Who alone can open the scroll and pay off the mortgage in Revelation 5?
Jesus Christ alone is worthy to open the scroll and pay off the mortgage. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah, already in heaven before the Father’s throne. No one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth had authority or capability; only Christ can loose the seals and pay it off.
Les explains that the strong angel asks who is worthy to open the scroll and loose its seals. No man in heaven, not even the angels, nor on earth, nor under the earth had the authority or capability to open this mortgage. John wept because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll. Then one of the elders tells John not to weep, because the Lion of the tribe of Judah—Christ, who came out of Judah and is already in heaven—comes before the throne of the Father. He alone has authority to open this mortgage and say, “I’ll pay it off.” Les connects this to Jewish history and custom, especially in Ruth, where a mortgaged land and the inability to pay it off required a next of kin.
And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.