Our previous study in Revelation chapter four directed our attention to the throne of God. Here now, in Revelation chapter five, we will be introduced to a mysterious scroll held by the One who sat upon that throne…
“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.
And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside” (Revelation 5:1-4 NIV).
Much like a camera that zooms in on one aspect of an image, the beginning of our text from Revelation 5:1 shifts our attention to the right hand of God. This detail is rooted in an ancient symbol of power and dominion. Since the right hand serves as the dominant hand for most of the world’s population, this imagery grew to exemplify the idea of skill and/or strength.
This eventually led to a further association with the related concepts of sovereignty and dominion. The enduring legacy of this ancient metaphor survives today in the idea of a trusted assistant who serves as the “right hand” of an authority figure. An individual who fits that description is someone who is as indispensable as that person’s own right hand.
This passage then continues with an important detail regarding this scroll, for we are told that it was inscribed on both sides. Although ancient scrolls were typically single-sided, many commentators note that title deeds formed an exception. For instance, the inner portion of a title deed offered a description of the property in question. If a financial hardship led to the sale of that property, the amount owed and repayment terms were written on the outside. Once that information was transcribed, the scroll was refastened with strings and sealed with wax over the knots for security purposes.
When the debtor’s financial situation improved, he or she could approach the elders of the city with a petition to repurchase the property. The elders would examine the document and approve the purchase if the debtor met the required obligation. But even if someone couldn’t afford to redeem his or her property, a family relative could step in and do it for them. We’ll consider the role of that relative and how it relates to our text from Revelation chapter five next.
Image Attribution: unbekannt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons