We are, however, determined to guess.” (Clarke) “The book may mean the purposes and designs of God relative to his government of the world and the Church but we, whose habitation is in the dust, know nothing of such things. “Roman law required a will to be sealed seven times as illustrated in the wills left by Augustus and Vespasian for their successors.” (Walvoord) A scroll written: The best solution is to see the scroll as “God’s will, his final settlement of the affairs of the universe.” (Barclay) This is based on the idea that customarily, under Roman law, wills were sealed with seven seals, each from a witness to the validity of the will. But the scroll must be opened, it must be revealed.Į. If God has to get the title deed back, when did God ever “lose” the title deed to planet earth? In fact, God holds this scroll - it isn’t lost. But there is no doubt that the earth is the Lord’s ( Psalm 24:1), though the governments of this world belong in some sense to Satan ( Luke 4:5-8). The best connection in this idea seems to be with Jeremiah 32:6-15, which describes Jewish title deeds as sealed. But it is hard to demonstrate this with certainty. This is an attractive idea, especially because the coming time of tribulation will end with Jesus ruling on earth. Some think the scroll was the title deed to planet earth. But this is rather unlikely considering how the idea of the scroll is communicated, and who would be unworthy to open that scroll? Some think the scroll was the text of the Book of Revelation, or the next few chapters. Perhaps this is true, but only in an indirect sense but who is unworthy to open that scroll? Some think the scroll was God’s sentence against the enemies of the church. Some think the scroll was God’s claim of divorce against Israel, but there is little Scriptural evidence for this idea, and who is unworthy to open that scroll? Additionally, if the scroll was the Old or New Testament, who is unworthy to open that scroll? But these ideas look back, not forward, and John wrote of things related to things which must take place after this ( Revelation 4:1).

Some think the scroll was the Old Testament, or the Old and New Testaments together, or fulfilled prophecy. It’s important to remember that whatever was on this scroll, no one except Jesus was (and is) worthy to open it ( Revelation 5:3-4).

A scroll written: Through the centuries, commentators suggest many different ideas for what this scroll is, and what was written upon it. All the seals must be opened before the scroll could be read.ĭ. These were not seven writings each separated by a seal but seven seals all set upon one scroll. This scroll was sealed with seven seals there were seven strings around the scroll, each string sealed with wax. Sealed with seven seals: When a roll was finished, it was fastened with strings and the strings were sealed with wax at the knots. On such a typical scroll, the Book of Revelation would fill a scroll 15 feet (4.5 meters) long.Ĭ. The scroll was held in the left hand, and unrolled with the right as the reading went on, the previously read portion was re-rolled. The rolls of the scroll were on the left and the right, and the writing lay in narrow columns about three inches (8 centimeters) wide, written on a substance somewhat like brown paper. Ancient scrolls were read horizontally, not vertically. This means that whatever information was on this scroll, there was a lot of it - almost more than the scroll can contain. It wasn’t common practice to write on both sides of the scroll. Written inside and on the back: This means that this scroll was unusual. Here, John begins with reference to the throne, but now shifted his focus to the scroll held by the enthroned Lord.ī. I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll: The focus of Revelation 4 was the throne. ( Revelation 5:1) The throne and the scroll.Īnd I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.Ī.

Revelation bible study guide pdf