"Then I turned, and lifted up mine eyes, and looked, and behold a flying roll. (2) And he said unto me, What seest thou? And I answered, I see a flying roll; the length thereof is twenty cubits, and the breadth thereof ten cubits. (3) Then said he unto me, This is the curse that goeth forth over the face of the whole earth: for every one that stealeth shall be cut off as on this side according to it; and everyone that sweareth shall be cut off as on that side according to it. (4) I will bring it forth, saith the LORD of hosts, and it shall enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him that sweareth falsely by my name: and it shall remain in the midst of his house, and shall consume it with the timber thereof and the stones thereof."
Observe in the opening of this vision, the Prophet is turned from beholding blessed visions, to look at solemn ones. The roll here described must have been very large indeed. And it should seem, that it was intended the Prophet should notice the size of it, for he was able to behold the measure of it. Twenty cubits by ten, is at least ten yards by five. If, as it may be supposed, the design was to impress upon the Prophets mind the greatness and extent of the law, and the awful denunciation of it, to everyone out of Christ, in order to shew the grace of the gospel, nothing could be more striking. The explanation of the angel is in point. This is the curse. Reader! is not the law the ministration of death? Doth it not pronounce a curse upon every soul of man that doeth evil; to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile? Romans 2:9. In this view, the whole code of the law is like the roll of Ezekiel, when opened; written within and without, and full of lamentations, and mourning, and woe. Ezekiel 2:10. Hence the law is described, Deuteronomy 27:15-26. and Deuteronomy 28:15-45. Hence Peter's account of it, Acts 15:10. Hence Paul's, Galatians 3:10-11. Oh! Reader, think what a blessed thing it is, to be able to hear, and enter into the full enjoyment of those sweet scriptures: Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. And again, God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself--For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Galatians 3:13; 2 Corinthians 5:19. to the end.