Apparition of the Book After displaying the heavenly view, the book of Revelation explains to us the interest of heaven in the "Sealed Book." 1. The Sealed Book 1 - 4. 2. The Opener of the Book 5 - 14. 1 - THE SEALED BOOK "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" [1]. The Apostle saw it at the right hand of the divine majesty, which is an honorable place where no creature, no matter how high he is, can open or even touch it. What could this book be? 1. Ibn-el-Assal says, [It is the scroll;... the symbol in the book is to acquaint God's knowledge with its content, and its abiding by what is coming.] 2. Bishop Victorianus says, [This book means the Old Testament, that our Lord Jesus Christ's hands had received, He who took the judgment from the Father.] That is to say, fulfill the prophecies in it, since His incarnation to the day of His coming on the cloud for judgment, to reward the innocent and condemn the wicked. 3. Origen, St. Jerome and Tikhon the African think that the sealed book is the Holy Bible with its two Testaments, for it is one book which declares God's intentions, His love to mankind, and His discipline. It is written from inside and in the back, for its apparent meanings carry deep meanings in its folding. The inside writings point out to the New Testament, which takes the soul into the depth of fellowship with God. The back writings is like a covering for the New Testament, for it carries symbols, shadows and prophecies that only the New Testament can explain. As for the secret of its sealing with seven seals, it is because its meaning and comprehension are hidden to the human understanding, for they rely on their human wisdom. And as the prophet says, "Pause and wonder! Blind yourself and be blind!... The whole vision has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which, men deliver to one who is literate, saying, ‘Read this please;’ and he says, ‘I cannot, for it is sealed’" (Isa. 29:9-11). St. Jerome explained these seals in his letter to Bishop Paulinus1 saying, [It appeared in the Book of Revelation a sealed book with seven seals, this that when you hand it to a man learned telling him "read this," he will answer you, "I cannot, for it is sealed!”] So many think today that they have knowledge, yet for them the Holy Book is sealed, and no one can open it unless it is through Him, who has the key of David, "He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens" (Rev. 3:7). This Book is the subject that preoccupies all heavens, for the Apostle says, "Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice: ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?!’" [2]. 1 Letter, 53. 6 An angel of high celestial hierarchy kept calling, hoping to find one who can open the book, loosen its seals, uncover its secret, and declare its objectives. No doubt he knows that the book concerns mankind, their salvation, inheritance and discipline. Although it is an angel who has no wish for glory greater than that he has, and who has no fears of incidents happening in heaven, or on earth, yet with his Master’s spirit, the spirit of love; he keeps shouting preoccupied by us, caring, for what happens to us! How strange are those who think that angels are rigid spirits, without feelings of love, as if they were pieces of rocks who serve God without love. In fact they are loving and acting with the Spirit of God. We may sense the love of the angels towards us, as we feel the pain in this angel's voice, for he longs to behold our salvation, "things which angels desire to look into" (1 Pet. 1:12). Besides, he understands that the opening of the book destroys the death of man, and hence their eternity without corruption, as Bishop Victorianus says. The angel shouts for our sake, with desire that we reach the divine love, that the heart of God keeps for us. Yet with regret, he did not find among the heavenly, or the human, or the dead, any who is worthy to read the book, or even to take a look at it. Here the beloved John was helpless, and was weeping bitterly, revealing the weakness of human nature. 2- THE OPENER OF THE BOOK "But one of the presbyters 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.’ And I looked, and behold, in the midst of the throne and of the four Living Creatures, and in the midst of the presbyters, 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. Then He came and took the scroll out of the right hand of Him who sat on the throne" [5-7]. One of the loving celestials presented comfort to our fainting souls, that know nothing but failure and much weeping. He drew our attention to the, "True Comforter," saying, "Behold the Lion has prevailed..." Here is the source of comfort for every sensitive soul, that is destroyed by despair. It is the victorious Lion who alone opens the book to us. He is the victorious One, by His eternal love, represented in His sacrificing Himself as a Lamb to be slained on our behalf. Bishop Victorianus says, [There was no one who was worthy to do so among the angels of heaven, nor the human beings on earth, nor the souls of the saints in their rest, except the Lord Jesus, the Son of God alone. Of whom he said, that he saw Him a Lamb standing as if it were slain, having seven horns...] The qualities of the opener of the book are: 1- Lion: The reason of calling Him Lion is as St. Chrysostom says,1 [The Patriarch Jacob points to the cross saying, "He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?" (Gen. 49:9). As the lion is feared, not only when it is awake, but also when it is asleep, in the same way the Lord Jesus is feared, not only 1 The author: Divine Love, p. 371. 