The Shepherds Way (TSW) ~ Eric W. King: Students of the Seven Seals

Students of the Seven Seals

All True Christians are students of God’s unsealed Word.

In this work - to unfold this mystery - I will not use Scholarly language; I will not use philosophy or psychology. I will show Scripture and pray that the Holy Spirit weds with your spirit that ye may gain understanding. – Eric W. King

__________________________________________________________________________________________

This document is for all Christians. Written by Eric William King (August 23^rd 2021)

(This document contains things that I have spoken about before but with much more information - EK.)

In our Christian Bible we find what we refer to as the septenery mysteries. The Bible talks about the Seven Dispensations; each one is introduced with a covenant. These covenants were changed and added to throughout our planets history. God keeps all of His covenants. We read about the Seven Churches, the Seven Trumpets, the Seven Bowls of God’s wrath, the Seven Thunders, Seven Days containing the creation story, etc.

“And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, PURIFIED SEVEN TIMES.” [Psalm 12:6]

Christ is the mediator of the New Covenant and that New Covenant is contained in the Seven Seals. Will ye not contemplate this marvelous mystery?

In Holy Scripture seven represents completion. We have 66 books in our Christian Bible and our Bible is complete! The number six represents man; man was created on the sixth day. We have 66 books in our Bible showing that God used man to write the Old Testament(6) and the New Testament(6).

Because our Bible is complete it is spoken of as “sealed with Seven Seals”. The apostle John wrote the last book of the Bible, the Revelation of Jesus Christ. He wrote this in 96 AD and that was nearly two centuries before the Bible was put together as we have it today. There was no Christian Bible yet. In Revelation ch.5 the apostle John is shown the completed Bible as a seven-sealed title deed. At first he wept because nobody was found worthy in heaven, on earth or under the earth to open it up and reclaim this fallen world. But then “behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” [Revelation 5:5]. This of course is Jesus Christ – only He can open and properly explain the Bible to us.

The Holy Bible is the Completed Scroll

We believe that the Christian Bible is the Seven Sealed Scroll seen in the book of Revelation. (Revelation 5:1) This Scroll (the Bible) is only “open to” (understood by) those who have truly accepted Jesus Christ (the Lamb of God) as their Lord - God and Savior. (Isaiah 29:18) Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, God’s word is open unto us now in this time, the church age - dispensation. (John 14:26)Though we will never fully understand ALL of God’s word in this life He reveals enough to get us where we need to go. (1^st Corinthians 13:12)

Just as Moses was commanded to make a “copy” of the tabernacle in heaven, the written Bible is a “copy” of the unadulterated Word of God in heaven and gifted to us.

During the time of the first apostles “title deeds” (property deeds) were written on scrolls and sealed with wax seals. (Jeremiah 32:8-15; Ruth 4:1-14) The person who purchased a title deed was called the “redeemer”. (Ruth4:1) These title deeds, if good, contained the entire history of the land or property in question. It (the scroll) was usually written on both sides (Jeremiah 32:8-15).

There were two copies made…one sealed and one open. (Jeremiah 32:11)

So our Christian Bibles are copies of this important “title deed” – the “open” copy. Our Bibles contain the will of God and God loves us so much that he has given us the complete story in the Bible (written on “both sides” – Old & New Testaments). We call it “the Vision of ALL”. (Isaiah 29:11)

Those who are not “born from above” (not truly converted Christians) may read the Scriptures but never gain full understanding. They may read it as a history book or just some religious book but they do not truly recognize it for what it is, the Word of God. Thus “it is sealed to them”. God says to those who ridicule the Bible;

“For you this whole vision is nothing but words SEALED IN A SCROLL. And if you give the scroll to someone who can read, and say to him, “Read this, please,” he will answer, “I can’t; it is SEALED.” Or if you give the scroll to someone who cannot read, and say, “Read this, please,” he will answer, “I don’t know how to read.” [Isaiah 29:11-12]

In other words, neither the educated nor uneducated will understand it but only those who are truly saved. God says that many people may claim to be Christian but they are not.

