The Revelation of Jesus Christ - The Herald

surroundings from this one. The "emerald" appearance of the rainbow (greenish in color)
is significant of the "olive leaf" of hope and promise that was brought to Noah by the dove
when the waters of the flood were subsiding. The "emerald" effect of the rainbow therefore
seems to suggest the springing up of new life--the restitution times, subsequent to the
closing scenes of this dispensation, after the Church is complete and the world has passed
through its judgment-troubles. Then all nations shall come and worship before God. --Rev.
15:4.
The conclusion is unavoidable that the throne and its surroundings are symbolical of the
rule of Jehovah; not, however, the rule of Jehovah as it is related to His government of the
universe; nor the rule of Jehovah as represented by the "Great White Throne" of judgment
during the Millennial Age; but rather it represents the exercise of His sovereignty and
power in the execution of the Divine purpose for the blessing of the Church and the world.
The vision then is designed to be a sublime introduction to the visions that follow, which
portray the trials of the Church as it comes in conflict with the world powers, civil and
religious; and is intended to show the supremacy of Jehovah, the Divine interest in and
supervision of this feature of the Divine Plan--the preparation of the Church for the
blessing of the world--as it progresses to completion.
The sealed scroll
The Apostle had been told that he was to be shown "things which must take place
hereafter." He was, therefore, in this trance condition, in a state of expectancy. He was not
to have revealed to him the future things themselves, but rather the symbolic visions that
represented these future scenes and developments. After beholding the symbolic actors and
surroundings of the throne vision, which will be considered later on, St. John's attention
was called to a sealed book, or scroll, in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne. The
sealed scroll was evidently a symbol. It could have but one meaning--that there were
certain things in connection with God's plans and purposes for mankind that up to the
time of Christ's resurrection had been kept secret, had not been revealed to even the Savior
Himself. The next symbolic transaction further proves that this is its significance: "And I
saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to
loose the seals thereof?"--Rev. 5:2.
At first St. John heard no response to this solemn question; and to him it seemed as though
there was none to be found qualified or worthy to open the book and to make known its
contents. It would be in harmony with the transactions of the vision to think that the
Apostle John in this trance state supposed that the things to be made known to him were
contained in the sealed scroll. Thus we account for his words: "And I wept much because
no one was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon." (Rev.
5:4.) We may be sure that these transactions were of intense interest to him. That his
disappointment was inexpressible, is shown in the fact that he "wept much." While he was
weeping, one of the twenty-four elders spoke to him words of comfort and
encouragement: "Weep not: behold the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath
prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof."