The scroll is sealed with seven seals because before being in the perfection and fullness of truth, we must pass through seven degrees or states and be filled with seven gifts of the spirit. Also, the world will also pass through them before the consummation of truth in the world. It is an admirable thing that the human being is like a little world in which God delights in drawing in miniature what he has done in the vast expanse of the universe. As God composed his body of natural things and elements, he also created the world and composed it of his Spirit and his interior in a like way that all is in the world, be it political or moral and spiritual, also happens in him.
And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?” 3 And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it. (Rev 5:2)
O God, there is no person in heaven, not even an angel or the greatest saint, who can open the scroll, and was worthy to do this. To open the scroll is no other than to open your bosom. Who can do that, O God, in heaven, on earth, or under the earth? Who is worthy to look into you? For though you show your heart to your servants, no one is worthy to look into it, and they cannot do it by themselves. Who can consider and discover Jesus Christ and his truth? O God, you alone can do this because by looking at your Word, you produce it. But who can look at you? Who can open your bosom and discover your truth? Who can break your seals, without which you remain always hidden and sealed, and never be manifested to human beings?
We also have in us seven failings that prevent the truth from being manifested in us. No living man or creature may break the seal, as no creature, not even the most perfect angel, can open the bosom of God and manifest his truth.
And I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it. 5 Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep. See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.” (Rev 5:4–5)
O John, are you weeping? What caused your tears will be your greatest joy. The joy of a heart that loves comes from the knowledge that all power is in God. Your tears come from your ignorance for when the mystery is disclosed, you will be filled with joy. One of the elders consoled you, and said, Do not weep because the strong and invincible Lion of the tribe of Judah of the immortal Root of David has conquered. He conquered the lie by his death to open the scroll in favor for humanity and to manifest his truth. O God, it seems that in our time the truth is once again banished from the earth and returned to heaven, with so little truth in this world! But the time will come by your strength and power alone, O strong and bold Lion, you will break the seal and open the scroll, and open the new. In breaking the last seal, you show your truth to humanity in a new way. O human beings, who are presently in the lie, the time is coming when truth will have all your glory and your light of day. In his own time, Paul complained that creatures suppress the truth (Romans 1:18). Truth is also held captive in the present time. But you, Lord, will free the truth, soon, soon. Before this happens, truth will be tied down by iron. People will believe that they have destroyed truth but suddenly the chains will be broken, the door of the prison opened, and truth will show itself to the people with more brilliance and will fill them with joy and pleasure. The redemption of Jesus Christ will reach all over the earth.
Then I saw between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders a Lamb standing as if it had been slaughtered, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. (Rev 5:6)
Between the throne and the four living creatures was a Lamb slaughtered for the sins of the world. This Lamb without stain has erased all of our iniquities. He let himself be immolated as an innocent victim to send the truth to human beings and let it be manifested to destroy error and lies. The immolated Lamb washed the robe of human beings in his blood, covered them with his wool, and nourished them with his flesh. This holy victim without stain still lives in his immolation between the creatures and the elders because it is he who makes the happiness of all the saints and the consummation of all the states. O Lamb who was immolated and died for love, how do all people not die of love for you!
The Lamb has seven eyes and seven horns: the seven eyes are the lights of his Spirit and his truth. The seven horns are the abundance of his graces that he distributes to human beings. So it is said, that he was full of grace and truth (John 1:14). The graces are the horns and the truth the eyes. These truths are spread by the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit and these spirits and these graces are sent out into all the earth and one day will be received throughout the earth everywhere. There will be one flock, one shepherd, one spirit, as Paul says, there is only One Spirit through all and in all (Ephesians 4:4–6).
He went and took the scroll from the right hand of the one who was seated on the throne. 8 When he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell before the Lamb, each holding a harp and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. (Rev 5:7–8)
O Lamb, you took the scroll from the right hand of the One who sits upon the throne since you receive the truth from him in his eternal generation. You receive this truth for yourself from the One who begets you. But here, after your temporal birth, and after having been immolated, you receive from your Father the power to communicate this truth to human beings.
The living creatures and the elders fell before the Lamb to show their respect, joy, and recognition that the Lamb will manifest his truth on the earth. The Lamb will remove the chains that holds humanity captive. The harps they hold show their praise and the agreement of their will with God’s will, to which they have not the least opposition, difference, or contrariety. The golden bowls are the prayers of the saints. This shows well how the saints intercede for our brothers and sisters and present their prayers to have God’s answer. These prayers are in bowls of gold to show that these prayers come from the purest love. These prayers are well described as a perfume because the true prayer is that of annihilation. Just as the perfume comes only out of the destruction of the gum sap, our prayers come out of the fire of annihilation which devours us.
They sing a new song: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slaughtered and by your blood you ransomed for God saints from every tribe and language and people and nation.” (Rev 5:9)
The soul in her consummation is placed in a state to sing a new song known only to God of deliverance and joy, of happiness and contentment. The soul did not sing before its perfect renewal. She did not even know she was to sing a song that looks at God only as now all the interests of the creature are perfectly annihilated. We can say nothing about this song except it is inexplicable.
They rejoiced that Jesus Christ is worthy to take the scroll of truth and open its seals that had been hold captive and to manifest it to all the earth. They praise him that he ransomed them and all humanity by the price of his blood because he ransomed them for God, so that they belong to God, removing them from the captivity of the demon and putting them in freedom of the truth. You ransomed them, O Lord, to manifest your truth to them, to all tribes, that is to say, all Christians and all people and nations. There will be no exceptions to this, all religions and all people, including the Jewish and Islamic faiths, and even the most barbarous, will be associated with the sequel to the kingdom of Jesus Christ. They will all receive the Spirit of truth, which will be spread all over the earth. We will see in eternity the wonderful inventions of providence to save all people.
“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests serving our God, and they will reign on earth.” (Rev 5:10)
The annihilated souls are