Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. (Revelation 5:1, NIV 1984).
My Musings – The “right hand” is a figure of speech that typically represents God’s ultimate power and authority. God’s right hand is the means whereby victories are obtained for the people of God (Psalm 17:7; 98:1). It is also an instrument of punishment for the ungodly (Hebrews 2:16). While the right hand of man is impotent to save (Job 40:14), God’s right hand sustains his children in their hour of need (Psalm 139:10). God promises to strengthen the right hand of the person he decides to help (Isaiah 41:13).
During Bible times, legal documents were often sealed with wax bearing the attestations of seven witnesses imprinted on them. Breaking the wax seals would loosen strings beneath the seal, which wrapped the scroll. Unbroken seals guaranteed that the document had not been opened and possibly altered. This form was used for important documents, including contracts, deeds and wills. This was a common method of securing Roman documents of the period, and some Palestinian Jewish documents of this sort have also been recovered.
Scrolls were normally written on only one side of a papyrus sheet. The fibers on the inside of the scroll ran horizontally, making writing easier on that side. The outside was typically reserved for the title or address but would also be used when the inside had inadequate space. Documents written on both sides were rare enough to have a technical name, called an opisthograph. (Ezekiel 2:9–10). John is careful to point out that this scroll had writing on both sides.
From the immediate context in Revelation 5, it is not possible to determine whether the scroll in question had seven seals on the outside or whether the scroll was sealed at seven different points. According to Revelation 6, the seals were broken one after another, which appears to indicate that the scroll had been sealed at seven different places as it had been rolled up. Thus, as it was unrolled, the seals would need to be broken one by one, rather than all at once. Some suggest that the scroll, or book, appears from the context to be the title-deed of man’s inheritance. While it has already been redeemed by Christ on the cross, the scroll contains the steps by which He will finally assert His rights and take physical possession of it from the usurper (Satan).
My Advice – Contrary to popular opinion, there is only one way to participate in this inheritance. It comes through the only One who is worthy to take and open the scroll. His worthiness was validated when He was raised from the grave. “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12, NIV 1984). If you have not found Jesus, you definitely need to.
Sources:
Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.
Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (p. 1860). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.
Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Re 5:1). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.
Biblical Studies Press. (2006). The NET Bible First Edition Notes (Re 5:1). Biblical Studies Press.
Walvoord, John F. (1985). Revelation. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 945). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
Jamieson, R., Fausset, A. R., & Brown, D. (1997). Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (Vol. 2, p. 565). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
The Brew Is A Musing 