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1. The Preparations for the Enthronement (Revelation 5:1-6)
REVELATION 5:1
1 I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.
The Sealed Scroll in the Right Hand of God: In the beginning of his second vision John had seen a door standing open in heaven. He had recognized God is his glory, as Father full of love and as the almighty Holy One.
He had seen and heard how the throne guardians worshiped him who sat on the throne. He had also seen how the twenty-four elders worshiped the glorious Holy One and prostrated before him. Heaven is full of praise of God. That is not duty worship as it is in Islam, but spontaneous, grateful worship arising from the knowledge of the eternally loving Lord.
John stared at the centre of the cosmos and suddenly realized the right hand of him who sat on the throne. In his open blessing hand there was something like a parchment scroll. The salvation hand of God was not hidden behind his back, as many Jews believe since the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The Lord stretched his hand out of his fullness of light. He began to act. Great things could be expected, hope arose, and the time of perfection began. The promise of Psalm 118:15-16 was about to be fulfilled. The form of him who sat on the throne remained veiled in his glory. Yet his hand became visible, that is his hand of salvation and blessings! The authority of him who sat on the throne was shown without noise and propaganda. His ardour of love was full of power. He introduced a scroll to the world so as to prophesy his will, his plan, his victory, his judgments, and his salvation. This revelation did not come by an angel or a spirit, but it directly came from God. He revealed his will without a mediator.
The scroll was full of writing on both sides. It looked like an official bulletin in the ancient world. On the outside of such a scroll was written a short table of contents so that a reader could distinguish it from other scrolls and realize with half an eye what the writer wanted to communicate. Issues and purpose of such a bulletin were already known before the scroll was opened.
On the inside of such a scroll the details of the ordinance and the implementing provisions and directions for a law or testament were written. The disclosure of the inside writings meant at the same time that it was coming into force and that the representative was authorized for its implementation.
Already in the Old Testament God had revealed his will in various ways. The patriarchs Moses and David as well as the prophets recognized more and more the salvation plan of their Lord and also the righteousness of his judgments on the rebellious mankind. Jesus himself revealed step by step how the end of the world advanced until his return (Matthew 24:1-25). Now, the plan of God about the future of the world was in the hand of God Almighty.
In those times Roman official documents had been sealed on the outside with seven seals. Moreover, testaments had been sealed by him who has made his will and by six additional witnesses. The heavenly scroll was also sealed with seven seals and closed for everybody. The meaning of the Old Testament promises as well as the prophecies of Jesus Christ remained secret and encoded. All puzzling was of no use. A new revelation was necessary by opening the seven seals.
Yet nothing really new could be expected. The content of the document had already been known in outlines. But now it was a matter of implementing the salvation plan of God and his judgments on an anti-godly and anti-Christian world.
In coronation ceremonies in ancient times a herald or senior priest solemnly brought the certificate of appointment into the throne room so that the new king could take it as the governor of God. The height of the enthronement was the breaking of the seven seals by the new sovereign who had the content of the scroll proclaimed by the herald. Then the royal court kneeled down, paid homage to him, and cheers rang out in the throne room. Roman Caesars sometimes had themselves portrayed on their new coins with a hand-held scroll so as to show their authority.
In heaven the enthronement of the King of kings was about when he was given the certificate of appointment from the hand of God. He will be the last king who is going to establish an eternal kingdom with a holy capital and therewith inducing the end of this secularist world. His ruling and acting start with the breaking of the seven seals.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, because our plan of salvation and the knowledge of Your judgment on the disobedient are with You, You revealed these principles partly to Your prophets, and Christ accomplished lawful salvation for the world and poured Your Spirit on the repentant. He who does not believe will be condemned, and Your just wrath will be upon him.
QUESTION:
- Why was the scroll in the right hand of God written inside and on the back?