7 before the cross, but also while He was on the cross. At the very moment of His death, He was feared... Death became as nothing, for He vanished its power.] St. Cyril of Jerusalem says,1 [He is called Lion not for being ferocious to mankind but as a sign of His reign, His firmness and the trust in Him. He was called Lion, in contrast to our enemy the lion, who roars to devour those who are deceived by him... As the strong Lion coming from the tribe of Judah, He saves the believers and destroys the enemy.] 2- Of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David: It is Him "about whom Moses and the prophets wrote," He is from the tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:9), the Root of David. And He called Himself, "I am the Root and offspring of David" (Rev. 22:6). For He is the creator of David, and He became His son in the body. 3- A Lamb standing as if it were slain: He was called Lamb 29 times in this book, for it is the book of eternity. We fall in love with Him as a Savior, amazed at the power of the Blood which lifted us, not only to the rank of the celestial, but to God's bosom Himself! The word "Lamb," mentioned here, meant in Greek "young lamb one year old." That is to say, the lamb of sacrifice of the sin offering (Exod. 12:7), who carried our sins in His body on the cross. He is "standing," never ceases working to accomplish the salvation of all His children, as a father who does not sleep, who does not stop moving continuously, doing his best to save His only sick son! He is "standing," as the Mediator for atonement in front of the Father, offering His Blood as an expiation of our sins, in order not to die in them. He is "standing," also to get ready to meet His glorious bride on the day of judgment, and to send His angels to harvest the wicked, and to throw Satan and his soldiers in their eternal dwelling! As for the saying, "as if it were slain," it is because He is alive standing, and not thrown down. At the same time, He is slain to pour His Blood on the believers, to purify them. 4- "Having seven horns": The horns point to power, and “seven,” is the sign of fullness of power in itself, and in us as members of His body. 5- "Having seven eyes": which are the seven Spirits of God sent to all the earth. Having the Holy Spirit, His Spirit which He sent to the Church to guide her, thus, He works with the fullness of His power, to purify, sanctify, and to embellish her with the divine virtues. And to enlighten her with the abundance of divine light, in the way of salvation, until she passes through this world, without being soiled by corruption.2 All these qualities of God are not for His sake, but for us, as through Him we become as lions carrying the features of His love within us, and become strong, for His Spirit works in us. He came and took the book. The word "took,” in Greek means the absolute meaning of taking without giving back again. Once He took the book, all came to thank the Lord with joy and praise, expressing their praise in different ways: bowing, praying, playing the harps, offering incense, and singing new hymns. 1 Lect., 10:3. 2 St. Ambrose: Of the Holy Spirit, 2:179. 8 a. The Four Creatures praise Him by kneeling "Now when He had taken the scroll, the four Living Creatures and the twenty-four Presbyters fell down before the Lamb." Here are the celestials, thanking God for His great deeds for us, and expressing their thanks and praise to Him in kneeling. How beautiful is the spirituality of the Church, who trains her children to kneel in prostration, until the body together with the soul surrender with all their energy and desires, in submission and love to God, with supplication and thanks to the One who loved us and gave away Himself for us. b - The twenty-four presbyters sing... The twenty-four presbyters do not stop singing when they kneel in front of the Lamb, but "each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of saints. And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the scroll, and to open its seals; For You are slain, and have redeemed us to God, by Your blood. Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation. And have made us kings and priests to our God; and we shall reign on the earth” [8-10]. How numerous are the means of adoration through singing?! Harps point out to the hymns of the Church, the golden bowls are full of incense, and the singing of new canticles. The church uses these means and others from what is mentioned in the Book of Revelation, the book of praises (Psalms), and other books of the Holy Bible for praising the Lord as: Raising up hands in prayer, as the Psalmist says, "The lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice" (Ps. 141:2). Striking on the chest, as the tax-collector did (Luke 18:13). Standing in tremblence and fear (Ps. 55:5). Lighting of candles, as Fr. Seraphim Sarovisky says1, [May our heart ignites with fire, and our life shines as light, in front of the Lord God, as a candle shining in front of His holy Icon.] Lying down at the threshold of the Lord's house, and in front of His altar (Ps. 84:10). Let us go back to the presbyters, to see them praising the Lord on our behalf, for as priests of the High God, they pray for us, and they offer our prayers in front of the divine throne. What a joyful heavenly view, when you utter a word of praise, or sing a heavenly tune, or kneel down with contrition, or striking on your chest in humility. All that, with what it bears of spiritual praise inside the heart, the angels carry, to put in the heavenly golden bowls. When the twenty-four presbyters offer them, the divine throne is filled with praises of all mankind, militants or the dead, mixed with the praises of the celestial orders, in union of true love. For this reason we all sing together with the departed members, as one Church or 1 The Life of Prayer (2nd edition in Arabic) p. 722. 