FROM: SUNDAY’S OPEN Q & A Who is neither under the earth referring to? 1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. (Revelation 5:1-3) ANSWER Verse 13 also uses the same language: 13 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, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. This is an all-encompassing statement concerning all the creatures that God has created to inhabit this world. We know there are creatures that are in heaven (the first heaven, the sky, creatures such as birds). And we know there are many creatures on the earth. We also know that there are creatures under the earth. Dig up a spot in your back yard and youll find all sorts of insects, worms, possibly snakes, etc. Verse 3 is different because it says, no man. It is as though God is looking out at all His creation to see if there is anyone anywhere that could possibly be the One to open the book, and there is not. I think no man in heaven could open up means that the Lord Jesus was the only qualified One (from heaven) to do so. And no man on the earth means that as God looks out upon the earth and all of mankind there is no one qualified there to open the seals (but again Christ once spent time on the earth). And finally, no man under the earth may point to the dead. There is no man dead making payment for sin that will one day arise and therefore be qualified to open the book as Christ the Lamb slain has arisen and opened the book (Jesus also spent time in the heart of the earth). Christ has been in all three places (heaven, earth, under the earth) and only He has been victorious over death which has qualified Him alone to be the Savior and the One to open the book. Whats really amazing is how big a deal it actually is that the Bible (the book) be opened. The opening of the Scriptures at the beginning of the great tribulation period was not a minor thing at all. It was huge.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 10:16:02 +0000
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