King James Version, with Nii Okai's journal notes · 8 notes
1And 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.
2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Why was he weeping thus? Except that he knew the contents of the book were critical to the salvation of the saints and to bring all matters to an end.
He sensed the book was mighty important.
No man could open the book. I used to think that it meant no creature, i.e. angels, beasts etc. could open it.
But no, the opening of the book was the purview of man; it was only a man who qualifies to open the book.
However, being a man is only the first qualification.
The man, however, must be a worthy man. And when the entirety of God's created places was searched, places where men could be found,
There was none worthy.
The earth was searched, the heavens were searched, under the earth — Hades and the land of dead spirits of men were searched — none was worthy.
Until the Lion of the tribe of Judah showed forth. He was a lion but showed forth as a lamb; that sacrifice was what made him the worthy one.
Without the opening of this book, how will the righteous be vindicated, how will all things and the suffering and the persecutions and the hope of the righteous be met, if the book is not opened?
Then had we laboured in vain, and we are of all men most miserable.
5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Wait oo, and he came. Did he come as a man, or he came as the lamb to take the scroll?
Or maybe he took it with his mouth, since when John looked he saw a lamb and not a man.
8And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
We have seen the elders before bowing before the throne and casting their crowns; however, here the imagery we are given is that after the book was taken by the lamb, we see the elders and beasts with golden vials full of odours, and we are told those are the prayers of the saints.
Why would that be mentioned at this particular time, except there is a connection between the taking of the book by the lamb in order to break its seals and the prayers of the saints?
And I believe that is exactly that: there is a connection, in that the book contains answers to the prayers of the saints.
Prayers to the injustice, the murders and martyrdom of their families, friends. The untold hardships of the persecutions they faced.
The book, as we see subsequently, contains the judgement of God upon the wicked.
Little wonder when earlier there was no one to open the book, that John wept. Without the seals being broken, there will continue to be further delay, and the wickedness will continue.
When you genuinely serve the Lord, you so wish for the coming of the Lord. The world is not worthy of you.
You have no taste for the things of the world. Literally you are enduring this world and groaning constantly in this world, waiting for the redemption of your body.
This is further corroborated when later in the succeeding chapters we see the saints cry for justice, and they are told to wait for the rest of their brethren to be martyred like them; then when the numbers add up, justice will be meted out.
Revelation 6:9-11 KJV
9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.
9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
This did not just apply to the elders here, who were saints, but to all the saints who were in heaven at this time.
As the song of the elders reveals, they were redeemed from all over the world... Every kindred.
So this was a season of reigning for the redeemed of the Lord. The golden vials contained the prayers of the saints.
For the elders and all creatures to sing that we are king 👑 priests and we shall reign on the earth 🌎, then it indeed was time for the saints to reign, and the saints were in heaven at this time...
But this does not necessarily mean that there were zero saints in the earth 🌎, neither does that prove a rapture had relocated the saints rather than death.
This king 👑 priest status was not just for the elders but all saints, as we see John quote same in chapter one, and Peter talks of us being a royal 👑 priesthood.
11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13And every creature which 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.
14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever.