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Revelation 5:1-3 – Who Can Open the Book? Part 1

Rev 5:1  And 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.
Rev 5:2  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
Rev 5:3  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

Introduction

There are three verses which have been especially helpful in keeping us on track in the study of this book of the revelation of Jesus Christ. The first verse reminds us that this book is signified and does not mean what it says, but it means what is signified. Every sign and every signification is interpreted by the Word of God and not by the speculations of men.

If you believe that the tails of the scorpions of Revelation 9:10 signify helicopter tail gunners, then you need to show a scripture to bear that out. Of course you will find no such thing because ‘the tail is the false prophet that prophesies lies.’

Isa 9:15  The ancient and honourable, he is the head; and the prophet that teacheth lies, he is the tail.

Here now, is the first scripture which will help  us to rightly divide the word of Truth (2Ti 2:15) as we strive to maintain a pattern of sound words (2Ti 1:13) in our study of the Revelation of Jesus Christ:

Rev 1:1  The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:

The second verse we have quoted so often reminds us that we actually live and “keep those things which are” signified in this book. It also reminds us that the time to do so is always “at hand” in every generation of those who read and understand that this book is to be lived and kept.

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

The third verse, which we have also quoted often, reminds us of what and where heaven and the kingdom of God are. It reminds us that both the true heavens and the kingdom of God are within us and are not even concerned with a physical, geographical location. Both the words ‘heaven’ and the phrase “the kingdom of God” are primarily to be understood as “within you.” There are those who call such truths “merely platonic.” There are those who will say, “Everything to you is just spiritual”, belying their disdain for the unseen things of the spirit. However, to all who have been given to know and appreciate the “things of the spirit,” it is not “merely platonic;” the message of this book is rather, spiritual and and therefore eternal.

Luk 17:20  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:
Luk 17:21  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Heb 9:23  It was therefore necessary that the patterns of things in the heavens should be purified with these; but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.
Heb 9:24  For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, [into us, Col 1:27], now to appear in the presence of God for us:

Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you [“heaven itself”], the hope of glory:

How little understood or believed are any of these verses. It takes a door being opened in heaven, and the opening of the little book, to give us eyes to see and ears to hear the things which are written therein and the ability to “keep those things written therein.”

Rev 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

The Greek for the word ‘keep’ here in Revelation 1:3 is G5083, ‘tereo’, and it is the exact same Greek word the Lord used when telling the rich young ruler to ‘Keep the commandments if he wanted to inherit life eternal’:

Mat 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep [G5083: ‘tereo’] the commandments.

Do not listen to anyone who attempts to tell you that ‘tereo’ in Revelation 1:3 means to guard against keeping the things written therein, as some falsely affirm. Christ was not telling the man who asked Him what to do to inherit eternal life to ‘guard against keeping the commandments’. How absurd is such a false lying doctrine!

What is in the book that is in the right hand of Him that sits on the throne? This whole book of Revelation is in that book. It includes the first four chapters, as well as every word written concerning the opening of the seven seals. The seventh seal is the seven trumpets which are also within this book. The seventh trumpet is the seven vials, which are also in this book. It also includes all the chapters which do not seem to be part of these three categories.

If we continue to be guided by the three verses which have been our guide up to this point, then we must conclude that the book in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne is nothing more than another signification of something other than what we read of the things mentioned under these seven seals, trumpets and vials. We can be sure of this because of this verse.

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture at all is becoming its own explanation. (CLV)

So this book has no hope of being unsealed without the rest of scripture explaining the symbols therein “line upon line and precept upon precept.”

Isa 28:13  But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
Isa 28:14  Wherefore hear the word of the LORD, ye scornful men, that rule this people which is in Jerusalem.

We have all been scornful and doubting the Truth of God’s Word. This prophecy, which God calls ‘the revelation of Jesus Christ’, is the vital capstone to every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, and is therefore nothing less than a symbol of God fiery words which begin in Genesis 1:1 and end at Revelation 22:21.

