1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals.
At the coming of Jesus, this earth will be destroyed and the saints will go to heaven where Christ and the martyrs will rule over them for a thousand years. In the time of the kings of Israel, it was written that a newly enthroned king was instructed as thus: “Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.” (Deuteronomy 17:18–20) The kings of Israel were always wrong when they did not allow the prophets of Yahweh to lead the way.
Yahweh had said, "I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.’" (Deuteronomy 18:18-20)
Jesus is both Prophet and King. “This 'law’, God's Covenant Book, was evidently what we know today is the book of Deuteronomy. It's contents were written by Moses on a scroll and placed in the sanctuary in the custody of Levites (Deut. 31:9, 24, 26). It was from this master copy of Deuteronomy that the newly crowned king had to make a copy of the scroll for himself at his enthronement. The king was to keep the scroll throughout his life, to read and study it constantly, and to obey diligently all it's instructions… We read, four instance, how in the coronation of the first Israelite king (Saul), Samuel 'told the people the rights and duties of the kingship, and he wrote them in a book and laid it up before the LORD' (1 Sam. 10:25). At his enthronement, according to 2 Kings 11:12, the Judean king Josiah was brought to a very special place reserved for the king in 'the house of the LORD' where he was invested with the royal emblems of 'the crown and the testimony.' Both the crown and the testimony are seen as tokens of kingship. They signify the right to rule. In the Old Testament, the testimony is always used with reference to the law and God's instruction (Exod. 31:18; 32:15, Ps 119:7; 119:13-16, 35–36, 143–1 44). The testimony was clearly the exposition law of the book of Deuteronomy (cf. 4:45; 6:17, 20), or 'the book of this law' from Deuteronomy 17:18. It is especially interesting that the young prince Josiah was proclaimed king after having the crown put on his head and a copy of the Covenant Book placed in his hand. Also in second Kings 23, we see the young king Josiah taking the scroll of Deuteronomy and learning from it… The possession of the scroll of the covenant and the ability to open it and read it demonstrated his right to rule and to deal with any crisis that he might encounter. On the other hand, the scroll was a constant reminder that he was responsible to God, the Great King, for the exercise of his power. The royal throne that he occupied was in fact 'the throne of God' (1 Chron 29:23) or more explicitly, 'the throne of the kingship of God over Israel' (1 Chron 28:5). The Israelite king was a co-ruler with God honored to sit at His right hand (Psalm 110:1; cf. 80:17).” (Ranko Stefanovic)
Sealed with seven seals- "Especially important documents were sealed with multiple seals; and the appearance of seven seals here indicates the inviolate nature of the document.” (Burton Coffman) The testimony is sure. What is sealed is the judgement of mankind, based on the Covenant Book, which had been sealed until the end of time. At the end of the exile of Judea, the prophet declared, "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." (Isaiah 8:16) This is the end of the exile of the saints. At the end of the millennial, the capital— New Jerusalem—will be moved to a restored earth where the redeemed will rule and reign with Christ forever.
2 Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. 4 So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the scroll, or to look at it. 5 But one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and its seven seals.”
Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals? No man nor angel was worthy. But do not weep. There is a Man who can open the scroll, showing His ability, and read it, showing his understanding to rule according to it’s principles. Behold the Lamb— the lowly Savior— has become the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the kingly tribe. David is Jesse’s son- the lowly shepherd boy. David, though an adulterer and a murderer, repented of his sins and dealt with them according to that law, becoming a man after God's own heart. The faithfulness of subsequent kings was measured according to his standard . And "God made a covenant with David, promising him the perpetually of dynasty (2 Samuel 7:1–17). 'The LORD swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back: 'One of the sons of your body I will sit on your throne'" (Psalm 132:11)..." (Ranko Stefanovic) No one in heaven nor on the earth nor under the earth was worthy to Judge the world, except Yahweh’s anointed- the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David.
“There seems also a reference to the deeper thought that He who is the Branch is also the Root (comp. Isaiah 11:10); He is the one who was David’s Lord (Matthew 22:41-45), and 'the true source and ground of all power' to David and David’s tribe, and of all who looked to Him, and not to themselves, for strength." (Ellicott's Commentary)
6 And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, I saw a Lamb as though it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent out into all the earth.
Yes, Jesus had died, but He knew no sin; and therefore, He arose as the first fruits of the dead. Having— “‘Seven horns’; the symbol of perfect power.’ Seven eyes’; the symbol of perfect knowledge. They are immediately explained to mean the seven spirits of God; that is, the Holy Spirit in His fulness of wisdom, sent forth by the Father and the Son. John 14:16; John 14:26; John 15:26; John 16:7; Acts 2:33. “ (Justin Edwards) Jesus "appears bearing before the throne seven horns of omnipotence, to execute judgment and justice in the sevenfold economy or periods of providence. His seven eyes of flame 'run through the earth.' Zechariah 4:10." (Joseph Sutcliffe)
7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. 8 Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
Jesus will go to the Ancient of Days— the Son to the Father— to take the Covenant Scroll and sit on the throne. When he takes it, all the creation, as well as each of the redeemed from each generation with golden bowls full of incense, representing their prayers during their sojourn on earth, will fall down before the Lamb and worship Him, acknowledging “that Jesus Christ is alone worthy and able to unfold and execute all the mysteries and counsels of God.” (Adam Clarke)
They will, in that Day, sing a new doxology.
9 And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; for You were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, 10 and have made them a kingdom and priests to our God; and they shall reign on the earth.” 11 Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 12 saying with a loud voice: “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!” 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, I heard saying: “Blessing and honor and glory and power be to Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, forever and ever, amen!” 14 Then the four living creatures said, “Amen!” And the elders fell down and worshiped Him.