“The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.” [Isaiah 29:13]

Only True Christians can Understand the Scroll

Some cults are teaching that the Seven Sealed Scroll is an extra book of judgment. They do not understand that God’s word is complete – there are no additions.

Why is this Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave to His church such a mystery? Because God will not be mocked!

The Bible can be broken into four parts basically and these are; “The Torah” (first five books of Moses, “The Writings” (from Joshua to “Song of Songs”), “The Prophets” (from Isaiah to Malachi) and finally the entire “New Testament” (from Matthew to Revelation) and each one of these tells us not to add to them.

1-“The Torah” – do not add (Deuteronomy 4:2; 12:32)

2-“The Writings” – do not add (Proverbs 30:6)

3-“The Prophets” – do not add (Isaiah 45:23; Hebrews 1:1-2)

4-“The New Testament” – do not add (Revelation 22:18-19)

The final revelation of Jesus Christ is called “The Book of Revelation”. This final letter of St John says it all. It explains the final war and who will win. It explains where the Devil and all those who follow him will end up. We need no “new revelation”. It is an insult to God to believe that the Holy Scriptures are incomplete.

Many Pentecostals like to add “new revelations” and are no different than the Seventh-Day Adventists and Mormons in this regard. They are playing with extreme danger! Many of these types like to write their “latest” book “containing new revelations” for your excitement.

Jesus warns us; “false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.” (Matthew 24:24) Jesus did send some true prophets after His death and resurrection to help spread the Gospel before the cannon [books] of Scripture became complete. He sent St John to finish up the ultimate prophecy; the Revelation of Jesus Christ (as penned in “The Book of Revelation” - the actual title of the book is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ”). It is not “a” revelation (revealing) of Jesus Christ but it is “THE” revelation of Jesus Christ.

Also, only Jesus Christ (the Lamb of God) can properly explain the Scriptures for us. Many people who become true students of the Seven Seals receive “new revelation”, a deeper understanding of God’s word but the vision is all right here before their eyes – it is not a separate vision or revelation; it is simply found already in the Word of God.

Through the prophet Isaiah God explains that a time would come when many would see and understand the UNSEALED SCROLL.

“Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.” [Isaiah 29:14]

So all the so called “Bible Scholars” must now pay attention. God will use the simple to explain the Scroll. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus.” [Acts 4:13]

Only Jesus can Open the Scroll

“In that day the deaf will hear the WORDS OF THE SCROLL, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.” [Isaiah 29:18]

And what will they gain from the Scroll?…..

“Those who are wayward in the spirit will gain understanding; those who complain will accept instruction [or “learn doctrine” KJV].” [Isaiah 29:24]

It was during the time Jesus Christ walked on this planet in the flesh that He began to open the Scroll to His true disciples. “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in ALL THE SCRIPTURES concerning himself.” [Luke 24:27]

Only the Lamb of God can open the Scroll. [Revelation 5:5]

“Then he opened [unsealed] their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” [Luke 24:45] He unsealed it for them. Only those who have the Holy Spirit can understand the Scroll – the Word of God. This wisdom became “opened” during the Church dispensation.

“…we speak of God’s SECRET WISDOM, a wisdom that has been hidden [SEALED] and that God destined for our glory before time began.” [1^st Corinthians 2:7]

“This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.” [1^st Corinthians 2:13-14]

Jesus said; “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you [true disciples]. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that, ‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven’”. [Mark 4:11-12]

Some ancient portions of God’s word were SEALED until “the time of the end” not “the end of time.” In other words, since Jesus Christ ascended back into heaven we have been living in the “time of the end” – the last days. So now the Scroll is being opened!

The Sealed becomes the UNSEALED

Some portions of specific prophecy were sealed until our time. God informed Daniel of the Old Testament; “He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the WORDS ARE CLOSED UP AND SEALED until the TIME OF THE END (not the “end of time”)”. [Daniel 12:9]

We also read what God said to the prophet Habakkuk; “Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tables so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.” [Habakkuk 2:2-3]

So some things that God tells us about we must “wait”, it will indeed come to pass. When Israel became a legitimate nation again on May 14^th 1948 it fulfilled Bible prophecy. The prophecy was already written down, it was not a “new revelation” but we had to wait for its fulfillment. Many things that God spoke to us about are now coming to pass, in our generation.

God commands His true people; “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” [Jeremiah 33:3]

When we read the Scroll [the Holy Bible] we are to “eat all of it”, which means we are to take it all in and “digest” the message. The Scroll is written on both sides, the Old and New Testament. Even the prophets of old were shown the completed Word of God. Notice what the prophet Ezekiel experienced regarding this:

“Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a SCROLL, which he unrolled [UN-SEALED] before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe [it contains judgment]. And he [God] said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, EAT THIS SCROLL; then go and speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.” [Ezekiel 2:9-10; 3:1-2]

The apostle John saw the completed New Testament. We read about this in Revelation chapter ten. John sees a giant angel dressed in spectacular light and he has one foot on land and another at sea, showing that the message would travel across the globe.

When this angel “gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion” [Rev. 10:3] he shouted what sounded like “SEVEN THUNDERS”. These are all the septenery mysteries of the Bible – including the Seven Dispensations.

This is the message of the UN-SEALED SCROLL. The true Gospel Message – the Straight Testimony. This angel was holding “a little SCROLL, which lay open [unsealed] in his hand.” [Rev. 10:2] This little Scroll depicts the New Testament which was to help unseal the Old Testament.

When Apostle John heard the “SEVEN THUNDERS” he was about to write down the message he heard but was told; “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” So even in Apostle John’s day the Bible was not yet complete…it was to come latter. He was basically told to “wait”.

But we are promised that in the final “time of the end”, our day, the message was to be told. “But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his "trumpet", the MYSTERY OF GOD will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.” [Revelation 10:7]

Note: The word "trumpet" does not exist here in the original text showing that this is the 7th messenger to Laodicea and not the seventh trumpet angel.

Where did God announce this to His “servants the prophets”? Here it is in Isaiah….

“In that day the deaf will hear the WORDS OF THE SCROLL, and out of gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind will see.” [Isaiah 29:18]

Just like the prophet Ezekiel, Apostle John was to take the Scroll and “eat it”.

“Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take THE SCROLL that LIES OPEN [unsealed] in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the LITTLE SCROLL. He said to me, “Take it and EAT IT. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” I took the LITTLE SCROLL from the angels hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” [Revelation 10:8-11]

Are we also “eating” this “little book” – the New Testament? As true Christians, YES we are! We notice that after Apostle John “ate” it he was to “prophesy again” about “many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” Did John do this? No. He died on the Island of Patmos, a slave to the true gospel.

So how does Apostle John “prophesy again”? Through us…the John Class. True Christians are spreading this final Revelation of our Lord and Savior – Jesus the Christ. We have the Straight Testimony!

Now, because only “the Lamb of God” can open for us the precious Scroll we must let Him open up each one of the Seven Seals.

Let Jesus Open the Scroll

Regarding the “Book of Revelation” Apostle John is NOT the revelator. It is Jesus Christ who is doing all of the “revealing”. It is now time for the true saints to show how Jesus Christ has opened up these revelations for us. For it is “The Revelation of Jesus Christ…to show unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass.”

The Bible and all of its meaning was sealed to the fallen world – completely hidden. Why has fallen man been claiming that he can open this Scroll properly? The Bible tells us that it was “sealed” and that only the Lamb of God could open it.

Apostle Paul understood the “unsealed mysteries” and he was entrusted with them, to help reveal them to the True Church. Jesus revealed the mysteries to him. “So then, men ought to regard us [the true Apostles] as servants of Christ and as those ENTRUSTED WITH THE SECRET THINGS OF GOD.” [1^st Corinthians 4:1]

The Seals Open for the Saints

In the gospel of Matthew Jesus Christ gives an outline which interprets each one of the Seven Seals for us. We have to remember that these seals [which unlock the Bible] have always been open to the true saints of God. The first four seals explain what are known as “The Four Horsemen” of the Apocalypse.

