A Look at the Book in Revelation 5:1

Revelation 5:1: “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.”

“There in His open hand lay the book, the roll of the history of God’s providences, the prophetic history of nations and the church. Herein was contained the divine utterances,
--His authority,
--His commandments,
--His laws,
--the whole symbolic counsel of the Eternal,
--and the history of all ruling powers in the nations.

In symbolic language was contained in that roll the influence of

every nation, tongue, and people from the beginning of earth’s history to its close.
… The vision as presented to John made its impression upon his mind. The destiny of every nation was contained in that book.

John was distressed at the utter inability of any human being or angelic intelligence to read the words, or even to look thereon. His soul was wrought up to such a point of agony and suspense that one of the strong angels had compassion on him, and laying his hand on him assuringly said, ‘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’ [Revelation 5:5].”
Manuscript Releases, vol. 20, 197 E.G.W.

That first paragraph lists seven things:

1. The roll of the history of God’s providences
2. The prophetic history of nations
3. The prophetic history of the church
4. The divine utterances of His authority, His commandments and His laws
5. The whole symbolic counsel of the Eternal
6. The history of all ruling powers in the nations
7. The influence of every nation, tongue, and people from the beginning of earth’s history to it’s close.

“When they (the Jewish rulers) were asked to choose between Christ and Barabbas, they cried out, ‘Release unto us Barabbas!’ Luke 23:18.
And when Pilate asked, ‘What shall I do then with Jesus?’ they cried fiercely, ‘Let Him be crucified.’ Matthew 27:22. ...declaring passionately, ‘His blood be on us, and on our children.’ Matthew 27:24, 25.
Thus the Jewish leaders made their choice. Their decision was registered in the book which John saw in the hand of Him that sat upon the throne, the book which no man could open. In all its vindictiveness this decision will appear before them in the day when this book is unsealed by the Lion of the tribe of Judah.”
StepsToLife/Christ’s Object Lessons, E.G.W.