The Divine Library (8)

In this chapter we will focus on the Book of Revelation's book (or scroll) with seven seals. It is one of the most mysterious books in the divine library and bible teachers and commentators have not been uniform in their interpretation of it. In my own efforts to ascertain the significance of this seven sealed book I was helped much by what Dr. J.A. Seiss wrote in one of his more famous books titled "The Apocalypse." He connected this book, and with what occurs in conjunction with the book's opening and the breaking of its seals, with redemption. 

Most bible students do not see the events and scenes of Revelation (or the Apocalypse) with redemption. How are the awful scenes of famine, death, slaughter, plagues, earthquakes, etc., connected with "the day or redemption"? 

The Seven Sealed Book

"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" (Rev. 5: 1-2 nkjv)

To see the proof that the seven sealed book of the Apocalypse is a book of redemption one needs to read Jeremiah chapter 32. In my series titled "Redemption" I wrote on this seven sealed book extensively. I have moved all of these chapters into a blog all their own (here). They are also in this blog beginning (here) and the rest immediately following in the archives for the months of April through July of 2018. In chapter one I cite these various words of Seiss from his book "The Apocalypse":

"It is not ecclesiastical history, which this book is introduced to foreshow, but something to which all ecclesiastical history is only the prelude and introduction, and which the Scriptures call “The redemption of the purchased possession.”

It may be well here for us to correct a misapprehension which largely obtains in the common conception of what redemption is. When this word is used, most men’s minds go back to the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Christ, and think of something already accomplished and complete in the blessed facts of the blessed Saviour’s history. This is well enough as far as it goes, and touches indeed, the great central particulars on which redemption reposes. But, viewed as a whole, redemption is a vastly wider and more wondrous thing."

"Redemption has its roots and foundations in the past, but its true realization lies in the future, and connects directly with the period and transactions to which our text (Rev. chpt. 5) relates."

"The Scriptures everywhere point forward to Christ’s Apocalypse, as the time when first the mystery shall be finished, and the long process reach its proper consummation. Jesus talked to His disciples about the signs which were to precede His coming, and said, “When these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.” (Luke 21:28.) In His view, then, redemption proper, or in its true reality, lies far more in the future than in the past; so much more that the past is hardly to be named apart from what is yet to come. And with all Paul’s glorying in the cross, he did not hesitate to say: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are, of all men, most miserable;” and that “the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now; and not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of the body.” (1 Corinthians 15:19; Romans 8:22, 23.) He speaks of Christians as indeed “sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,” which he commends greatly, but which he pronounces the mere “earnest” or pledge penny of something vastly greater — of an “inheritance” still future, which is only to come at a yet unaccomplished “redemption of the purchased possession.” (Ephesians 1:13, 14.) To him, therefore, redemption is still largely a subject of hope. There is an inheritance pledged, and a possession purchased, but it is not yet redeemed. The action of claiming, disencumbering, and taking possession of it is still future. And it is just this action that is brought to our view in the taking up of this book and the breaking of its seals."

"The word redemption comes to us, and takes its significance from certain laws and customs of the ancient Jews. Under these laws and customs, it was impossible to alienate estates beyond a given time. Whatever disposition one may have been forced to make of his lands, and whoever might be found in possession of them, the year of Jubilee returned them to the lawful representatives of their former owners." 

"Upon this regulation there was founded another, which made it the right of the nearest of kin to one who, through distress or otherwise, had alienated his inheritance to another party, to step in and redeem it; that is, to buy it back, and retake it, at any time, or at such times not falling within certain stipulated intervals. When an inheritance was thus disponed away by its rightful possessor, there were two books, or instruments of writing, made of the transaction, the one open, and the other sealed, specifying price and particulars. These books or mortgage deeds went into the hands of the one to whom the property was thus made over. A sealed book thus became a standing sign of an alienated inheritance, but so held as to be liable to be recovered on the terms specified. And when any one legally representing the original proprietor, was found competent to lift and destroy that sealed instrument, and thus to buy back what had been disponed away, he was called the goel, or redeemer, and the inheritance was considered redeemed, so far that he now had full right to dispossess of it whoever might be found on it, and to enter upon its undisturbed fruition."