Though we shall find that these Four Horsemen will have one final ride…they have in fact been riding since Adam and Eve. Jesus Christ has not yet opened His perfect copy of the Bible in heaven. When He does every word will be perfectly fulfilled. [Revelation ch.6&7]

In the mean time Jesus is allowing us to understand the Scroll. In the gospel of Matthew the disciples ask Christ three questions regarding the finality of the “end times”. These are:

1-When shall these things be?

2-What shall be the sign of thy coming?

3-And of the end of the world (age)?

Here is how you can begin to understand the Seven Seals as explained by Jesus Christ Himself:

1^st Seal – False Christ’s (Compare Matthew 24:4-5 to Revelation 6:1-2)

2^nd Seal – Wars (Compare Matthew 24:6-7 to Revelation 6:3-4)

3^rd Seal – Famines (Compare Matthew 24:7 to Revelation 6:5-6)

4^th Seal – Pestilence and Death (Compare Matthew 24:7-8 to Revelation 6:7-8)

This ends the Four Horsemen…

5^th Seal – Martyrdoms (Compare Matthew 24:9-13 to Revelation 6:9-11)

6^th Seal – Physical Changes (Compare Matthew 24:29-30 to Revelation 6:12-17)

7^th Seal – The rest of Revelation which leads to the Second Coming.

Clearly Jesus Christ Himself opens these seals to us and explains the revelation. We can say that the first four seals have been happening to one degree or another since the fall of Adam and Eve. After Adam and Eve forfeited the title deed to planet earth by sinning Satan maintained his status as “god of this world”. [2^nd Corinthians 4:4]

Adam and Eve had the chance to represent all of humanity but they failed the test. They inherited sin and passed it on to all of their offspring. In fact, all of creation became infected. We are experiencing the results of their choice even now.

Though the first four seals (the Four Horsemen) have been going on since Adam and Eve they will in fact have one final ride and that will be during the final Tribulation period. Actually, all of these seals have been happening to one degree or another [God has always talked with His children and warned them through His open word] but they will have a climax during the time of the final Antichrist.

God has been opening His word to all of His people throughout each of the dispensations of time. The final dispensation will be the seventh – the Millennial Reign of Christ.

As Jesus Christ opens His copy in heaven, He perhaps begins to review each of the Seven Dispensations, the entire history of our planet – the planet that He created and came back for. Remember, His copy is perfect…the Perfect Translation of the Bible! (Every word shall come to a complete fulfillment!) When Jesus begins to do this opening of the sealed Scroll in heaven Satan gets angry and begins his campaign against Christ here on earth. Satan does not want Jesus to fully reclaim this planet.

Many people think that the opening of each seal is translating what Satan is doing on earth or that the Seven Sealed Scroll is merely a scroll which contains final judgments. The fact is Jesus will be judicially acting out His right to reclaim His “purchased possession”. The Seven Sealed Scroll represents the finality and perfection of God’s WORD…..which tangibly is our Holy Bible. It is the title deed to this planet.

When the Christian Bible came together in its finality it became the open copy of this planet’s “title deed” (Jeremiah 32:11). It (the Bible) is open to the Christian Church through the “revelation of Jesus Christ”, yet it is not fully understood by the Christian Church. “Written on both sides” denotes the Old & New Testaments. Enough has always been made known for a person to hear the Good News and awake knowing Jesus Christ as Savior (Luke 24:27).

The “closed copy” of the scroll (the perfect translation of the Bible – the Scriptures) is depicted as a “sealed scroll” in heaven awaiting its opening. This means that the “redeemer” has a time coming soon when He claims back fully His “purchased – title deed”. The Scriptures say that we were “bought with a price” and that Jesus became “poor” that we might become “rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Title deeds are explained in:

*Jeremiah 32:8-15

*Ruth 4:7-10

Jesus will reclaim when all His True Children are Saved

Why is He waiting to fully reclaim? Because through the Apostle Paul’s ministry the plan of God is calling in people from “every nation, kindred, tribe and tongue” (Romans 11:13). Apostle Paul made known the “mystery of the church” and when the last Gentile that is going to get saved gets saved, this church age shall close (Romans 11:25).

