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I. I notice first, that under any really feasible interpretation, THE JUDICIAL ELEMENT MUST, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, BE INCLUDED. Different minds have discerned in this symbol "the Book of the Secret Decrees of God," "the Book of Destiny," "the Book of the Inheritance," "the Book of Universal History," "the Book of the Future," or "the Book of Providence." But every one of these interpretations — different but not contradictory — carries a reference to judgment in its right hand. Whatever more may be "written within and on the back side," the handwriting of Christ against His enemies is undoubtedly there. Its very position, it has been well shown, is an indication of its judicial character. It lies "in the right hand of Him who sat upon the throne"; in that hand "which teaches terrible things," and is "full of righteousness," and at which Christ is set "until His enemies are made His footstool." As each seal is opened, ministers of Divine retribution are seen going forth. Effects like these could only follow the opening of a Book of Judgment.

II. I observe next, THAT EVERYTHING IN THE VISION, IN WHICH THIS SYMBOL OCCURS, SEEMS TO SPEAK TO US OF THE DOMAIN OF PROVIDENCE. Those prelusions of the consummation of all things, of which Providence is so full, salute us here. It is the "Lamb," the redemptive heart of Providence; the "Lion," the avenging arm of Providence; the "root of David," the kingly power in Providence, who prevails to open the book. He is the Lord mighty to save or destroy. And finally, His power to deal with this great mystery of time, the oppression of the righteous by the wicked, is represented as a joy to all who are embraced in the great scheme of Providence. It should be borne in mind that this worship, like the vision in which it occurs, was revealed as consolation for John. He was in tears because no man could unseal the book. It is a most suggestive fact, that the first word of the consolation comes from one of the representatives of the redeemed. It was one of the elders who said to the exile, "Weep not!" To that elder and his companions the seals on the book had caused no anxiety. The secret of the Lord was in their hearts. They knew that there was one eye from which the things written in that book were never hid. In the light which breaks upon him now, the tears of the captive-prophet have disappeared. The mystery which lay upon his soul is unloosed. The book is in the hands of his Lord. "What no man in heaven, nor in earth, nor under the earth" could do, has been done by Christ. He has prevailed "to open the book, and to loose the seven seals." The joy of the seer seems to palpitate up into the throngs of heaven. And if we would know the character of that book, we must open our minds to the thoughts which find expression in this song.

1. The song is first of all a song of thanks: "Thou hast redeemed us." There was such power in His sympathy, that it penetrated, and used for redemption purposes, every peculiarity of nature, and race, and sphere. There was such power in His grace, that it broke down, in their hearts, the might of indifference, and enmity, and lust, and sin.

2. Again, the song of the elders is more than personal thanksgiving. It is a prophecy of consolation as well. It is sung for John and the suffering Church.

3. Besides being personal thanksgiving and prophecy, the song of the redeemed is worship of the Redeemer. And it is the judicial aspect of His work they praise. The object of this worship is seated on the throne of the universe. The song is often quoted as if it were an acknowledgment of His worth as a sacrifice: "Thou art worthy...for Thou wast slain." But it is more, by being less, than this. "Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof, for Thou wast slain." The fact that He was slain is celebrated here, only because it imparts the right to open the book. The singers take their stand on the fact that He is judge, because He is first of all sacrifice. He is worthy to unloose the seals of judgment, because He is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. We are accustomed to connect the death of Christ with the outflowings of His mercy; the connection here is between that death and the outflowings of His justice. In the depths of this song I find the great faith, that there is a Judge in the earth who judgeth righteously, and Christ the crucified is He.

(A. Macleod, D. D.)

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KJV: 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.

WEB: I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.