"From this it will be seen, that the transactions which John witnessed, in regard to this sealed book, accord precisely with this ancient arrangement for the redemption of inheritances. And the coincidence is so complete, and sealed books in Scripture are so much confined to this particular sort of writings, that I take it as separating this book in God’s right hand from all other subjects to the one subject of forfeited inheritances."

"We also know very well, that there has been an inheritance forfeited and disponed away for these thousands of years, and that for all this time the proper heirs have lain out of it, and had no proper possession of it. That inheritance we know to be just ta panta — the all things — in which man, in his first creation, was installed, and which God made good, and sin made evil. Everything testifies that it was a high, holy, and blessed investiture. But, alas, its original possessor sinned, and it passed out of his hands to the disinheritance of all his seed. The sealed book, the title deeds of its forfeiture and mortgage, are in the hands of God, and strangers and intruders have overrun and debased it. And from the days of Adam until now, those deeds have lain in the Almighty’s hands, with no one to take them up or to dispossess the aliens."

“Seven seals” are upon this book, indicative of the completeness of those bonds of forfeit which have all this while debarred Adam’s seed from their proper inheritance. The original estate is totally gone from man, apart from some competent Redeemer. Just as the final taking of the book, and the breaking of its seals, eventuate in complete redemption, and the full reinstatement of the acknowledged seed into the blessedness which sin forfeited, and the Goel redeemed, so those seals unbroken, set forth the completeness of the alienation, and the thoroughness of the incumbrances which are upon the estate, until that competent Goel has performed his work."

"This book was “written within and on the back.” This again tends to identify it with these books of forfeited inheritances. Within were the specifications of the forfeiture; without were the names and attestations of the witnesses; for this is the manner in which these documents were attested."

In this series I cited the following words from the prophet Jeremiah, also cited by Seiss, and made the following comments.

"And Jeremiah said, The word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it. So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the Lord, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the Lord." (Jer. 32: 6-8 KJV)

Notice what this text reveals about Hebrew laws of forfeiture and redemption. It speaks of the "redeemer" (Hebrew goel) who has "the right of redemption" (authority "to buy" or "buy back") and "the right of inheritance" ("the redemption is thine"). Because of sin, our "rights" to all good are lost, but because of the "redeemer" (Christ), they are restored. Further, because the rights are restored by the redeemer paying the price of redemption, they can then be enforced and such enforcement restores what was lost to those who are redeemed.

"And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances. So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open: And I gave the evidence of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison. And I charged Baruch before them, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days." (9-14)

Here is a description of redemption as it deals with restoring a lost inheritance. There are "books" (scrolls) in connection with the acts of redemption. There is an "open scroll" and a "sealed scroll." Notice how these legal documents are described. Jeremiah says "I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it." He speaks of "the evidence of the purchase." He did all this redeeming transaction in the "presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book of the purchase." In a similar manner are real estate transactions performed in our day in our country.

When a person borrows money on his real estate, the lender receives a "mortgage" or "deed of trust" in exchange. However, unlike borrowing money through a pawn shop for personal property, the borrower (mortgager) retains possession and legal ownership. When the borrower is foreclosed upon, all rights to possession and ownership are forever lost, and there is no "right of redemption." Also, "deeds of trust" or "mortgages" are publicly recorded documents (or "open according to the law and custom") and disclose certain items to the general public. However, the "note" is not recorded, but is kept sealed so far as public view is concerned. The note contains particulars that the deed of trust does not contain, which is private information of concern to only the parties involved, namely the borrower and the lender."

Wrote Seiss:

"It is in the right hand of God. No literal hand is described; but, so to speak, it was on the right hand of the undescribed and indescribable One who occupied the throne. This is significant of His high and supreme right to what the sealed instrument binds. Failing from man, it reverted to the original Giver. Sin cannot vitiate any of the rights of God. Satan’s possession is a mere usurpation, permitted for the time, but in no way detrimental to the proprietorship of the Almighty. The true right still lives in the hand of God, until the proper Goel comes to redeem it, by paying the price, and ejecting the alien and his seed."

