The Seven-Sealed Scroll | Revelation 5-8

Intent. Created as part of a personal study on Revelation 4–5. I present two possible models of the Scroll that John might have seen. The choice of model greatly affects how one might interpret and approach the book of Revelation.

1. Why a rolled scroll? I’ve run across other scroll models that might be fair for a simple visual, but I don’t believe they are accurate to the text. The scroll should be “written within and on the backside,” put together so that John could see writing on both sides but would be unable to read what was written.
2. Model A: all seven seals outside. The scroll cannot be read until all the seals have been opened. This makes a big difference in reading Revelation, since it means that it is the opening of the seals, not the reading of the book, that causes the effects of Revelation 6–8. This is an assumption, but it is perhaps justifiable.
3. Then what is the scroll? One reasonable possibility comes from Revelation 20: the scroll that is opened is the Book of Life. This would harmonize with the concept that only the Lamb could open it. God grants everlasting life to those written in the book only on the basis of the acceptable sacrifice of his Son (Revelation 5:5; John 3:16). Read this way, the Seals, Trumpets and Vials are distinct events: the unsealing of judgements, a declaration of war, the pouring out of judgement, before the book is finally read and the Bride of Christ is revealed.
4. Model B: one outer seal, six inner. Here the events of Revelation 6–8 are read from the scroll as each seal breaks, with the trumpets and vials nested within its writings, so that most of Revelation is the reading of this text as a continuing history. Many have made this assumption, and it may be correct. However, there is no text (to my knowledge) that clearly states the scroll is read in Revelation 6–8, only that the seals are opened. Compare Revelation 20, where the Book of Life is opened and read.
5. Model B’s difficulties. A lot of text would be exposed on the outside; perhaps the roll was tighter, or (more likely) no one could even look on it (Revelation 5:3). And how could John know the number of seals if only one was visible? I’ve added markers for each seal hanging out the bottom of the scroll. Or perhaps John simply knew the number as he wrote down what he was told.

“As usual, I strongly encourage Bible students to consider my underlying questions and assumptions for themselves and determine if the concepts I’ve presented work. Perhaps there is an alternative approach I have not considered yet?”

The scroll is taken by the Lamb before the Throne in Heaven. The seals open with the First Horseman and the Second Horseman, and lead to the Seven Trumpets. See how the pieces fit in my Timelines of Revelation chart.