEN SEALS in progression.
The Lion
Revelation 5:2-5 - And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud
voice,
"Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?"
3 But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth
could open the scroll or even look inside it.
4 I wept and
wept because no one was found who was worthy
to open the scroll or look inside.
5 Then one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep!
See, the LION of the tribe
of Judah, the Root of
David, has triumphed.
He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals."
John is WITNESS
as he see Jesus the Christ as the ONLY
ONE with
the authority to open the seals on the scroll. Roman law required
that a WILL must be sealed seven times. The penalty for breaking the seal by someone
not authorized or someone unworthy; is death.
The scroll is not named in scripture or told what it represents, however
some students of the Word BS refer to the scroll As The Title Deed To Earth as He not only created
it, but He also redeemed it. Others
BS
embraces that the scroll represents the Ten Commandments
whereof the earth will be judged.
Others BS
embrace that it represents the New Covenant with Israel.[2] I will put my laws into their hearts and
write them in their minds. (Lots of
thoughts and emotions on this one to identify what it represents. In my BS; if the scroll had a name THAT WAS OF IMPORTANTANCE, God would
have told us so.)
The Book
of Revelation is the only place
where Jesus is referred to as the “LION”, but it can also
be found in prophecies in the Old Testament. In my Belief System, I can
just see in the TAPERSTY workmanship of
the “THE LION”, seamlessly interwoven in it His majesty,
sovereignty, and judgment.
Jesus’ genealogy stems from Judah whose standard or banner was the Lion. [3]
Did you see it? John WEPT because he did not know of anyone who was
WORTHY to open the seven seals on the scroll, BUT... BUT... I bet you missed it... It was a SET UP from the beginning just for John to
report... Heaven
has been witness to what has transpired... The 24
Sprit Filled
elders surrounding the throne KNEW that the LION
of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David,
is worthy
and able to open the scroll with its seven seals.
In my BS I see John and the RAPTURED
CHURCH present in heaven being
given a sermonette illuminating that
there is only ONE that is WORTHY; Jesus
Christ the Lamb of God. NOTE:
The OT prophets were actors
and would act out a scene so that God’s people would remember it and take heed.
I can just hear them now.... Let’s go over and see what that old fool PROPHET is going to do
today.
The Lamb
Revelation 5:6 - Then I saw a LAMB, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the
center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures
and the elders. He had seven HORNS and seven eyes,
which are the seven
spirits of God sent out into all
the earth.
The Lamb is characteristic of;
Christ at his birth; meekness, grace and as Savior. Notice Christ is standing, He has just
returned from earth and has not yet set down at the right hand of the
father.
Lamb is used 29 times
in the Revelation; the Bible can be summarized by tracing the Lamb through the scriptures.
“Behold the
Lamb of God”[4] – “Worthy is the Lamb”[5] - "Look, the
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”[6] - “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed”.[7]
Jesus Christ, who
is the Lamb and the Lion is the center of chapter five
A HORN was a symbol for a kingdom and the mention of other
horns indicates a PROGRESSION of kingdoms.
Here the symbol Seven means completeness and is “The complete kingdom of Christ”, which
includes Jews and Gentiles.
The SEVEN
EYES are the characteristics of the complete Holy Spirit. [8]
Man was made a little lower than the
angels.[9] God sent his son Jesus, also made a little
lower than the angels[10]
that he should experience everything as man
before he is crowned with glory and honor.
Right Hand of God
Revelation 5:7 - He came and took the scroll from the RIGHT HAND of Him who sat on
the throne.
God is the one on the Throne
and “THE RIGHT HAND” is His hand of
AUTHORITY, POWER and
MAJESTY.[11] He gives the Scroll to Jesus the Lamb of God
who is no longer our INTERCESSOR, because we as the
church are now with Him. He is ready to move and to rule as JUDGE. If
you do not embrace as Pre-Tribulation Rapture, I can understand that
it will be hard for your BS to accept this.
