What Is The Scroll In Revelation 5?

In Revelation 5 the apostle John sees a vision of God seated on His throne and holding a scroll in His right hand.  The scroll is sealed with seven seals.  The only one worthy to open the scroll is Jesus, the lamb of God.  In Revelation 6 Jesus begins opening one seal at a time, and the breaking of each seal leads to another vision of doom and destruction.  What is the scroll?

I agree with Dr. Kenneth Gentry that the scroll in Revelation 5 is God's divorce certificate against adulterous Israel.  Let me explain.

First, remember that the prophecies of Revelation “must soon take place,” because “the time is near” (Rev 1:1-3).  Therefore the prophecies refer to events that would be fulfilled in the first century.  If you believe, as I do, that Revelation was written before the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD, then it is highly probable that the prophecies of Revelation have their fulfillment in that fateful event.

Second, remember that the theme of Revelation is about the judgment on those who pierced Jesus (Rev 1:7).  These were the Jews who crucified Christ and were persecuting His followers in the first century.

Third, the book of Revelation is filled with OT imagery.  Revelation borrows heavily from the Old Testament, more than any other New Testament book. 

Fourth, in the Old Testament Israel is depicted as God’s wife (Is 54:5; Jer 31:31-32).  When she is unfaithful to God, this is called adultery/harlotry (Jer 3:9; Jer 5:7; Eze 23:37).  In the Bible a divorce was made official with a certificate (Dt 24:1, 3; Is 50:1; Mt 5:31; Mt 19:7; Mk 10:4).  And the punishment for adultery was death by stoning (Lev 20:10; Dt 22:21). 

Fifth, the book of the Revelation talks about two women: the harlot (Rev 17) and the bride (Rev 19:7).  The harlot is Israel, God’s unfaithful wife who has rejected and crucified the Messiah.  The Bride is the church of Jesus Christ. 

Sixth, we know that Revelation is not about the end times or the end of the world (see my first point above).  Instead, the theme is about God's judgment against the Jews who rejected Christ.  Revelation portrays this as the end of God's marriage to Israel.  God divorces Israel and takes a new bride, the church.  

Seventh, in Revelation 5 God is on His throne, the place of judgment.  The scroll represents a divorce certificate against Israel.  The seven seals represent the seven-fold judgment that God promised against Israel if she ever broke God’s covenant (Lev 26:18, 21, 24, 28).  God said He would discipline them seven times, multiply their plagues seven times, and strike them seven times. 

Eighth, in Revelation 6, Christ opens the seven seals of the scroll, and it is filled with terrible judgments against the nation of Israel that will be carried out in the first century in the Jewish War as the Romans utterly destroy the nation of Israel.  This will continue all the way until chapter 19, when the new bride is introduced, and God takes a new wife for Himself. 

So, in my view the scroll in Revelation 5 represents God's divorce certificate against unfaithful Israel.