A scroll was a type of book. It was made of one long, rolled-up sheet of papyrus or leather. It had rods attached to each end. People used these rods to roll up the scroll after writing on it or reading from it. Scrolls were used for legal documents and holy scripture (see: Deuteronomy 17:18; Ezra 6:2; Isaiah 30:8). In New Testament times, scrolls containing the Hebrew scriptures were read aloud in the synagogues (see: Luke 4:16-20).
Sometimes scrolls were sealed shut with wax and sent by messenger to someone else. If the wax was still attached to the scroll when a person received the scroll, then the person knew that no one had opened it.
In the book of Revelation, John had a vision of heaven. In the vision he saw a scroll that had seven seals. Jesus was the only one who was able to break the seals and open the scroll (see: Revelation 5:1-10).
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