“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.” Revelation 5:1. This sealed book, (the contents of which are inaccessible, being unrevealed,) and whatever mysterious glory it contains, I thought could be compared to the scriptures themselves, which in like manner are a sealed book, and which in like manner no man can open. Revelation 5:3. The Scriptures are a “sealed book.” The LORD inscripted his words for those to whom they were intended, and those alone. Matthew 11:25. Christ, “answered and said unto them, because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.” Matthew 13:11. When the Lord speaks about a particular people to whom he had given something so incalculably precious and glorious as his own word, (‘I have given them thy word,” John 17:14,’) it implies that with that gift, is also given the faith to understand that which is given, Luke 24:45, without which the book is just a book, (though bound in the finest leather,) whose contents remain sealed and inaccessible.
“And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.” Revelation 5:3. This is the problem with religion, as it attempts to open the book upon its own merits, and not the merits of the Lamb that was slain. Read the entire chapter, as it’s fascinatingly wonderful how it begins with a sealed book, and ends with the adoration and worship of HIM alone, the LAMB, Revelation 5:12, who was found worthy to open that book! Revelation 5:14. It’s only as the LORD enables us to look exclusively to Christ, as alone worthy, as alone accepted, as alone meriting the entirety of our salvation, and as the only ONE who can open the scriptures to our understanding, Luke 24:45, that we begin to see anything aright! Ezekiel 37:13. Prior to that we can compare ourselves to the blind man in Mark 8:24, who could see a dim outline of things, even men as trees walking, or perhaps in gospel terms, men who can perceive and embrace the outward form of Christianity, men who adhere to the teachings of Christ, as they see the big picture, they understand the story, they even follow the narrative, and even with everything which they have sacrificed for the cause of the Christian Religion, (Christianity just as another form of religion,) if their spiritual eyes have never been opened to behold the singular glory of that ONE that sits upon the throne, Revelation 4:2, will be confounded. I Peter 2:6.
‘No man was found worthy to open this book!’ In 2000 years, nothing has changed in regards to the seal on this book, which likewise applies to that which we call the Holy Bible. Interesting thought. You can walk into any bookstore, and pick up a copy of the Bible, and you can begin reading it, just like any other book, but so much not like any other book, you need special lenses to get beyond the mere words. If filtered thru the lens of religion/tradition everything you read will be distorted to the point where nothing will agree, Acts 15:15, (according to your creedal confession, whether erected in your idolatrous heart or elevated to infallibility in your ‘church’ Confession of Faith,) as the truth will be turned into fables, II Timothy 4:4, (fables as in perhaps mere moral truths,) rendering God’s word void by your tradition, Mark 7:13, which could apply to any tradition, whether it was handed to you on a silver platter by your parents, or by some church program, for if it denies Christ in the glory of his person, in the perpetual, everlasting and saving efficacy of his atoning sacrifice, or by conditioning any part of salvation on man, and not on Christ alone, it can be seen as nothing less than an attempt to rob Christ of his glory, which in effect destroys the message of the Gospel.
So, regardless of one’s intellectual status, academic achievements, denominational ties or religious affiliations; one’s superior capability to retain the scriptures, to expound them in their original languages, and to even grasp the essential truths of Christianity, and even perhaps expound the same to such who stand amazed at your fluency, retention and the ability to communicate the same; regardless of one’s soaring heights & expository depths to understand all mysteries, without the light of Christ to illuminate the scriptures, it profits us nothing! How dependent we are! “The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.” Psalm 25:14. MPJ