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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
Oecumenius
He said, But no one in Heaven, on earth, or under the earth was able to open the little scroll. For neither an angel accomplished these things for us, as Isaiah says; "neither an elder nor an angel, but he himself saved them because he loved them," (Isa. 63:9) neither a living man, nor any of the dead. "A brother is not redeemed, a man shall not redeem himself," as it is written somewhere (Ps. 48:8). And what do I mean by saying to open the little scroll, when no one among men was able to look at it? …
Western Saints
Gregory the Dialogist
Touching this point I dare not rashly define anything: for some have been of opinion that hell was in some place upon the earth; and others think that it is under the earth: but then this doubt ariseth, for if it be therefore called hell, or an infernal place, because it is below, then as the earth is distant from heaven, so likewise should hell be distant from the earth: for which cause, perhaps, the Prophet saith: Thou hast delivered my soul from the lower hell; so that the higher hell may seem to be upon the earth, and the lower …
Bede
And no one was able in heaven or on earth, etc. Neither angel, nor any of the righteous even freed from the bond of the flesh, could reveal or investigate the mysteries of the divine law, nor look upon it, that is, to contemplate the splendor of the grace of the New Testament. Just as the children of Israel could not look upon the face of the giver of the Old Testament, which contains the New.
Alcuin of York
And no man was able, neither in heaven, that is no angel was able to, nor on earth, that is no human being, nor under the earth, that is no soul, to open the book, nor to look on it: for none of these was able to achieve the plan for the salvation of man. But, blessed John, how could no one look on the book, while you yourself say, "I saw a book in the right hand of God?" Perhaps you were neither in heaven, nor on earth, nor under the earth? …
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