The book of Revelation cannot be taken as a book which is not part of the whole of God’s Word. There could be no book of Revelation without the book of Genesis. While it may be few who are given to receive it, the Truth remains that all men must live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Mat 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

“Live by every word” does not mean repeat every sinful act mentioned in scripture. What it means is that all men must believe what is written and obey the Lord’s words:

Joh 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Joh 6:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

‘Believing on Christ’ means “doing the things [He] says”:

Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Why is this book “in His right hand?”

Rev 5:1  And 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.

The “right hand” is the symbol of power throughout scripture.

Exo 15:6  Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.

Mat 26:62  And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee?
Mat 26:63  But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.
Mat 26:64  Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

Mar 14:61  But he held his peace, and answered nothing. Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?
Mar 14:62  And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

We have already covered this in great detail when we covered verses 16, 17 and 20 of the first chapter of Revelation.

Rev 1:16  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.
Rev 1:17  And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:

Rev 1:20  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

The ‘right hand’, in its positive application, is “the right hand of God’s righteousness” and power as well as the negative symbol of the self-righteousness and power of the beast within us all.

Psa 48:10  According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.

Isa 41:10  Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Rev 13:15  And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.
Rev 13:16  And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:
Rev 13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark [in his “right hand”], or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

It is through the symbolic right ear, the right hand and the right foot that God carries out the words of this “book” in the lives of His “kings and priests” who He holds “in His right hand.”

Exo 29:20  Then shalt thou kill the ram, and take of his blood, and put it upon the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and upon the tip of the right ear of his sons, and upon the thumb of their right hand, and upon the great toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood upon the altar round about.

Rev 1:6  And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Rev 1:20  The mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand, and the seven golden candlesticks. The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches: and the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven churches.

We have already seen that the seven angels of the seven churches, are the same angels who say…

Rev 19:10  And I fell at his feet to worship him [“one of the seven angels”]. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

…and again:

Rev 22:8  And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things.
Rev 22:9  Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God.
Rev 22:10  And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.

Who is our “fellowservant [who] keeps the sayings of this book?” It is, according to Christ and His apostles, every single brother you have who is ministering to His body in any capacity.

Mat 18:33  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

Col 1:7  As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;

Col 4:7  All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

The seven angels are ‘seven’ simply to signify that they are all of God’s messengers “who keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book” in every generation since Christ. Yes, they, too, must “endure to the end” in order to be saved, but the truth is that those who do “endure to the end” are those who are “in the right hand” of Christ, who is “at the right hand of power” of His “Father which is in heaven.” Anything in or at the right hand of God is certain to have the power to fulfill and to “live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God… every man in his own order.” God’s words concerning “every man” are all “written in His book… before there were any of them”, whether they are His words for good or His words for evil. That is the very meaning of “working all things after the counsel of His own will.”

Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

Amo 3:6  Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

Psa 139:16 Your eyes saw my embryo, And my days, all of them were written upon Your scroll [Your book]; The days were formed when there was not one of them.  (CLV)

What is written in the book in God’s right hand?

What the phrase “in the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne” tells us is that the things God has written in His book will come to pass in the life of every man who reads and understands the things written therein. Since “every man [will] in his own order… live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God,” it should be clear to those with “eyes that see and ears that hear” that the book in the right hand of Him who sat upon the throne is merely the symbol of the judgment of our old man and the glorification of our new man.

Our judgment is revealed as the spiritual nourishment we are given in this “little book” which is first revealed in:

Eze 2:8 But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee.
Eze 2:9 And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein;
Eze 2:10 And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe [“Much tribulation (Act 14:22), and the “suffering of this present time” (Rom 8:18-19)].

There were no chapter breaks in the original Hebrew, and the narrative continues in the next chapter:

Eze 3:1 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel.
Eze 3:2 So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.
Eze 3:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.
Eze 3:4 And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with my words unto them [“You must prophesy…” Rev 10:11].

This is the same symbolism of the persecution used by the holy spirit to signify our suffering in the book of Revelation. In the Book of Revelation ‘bitterbess in the belly’ is added to signify the rejection by this world which will come upon all who are given to follow in the footsteps of Christ:

Mat 10:21 And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

Rev 10:7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
Rev 10:8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth.
Rev 10:9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.
Rev 10:10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.
Rev 10:11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings [The same commission given to us in Ezekiel 3:4].

