Revelation 5:1
Parallel Verses
New International Version
Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.


English Standard Version
Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.


New American Standard Bible
I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed up with seven seals.


King James Bible
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.


Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then I saw in the right hand of the One seated on the throne a scroll with writing on the inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.


International Standard Version
Then I saw in the right hand of the one who sits on the throne a scroll written on the inside and on the outside, sealed with seven seals.


American Standard Version
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back, close sealed with seven seals.


Douay-Rheims Bible
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne, a book written within and without, sealed with seven seals.


Darby Bible Translation
And I saw on the right hand of him that sat upon the throne a book, written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals.


Young's Literal Translation
And I saw upon the right hand of Him who is sitting upon the throne a scroll, written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals;


Cross References
Isaiah 29:11
And the vision of all is become to you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray you: and he said, I cannot; for it is sealed:


Ezekiel 2:9
And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent to me; and, see, a roll of a book was therein;


Ezekiel 2:10
And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe.


Daniel 12:4
But you, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.


Zechariah 5:1
Then I turned, and lifted up my eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll.


Revelation 4:9
And when those beasts give glory and honor and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who lives for ever and ever,


Revelation 5:7
And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne.


Revelation 5:13
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 honor, and glory, and power, be to him that sits on the throne, and to the Lamb for ever and ever.


Revelation 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.


Revelation 6:16
And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:


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Backside Book Close Closely Hand High Inside Lying Outside Right Sat Scroll Sealed Seals Seat Seated Seven Shut Sides Stamps Throne Wax Within Writing Written
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Backside Book Close Closely Hand High Inside Lying Outside Right Sat Scroll Sealed Seals Seat Seated Seven Shut Sides Stamps Throne Wax Within Writing Written
Commentaries
5:1-7 The apostle saw in the hand of Him that sat upon the throne, a roll of parchments in the form usual in those times, and sealed with seven seals. This represented the secret purposes of God about to be revealed. The designs and methods of Divine Providence, toward the church and the world, are stated, fixed, and made a matter of record. The counsels of God are altogether hidden from the eye and understanding of the creature. The several parts are not unsealed and opened at once, but after each other, till the whole mystery of God's counsel and conduct is finished in the world. The creatures cannot open it, nor read it; the Lord only can do so. Those who see most of God, are most desirous to see more; and those who have seen his glory, desire to know his will. But even good men may be too eager and hasty to look into the mysteries of the Divine conduct. Such desires, if not soon answered, turn to grief and sorrow. If John wept much because he could not look into the book of God's decrees, what reason have many to shed floods of tears for their ignorance of the gospel of Christ! of that on which everlasting salvation depends! We need not weep that we cannot foresee future events respecting ourselves in this world; the eager expectation of future prospects, or the foresight of future calamities, would alike unfit us for present duties and conflicts, or render our prosperous days distressing. Yet we may desire to learn, from the promises and prophecies of Scripture, what will be the final event to believers and to the church; and the Incarnate Son has prevailed, that we should learn all that we need to know. Christ stands as Mediator between God and both ministers and people. He is called a Lion, but he appears as a Lamb slain. He appears with the marks of his sufferings, to show that he pleads for us in heaven, in virtue of his satisfaction. He appears as a Lamb, having seven horns and seven eyes; perfect power to execute all the will of God, and perfect wisdom to understand it, and to do it in the most effectual manner. The Father put the book of his eternal counsels into the hand of Christ, and Christ readily and gladly took it into his hand; for he delights to make known the will of his Father; and the Holy Spirit is given by him to reveal the truth and will of God.

CHAPTER 5

Re 5:1-14. The Book with Seven Seals: None Worthy to Open It but the Lamb: He Takes It amidst the Praises of the Redeemed, and of the Whole Heavenly Host.

1. in, &c.—Greek, "(lying) upon the right hand." His right hand was open and on it lay the book. On God's part there was no withholding of His future purposes as contained in the book: the only obstacle to unsealing it is stated in Re 5:3 [Alford].

book—rather, as accords with the ancient form of books, and with the writing on the backside, "a roll." The writing on the back implies fulness and completeness, so that nothing more needs to be added (Re 22:18). The roll, or book, appears from the context to be "the title-deed of man's inheritance" [De Burgh] redeemed by Christ, and contains the successive steps by which He shall recover it from its usurper and obtain actual possession of the kingdom already "purchased" for Himself and His elect saints. However, no portion of the roll is said to be unfolded and read; but simply the seals are successively opened, giving final access to its contents being read as a perfect whole, which shall not be until the events symbolized by the seals shall have been past, when Eph 3:10 shall receive its complete accomplishment, and the Lamb shall reveal God's providential plans in redemption in all their manifold beauties. Thus the opening of the seals will mean the successive steps by which God in Christ clears the way for the final opening and reading of the book at the visible setting up of the kingdom of Christ. Compare, at the grand consummation, Re 20:12, "Another book was opened … the book of life"; Re 22:19. None is worthy to do so save the Lamb, for He alone as such has redeemed man's forfeited inheritance, of which the book is the title-deed. The question (Re 5:2) is not (as commonly supposed), Who should reveal the destinies of the Church (for this any inspired prophet would be competent to do)? but, Who has the WORTH to give man a new title to his lost inheritance? [De Burgh].

sealed … seven seals—Greek, "sealed up," or "firmly sealed." The number seven (divided into four, the world-wide number, and three, the divine) abounds in Revelation and expresses completeness. Thus, the seven seals, representing all power given to the Lamb; the seven trumpets, by which the world kingdoms are shaken and overthrown, and the Lamb's kingdom ushered in; and the seven vials, by which the beast's kingdom is destroyed.

Revelation 4:11
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