20161109 Wednesday, November 9 2016
Revelation 06: Who Is Worthy To Have The Scroll?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by Thy Blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation"

When the Messiah returned to heaven (see The Messiah's Returns - To Heaven And Earth) and appeared before The Throne of God (see The Messiah's Atonement Of Passover At God's Throne), He saw the Father holding a scroll ("book"). A mighty angel then declared a question: Who is worthy to receive the scroll from the Father's Hand?

"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.

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?" (Revelation 5:1-2 KJV)

The Messiah was then declared to be the only worthy recipient of the scroll, "For thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation."

"5:9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 5:10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth." (Revelation 5:9-10 KJV)

The "book" was a rolled scroll, with seven successive sections, each of which needed to be unsealed as the scroll was opened. Although the opening of each seal in turn describes a spectacular prophecy, the seventh seal (as we will read in the next studies) is far greater because it is divided into seven trumpets, and then the seventh trumpet is further divided into seven "bowls" (or "vials"). The return of Jesus Christ will happen during the seventh trumpet (see the Fact Finder question to understand the connection between the return of Jesus Christ and a "Trumpet").

The first four seals are commonly known as the "four horsemen of the apocalypse." The four horsemen are self-explanatory - religious deception ("a white horse" - not to be confused with the white horse that will be ridden by Jesus Christ at His return; see Revelation 19:11-21 and Two White Horses) and military aggression ("another horse that was red"), followed by the inevitable result of the devastation of aggression - famine ("a black horse") and pestilence ("a pale horse").

"6:1 And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts saying, Come and see. 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

6:3 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. 6:4 And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword.

6:5 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

6:7 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. 6:8 And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth." (Revelation 6:1-8 KJV)

The religious, political and military rampage of the antichrist "beast" (see The Signature Of The Antichrist) as depicted by the "four horsemen" of the first four seals, will result in a great persecution of true Christians (see Why Are True Prophets Hated? Why Are False Prophets Loved?).

"6:9 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 6:11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled." (Revelation 6:9-11 KJV)

The sixth seal will begin the Messiah's wrath upon those of humanity who regard themselves above God's Law (see Is Iniquity Liberal Or Conservative? and What Happens To A Nation When God's Law Is Forsaken?). Humans are going to learn what "superpower" really means: "the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?"

"6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 6:13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty wind. 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.

6:15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" (Revelation 6:12-17 KJV)

Fact Finder: What "trumpet" will sound when the Messiah returns?
See The Feast Of Trumpets: The Return Of The Messiah