Golden Bowls - New Song
Revelation 5:8-10 - And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four
elders fell down before the
Lamb.
Each one had a harp and they were holding
GOLDEN BOWLS full
of incense,
which are the prayers of the saints.[12]
9 And THEY SANG a NEW
SONG:
"You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men
for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10 You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the
earth."
The singers have to be
THE REDEEMED[13] from the earth,
because angels cannot sing this song.
Many people worship God, but not Jesus Christ;
this is an insult to the Father. The
elders represent the Priesthood of the body of Christ PRESENTING THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS and their harps
are symbolic of their offered praise to God and the Lamb
Bunch of Angels
Revelation 5:11 - Then I looked and heard the voice of many
angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand.
They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders.
Ten thousand times ten
thousand or 100 million is to
be taken as a “figure
of speech”, as innumerable –
such as sand
of the sea or stars in the
sky.[14] Seventy times seven – is a figure of speech…
Forgive so many times that you will lose count of
how many times you have forgiven someone.[15] Remember seven is completeness.
Just for fun, if you take this number LITERALLY, it would mean
Satan had already taken one-third or 50
million Angels with him when he rebelled...
So it’s still “two to one”, God’s favor.
Angels have power, but do not have thrones or crowns or SOULS, so they cannot be saved or redeemed if they sin.
The Angels Sing
Revelation 5:12 - In a loud voice THEY (the angels and the Church) sang:
"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom
and
strength and honor and glory and praise!"
These SEVEN words, Power, Wealth,
Wisdom, Strength, Honor, Glory and Praise
are the attributes of Christ – The
number SEVEN is
symbolic of completeness.
Did you see it? Scripture
says THEY sang... In my BS, I see
the “THEY” are the 24 Elders, the Angels,
THE CHURCH, and ALL of Gods other living
creatures in heaven SINGING PRAISES.
Angels can SPEAK,
SERVE, SING, PRAISE, and WORSHIP God.
In my BS,
I crawl into the room with John as he
tries to WRITE and I am
overwhelmed as I hear 50 million Angels in the throne room, half in a the circle, SINGING and CHANTING... “Power,” then 50 million on the other half responding, “Wealth” then passing it back to
the other side chanting “Wisdom”, then back “Strength”; What an awesome sound; a choir of an uncountable worshipers.
Revelation 5:13-14 - Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea,
and all that is in them, SINGING:
"To him who sits on the throne and to
the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power, FOR EVER AND EVER!"
14 The four LIVING creatures (Representing
creation; beast, cattle, man, and
fowl) said, "Amen," and the elders (Representing the 12 tribes and 12 Disciples)
FELL DOWN and worshiped.
In my BS, as I climb into this heavenly scene, I hear PRAISE,
not only in heaven, but on earth, as well as under the earth and even on
the sea praising the Lamb for all those that will come to the saving grace of Jesus Christ during this TRIBULATION
PERIOD.
ALL
OF CREATION praises God each time someone
believes in FAITH and receives
Jesus as their savior, repents
and does a U-TURN back from their
wicked ways.[16]
EACH TIME Satan is defeated and another Soul is plucked from the pit of Hell,
I hear the deafening applause as the “HALLELUJAH
CHORUS” from Handel’s Messiah rings out even into
the depth of earth.
Did you see it? While the Holy Spirit’s restraining
forces of Satan activities have
now been removed from earth, the
Holy
Spirit’s Saving grace has remained
calling out to all who would hear.
Here’s where we are
ü In Moses time, their tribulation plagues “Passed over”
the children of Israel, but not this time.
The Jews and the Gentiles get it full force of His wrath, there is no Passover.
ü The tribulation is a seven year period in which God deals with
Israel preparing her for the
Messiah as well as the rest of the un-believing nations.[17] There will be
judgments, punishment, destruction, darkness and desolation.
