Revelation 5:1-4

Revelation 5:1-4

In our nation’s history, there have been some important court cases and transaction. It is through the government that history has been made. For instance, in 1803 the United States made one of the biggest and best deals in its history. The Louisiana Purchase. Where the US bought around 828,000 square miles of property.

Well, that was a vast amount of land that we acquired, but it doesn’t cover all of the US. Nor does it cover the whole world.

This world, when it was formed and created by God, was given to man to care for. But man, not heeding the words of God, lost the possession, to Satan. And it has been under the control of Satan ever since.

Well, John was ushered into the throne room of God, and while this is a place that worships God and shows that quite vividly in chapter four, we also see that this is a place of business. It is the highest courtroom in the universe, and it is about to have the biggest legal case ever known.

It is not a portion of land that is being discussed and dealt with, it is the deed to the entire planet. So, we are now seeing one of the most historic events that will soon happen.

Verse 1 – And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back side, sealed with seven seals.

· John has seen the magnificence of Heaven, he has seen the creatures and elders, but now he is focusing on the activity that is transpiring in this Holy place.

· The main focus of this chapter revolves around a particular book. First let take notice of where this book is at.

· The book that John sees is in the right hand of God (of him that on sot on the throne). We have established earlier in our studies, that the right hand of God is place of power and importance.

· For instance, in Revelation 1:16, is where the seven stars a reference to the seven churches were at. Listen the church is important to Christ.

· It is a hand of comfort, because in 1:17, it is the same hand that is laid upon John to comfort him.

· The right hand has been shown to us to be a side of favor and strength, it is the side where Jesus sits. And within the right hand is this important document. The scripture tells us it is a book, some Bible translations tell us it is a scroll.

· No matter how you may try to imagine it, it is a document of great importance, because of its placement in the hand of God.

· This document is a book that is written within and on the backside. So, this important document is seen here to have important information within it.

· What is this document, this book, this scroll? I believe it to be the title to the earth. The very creation that we live on. A document that reveals the true ownership of this planet.

· Now this document is sealed. Meaning that it is not meant for everyone to open. But only the one who has the authority to open it.

· For instance, I am not to go an open another person’s mail, when it has their name on it. So, as a precaution, a person may put some kind of label, or tamperproof measures, to insure that the document is not read by those it doesn’t belong too.

· This document is a Godly document, in the fact that it is sealed with seven seals. The number seven has been seen throughout the Bible as to be associated with God. It is a number of perfection, it is God’s number.

· So, this document is a Godly document. Now this world was created by God, it was his design, and this scroll belongs to the one who truly owns it.

· So, John is in the presence of God, who within his hand stretches out to reveal that this scroll is in his hand.

· As we made reference earlier, this is a deed. In biblical times, it was not uncommon for a person to seal a document, as a way of later referring back to it in a legal dispute. Some one may come and have forged documents, so, the sealed document would be a way to insure the truth. The open documents would have to be compared with the seal documents to prove it is real.

· On the outside, there would be a summary of what the document was and contained, on the inside would be the fine details.

· But not only is it a deed, it is also a catalog of judgments; as we progress through the next few chapters, we will see that opening the seals brings judgment on the world.

Verse 2 – And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

· The revealing of this document causes a stir within the heavens and earth. A mighty angel who remains nameless, comes an issues this proclamation.

· While it might be intriguing to know who this angel is, his identity is not needed to be known, because the focus is not on the mighty angel, but on the document that is in the hand of God.

· So, this angel with a loud voice asks the question. Who is worthy to open the book and loose the seals?

· This is the question for everything. The angel, is a herald angel, and the legal announcement has been posted. Very much like legal transactions that occur today, where a person must announce in the local newspaper, this angel sends out a cry throughout all the heavens and earth. Who is worthy!

· This is really a gauntlet that has been thrown down, as this announcement is to men and angels, to principalities and powers, to thrones and dominions. Who, of all God’s creatures is fit to rule the world?

· There have been willing to claim the book, Alexander, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, and Hitler, but the question the angel asks, is not who is willing, but who is worthy.

· We are not worthy, there is nothing about us to give us the right to make such a claim. Yet, often people think they own the world, that they are what is most important.

· Now as this has been proclaimed, everyone begins to look around. Who is worthy? Who can come and claim this book?

Verse 3 – And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

· With the proclamation being sounded throughout the universe, the question is, who is able to come and claim this book?

· It reminds me of the fictional novel the sword in the stone, where a magical sword was lodged in a rock, and many came from far and wide to try to pull it out and claim kingship over Camelot. The only problem, many were willing, but not worthy.

· In a similar situation, the sacred book that is in the hand of God Almighty, is there. Available to the one who can come and take the book. But unlike the sword, it is not lodged in a rock, it is there in the hand of Holy God.

· So, the search is on. John who is there, is looking to see who is going to come forth, and reclaim the earth. Who is worthy to claim ownership?

· But it is a sad sight, as John is there observing, no man in heaven – these are the ones who have been raptured and are there in this heavenly dwelling place, is able to come and open the book.

· So, then it is looked on the face of the earth, is there one who is there, who is able to open this book and claim ownership?

· The result is the same, those on the earth do not have any ownership to this document, and therefore cannot claim it.

· There are many throughout history who would love to possess this book, but just like the scripture has said, all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.

· So, there is no one on the face of the earth who is able to open this book.

· Then the focus is turned to under the earth. Now this is a peculiar place to look. But in essence, this is the dead, those who are in the prison of Hell, those who lay dead because the wages of sin is death.

· None of these are able to come and take the book.

· From Heaven, Earth, to Hell – no man is found worthy to come and take this book.

· Now, they are not able to open it, but the Bible tells us, that they are not able to look thereon.

· This is a Holy Book. One of the few books that God has in Heaven. This sacred book was written by God himself. It bears his penmanship, and His Holy Word. Only a person who is Holy, is able to come and take the book.

· So, when we read neither to look thereon, what this is implying, is that because no one is able to come and take this book, the information that is in this book, the words that are in it. Are not able to be read. Basically, an easier way for us to understand it is to say, no one was able to open the book, or look inside it.

· Such a sad sight, but it just goes to prove, that no matter how good a person may think they are, they do not measure up to the Holy God.

Verse 4 – And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.

· Now John is here in Heaven, and here is the title to the earth. The document that has been in question since Adam fell in the garden. A document that the Devil thinks belongs to him. It is the fate of the world lying right there in the hand of God.

· And here is the problem, no one was found worthy. It is like being right there in front of you and not being able to touch it. Here is the book that gives the authority of this world to the one, and no one is able to reach it.

· This breaks the heart of John. Because he knows he is not worthy, Peter and Paul were not worthy. Abraham and Isaac are not worthy. No one is worthy to come and open this book.

· Here is the freedom from the forces of Satan. This is the document that proves that Satan does not own this world. And no one can even open it and read it and discern (understand) it.

· So, John begins to lament, he cries with much sadness. All of heaven and earth is seeing this, and the Devil is probably jumping for joy, because no one can deny his claim, that it belongs to him. If no one is able to read it, it is based on assumption that it will fall into the hands of the devil.

· No one is going to be able to open this book, no one is going to be able to read this book, no one is going to be able to understand this book. But this book is the key. And no one is able.

· Oh, you can understand the sadness that John is experiencing. It seems like it is over, over before it began. His heart is breaking, as the verse ends.