are for security and secrecy.  Both may be included in the case.  And indeed their being “seven” in number—­a number of perfection, would seem to confirm this two-fold meaning.  The sealed book, symbolical of the decrees of God, comprehending all events of all time, teaches us the doctrine expressed in plain words thus:—­“Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world,” (Acts xv. 18.) The complex symbol also teaches more forcibly than in words,—­“My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure,” (Is, xlvi. 10.) Some have suggested a little change in the punctuation.  Instead of placing the comma, after the word “side,” place it after the word “within,” the meaning would then be, that the “book was written only on one side, namely on the side within.”  We do not accept the suggestion.  The reason is sufficient for its rejection, that the material in the time of the apostle, was too costly to leave one-half of it blank; and here our divine Lord “speaks to us of heavenly things” through the medium of earthly things with which we are familiar.

2.  And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?

3.  And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.

Vs. 2-3.—­Proclamation is made by a “strong angel,” the Almighty Monarch’s herald to the universe, challenging all creatures to the task of opening the seals.  His “loud voice” reverberates throughout illimitable space, that all concerned might hear.  The challenge is not, “who is able?” but, “who is worthy?”—­Who is “worthy,” by personal dignity, or distinguished and meritorious services, “to open the book and to loose the seals thereof?” No response comes from any quarter to break the solemn silence.  The whole creation is mute.  “Who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?” “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are his judgments and his ways past finding out!” (Rom. xi. 33, 34.)—­“And no man in heaven,” &c.  The word “man” is in this place, as in many others, an imperfect and inadequate supplement.  In some places it is calculated to mislead the “unlearned and unstable,” as John x. 28, 29, (in some copies,) Heb. ii. 9.  The former text, as supplemented by the word “man,” contradicts the apostle, Rom. viii. 39.  The meaning here is obviously that no creature,—­angel or man, was worthy or “able” to “open the book.”  To holy angels, devils, and the dead “under the earth,” the purposes of God are as inscrutable as they are to us, until they are revealed. (Eph. iii. 10; 1 Pet. i. 12.)

4.  And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.