ü The tribulation period starts with the
opening of the first seal which occurs shortly after the rapture or translation
of the Church. Many facets of the
tribulation began long before the rapture, by as much as 30 years, such as the birth of
the Antichrist and False Prophet.
So in essence you could say that the rapture and tribulation “sort of” overlap each other.
ü The Antichrist will already be on the scene before the
rapture as a peaceful
conqueror and helps establish the
United
States of Europe which we call
the revived
Roman Empire. He is not a
world leader as of yet and by all outwardly appearances, seems to be a good
guy.
ü Egypt and Russia have become a
threat to Israel. The Antichrist, probably a Nobel Peace Prize winner enters
into a Peace agreement between Rome and Israel which starts the time clock on
the tribulation period. Israel has peace
for 3½ years until he breaks the agreement.
ü Isaiah warned the Jews that the agreement would
be an agreement
with death.[18] The last 3
½ years are known as the “Great” Tribulations;
“Jacobs
Trouble”.
ü Jeremiah the prophet speaks of the second half of
the tribulation as “Jacobs Trouble” and that he (Israel) WILL
BE SAVED out of it. [19]
From the Dead Sea Scrolls – The
Priestly Messiah
“And now I
have much grief, my children, because of your lewdness
and witchcrafts, and idolatries
which you shall practice…. And ye shall mingle in the abominations
of the Gentiles.
For which things sake (The
Tribulations) the Lord shall bring upon you famine
and pestilence, death and the sword… The laying waste of the land,
the enslavement of yourselves among the Gentiles.”
The Scroll - Rabbit Trail
During trying times a Jewish family might have to give their land as a
pledge to satisfy a debt. The debtor
could be taken as a slave for six years, but at the seventh go free. Land could not be taken away
permanently,[20] but could be
pledged till the debt was paid.
A scroll was prepared, written on the inside describing the possession,
then rolled up. The terms, conditions and qualifications
for a redeemer to purchase back the possessions were written on the outside
of the scroll and then it was sealed with SEVEN
SEALS and
placed in the Temple. When a qualified
redeemer was found to open the
scroll, the possessions were returned.
God gave Adam the right to
reign over the earth. He lost that right
to Satan
when he sinned... the land became cursed with sorrow, thistles and thorns and
Man became a
slave to sin
UNTIL
THE DEBT WAS PAID.
The redeemer of the scroll
had to meet certain qualifications;[21]
Be a near kinsman;
Acting freely
on his own; and
Have the ability to pay the price.
Upon redemption; the Priest verified the qualifications; the redeemer paid the price[22] and then opened
the scroll and redeemed
the land.
Remembering a day to the Lord is like a thousand years;[23] the slave would
work 6 years (6,000 years) then go
free at the seventh year. We are
entering the 7th year (the last 1,000
years; the millennium reign.) when
Christ will redeem the saints and the earth; all His creation.
Each seal is a day and at the seventh seal the redemption of man and
earth is complete. God made Adam the
dictator of the earth, but he lost it... A near kinsman, God’s Son Jesus, was ready, willing and able to
redeem the earth and free the slaves to sin.[24] Christ’s paid the price with His death on the cross. He has the power to lay down His life and the
power to pick it up again.[25]
DEBT PAID; we have been
redeemed and not only do we get the land back, but it is recreated NEW just
like it was in the Garden of Eden. PRAISE THE
LIVING LORD.
Man’s
inheritance was lost in the Garden of Eden, but was redeemed by Jesus at
the CROSS.[26]
DOOMSDAY CLOCK
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientist, starting in
1947, displayed a DOOMSDAY
CLOCK set at seven minutes before
ü
January
1947,
The Doomsday Clock displayed for the first time Seven minutes till Midnight
ü
January
1991, The
Doomsday Clock was set at Seventeen minutes the largest
movement ever.
ü
January 2010, The Doomsday Clock was set BACK a single minute for the first time in its 63-year
history. This moved the clock
from the original 7 minutes before midnight to
six minutes.
ü
January 2021 the clock is NOW setting
at 100 seconds until midnight.
NOTE:
Man has never invented a weapon that he has not used.[27]
There is not an “intermediate
place” for the unsaved when
they die. There is no
purgatory, or money
that can be paid, or prayers
that can be offered for a loved one. There’s
not another chance to embrace Christ. There is no
debate with God.[28] It’s all over, you CANNOT crossover.[29]
Someone dies every 20 seconds in the United States, that’s three people
every minute not counting the murdered aborted babies. Everyone will spend eternity somewhere!
In the true story of the Rich man and Lazarus, when they both died, neither ceased to exist, they were both still
alive, but in different places. It’s not
a pretty picture. Luke
16:19-31
Every eight seconds there is a new birth, someone that needs to hear the
good news of Jesus Christ.
How will they
hear when the Holy Spirit and the church are gone?
If you embrace Christianity just to have a “FIRE ESCAPE”, then you just... “Don’t get it”.
Luke 16:19-31 – The True Story of a Rich man and a Poor
man named Lazarus
Jesus said, “There was a certain RICH
MAN who was splendidly clothed in purple and
fine linen and who lived each day in luxury. At his gate lay a poor man named LAZARUS who was covered with sores. “Finally, the poor man died and was carried by the angels to be with Abraham.
The RICH
MAN also died and was buried, and his soul
went to the place of the dead. There, in
torment,
he saw Abraham
in the far distance with LAZARUS at his side
The RICH
MAN shouted, ‘Father Abraham, have some pity! Send LAZARUS over here to dip the tip of his finger in
water and cool my tongue. I am in anguish in these flames.’
“But Abraham
said to him, ‘Son, remember that during your lifetime you had everything you
wanted, and LAZARUS had nothing. So now he is here being comforted, and you are in anguish. And besides, there is a GREAT CHASM separating
us. No one can cross over to you from here, and no one can cross
over to us from there.’
Then
the RICH MAN said, ‘Please, Father Abraham, at least send
him to my father’s home.
For
I have five brothers, and I want him to warn them so they don’t end up in this
place of torment.’
“But Abraham
said, ‘Moses and the prophets have warned them. Your brothers can read what
they wrote.’ The RICH MAN replied,
‘No, Father Abraham! But if someone
is sent to them from the dead, then they will repent of their sins and turn to
God.’ But Abraham said, ‘If they won’t
listen to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even if someone rises from
the dead.’”
Note: This is a true story, a parable never
has a person’s given name recorded.
[1] Romans 4:10 - And he
received the sign of circumcision, a SEAL of
the righteousness that he had by faith
while he was still uncircumcised -- Exodus 28:36 - Make a plate of pure gold
and engrave on it as on a SEAL:
HOLY TO THE LORD -- Matthew 27:66 - So
they went and made the tomb secure by putting a SEAL on the stone and posting
the guard
[2] Jeremiah 31:31-33 - The days are coming,” declares the LORD,
“when I WILL MAKE
A NEW COVENANT
with the
people of Israel
and with the people of Judah. “I will put my law in
their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and
they will be my people
[3] Genesis 49:9 - You are a LION'S CUB, O Judah -- Isaiah 11:1 -
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from
his roots a Branch will bear fruit -- Isaiah 11:10 - In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a BANNER for the peoples; the
nations will rally to him
[4] John 1:36 - When he saw
Jesus passing by, he said, "Look, the Lamb of
God!”
