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Revelation
Part 23a
Chapter 5
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 5:1 (KJV)
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 5:2 (KJV)
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. -- Rev 5:3 (KJV)
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. -- Rev 5:4 (KJV)
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 5:5 (KJV)
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. -- Rev 5:6 (KJV)
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. -- Rev 5:7 (KJV)
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. -- Rev 5:8 (KJV)
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; -- Rev 5:9 (KJV)
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. -- Rev 5:10 (KJV)
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; -- Rev 5:11 (KJV)
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. -- Rev 5:12 (KJV)
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. -- Rev 5:13 (KJV)
And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. -- Rev 5:14 (KJV)
The Sealed Book
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 5:1 (KJV)
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 5:2 (KJV)
The ancient use of Public and Sealed Scrolls
And Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came unto me, saying, -- Jer 32:6 (KJV)
Behold, Hanameel the son of Shallum thine uncle shall come unto thee, saying, Buy thee my field that is in Anathoth: for the right of redemption is thine to buy it. -- Jer 32:7 (KJV)
So Hanameel mine uncle's son came to me in the court of the prison according to the word of the LORD, and said unto me, Buy my field, I pray thee, that is in Anathoth, which is in the country of Benjamin: for the right of inheritance is thine, and the redemption is thine; buy it for thyself. Then I knew that this was the word of the LORD. -- Jer 32:8 (KJV)
And I bought the field of Hanameel my uncle's son, that was in Anathoth, and weighed him the money, even seventeen shekels of silver. -- Jer 32:9 (KJV)
And I subscribed the evidence ( rp,se ) , and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances. -- Jer 32:10 (KJV)
5612 rp,se cepher {say'-fer} or (fem.) legal document, deed of purchase, scroll, book, letter, evidence, written order, commission, certificate of divorce,
So I took the evidence ( rp,se ) of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open: -- Jer 32:11 (KJV)
And I gave the evidence ( rp,se ) of the purchase unto Baruch the son of Neriah, the son of Maaseiah, in the sight of Hanameel mine uncle's son, and in the presence of the witnesses that subscribed the book ( rp,se ) of the purchase, before all the Jews that sat in the court of the prison. -- Jer 32:12 (KJV)
And I charged Baruch before them, saying, -- Jer 32:13 (KJV)
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Take these evidences ( rp,se ), this evidence ( rp,se ) of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence ( rp,se ) which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days. -- Jer 32:14 (KJV)
The Messages of the Three Angels
And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, -- Rev 14:6 (KJV)
Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. -- Rev 14:7 (KJV)
The Public Scroll (rp,s) or Book
And all the host of heaven shall be dissolved, and the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll: ( rp,se ) and all their host shall fall down, as the leaf falleth off from the vine, and as a falling fig from the fig tree. -- Isa 34:4 (KJV)
5612 rp,se cepher {say'-fer} or (fem.) legal document, deed of purchase, scroll, book, letter, evidence, written order, commission, certificate of divorce,
And the heaven departed as a scroll ( bibli,on ) when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. -- Rev 6:14 (KJV)
975 bibli,on biblion {bib-lee'-on} • book, scroll, a written document
Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. -- Psa 40:6 (KJV)
Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book ( rp,se ) it is written of me, -- Psa 40:7 (KJV)
Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book ( bibli,on ) it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. -- Heb 10:7 (KJV)
Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; -- Heb 10:8 (KJV)
The Everlasting Gospel
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament showeth his handiwork. -- Psa 19:1 (KJV)
Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night showeth knowledge. -- Psa 19:2 (KJV)
There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. -- Psa 19:3 (KJV)
Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, -- Psa 19:4 (KJV)
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. -- Psa 19:5 (KJV)
His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof. -- Psa 19:6 (KJV)
But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. -- Mal 4:2 (KJV)
The Public Scroll Has been Corrupted by the whore Babylon the Great
The Sealed Scroll or Book
And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: -- Rev 10:1 (KJV)
And he had in his hand a little book ( bibli,on ) open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, -- Rev 10:2 (KJV)
975 bibli,on biblion {bib-lee'-on} • book, scroll, a written document
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 10:8 (KJV)
Isaiah Prophecied of this unbelieving generation
Stay yourselves, and wonder; cry ye out, and cry: they are drunken, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink. -- Isa 29:9 (KJV)
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 29:10 (KJV)
And the vision of all is become unto you as the words of a book ( rp,se ) 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: -- Isa 29:11 (KJV)
And the book ( rp,se ) is delivered to him that is not learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee: and he saith, I am not learned. -- Isa 29:12 (KJV)
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: -- Isa 29:13 (KJV)
Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid. -- Isa 29:14 (KJV)
And in that day shall the deaf hear the words of the book ( rp,se ), and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity, and out of darkness. -- Isa 29:18 (KJV)
The Prophecies were Sealed by Daniel
But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book ( rp,se ), even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased. -- Dan 12:4 (KJV)
And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end. -- Dan 12:9 (KJV)
The Kinsman Redeemer, Goel, Avenger of Blood
A very ancient concept among the civilizations of the past was that of a Kinsmen Redeemer, also referred to as the Goel within the Hebrew scriptures. The Goel was generally the nearest living male blood relation and upon him were placed certain duties or responsibilities. The primary meaning of the root is 'to make a claim,' vindicare, from which we get our English word vindicate. As such, the responsibilities of the Goel could be expanded to anything that might vindicate a person's honor.
