What Does It Mean That No Man Was Able To Open The Book?
The book contains the events of the future. Since time immemorial there have been those who tried to unveil the future. Charlatans, Soothsayers, Spiritualists, Magicians, Astrologers and Fortune tellers have pretended to have power to foretell events to come. But except they have received revelation from God, all are helpless.
Was This The Reason For John’s Weeping Because No One Had Been Found Worthy To Open The Book And Read What The Future Held ?
No. There is much more involved. To fully understand the meaning of the seven-sealed book and the opening of its seals, we must understand something of what man has lost by sin. In the beginning, man was made in the image of God and given dominion over the earth. However, in his yielding to Satan’s temptation in the Garden, a terrible change took place. Man’s dominion was transferred to the devil. Satan says, Luke 4: 5-6…….” And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give Thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me”. In the Fall, man came under the curse of sin, sickness and death.
The book in the hand of Him that sat on the throne, evidently contains the title-deed of the earth. In the scene portrayed in Rev 4 and 5, the time has come for the whole earth to be restored to its rightful heirs. The price of the redemption was paid by Christ.
But the question is, who will open the seals and demand possession. John looked for someone in heaven or earth who could match the power of Satan, loose the seals. But he looked in vain, until one of the Elders said – ” 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:.5).
The Law Of The Kinsman Redeemer
Why Could Not An Angel Have Been Found Worthy To Open The Book And Loose The Seals ?
An angel is unqualified. According to the law of inheritance, only a near kinsman may redeem a lost possession. Neither angel nor archangels qualify’; they are of a different order. Moreover, among those of the human race, no man in heaven or earth could be found worthy to perform the act of redemption. When John saw that there was no one to open the book, and therefore, no hope of redemption, it is small wonder that he wept. But John’s sorrow was brief, for Christ appeared on the scene. He being the near kinsman was both qualified and worthy. This is beautifully illustrated in the story of Boaz and Ruth ( Ruth 4:1-12)
Christ has the right of redemption:
i) by this reason of His incarnation in a human body and becoming a near – kinsman (Luke 1:30 -35)
ii) by His ransom of the race, accomplished on the Cross (Math. 20 : 28).
So He takes the book and proceeds to dispossess Satan and his angels who have usurped the possession. The inheritance will now be redeemed and given to those to whom it is rightfully due.
Is This Promise Of The Redemption Of The Purchased Possession Anticipated Elsewhere In The New Testament ?
Yes. Paul speaks of it in Ephesians 1: 13-14 “In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory”.
Here we are told that Christ seals His promise with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the day of the redemption of the purchased possession. With the rapture of the Saints (Rev 4), this event now begins to unfold.
