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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.

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 words “the kingdom of God,” are primarily to be understood as “within you.” There are those who call such truths “merely Platonic.” But to all who have been given to know and appreciate the “things of the spirit,” it is not “merely Platonic,” it is rather, spiritual and 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, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

How little understood or believed are any of these three 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.”
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. But 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 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 are all, at one time or another, scornful of the Truth of God’s Word. This prophecy which God calls ‘the revelation of Jesus Christ,’ is but 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 Gen 1:1 and end at Rev 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.

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 then 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 and every 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 that sat upon the throne, is merely the symbol of 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 Rev 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 only. 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 that 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.” And He has set in the the church teachers, who expound on those parables and types and shadows, and patterns and signs and symbols, and 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 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 1Jn 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 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.

What keeps God’s Word sealed from our understanding?

We have demonstrated many times that God’s Word was never intended to be understood by what the apostle Paul calls “carnal… babes in Christ… fed with milk.” Those who are given to understand what God’s Word signifies, learn the meaning of those signs and symbols “line upon line and precept upon precept.” “Line upon line and precept upon precept” is just another way of saying “No prophecy of scripture is of its own interpretation.”

Isa 28:9  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Isa 28:10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:
Isa 28:11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people.
Isa 28:12  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.
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.
2Pe 1:20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture at all is becoming its own explanation.(CLV)
2Pe 1:20 knowing this first, that every prophecy of Scripture did not come into being of its own interpretation; (LITV)

This is what the “Prophets, rulers, and seers” call proof texting. It is hated and despised by one and all, an yet the Lord says “this is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest.” It is only by “line upon line and precept upon precept.” If we want to understand doctrine and be taught knowledge, it will not be done outside of, or “above that which is written… line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.”

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.

Leave out the words ‘of men.’ They are certainly included in Paul’s point, but they do not limit the point being made. “Learn in us not to think above what is written.” If we learn the meaning of phrases like ‘a book,’ or ‘in the right hand,’ or ‘sealed with seven seals,’ or any other of the symbols in this book, it will be by placing one Biblical precept upon another Biblical precept, and one line of scripture upon another line of scripture. It will not be by “thinking above what is written.” Any revelation which is above or beyond “what is written,” is not of God, but is of this age, and is straight out of the fertile mind of the beast within. That is but another way of saying that any revelation which is not based upon and cannot be tried against “what is written” is straight out of “the abyss,” or what the King James Version calls “the bottomless pit,” and all it will accomplish is to blot out the light of the Sun. That is exactly what has happened and that is exactly what was prophesied to happen:

Rev 9:1  And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit.
Rev 9:2  And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit.

So let’s see first, “”line upon line,” what the scriptures mean by the word ‘sealed’, and then we will consider what is meant by ‘seven seals.’

Isa 29:10 For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
Isa 29:11  And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed
Dan 12:4  But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.
Dan 12:5  Then I Daniel looked, and, behold, there stood other two, the one on this side of the bank of the river, and the other on that side of the bank of the river.
Dan 12:6  And one said to the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, How long shall it be to the end of these wonders?
Dan 12:7  And I heard the man clothed in linen, which was upon the waters of the river, when he held up his right hand and his left hand unto heaven, and sware by him that liveth for ever that it shall be for a time, times, and an half; and when he shall have accomplished to scatter the power of the holy people, all these things shall be finished.
Dan 12:8  And I heard, but I understood not: then said I, O my Lord, what shall be the end of these things?
Dan 12:9  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

All of the Old Testament Patriarchs, kings and prophets could not understand doctrine, because that whole era was an era of spiritual milk, an era of spiritual shadows and types and patterns of the true heavens.

1Pe 1:9  Receiving the end of your faith, [ even] the salvation of [ your] souls.
1Pe 1:10  Of which salvation the prophets have enquired and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace [ that should come] unto you:
1Pe 1:11  Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
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, now to appear in the presence of God for us:

These truths make heaven “merely Platonic” to the natural man. That is the value which the natural man places upon the things of the spirit. Consequently the book in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne is “heard but understood not” by all to whom it is “sealed with seven seals.” But a few will understand and the seven seals will be opened for a few:

Dan 12:10  Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

So it is only “the wise” of whom we are told:

Isa 28:9  Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.
Isa 28:10  For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

What is the meaning of “sealed with seven seals?”

As we pointed out in our study of the meaning of the seven churches and the seven angels of the seven churches, the number ‘seven’ is the Biblical symbol of that which is complete. God created all that is in the heavens and in the earth in six days, but his creation is not completed or ended until it “enters into His rest” on “the seventh day.”

Gen 2:2  And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
Exo 20:11  For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
Isa 28:12  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear.

Both Christ and His Father work on the seventh day in bringing us into His rest:

Joh 5:16  And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.
Joh 5:17  But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
Joh 5:18  Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.
Heb 4:1  Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.

It is “on the seventh day God ended His Work which He had made.” It is not ended until we have all “entered into His rest.” We are admonished not “to come short of it.”