The Goel was sent to "Balance the Account"
According to the Oriental Law of Kinship, the Goel had three main responsibilities.
Redeem the land promised to Abraham
Foremost, he was the representative, chosen by the family, to redeem the lost inheritance or paternal estate, that might have somehow been lost or sold through poverty. This duty was considered as being fundamental to the basis of Hebrew law, which considered such things as real estate, to be the inalienable property or ownership of the family or tribe. According to priestly legislation, it was the family, who ultimately owned the land, and not the current land owner himself.
If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away
some of his possession, and if any of his kin come
to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his
brother sold.
Lev 25:25 (KJV)
Second, the kinsman redeemer had the responsibility to redeem his brother, who might have somehow through some unfortunate set of circumstances, fallen into slavery himself. In many such cases, the chosen relative of the unfortunate one, would merely act as an intermediary between the two parties, in such cases where the relative might wish to make some kind of restitution. In such cases the Goel was to take the place of an advocate, to enforce the claims of the oppressed, especially in the case of an orphan or one quite incapable of standing up for himself.
WE HAVE AN ADVOCATE WITH THE FATHER
Plead my cause, and deliver me: quicken me
according to thy word.
Psa 119:154 (KJV)
For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead
their cause with thee.
Prov 23:11 (KJV)
For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that
he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
Job 19:25 (KJV)
We might also infer from the book of Ruth, that one of the duties of the kinsman redeemer, was to marry the widow of a deceased kinsman's widow if he might freely choose to do so, however, the Levitical Law limited such an obligation to the immediate relative or sibling.
And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee,
and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor,
and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner
by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family:
After that he is sold he may be redeemed again;
one of his brethren may redeem him:
Lev 25:47-48 (KJV)
Lastly, the kinsman redeemer, more precisely called the Blood Avenger, had the responsibility to balance the blood of his relative, which had been spilled by another person, whether such an act had been deliberate or accidental. We should not imagine that this particular custom was in any way limited to the Hebrew people, but rather understand that such practices were very common throughout the many different peoples or civilizations of the world, appearing to be even at the very roots of every ancient civilization throughout the world.
And surely your blood of your lives will I require;
at the hand of every beast will I require it, and
at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's
brother will I require the life of man. Whoso
sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be
shed: for in the image of God made he man.
Gen 9:5-6 (KJV)
The punishment of the murderer is not to be imagined as a type of vengeance sought by the family, as being associated with, or being the direct result of, feelings associated with their own loss or pain. It was rather considered as being the rightful and proper act of vengeance, or the methods employed by the family, to help to appease the soul of him who had been unjustly slain. According to this way of thinking, which might certainly seem to be somewhat foreign to our minds, the blood of the murdered relative is perceived as being in a state of continually crying out from the ground. This state of unrest was to continue throughout all eternity, and would only cease, implying that this soul had finally been laid to rest, after that the blood of that victim had been rightfully balanced and avenged.
And he said, What hast thou done? the voice
of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from
the ground.
Gen 4:10 (KJV)
The continual crying of that blood or soul was said to have been heard loudest by that member of the clan whose blood had been nearest to the victim. It is important to realize the difference between the crime itself, being viewed merely as an act of killing and thereby causing the extinction of a life, in contrast to the spilling and wasting of another person's blood, which was therefore a crime against that very bloodline. In the case of the Hebrews, if the cause of death was proven to be accidental, the Blood Avenger was not to seek vengeance upon the slayer, unless that person had deliberately left the city of refuge before the death of the high priest, who had been living during the days of the crime that he had committed.
The closest notion we might find in our day would be that of a blood related vigilante. We would expect to find such a custom prevalent in areas where the regular appointed authorities are perceived to be especially lacking and inefficient in their administering of justice to, and on behalf of, the common people of the land.[1]
The revenger of blood himself shall slay the
murderer: when he meeteth him, he shall slay
him.
Num 35:19 (KJV)
The messiah, that divine son of God whose coming had been promised first to Eve to redeem the fallen sons of Adam, was to function as the kinsman redeemer, and thereby satisfy all three of these requirements. It is not until we fully understand this responsibility that had been laid upon the shoulders of the Son of Man (Adam), long before the earth had even been brought into existence, that we are able to perfectly grasp or understand both the first and second comings of Jesus Christ. Let us more closely examine man's current dilemma.
God had originally entrusted Adam and his sons with the earth and everything that it contained. Man was to stand upon this earth, and to sit in the very seat of God, as a god, to rule over all the inhabitants of the earth. That would include any strangers who had made a decision to set up their dwelling upon the earth. We are referring of course, to those spiritual beings of whom it was written that their original habitation was not of this earth but located somewhere else within the heavens.
