Matthew Henry Commentary Revelation 5:1-7

"And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the back, close sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? And no one in the heaven, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look thereon. And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look thereon: and one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not; behold, the Lion that is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath overcome to open the book and the seven seals thereof. And I saw in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, having seven horns, and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. And he came, and he taketh [it] out of the right hand of him that sat on the throne." — Revelation 5:1-7 (ASV)

The apostle saw in the hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll, in the form usual in those times, sealed with seven seals. This represented the secret purposes of God about to be revealed. The designs and methods of Divine Providence, toward the church and the world, are stated, fixed, and made a matter of record. The counsels of God are altogether hidden from the eye and understanding of the creature.

The various parts are not unsealed and opened at once, but one after another, until the whole mystery of God's counsel and conduct is finished in the world. Creatures cannot open it or read it; the Lord alone can do so. Those who see most of God are most eager to see more; and those who have seen His glory desire to know His will. But even good people may be too eager and hasty to look into the mysteries of divine conduct.

Such desires, if not soon answered, turn to grief and sorrow. If John wept much because he could not look into the book of God's decrees, what reason do many have to shed floods of tears for their ignorance of the gospel of Christ, on which everlasting salvation depends! We do not need to weep that we cannot foresee future events concerning ourselves in this world; the eager expectation of future prospects, or the foresight of future calamities, would equally unfit us for present duties and conflicts, or make our prosperous days distressing.

Yet we may desire to learn from the promises and prophecies of Scripture what will be the final outcome for believers and for the church; and the Incarnate Son has prevailed so that we might learn all that we need to know. Christ stands as Mediator between God and both ministers and people. He is called a Lion, but He appears as a Lamb slain.

He appears with the marks of His sufferings to show that He pleads for us in heaven, in virtue of His satisfaction. He appears as a Lamb, having seven horns and seven eyes: perfect power to execute all the will of God, and perfect wisdom to understand it and to do it in the most effectual manner. The Father put the book of His eternal counsels into the hand of Christ, and Christ readily and gladly took it into His hand, for He delights to make known the will of His Father; and the Holy Spirit is given by Him to reveal the truth and will of God.