Heb 4:4  For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
Heb 4:5  And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
Heb 4:6  Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:
Heb 4:7  Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
Heb 4:8  For if Jesus [ Joshua] had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
Heb 4:9  There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

It is the seventh day that completes our entrance into Christ and into His Father. That is the day on which God’s Work is finished and ended. It is not finished or ended on the sixth day, the day of man and the day of all the beasts of the earth.
Seven is also the number of times a just man falls. Those seven times are the same and failing to enter into Christ’s rest, and falling seven times is the symbol of coming to see our utter defenselessness against the beast within. Falling seven times is just coming to acknowledge “who can make war with the beast?”

Pro 24:16  For a just [ man] falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.
Rev 13:4  And they [“every man, rich and poor, small and great, rich and poor, free and bond”] worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

There is not one man who has ever lived who can “make war with the beast” within.

Rom 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12  They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

We all “fall seven times” because we must come to acknowledge that we can of ourselves, do nothing to overcome the beast who sits on the throne of God within us demanding our worship and our allegiance. So too, must we acknowledge that we are as blind as a bat to the things of the spirit. Until we acknowledge this fact we remain blind and our sins remain and this book will remain “sealed with seven seals.”
Here is what Christ said to a man who is the symbol of us all, in that we too, are born spiritually blind from our mothers womb.

Joh 9:39  And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
Joh 9:40  And some of the Pharisees which were with him heard these words, and said unto him, Are we blind also?
Joh 9:41  Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth.

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

Here we are dealing with the spiritual meaning of what is a ‘man’ again, and once again we discover that the angel which will “open the book and loose the seals thereon,” is Christ and Christ alone. It is Christ in the seven angels who are sent to the seven churches and to John to “show them these things” which those with eyes to see and ears to hear, in the seven churches, are shown by the angels who we are told are “Your fellowservants, and those who keep the sayings of this book.” No man can do this, but Christ in a man can and does “show us these things:”

Rev 22:7  Behold, I come quickly: blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the prophecy of this book.
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.

So once again we have no need that any man teach us, but we do have need for those who “do and teach… the sayings of the prophecy of this book” and who can be the messenger through whom Christ can open the seven seals and “seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book” and can “show us these things” because “as He is so are we in this world:”

1Jn 4:17  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

Summary

We have seen why this book is “in His right hand,” and we have seen that “His right hand” is the symbol both of the power of the Adversary over our flesh, as well as the right hand of God’s righteousness and of His power to “work all things after the counsel of His own will.”

2Ch 20:6  And said, O LORD God of our fathers, [ art] not thou God in heaven? and rulest [ not] thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine [ right] hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee?
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:

We have seen what is written in the book in God’s right hand, and what we saw is that it is the revelation of Jesus Christ which begins at Gen 1:1 and ends at Rev 22:21. We also saw that what is written in the “book in the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne,” cannot be separated from any of the words of the prophecy of scripture, and that in reality what is written in the book in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne is simply the symbol which signifies “every word that proceeds out of the mouth of  God.” We are told in the gospels that man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God, and in this book we are told to “keep the things written therein… the sayings of the prophecy of this book.” “This book” is but a part of “that which is written” and cannot scripturally be separated from any of the rest of the Bible.

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

We have seen what “I neither received it of man” means, and we learned that in Biblical symbology the word ‘man’ is a reference to mankind in rebellion against God, and that while we have no need that any man teach us, we do have a need for messengers from God, and in whom Christ dwells, who are set in the church by God as teachers, and of whom Christ tells us that such men will be called great in the kingdom of God if they both “do and teach” men to live by His commandments.

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.

What we must conclude from the overwhelming sum of God’s Word is that those who take the word ‘man’ to mean any man, including those who are set in the church by God as teachers, is Himself thinking above what is written and “will be called least in the kingdom of heaven.”
We also saw what it is that keeps God’s Word sealed from our understanding? What we saw is that those to whom it has not been granted to be “weaned from milk and drawn from the breast,” cannot receive the Biblical principle of the sum of God’s word being revealed only by line upon line and precept upon precept, here a little and there a little. They cannot understand that no one verse of scripture can be established without the sum of God’s Word, and can never be of its own interpretation. What we saw is that whether we see or whether we are blinded, it is all a predestined work of our Lord.

Isa 29:10  For the LORD hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and your rulers, the seers hath he covered.
Isa 29:11  And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I cannot; for it is sealed:

Finally we have seen what is the meaning of “sealed with seven seals” Being sealed means not being given eyes that see or ears that hear, but the spiritual meaning of the number seven is that the blindness God sends to us all is complete, and He takes away from us the whole stay of bread and the whole stay of water:

Isa 3:1  For, behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, doth take away from Jerusalem and from Judah the stay and the staff, the whole stay of bread, and the whole stay of water,

What we saw is that while the whole world believes that God’s work was completed in six days the scriptures actually teach that it was “on the seventh day” that God “ended his work,” and that His work in us is not complete until we acknowledge the need to “cease for our own works… [ and] enter into His rest.”

Gen 2:2  And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
Heb 4:10  For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Heb 4:11  Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Next week, Lord willing, we will see why John “wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.” We will also see how a lion, in scripture can at the same time and with the same breath be called “a Lamb as it had been slain.” We will also learn how that slain Lamb can have seven horns and seven eyes, and we will, Lord willing, discover through “what is written,” the Biblical meanings which all of these symbols signify.

Rev 5:4  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
Rev 5:5  And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
Rev 5:6  And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.