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after
our likeness: and let them have dominion over the
fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over
the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every
creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Gen 1:26 (KJV)
What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and
the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou
hast made him a little lower than the angels, and
hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou
madest him to have dominion over the works of thy
hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
Psa 8:4-6 (KJV)
Adam and his sons had lost possession of this earth through the fall, and Satan had somehow through this same fall of Adam, regained his original throne here upon this earth. It is clear from the account of the temptation of Christ within the scriptures, that Satan had somehow possessed authority over all kingdoms and nations upon this earth. It also appears that Satan had authority, right, and privilege, to give this earth to whosoever he had chosen. It is further clear from Paul's statement below, that in spite of the earth being given to Adam initially, Satan had somehow become himself the god of this earth.
Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding
high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms
of the world, and the glory of them; And saith
unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou
wilt fall down and worship me.
Mat 4:8-9 (KJV)
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that
are lost: in whom the god of this world hath
blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest
the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is
the image of God, should shine unto them.
2 Cor 4:3-4 (KJV)
Each of Adam's children had somehow been sold into slavery, the Prince of Hell becoming their cruel task master, as all are now born into the bondage of sin and death. This bondage and enslavement of the soul of man is graphically represented in type, by the historical enslavement of the children of Israel within the land of Egypt. It was only the hand of God himself that might be powerful enough to deliver them. Their only hope was in that precious promise, that God himself, would send his deliverer to bring out the children of Israel from their captivity, and finally to lead them into a land which floweth with milk and honey. The children of Adam were under the curse of sin. Their only hope was in the promised savior, who would one day come forth into the earth, to set them free. He was in fact their kinsman redeemer.
And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast
hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and
hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded
thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed
is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt
thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to
thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread,
till thou return unto the ground; for out of it
wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto
dust shalt thou return.
Gen 3:17-19 (KJV)
For the creature was made subject to vanity,
not willingly, but by reason of him who hath
subjected the same in hope, Because the
creature itself also shall be delivered from
the bondage of corruption into the glorious
liberty of the children of God. For we know
that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth
in pain together until now. And not only they,
but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of
the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves,
waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption
of our body. For we are saved by hope: but hope
that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth,
why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that
we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
Rom 8:20-25 (KJV)
Not only had Adam lost possession of his inheritance, which is to say the earth, but he had also lost each of his children, every one of which had been sold into slavery to the Prince of Darkness. Adam lost his own life, and he being dead, had absolutely no hope and no possibility, to rectify any of the circumstances that might have followed, as a direct result of his fall. Clearly, Satan is himself called a murderer from the beginning. He comes but for three purposes.
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts
of your father ye will do. He was a murderer
from the beginning, and abode not in the truth,
because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh
a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and
the father of it.
John 8:44 (KJV)
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill,
and to destroy: I am come that they might have life,
and that they might have it more abundantly.
John 10:10 (KJV)
The kinsman redeemer being himself the champion of Adam's family, comes forth primarily to liberate the captives, to regain the lost possession, and to rebuild the kingdom of his father, Adam.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he
hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the
poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to preach deliverance to the captives, and
recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty
them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable
year of the Lord.
Luke 4:18-19 (KJV)
It was only the Blood Avenger himself who might satisfy the demands of justice while at the same time balance the account of Adam. For it is not so much a physical as it is a spiritual law, one of which we of the western "civilized" world are unfortunately much too ignorant of. The bible clearly states that blood must absolutely be shed to balance the blood that has been shed. This is not a negotiable requirement, at least not in the world of the spirit. The life is in the blood. For life it seems, is the most precious of all things that exists. The law of the spirit world insisted, that although Christ knew no sin, he himself had to become the personification of sin itself in the flesh. It was only by his being transformed into this detestable state, that his own blood might also be shed to balance the blood of Adam that had been shed. It is not absolutely necessary that we understand or even agree with this requirement, but only that we believe it.
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,
even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
John 3:14 (KJV)
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no
sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God
in him.
2 Cor 5:21 (KJV)
Through his death, he had managed to conquer the one who had the power of death. He triumphed over him, being tempted in all points as we ourselves are tempted, yet he himself did not fail nor did he sin. In and through his willing obedience, which he performed to honor the sacred and holy law of the spirit world, Jesus proved himself mastery over all the power of the enemy.
This is the Son of Man, born of the flesh of Adam, who has suddenly come forth to redeem his ancestors as well as his own children, and finally put to rest, the longest clan feud within the history of man.
Written on both sides
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 5:1 (KJV)
The call for the Kinsman Redeemer
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 5:2 (KJV)
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. -- Rev 5:3 (KJV)
And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. -- Rev 5:4 (KJV)
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 5:5 (KJV)
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. -- Rev 5:6 (KJV)
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. -- Rev 5:7 (KJV)
And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps,
and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. -- Rev 5:8 (KJV)
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; -- Rev 5:9 (KJV)
And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. -- Rev 5:10 (KJV)
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; -- Rev 5:11 (KJV)
Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. -- Rev 5:12 (KJV)
And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. -- Rev 5:13 (KJV)
And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. -- Rev 5:14 (KJV)