"John knew by that Spirit in which he was, what that sealed book meant. He knew that if no one was found worthy and able to take it from the hand of God, and to break its seals, that all the promises of the prophets, and all the hopes of the saints, and all the preintimations of a redeemed world, must fail. He understood the office of the Goel, and that if there was failure at this point, “the redemption of the purchased possession” must fail. Could it be possible that this should be? Had he all this while been hoping, and preaching, and prophesying what should, after all, not be accomplished? Was the promised inheritance, now at the ripened moment for its recovery, to go by default into eternal alienation? How could he bear the thought?

That book, unlifted and unopened, is the Church’s grief and distress. It bespeaks the inheritance unredeemed — the children still estranged from their purchased possession. But that book opened, is the Church’s joy and glory. It is the assertion of her reinstatement into what Adam lost — the recovery to her of all of which she has been so long and cruelly deprived by sin. Until, therefore, that book is opened, and its seals broken, the people of God must remain in privation, sorrow, and tears."

“And He came and took [the book] from the right hand of Him that sitteth upon the throne.” 

This is the sublimest individual act recorded in the Apocalypse. It is the act which includes all that suffering creation, and the disinherited saints of God have been sighing, and crying, and waiting for, for all these long ages — for six thousand years of grief and sorrow. It is the act which carries with it all else that is written in the succeeding part of this glorious revelation. It is the act by virtue of which the world is subdued, Babylon judged, Antichrist destroyed, the dragon vanquished, death overthrown, the curse expunged, the earth made new, and the reign of everlasting blessedness and peace made to cover its hills and illuminate its valleys, and transform it into an unfading paradise of God. It was the lifting of the title deeds of the alienated inheritance — the legal act of repossession of all that was lost in Adam, and paid for by the blood and tears of the Son of God. Heaven looks on in solemn silence as that act is being performed. The universe is stricken with awe, and grows breathless as it views it. And the Living ones, and Elders, and all the hosts of angels, are filled with adoring wonder and joy, as if another FIAT had gone forth from God for a new creation."

Of course, discussing this glorious book of redemption or title deed to all things lost by sin requires much more commentary. That is why I recommend reading my blog dedicated to the subject of redemption for I go into more detail than here. I have only given a portion of what Seiss wrote and I encourage the reader to read Seiss' book on the Apocalypse, which should be available to read for free online. His commentary on the seven sealed book is in his lecture on Revelation chapter five. But, I will make a few comments before we end this chapter.

Very few commentators connect the opening of the seven sealed book with final redemption at the second coming of Christ. Ellicott in his commentary lists some of these views when he wrote (highlighting mine):

"But what is meant by the book? Numberless interpretations have been offered: it is the Old Testament; it is the whole Bible; it is the title-deed of man’s inheritance; it is the book containing the sentence of judgment on the foes of the faith; it is the Apocalypse; it is part of the Apocalypse; it is the book of God’s purposes and providence. There is a truth underlying most of these interpretations, but most of them narrow the force of the vision. If we say it is the book which unfolds the principles of God’s government—in a wide sense, the book of salvation (comp. Romans 16:25-26)— the interpretation of life, which Christ alone can bestow (see Revelation 5:3-6), we shall include, probably, the practical truths which underlie each of these interpretations; for all—Old Testament and New, man’s heritage and destiny, God’s purposes and providence— are dark, till He who is the Light unfolds those truths which shed a light on all. Such a book becomes one “which contains and interprets human history,” and claims the kingdoms of the earth for God."

I agree with the fact that many of the views enumerated above do have some truth, but nevertheless fail to mention its connection with redemption. The view that says that the seven sealed scroll is part of the Apocalypse is certainly true. But, "the Apocalypse of Christ" (the divine title to the book of Revelation) has to do with the second coming of Christ and all that is connected with it and final redemption is one of the grand things happening as a result of that second coming. Those who think that the scroll simply is a book foretelling future events also miss hitting the mark, even though the coming Apocalypse (revealing) of Jesus Christ from heaven is yet future.

