Bible Study: Re.5:1-4 Written within and on the backside”

Compare this book sealed with seven seals to the stone tables which Moses broke at the foot of the mount.”And the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written.” (Ex.32:15-16) This was the work of God, “And the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.” Now we shall compare another. “He said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll,” which the prophet did eat,”And it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness.” (Ez.1:1-3) Now we have the word become flesh who is represented by Ezekiel as the Son of man and Moses is the servant of God. Jesus as the Son, “But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”(He.3:5-6). The role of the house of Israel is what a servant can attend to. “And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.”( John 8:35). So the second set of tables was intended for Israel and which Moses was to write by himself. ” And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments.” The everlasting covenant and the Decalogue are signified by ‘on the one side, and on the other side.” Since Moses literally broke it God did not revise His will but Moses was allowed to write the words of the covenant.

The roll that Ezekiel had eaten is “the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.”(2 Co.3:3)

Having compared two kind of tables, of stone and of the heart we have the bound book “written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.”(Re.5:1) In order to indicate the authority we have seven seals and the Lamb having seven horns.” stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns.”

The book carried blessings and condemnation which are rendered operational by the solemn action of breaking the seven seals. Compare this with yet another, which is a flying roll. “I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits./Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and every one that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it.”

In Re.10 we see the angel commanding the Apostle not to write what the seven thunders had uttered. Gospel of salvation has been preached. “Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.”(Re.10:4) As with Ezekiel he was to eat the little book. “And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.” For saints sanctified by the blood and are blessed it has no ill effects. “And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”(10:9-11)”

About bennythomas

I am a Dutch citizen. An architect by profession I am married and have six grandchildren. I am still keen on expressing myself and each day is new and an occasion where I might bring out from within something worthwhile.
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