Did anyone in heaven or on earth have the authority to open the scroll in Revelation 5?
No one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth had the authority or capability to open the scroll and loose its seals. John wept because no one was found worthy. Only Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah, already in heaven, had authority to open it and pay the mortgage.
Les explains that a strong angel proclaimed with a loud voice, asking who was worthy to open the book or scroll and to loose its seals. Verse 3 declares that no man in heaven, not even the angels, nor on earth, nor under the earth, was found. Nowhere in God's creation did anyone have the authority or capability to open this mortgage. John wept much because no one was found worthy to open, read, or look on the scroll. Then one of the elders told him not to weep, saying, "Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah." The word Lion is capitalized, and Christ came out of Judah. Jesus the Christ, already in heaven, comes before the throne of the Father and is the only one with authority to open this mortgage and say, "I'll pay it off." Les ties this to Jewish history and custom, especially the book of Ruth, where a Jew who mortgaged his land and could not pay it off needed a next of kin to redeem it.
And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
More Questions
What does it mean that no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth was able to open the scroll in Revelation 5?
In Revelation 5:3, 'no one in heaven, earth, or under the earth' means that no one anywhere in God's creation had the authority or capability to open the scroll.