However, the seven seals on the scroll have not been broken, nor has its contents written on the inside been made known. The opening of the seven seals has not yet occurred, but it will occur in conjunction with that time "when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed (apocalypse) from heaven with his mighty angels taking vengeance on them that know not God and obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (II Thess. 1: 7-8 kjv) Part of a Redeemer's work is not only to liberate the captives from their bondage but to act as the family Avenger and bring vengeance to the ones who enslaved the redeemer's kin. Now let us cite the whole context from Revelation chapter five about this fascinating little book.

"2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals." 6 And I looked, and behold, 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 out into all the earth. 7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth." (Rev. 5: 2-10 nkjv)

Why did John weep deeply and long because the seven sealed scroll was not opened, and no one being found worthy or qualified to break the seals and disclose its contents? It was because he knew that as long as that scroll remained sealed there would be no redemption of what was lost by sin. That would mean man's salvation was not possible. However, Christ as the Lamb of God was worthy, and he first paid the price for redemption by the shedding of his blood and sacrificial death, and was qualified to be the Goel because he also a near kinsman to man by having become a man himself.

As each seal is opened some act of redemption is occurring, though what occurs is all the awful horrors and terrors described in the book of Revelation. But, keep in mind that Christ is acting as an Avenging Redeemer and is punishing the wicked for their rebellion and refusal to worship only the one true God, and ridding the world of the proud, the lawless, all who are squatters whom the Avenging Redeemer will uproot from the earth in fulfillment of ancient prophecies. The opening of these seals bring complete redemption to believers and also to the whole groaning creation (Rom. 8: 19-22), but it brings divine retribution to all who love not the Lord Jesus Christ, many of whom chose the Antichrist instead. The opening of the seals takes in what is called in scripture "the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men" (II Peter 3: 7), "the day of wrath" (Rom. 2: 5; etc.), "the day of vengeance" (Isa. 63: 4; Luke 21: 22; etc.), "the day of the Lord" (Amos 5: 18; I Thess. 5: 2; etc.), negative things for many, but positive things for the few who are the children of God, for this same time period is their "day of redemption," and day of rejoicing. This truth is seen in Amos chapter five (referenced above).

"18 Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! For what good is the day of the Lord to you? It will be darkness, and not light. 19 It will be as though a man fled from a lion, And a bear met him! Or as though he went into the house, Leaned his hand on the wall, And a serpent bit him! 20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light? Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?" (5: 18-20 nkjv)

The day of the Lord and the day of redemption will be for a good end purpose for the people of God, but it will be for a bad end for the those who have chosen other gods and covenanted with the Devil. In the above text this day of the Lord, for those who will find it to be a time of vengeance upon them, will begin with the beginning of a day of tribulation, described above in being a dark day when a man is in danger of being a prey to a lion, and if escaping that, to meet a bear, and if he escapes that, to go into a house for safety but ironically being bitten by a venomous snake. The Book of Revelation describes the coming of the Lord and the opening of the seals of the redemptive scroll as a time of "great tribulation" (Rev. 7: 14 and in the sermon on the mount in Matt. 24), which is what the text above in Amos likewise says. The apostle Paul described the day of vengeance in the same way when he said:

"since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." (II Thess. 1: 6-8 nkjv)

Bringing "tribulation" upon those who have rejected God and his Son and the Gospel and its offers of salvation is connected with Christ being revealed from heaven, which is his Apocalypse. 

What is written on the outside (seen for all to read) of the seven sealed scroll? What is written on the inside (which is hidden from the view)?

In the next chapter we will, however, have more to say about this sealed book because we see it mentioned later in the Apocalypse, and we should not end our focus on this divine book in the library of God without looking at those texts where we see in chapter ten where a mighty angel has a "little book" in his hand and where the apostle John is told to go take the book and to eat it. Needless to say, this book of redemption is perhaps the most important one in his library, so far as we are concerned.