June 5

And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel preaching with a great voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose its seals? And no one in heaven, nor on earth, neither underneath the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look at it. And I wept much because no one was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look at it. (Revelation 5:1-4)

Sealed with seven seals, signifies that it is altogether hidden from angel and man.… Such is the Word to all to whom the Lamb, that is, the Lord, does not open it. Here, because the exploration of all before the Last Judgment is treated of, it is the states of life of all, in general and in particular, which are altogether hidden. (Apocalypse Revealed 257)

Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof? signifies, Who has power to know the states of life of all in the heavens and on the earth, and to judge everyone according to his state? “Who is worthy?” signifies who is able, or who has the power? “to open the book and to loose the seals thereof,” signifies here to know the states of life of all in the heavens and on the earth, and also to judge everyone according to his state; for when “the book is opened,” there is an examination into their quality, and then sentence or judgment, comparatively as a judge acts with a book of the law and according to it. (Apocalypse Revealed 259)

And I wept much because no one was found to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon, signifies grief of heart, because if no one could do it, all must perish. That “to weep much” is to grieve at heart, is evident. The reason why he grieved at heart was because otherwise, all would have perished; for if all things in the heavens and on the earth were not reduced to order by the Last Judgment, it could not be otherwise; for Revelation treats of the last state of the church, when it comes to its end. (Apocalypse Revealed 263)

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