Bible Commentaries
Revelation 5

Verses 1-14

THE BOOK WITH SEVEN SEALS

THIS book is not the whole Bible, as some have thought, but simply this book of prophecy; i. e., the Apocalypse; i. e., the description of our Lord’s personal revealment back to this world. Zechariah says: “His feet shall stand again on Mt. Olivet.” This book, which John saw in the right hand of the glorified Savior, sitting on His throne, was simply a parchment-roll, looking like a roll of newspapers. It was sealed with seven seals; i. e., it had seven wrappers folded around it and each one fastened with a seal, thus securing the contents of the roll. When the angels shouted, “ Who is worthy to open the book and loose the seals?” heaven and earth were ransacked in vain. No one was found worthy. When John begins to weep, one of the twenty-four elders notifies him that the Lion of the tribe of Judah i. e., Christ Himself hath prevailed to open the book, and loose the seals.

6. “ The Lamb that was slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, having been sent into all the earth.” The atonement is the great work of Christ in which we are most interested. Hence, in these Apocalyptic visions, He appears as the Lamb that was slain and liveth again to intercede for a guilty world. The number seven, constantly applied to Christ, denotes not only His Divinity and humanity united, but that perfection of which He is the incarnation. Horn, in these prophecies, constantly means government. The old prophet says: “The government shall be on His shoulders.” Hence “seven horns” denotes His perfect government. The eye symbolizes knowledge. Hence, “ seven eyes ” means His omniscience. “ Seven Spirits ” means the Holy Spirit, whom Christ has sent into all the world, to save every human being who will let Him, whether Jew, Christian, Mohammedan, or Heathen.

9. We see in this verse that the redemption extends indiscriminately to all the nations who have ever lived upon the earth.

11. We see here the transfigured Millennial saints who shall reign with Christ a thousand years, estimated a hundred and one millions.