The ‘bitterness in the belly’ includes the judgment and destruction of the kingdom of our old man, as well as the suffering we must endure as a faithful new man. The glory which will be revealed in “the manifested sons of God” will make the suffering of this present time unworthy of comparison:

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

Both our old man and his destruction and our new man and his glorification are integral to the entire Revelation of Jesus Christ from His first mention as the first “Adam, the Son of God” in the beginning of the book of Genesis to “the last Adam… the Word” of the last verse of Revelation 22.

Luk 3:38  Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.

Joh 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2  The same was in the beginning with God.
Joh 1:3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Rom 5:14  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam’s transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.

1Co 15:45  And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

We have a very hard time associating the first Adam with the last Adam. God has no such problem. He even calls the first Adam “the Son of God.” That is why we are told:

Rom 11:16  For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.

So “the book in the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne” has within it “the revelation of Jesus Christ” as He is being revealed in the lives of His elect, “every man in His own order.” The revelation of Jesus Christ was not peculiar to the apostle John. Rather, it is common to all of God’s elect who “keep the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” Such was the case of both Paul and Peter, and such is the case of all of God’s elect. We must all come to understand what is written in “the book in the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne:”

Gal 1:11  But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1Pe 1:13  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

What does “I neither received it of man” mean?

When Paul says, “I neither received it of man” is Paul telling us that he had no need for Ananias to come and tell him what God had in store for Him?

Act 9:10  And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord.
Act 9:11  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for [one] called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,
Act 9:12  And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting [his] hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

Is Paul saying that he had no need to hear from others what Christ had taught? Is that what “I neither received it of man” means? What an absurd conclusion! It was Paul himself who tells Timothy that he was “appointed a teacher of the Gentiles.”

2Ti 1:11  Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

It is this same apostle Paul who penned these inspired words of scripture:

1Co 12:28  And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.
1Co 12:29  Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles?

… and this:

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

It was the apostle Paul who said:

1Co 11:1  Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

So what does “I neither received it of man” mean? It means the same thing Christ meant when He told Peter that it was not flesh and blood, but His heavenly Father, who had revealed to Peter that Christ was the Son of God.

Mat 16:17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed [it] unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Is Christ telling Peter that Christ Himself had never taught Peter a thing? What utter foolishness! How many times are we told that Christ “taught them?”

Mat 7:29  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Mat 13:54  And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?

Mar 2:13  And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

Mar 4:2  And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,

Christ’s doctrine is taught “by parables.” He has set in the church teachers who expound on those parables and types and shadows and patterns and signs and symbols. Those who do so in Truth will never be found guilty of “thinking above what is written,” but will use only the words already written to be the foundation of every word they speak and teach.

1Co 4:6  And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and [to] Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think [of men] above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another.

What then does “I neither received it of man” mean if men are indeed set in the church to teach? Here is what the scriptures mean when you see in them phrases like ‘of men… as men… [or] as a man.’ Look at how Christ and His apostles use these phrases:

Mat 10:17  But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues;

1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

1Co 9:7  Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
1Co 9:8  Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?

So when we see the phrases ‘of men… as men… as a man… [or] any man’ and they are used in conjunction with teaching or understanding God’s Word, we can now rest assured that these phrases are speaking of men who “think above what is written”, and they never refer to those who base every word of their doctrine on the written scriptures which are profitable for instruction in righteousness.

2Ti 3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

So when John says:

1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Christ’s Words are the “Truth” John speaks of in this verse. Here is what Christ said of men who teach His truth:

Mat 5:19  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

It is obvious from the sum of God’s Word that those who think 1 John 2:27 negates any need for those who “do and teach… these commandments” are actually guilty of breaking Christ’s commandment to “do and teach these commandments” is “thinking above what is written” and will “be called least in the kingdom of heaven.”

The revelation of Jesus Christ is given to us by the symbolic “seven angels” or seven messengers of the seven churches of God. Those messengers, and all who support them, are those who “do and teach the commandments” of Christ and His Father.