"...a book written within and on the backside,..."

In verse one of this chapter, John again sees God the Father sitting upon the throne of heaven, having a book, or scroll, in his right hand. He also saw that it had writing on both the inside and on the backside; and that it was sealed with "seven seals".

In ancient times, documents sent by the king or other high officials were sent as scrolls with a seal of clay or wax securing the document from being opened. In the soft clay or wax, a seal was imprinted containing the insignia of the person sending the document. This was sometimes made by impressing the ring, or signet, of the official into the seal material. When the clay or wax hardened, it was then sent on its mission.

This imprinted seal told all who saw it, that this was official business and no one was to open it except the person for whom it was intended. To open such a scroll intended for someone else would be a capital offense probably resulting in the death penalty.

We can certainly understand that there is no shortage of writing material in heaven; so there must be some significance to the fact that the scroll was written on the inside and on the back.

It is generally understood that the tribulation period has a span of seven years {Dan. 9:27}, and that it is divided into two parts: "...the beginning of sorrows". {Matt. 24:8}, and the "...great tribulation..." {Matt. 24:21}). Also, in Daniel chapter 9, we learn that the identity of the Antichrist will be revealed at the mid-point of the tribulation period (after 3 1/2 years).

In chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation, we see that event begin to unfold, in connection with the woman of that chapter fleeing into the wilderness where she hides for 3 1/2 years. Chapter 13 properly declares the revelation of the Antichrist and the workings of his system. Chapter 14 seems to represent a new perspective on the story line.

Though the original Book of Revelation did not have chapter and verse designations; in the literal sense, chapter 14 appears to represent the approximate middle of the scroll in the Father's hand (6-13, then 14, then 15-22). It should be safe to say that the writing inside and outside of the scroll represents the two halves of the tribulation period, regardless of where the division actually occurs in the physical book.

Verses 2-5

John then sees a "strong angel" asking, "who is worthy to loose its seals?" No one was found worthy in heaven or earth, and this caused John to weep bitterly. One of the elders however, consoled John by telling him that "the Lion of the tribe of Ju'dah, the Root of Da'vid", had prevailed (been found worthy) to loose its seals and open the scroll. In Rev. 22:16, Jesus identified Himself as "...the Root and the Offspring of David..."

Verses 6

In verse 5, Jesus is portrayed as the "Lion of the tribe of Ju'dah". Here, He is here pictured as the Lamb of God {John 1:29}; having seven horns in His head and seven eyes which we are told are the seven Spirits of God. This was covered in chapter 4, where it was stated that these seven horns represent the seven churches of Asia and the seven eyes are the seven angels (messengers) of those churches. {REVIEW AGAIN}