We are promised that the “sealed book (scroll)” would be more fully open to us (Christians) in the last days (Isaiah 29:18; 29:24; Daniel 12:9). Some of these mysteries are spoken of in the parables of Jesus. Jesus said; “The secret of the kingdom has been given to you (true Christians). But to those on the outside everything is said in parables…” (Mark 4:11)

God promises…;”In days to come you will understand it clearly.” (Jeremiah 23:20)

We (Christians) are to “eat” the Word of God and through prayer gain understanding. Again, the prophet Ezekiel in a vision saw God’s word (message) in the form of a scroll and he was commanded to figuratively “eat it” (take it all in, understand it). We read about this in Ezekiel ch.3.

Our attitude toward the Scriptures (the Christian Bible) governs our conceptions and conclusions. We hold to Sola Scriptura (the Bible Alone). Our teachings do not allow for additions or subtractions from God’s word. All of our biblical doctrine must be found in Scripture and taught from Scripture. Having stated that, we also recognize the importance of understanding other things such as the Seven Rules of Biblical Interpretation which help substantiate additional facts.

The best evidence of the importance of our ministry is transformed human lives. Those who have studied here and become regenerated children of God are the bright lights of this planet. They are learning the Scroll, the Will of God. True Christianity is not a religion; it is a way of life. True Christianity is a healthy relationship with God, Divine Intelligence.

Seven Dispensations

There are Seven Dispensations and seven distinct covenants which introduce these seven dispensations in the Bible. Part of understanding Gods word means that we understand the sevenfold mysteries, the septenery mysteries. (7 Seals, 7 Trumpets, 7 bowls of God’s Wrath, Seven Dispensations...etc.)

NOTE: The entire Bible can be broken up into seven distinct dispensations. Each one is introduced by a covenant between God and the human race.

Dispensations are periods of time in which covenants-agreements are made between God and humanity. The Bible teaches that seven main covenants have been given throughout God’s dealing with humanity. We serve a covenantial God; He has been in constant relationship with His creation throughout our space/time continuum. The “Seven Seals” (Christian Bible) unroll all the dispensations unto us – an outline of the entire Plan of Salvation. In other words, God’s Word is full of septenery mysteries (mysteries in sets of seven).

______________________________________________

These mysteries - found and properly taught - in God’s word are never to be taken lightly. “So then, men ought to regard us (apostles) as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God.” (1 Corinthians 4:1)

Jesus is Knocking

In this Laodicean Period of the Christian church Jesus is doing something…He is knocking at your door. Do you hear Him? (Revelation 3:20) (Proverbs 3:5-6) God has stirred up a spiritual storm on this planet…through this storm Jesus is giving THE KNOCK!

We are immersed in the Whirlwind Prophecy! The storm has begun! (Jeremiah 25:12-38)

As true Christians it is time to accept the pure doctrine of Sola Scriptura. It is time to follow the Shepherds Way…our Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ. We must obey God above man. (Acts 5:29)

Spiritual Food for TODAY!

“..Gold refined in the fire.”

Now: Today the church finds itself broken apart into denominationalism. (Acts 20:28-31) The Laodicean period started in AD 1900 and continues on in our time. (2^nd Peter 3:3-4) Here at “The Shepherds Way” & “Nugget of Truth” we teach that after the first 400 years of the church (during the Pergamos Period) Satan introduced the false Christianity by melding the church and state (creating a religio-political system). Also the Babylonian mystery religions infiltrated the church. The “world of sectarianism” began. (The Nicolaitans infiltrated the church – Revelation 2:15)

The “Babylonian Cup” started to enter the church during the Pergamos Period. Through the modern ecumenical movement this cup has entered in fullness. We are now officially in the Whirlwind Prophecy. (Jeremiah 25:12-38)

Today the false teachings are blossoming in America through all of the fallen denominations. This is the Laodicean condition of the church. It is no longer a big deal to have distorted views about Jesus and the Bible. As long as you call yourself “Christian” everything is okay. These false teachings have entered the theological schools and “New Age” psychology has become the “new world religion”. Today those caught in the fallen world of Christendom are being called OUT of Babylon! God’s word is calling them out.

