Chapter 5; Taking over the Authority of Seals
The Lord who was showing what must take place afterward showed, in Chapter 4, the scene before the Throne in heaven, and in Chapter 5, He showed a book in God’s hand sealed up with seven seals in which what must take place is written inside and on the back. In this book, it is completely written of all things to take place about both the salvation and Judgement over man. (1)
For the book was sealed up with the seals of God, no one in heaven or on the earth was worthy to break the seals. Man who perished by sin could not break it nor angels in heaven, but only Christ was able to.
Therefore, one of the elders said “stop weeping” to John who was weeping greatly, because the Root of David has overcome so as to open the book. It is because man can never be saved without the victory of the cross on which Jesus died instead of man who is depraved by sin. So the elder told “stop weeping” to the one who was crying concerning the necessity of the salvation. (2~5)
Jesus who triumphed on the cross was standing between the four living creatures and the elders, and sent out the Seven Spirits to the whole earth; this means that through Jesus, the Mediator, all mankind would receive Holy Spirit. (6)
Christ took the book out of the hand of God; it means that Christ has the authority to judge because he, having a complete human body, triumphed on the cross, resurrected and ascended to heaven, and pours Holy Spirit to all mankind as the Work of the Mediator. Judgement will come after the salvation completes over all mankind. (7)
When Christ had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders sang a new song, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense; this means that the sovereignty of God and the sovereignty of the saints will join together with each other, and then the Kingdom upon the earth will come where the new song will be sung. The Kingdom upon the earth will be fulfilled, first of all, by purchasing all men for God with the blood and by making them to be a kingdom and priests. (8~10)
Angels replied in praise of the New Era that will be fulfilled through the victory of Christ, the second Adam, although man became depraved by the sin of the first Adam. This is because the angels have the duty to fight for the saints to be saved, and they also delight in the coming of the Kingdom of the saints. (11~12)
Every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea gave glory to God and the Lamb because they will be made new when the Kingdom of the saints comes. (13)
The four living creatures and the twenty-four elders together give glory to God. (14)
The Lord showed it in this way with the purpose to show that every Word of the prophecy will be fulfilled through the Lamb, Jesus Christ.