[5] Revelation 5:12 - And they sang in a mighty chorus: “WORTHY IS THE LAMB who was slaughtered— to
receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and
honor and glory and blessing
[6] John 1:29 - The next day
John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the
Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world
-- 2 Chronicals 35:1 - Josiah celebrated the Passover to the LORD in Jerusalem, and the Passover lamb was slaughtered on the 14 day
[7] 1 Corenthians 5:7 - Get
rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed --
1 Peter 1:18-20 - But with the precious blood of
Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the
creation of the world -- Acts 8:32 - He was led like a
sheep to the slaughter, as a lamb
before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his
mouth
[8] Isaiah 11:2-9 - The Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of
might, the Spirit of the knowledge
and fear of the LORD with righteousness
he will judge with justice he
will give decisions Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness his sash
[9] Psalm 8:4-5 - What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of
man that you care for him. You made him a little lower
than the heavenly beings and crowned him
with glory and honor
[10] Hebrews 2:7-9 - But we see Jesus,
who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because
he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for
everyone
[11] Exodus 15:6 - Your right hand, O LORD, was majestic in power. Your
right hand, O LORD,
shattered the enemy. -- Psalm 63:8 - My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. -- Psalm 118:16 - The LORD's right
hand is lifted high; the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!" -- Isaiah
41:13 - For I am the LORD, your
God, who takes hold of your right hand and says
to you, Do not fear;
[12] Psalm 141:2 - May my prayer be set before you like incense; may the lifting up of my hands be like the
evening sacrifice.
[13] Revelation 14:3 - And they sang a new song before the throne and before the
four living creatures and the elders. No one could
learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth.
[14] Genesis 41:49 - Joseph
stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand
of the sea; it was so much that he stopped
keeping records because it was beyond measure. -- Genesis 32:12 - I will surely make you
prosper and will make your descendants like the sand
of the sea, which cannot be counted.” -- Hebrews
11:12 - from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous
as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
[15] Matthew 18:21-22 - How
oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus
saith unto him, I say not unto thee, until seven times: but, until SEVENTY TIMES
SEVEN.
[16] Matthew 18:12-14 - If a man has a hundred
sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on
the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? HE REJOICES OVER IT MORE THAN OVER THE NINETY-NINE that never went astray. It is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one
of these little ones should perish.
[17] Malachi 4:5-6 - See, I WILL SEND YOU
THE PROPHET ELIJAH BEFORE THAT GREAT AND DREADFUL DAY OF THE LORD comes. He will turn the hearts of the fathers to
their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers;
[18] Isaiah 28:15 - We have entered into a covenant with death, for we have made a lie our refuge and falsehood our hiding
place - Isaiah 28:18 - Your covenant with
death will be annulled; your agreement with the grave will not stand.
[19] Jeremiah 30:7 - How awful that day will be! None will be like it. It will be
a time of trouble for Jacob, BUT HE WILL BE SAVED OUT OF IT -- Daniel 12:1 - There
shall be a time of trouble, such as never was
since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time THY PEOPLE SHALL BE DELIVERED, every one that
shall be found written in the book -- Matthew 24:21-22 - For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the
beginning of the world until now-and never to be equaled again If those days had not been cut short, no one would
survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened.
[20] Leviticus 25:23-26 - The land must not be sold permanently his nearest relative is to come and redeem what his
countryman has sold
[21] Matthew 3:17 - This is my
Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.
[22] 1 Peter 1:18-20 - You were redeemed with the precious blood of
Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.
[23] 2 Peter 3:8 - With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand
years are like a day.
[24] Revelation 22:16 - The
Angel gives you this testimony... I am the Root and
the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star
[25] John 10:17-18 - I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up
again
[26] Romans 8:1-3 - Because
through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death God did this by sending his own Son in the
likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. Therefore,
there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus -- Hebrews
2:14 - So that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of
death-that is, the devil -- Hebrews 2:9 - He is now
crowned with glory and honor because He suffered
death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone
[27] Deuteronomy 30:19- I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life,
so that you and your children may live – Revelation 3:20 - Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my
voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
[28] Daniel 4:35 - No one can
hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you
done?" -- Romans 9:20-21 - But who are you, O man, to talk back to
God? Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay
some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?
[29] Hebrews 9:27 - It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment -- Romans 1:32 - Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them -- Romans 2:13 - For it is not those who HEAR the law who
are righteous
in God's sight, but it is those who OBEY the law who will be declared
righteous
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