In Revelation 5 we are introduced to a Scroll held in the hand of God the Father. A determination is made as to who is worthy to open the Scroll. And in Chapter 6 the first six of the Seals of the Scroll are opened.
A scroll is a paper coiled around a spool. The inner part of a scroll cannot be accessed before the outer part.
The common image of a seven-sealed scroll is that of a scroll with seven seals along the leading edge so that all seven act as locks to prevent the scroll from opening.
This arrangement of seven “locks” means that all seven must be opened before any part of the scroll can be accessed. This method means any one of the seals would keep the entire scroll sealed and therefore they are redundant. Why would God the Father need six redundant seals locking a scroll when worthiness of the recipient is what enables the seals to be broken?
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.
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 and read 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 to loose its seven seals.”
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, stood 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.
7 Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne.
Revelation 5:1-7 NKJV
Notice in verse 2 a mighty angel says regarding the opening the Scroll, “…open the scroll and loose it’s seals.” Notice also in verse 5 one of the Elders says “…open the scroll and loose its seals.”
John documents that there are two witnesses to the mechanical nature of the Scroll. That the scroll is to be opened then followed by its seals loosed. Neither the angel nor the Elder says, “loose it’s seals and open it” but rather both witness that the scroll is opened before the seals are loosed.
The scroll is opened and seals are loosed as it is unwound. This indicates that the seals are internal within in the scroll. A seal is opened and the scroll is unrolled. Another seal is broken and the scroll is unrolled further.
This causes a “selah” or pause between the loosing of the seals and allows the effect of the current judgment to “soak in.”
Therefore, the Seals are in sequential order, not simultaneous as some would lead you to believe.