God wants to keep His children free from false worship. Why? Because true worship has to do with proper relationship. If one truly loves God he or she will also hate that which is displeasing to God. We (as true children of God) are commanded to stay away from those who out-right hate God. (2^nd Corinthians 6:14-17)

Distancing oneself from old religious practices can bring problems. Close friends and even relatives may oppose such a change in your lifestyle. To become a true Christian one must truly count the cost. (Matthew 10:32-37)

The true Christian Church has the WORD of God.

Our attitude toward the Scriptures (the Christian Bible) governs our conceptions and conclusions. We hold to Sola Scriptura (the Bible Alone). (Proverbs 30:6) Our teachings do not allow for additions or subtractions from God’s word. All of our biblical doctrine must be found in Scripture and taught from Scripture. Having stated that, we also recognize the importance of understanding other things such as the Seven Rules of Biblical Interpretation which help substantiate additional facts.

Please stay with us here at “The Shepherds Way”. We truly believe that we have the food that the Laodicean church needs to awaken. We have been blessed to have the pure connection with the first Antiochene Church. Study God’s word with us as often as you can. Learn the doctrines - become “sealed with the Truth”. (Isaiah 8:16; Ephesians 1:13-14) Learn just where we are in prophetic history. Learn and understand the Whirlwind Prophecy. (Jeremiah 25:32; 23:19-20)

Through the Whirlwind Prophecy even the false-Christians are being exposed. (Jeremiah 25:32-38; 1^st Peter 4:17)

May God seal you with His Word,

Eric William King (August 23^rd 2021)

Watch Eric explain the Seven Seals...

Above: Eric William King gives basic info about just what the Seven Sealed Scroll is.

Some more insight by a Bible Student about the Seals....

Anyone who has bought a house or a piece of property is familiar with a title deed. Properly executed, a deed establishes legal ownership. In fact, the modern term “Title Company” commonly refers to commercial businesses that make it their specialty to research, secure and officially record ownership titles. What is true in the modern world was equally true in the ancient world. Property laws in ancient law codes, like the Code of Hammurapi, describe accounts of sales, receipts and deeds—even to the point of authenticating the document through a notary. Even an ancient buyer had to be sure of the seller’s title!

In the Bible, we encounter such a title deed in the career of Jeremiah, when God instructed the prophet to purchase a piece of property from his cousin Hanamel ben Shallum (Jer. 32:6-16). Here, the deed of sale was signed, sealed and witnessed. It is of special interest to note that the title deed is described as being sealed, but that alongside it there also was an unsealed document. The unsealed document served as an abstract—a description of the property and terms accessible to anyone who wanted to read it. The sealed title, on the other hand, had to be preserved from any changes, which is why it was sealed in order to remain sacrosanct. Both documents were deposited by Jeremiah in a clay jar for safe keeping, much as hundreds of years later the people at Qumran deposited their precious scrolls in clay jars.

Sometimes, the “sealed” and “unsealed” documents were combined into a single document. To understand this, one must appreciate the fact that typically scrolls were inscribed on only a single side. (Imagine, for instance, trying to read a scroll on both sides as it is being unrolled.) After a scroll was sealed, however, one could write the abstract that originally was on a separate document on the outside of the sealed scroll (which would be the backside). As such, the contents of the sealed scroll remained intact, but the abstract, which now appeared on the outside of the sealed scroll, did not require a second document. This type of text gains the technical name of a “double-deed”, and such a text, written on both sides, is called an opisthrograph. Good examples are known from ancient Mesopotamia. You also can find one briefly referenced in Ezekiel, when in his commission the prophet was shown a scroll written on both sides. Two excellent ancient examples of such double-deeds can be found in the Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, New York and the Israel Department of Antiquities and Museums, Jerusalem. The latter was discovered at Elephantine, a Jewish community in the 5^th century BC in Egypt. Both deeds are secured with a cord, and over the knots in the cord is a clay bulla, a lump of clay which has been impressed with a seal to secure the document. Printed in Hebrew characters on the outside of the sealed document is the Hebrew word for “Deed”.