9 one person saying, "Let my prayer be set before You as incense" (Ps. 141:2). Concerning the harps, it seems that each presbyter has many spiritual harps. They are all musical instruments, which play a sweet tune to praise God! Concerning the new hymn, some say that the original text is translated, "for You were slain and bought the people for God with Your blood... and made them kings..." In any case, he who tastes life with the Lord Jesus, understands the everlasting truth, that there is "no egoism in heaven." The incorporeal presbyters, by their love for us, do not differentiate between themselves and ours, so they utter praises on our behalf. They rejoice for our joy, and feel that we are their brothers and partners in the celestial life. In this way, the Lamb has united heaven and earth. Thus they became one. The idea of the "new hymn," is known since the Old Testament.1 We also praise God with new hymns and new psalms every day. Not with new words and letters, or with new expressions, but we present them every day with a new taste and new sweetness, as if it was the first time we enjoy them, thanking Him. The mother who is a lover of her only child finds his talking and accent as if new every moment, and that is because of her excessive love for him. In the same way every time the heart is inflamed with love, it feels that it is offering something new to God. St. Augustine says, [The old man's praise is old, and the new man's praise is new. The praise of he who loves the earth is old, and he who loves heavens sings a new song of praise. Love is new and everlasting. It does not get old, so it stays always new.] As Tertullian says,2 that it is a praise of thanksgiving. Its subject is the incarnation of the Lord, His suffering, His resurrection, and His new goodness towards us in every moment. All these matters are beyond time limit to which we are bound; We live in it and comprehend it forever. We praise Him, because He attached us to Himself as members of His secret body, and He gave us all that is His. As King of kings we became kings, through Him. As the Bishop of our souls, we became priests who reign with Him, and inherit the new land of the living, which is heaven itself. c - The angels' praise "Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the Living Creatures, and the presbyters, and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands, 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" [11-12]. The angels participated in praise on His birthday, and came the night of His crucifixion, to offer Him glory at the garden of Gethsemane. They appeared in the empty tomb and at the resurrection, and there they are in heaven, praising the Lamb standing as if it were slain, for the salvation of mankind! They see Him (the slain Lamb) with us, for what we get they seem to get also, because of their love for us. Then they depart, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. To receive..." 1. Power... for He is the only victor, who conquers and who grants victory. 1 Ps. 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; 149:1. 2 Tertullian: On the Resurrection of the Flesh, 26. 10 2. Riches... for He became poor to make us, His children, rich by His poverty. 3. Wisdom... He became ignorant among mankind, to redeem the humble and the meek with the ignorance of the cross. 4. Strength... He became weak to support our weakness. 5. Dignity... He emptied Himself of dignity, to make the earthly participate in His heavenly dignity. 6. Glory... He carried our shame, taking our sins in His body, so that we may be glorified in Him and through Him. 7. Blessing... He bowed to carry our curse, that we may be blessed through Him. These are the seven angels' praises, its essence is the work of God on our behalf, so that we may become celestials. The Church trains us to say this praise in our prayers. We sing it at the end of the Lord's prayer saying: "for the kingdom, power and glory are yours," and at the end of the Thanksgiving prayer, "from whom are glory, dignity, honor and worship...” It is also said in most of the prayers and praises, which are set by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, on all occasions. By that, the tongue together with the heart and the soul are trained for the praise of the heavenly angels. d - All creation praises Him "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. Then the four living creatures said, “Amen”. And the twenty-four presbyters fell down, and worshipped Him who lives forever and ever!" [13-14]. All creation witnesses to the Lord, the Redeemer, and praises Him for every deed. As St. Ephram says,1 [All creation became mouths, proclaiming for Him: The wise men with their offerings, the sterile woman with her child, and the shining star in the air! The highest heaven is opened to the Son of the King, the water was calmed, the dove glorified Him, the angels announced Him, and the children shouted to Him "Hosanna." All the voices from the highest and from under, all shout witnessing to Him! And as in the past, the hard earth and the highest heaven were to witness to the heart hardness of the Jews (Isa. 1: 2), they still witness to the work of His love for mankind.] 1 St. Ephram: Mymars on Jesus’ Birth, p. 41.
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