[20]All of the foregoing facts show that the Bible was written, as it is claimed, by holy men of old, who were directed in writing it by the power of Jehovah, and that it is a record which God caused to be kept and has given to man for his guidance in righteousness, and which foretells the course and final destiny of man.

[21]The prophets who made record of the divine arrangement did not understand what they wrote.  They knew they were writing something that would take place in the future, but just how and when they did not know.  They inquired and searched diligently all sources of information open to them as to what these prophecies meant and when they would be fulfilled and in what manner of time.  Particularly with reference to the coming of Jesus, his suffering, death and resurrection they prophesied and did not understand, although they attempted to understand. (1 Peter 1:10,12) Even the angels of heaven knew that the prophets were thus writing, but they did not understand, although they desired to look into these things.  God revealed his great plan only in his own due time, and until that time he kept it all to himself.

[22]The divine plan means the arrangement made by Jehovah for the creation of everything that has been created and for carrying out his purposes with reference to his creatures.  The first one to understand the divine plan was Jesus, who prior to coming to earth was known as the Logos, which means one who speaks and acts for Jehovah.  In Revelation, chapter 5, a wonderful picture is given in symbolic language.  Jehovah is pictured as seated upon his throne, holding in his right hand a record or scroll of his great plan.  The hand is a symbol of power and holding it in his hand foreshadowed the fact that Jehovah held it exclusively in his own power and keeping.  The picture then shows a strong angel or messenger speaking with a loud voice and asking the question:  “Who is worthy to open the book and to loose the seals thereof?” In heaven there was a host of holy beings or angels.  No one of them was able to open the book or scroll, neither to look on it.  No one in earth was able to look upon it nor to open it.

[23]One of the titles given to Jesus is “Lion of the tribe of Judah”.  This great and mighty One, the beloved Son of God, afterward designated Jesus, was granted the privilege of opening the book and of loosing the seals that kept it secret, thus picturing how Jehovah made known his plan to his beloved Son.  The picture describes him thus:  “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne ... stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, ... and he came and took the book out of the right hand of him [Jehovah] that sat upon the throne”.