Verse 1: “And I saw, on the right side of the One who sits upon the throne, a book/scroll written on the inside and outside and it was sealed with seven seals.” 

The tablets, that had the Ten Commandments on them, were also written on both sides like this scroll. (see Exodus 32v15-16) Both the scroll and the tablets are supernatural and connected to the character of God. (The commandments of God reveal the character of God. i.e. How God would live if He were to become a man. And that’s why we see, in the gospels, how the religious leaders always tried to accuse Yeshua of sin. If they could catch Him in a sin it meant that He didn’t reflect the commandments/character of God). 

A sealed scroll means it is locked up until an appointed time. Daniel was told to close and seal up what he had been told (Daniel 12v8-10) because it was not revelation for his time but for the time of the end. The events, in this sealed scroll, must and will take place before the establishment of the Kingdom of God. 

Verse 2: “And I looked, and I saw a mighty angel calling in a great voice: ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loosen its seals?’” 

This angel is powerful, unique, and stronger than a typical angel. In the beginning, when God created the earth, the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters and God spoke 10 things into being. When He spoke, these things became a reality. In this chapter, we see that in order for the Kingdom of God to become a reality, in this world, the scroll has to be opened. It has to be read and as these words are spoken they too will come into being. (The Kingdom will be like a second creation – Zechariah 12v1-2) But there is a problem… 

Verse 3: “And there was not any man, not in the heavens, not in the earth and not underneath the earth, who could open up the scroll or even look at it.” 

There is no man who is worthy to open up this scroll and reveal its message; so that what is written there can become a reality. Left to ourselves we are utterly hopeless, and the Kingdom of God is out of reach. 

Verse 4: “And I cried a great weeping on account that there was no one found worthy to open the scroll and to read it or even to look upon it.” 

Verse 5: “And one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not cry. Behold the Lion, has conquered (is victorious), who is from the tribe of Judah the root of David, to open the scroll and to loosen its seven seals.” 

‘Root of David’ – David is synonymous with King/Kingdom. Messiah, the Son of David, is the root, the foundation, of the Kingdom. ONLY He can open up this scroll. ALL hope of Kingdom life, all hope of justice, righteousness and peace rests upon Messiah Yeshua. Yeshua is worthy to open the scroll! (It is only through Him that we are made worthy before God. He, who knew no sin, took our unworthiness…only through Him can we become part of His kingdom) 

Verse 6: “I looked and behold in the midst of the throne, and between the four creatures and the elders, stands a Lamb like it was slain (slaughtered). And to Him were seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent into all the earth.” 

There are a few words in the Bible for lamb. The word, for Lamb, used here is one associated with the Passover Lamb. This tells us that what makes Messiah unique is, not just that He is the Son of God but, that the Son of God is also the Redeemer who did the work of redemption. We see that there is a case being made, theologically, to show that there is a connection between the Kingdom and Redemption. Without experiencing redemption, we won’t experience the Kingdom. 

Horns (like the shofar/ram’s horn) have to do with salvation. (see 1v10) 

Shofar comes from the Hebrew word that means ‘to improve, to change’. Salvation leads to what God has provided (Messiah) to produce a perfect improvement in our lives (Matthew 5v48). 

Eyes – intelligence and perfection – He knows all things, perfectly. 

Verse 7: “And He came, and He took the scroll from the right hand of the One who sits upon the throne.” 

Verse 8: “And it came about, when He took the scroll, the four creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb. And every man had a harp in His hand and a golden bowl full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.” 

‘Fell before the Lamb’ depicts worship. The Lamb comes before the Heavenly Father and takes the scroll. This shows His divinity. He is unique. (Colossians 1v15-20) He was L-rd of the first creation, and He is King of the second creation (redemption). 

Incense is so important from a temple standpoint. It was offered up in the Holy Place. Only the priest, anointed to do so, could offer up this incense. There is a relationship between the incense that went up as a pleasing aroma to God and the prayers of the saints. 

We should be really careful about how we pray. (In Leviticus 10 Nadab and Abihu offered an incense offering to God but it was ‘strange fire’ – not the offering that God had commanded. They gave God what they wanted to give Him, and the outcome of that was death).

Verse 9: “And they sang a new song saying: ‘For You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals. For You were slain, and by Your blood You have purchased us for God; from every family, tongue and every people and nation.” 

The word ‘new’ is a Kingdom word. New Jerusalem, all things are becoming new, new covenant (Jeremiah 31v31) 

‘From every family, tongue and every people and nation.’: He is referring to the body of believers.