This brings us to just such a double-deed in the New Testament. In the Apocalypse of John, the elder John is shown a scroll “written on both sides and sealed with seven seals.” Almost certainly, this scroll represents an ancient title deed. Indeed, archaeologists have discovered a very similar deed—one tied with seven cords, no less, each cord sealed with its own bulla—at Wadi Daliyeh near Jericho. (This one also is preserved in Jerusalem by the Israel Department of Antiquities.) John seems to know the meaning of the sealed scroll, but he is distressed that no one is able to open the seals. Whatever this vision means, the seven-sealed scroll seems to represent a title deed to something, and the only one able to open the scrolls—the only one who is entitled to do so—is the Lamb. This factor, in turn, likely reflects on the Lamb’s qualifications to be a redeemer or buyer, for such a title under Israelite redemption laws could only be “bought back” by someone who was in the family. I would suggest that the seven-sealed scroll represents the title deed of the world. God intends to reclaim the world as the final act in his redemptive purpose, and this includes not only the final redemption of his own people but also the judgment and overthrow of evil.

The redemptive ability of Jesus Christ to open the scroll, as in ancient times, rested on his qualifications. He was both willing and able, and he was a close relative who was descended from Judah and David. Most important, he was the Redeemer of the people of God. The seven seals clearly signify events to occur on the earth (6:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 12; 8:1). If the seven-sealed scroll is such a double-deed, it suggests that God intends to reclaim a world which has been infiltrated by evil, and the final stage of this reclamation will come in the climactic events described in the Revelation. The Lamb who was slain, who already has procured salvation for all humans through the cross and resurrection, is worthy to open the seals, heralding the consummation. In the end, the foremost plea in the Lord's Prayer will be answered. His kingdom will come--his will shall be done (Mt. 6:10; Rv. 11:15)!

If this interpretation that the seven-sealed scroll represents the title deed to the world is allowed to stand, then the opening of the seven seals represents precursors to the end. The idea that judgments would be poured out upon the world before the end is strongly rooted in the Hebrew prophets. Some of the passages in Revelation describing the opening of the seals directly allude to such Old Testament texts, such as, people hiding in the caves of the earth for fear (Is. 2:19//Rv. 6:15), the darkening of the sun and the moon turning to blood (Is. 13:10; 24:23; Eze. 32:7; Jl. 2:10, 30-31; 3:15//Rv. 6:12), the rolling up of the sky like a scroll and the falling of the stars like figs (Is. 34:4//Rv. 6:13-14), and the giving of the nations over to slaughter (Is. 13:15-18; 34:2-3; Eze. 32:3-6; Jl. 2:1-9//Rv. 6:4). The Book of Daniel, while not listing such stereotypical woes, generalizes that prior to the end there would occur "a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of the nations until then" (Da. 12:1), and Jesus reiterated this statement (Mt. 24:21//Mk. 13:19). Such trauma, sometimes referred to as the "woes of messiah," was a characteristic of Jewish apocalyptic in the intertestamental period and later. Lists of disasters and cosmic disruptions describe the darkening of the sun, the turning of the moon to blood, the shaking of the mountains (Testament of Moses, 10), plagues of pestilence, famine, earthquakes, war, and hail (Apocalypse of Abraham, 30; 2 Baruch, 70).

Admittedly, this interpretation takes the Book of Revelation in a futuristic sense (and for whoever wants to know, I follow historic premillennialism as an interpretive model). Those who adopt a preterist or historicist model for interpreting the book will doubtless find other explanations for the opening of the seven seals. Nonetheless, however, one interprets the final meaning of the Apocalypse of John, the imagery of a title deed embodied in the seven-sealed scroll should remain a constituent part of the interpretive process.