Jesus is going to pay off the curse that has rested on the world since Genesis 3—Satan's mortgage.
In Revelation 5, the Lamb takes the scroll from God's hand and, in Les Feldick's teaching, effectively says, "I'll pay it off." What He pays off is the curse, described as Satan's mortgage. This pay-off ends Satan's dominion over the world and prepares the planet for Christ's Kingdom.
Revelation 5:1 — John's vision of the sealed book in God's hand is the moment Jesus, as the Lamb, is shown taking the scroll and paying off the curse.
Revelation 5:5 — Christ is identified as the only one who can open the book, emphasizing His unique qualification to redeem creation.
Genesis 3:15 — This is the first promise of a Redeemer, given immediately after the curse, which Jesus will ultimately pay off.
Romans 8:21 — Scripture explicitly says creation will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the liberty of God's children.
Genesis 3 records the fall of Adam and Eve and the curse that followed. In verse 15, immediately after the curse, God promised a Redeemer: "And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel." In verse 17 God told Adam, "cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life." Romans 8:20-21 echoes this: creation was made subject to vanity in hope, and creation itself will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. In Revelation 5, John sees a book in the right hand of Him that sat on the throne, sealed with seven seals. One of the elders tells John that the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book. The elders sing that the Lamb is worthy to take the book and open its seals because He was slain and redeemed people to God by His blood out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation.
Les teaches that when Adam sinned, he lost the dominion God gave him over creation, and Satan picked up that dominion, becoming the god of this world. The world lies in the lap of the wicked one, and everything mankind accomplishes has been prompted by Satan. In Revelation 5, the Lamb comes before the Ancient of Days and takes the mortgage from God the Father's hand; in so many words He says, "I'll pay it off." What He pays off is the curse that has been on the world since Genesis 3, ending Satan's mortgage. Jesus alone can do this because of His death, burial, and resurrection. Les sees the whole seven-year tribulation as the paying off of Satan's mortgage, with the scroll's seals being peeled off like a mortgage. The tribulation events are birth pangs that bring the earth to a delivery—the delivery of the planet from the curse. As a result, the planet will be lifted from the curse, renovated, and made ready for Christ's glorious Kingdom on earth.
Les teaches that the scroll John sees in Revelation 5 is really a mortgage. When the Lamb appears before the Ancient of Days and takes that mortgage from God the Father's hand, He says in so many words, "I'll pay it off." The mortgage is the curse that has rested on the world since Genesis 3, described as Satan's mortgage because Satan holds dominion over the fallen world.
According to Les, the whole reason behind the judgments and cataclysmic events of the tribulation is to pay off Satan's mortgage. The scroll with its seven seals is peeled off like a mortgage, and the paying off of the mortgage is the whole scope of the tribulation. These events are also described as birth pangs or "days of travail" that bring the earth to a delivery—the delivery of the planet from the curse.
Les teaches that when Satan is defeated and the curse is lifted, the planet will be a renovation project that God will accomplish, making it ready for the Kingdom. Jesus will return and set up His glorious Kingdom here on earth. Creation will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God, and all creation will come under our rule and reign as joint heirs with Christ.
The Bible says the Lamb is worthy to take the book and open its seals because He was slain and redeemed people to God from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. Les adds that Jesus is the only one in all eternity who can fulfill the mortgage requirements because He is the next of kin, the Son of God, has the power and attributes to carry it out, and is willing. He alone can pay the mortgage because of His death, burial, and resurrection.
Adam Lost Dominion to Satan
Les explains that Adam lost his God-given dominion over creation when he sinned, and Satan picked it up, becoming the god of this world. This shows why the world is under a curse that Satan holds as a mortgage.
The Lamb Takes the Mortgage
Les shows Jesus taking the scroll/mortgage from God's hand in Revelation 5 and saying, in effect, "I'll pay it off"—paying off the curse and Satan's mortgage.
Paying Off Satan's Mortgage in the Tribulation
Les teaches that the entire tribulation is the paying off of Satan's mortgage, with the scroll's seals being peeled off and the curse finally lifted from the planet, preparing it for the Kingdom.
The Earth's Delivery From the Curse
Les explains that the tribulation is like travail or labor bringing the earth to a delivery—the delivery of the planet from the curse.
Jesus as the Only One Who Can Pay
Les says Jesus alone can fulfill the mortgage requirements because He is the next of kin, the Son of God, has the power, and is willing; He becomes the great payer of the mortgage Satan holds.
Creation Delivered Into Glory
Les quotes Romans 8 to show creation's deliverance from the curse and says all creation will come under the rule and reign of believers as joint heirs with Christ.
Creation Delivered From Bondage
Les ties Genesis 3:15's promised Redeemer to Romans 8:21's promise that creation will be delivered from the curse into the glorious liberty of children of God.
Redeemer Promised in Genesis 3:15
Les calls Genesis 3:15 the first prophecy of the Redeemer, showing the promise made immediately after the curse.
Genesis 3:15: And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
This is the first promise of a Redeemer, immediately after the curse, pointing to Christ's ultimate victory over Satan.
Genesis 3:17: And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
This verse states the curse on the ground that Jesus will one day pay off.
Romans 8:20: For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,
Creation was subjected to the curse in hope, anticipating its future deliverance.
Romans 8:21: Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
Scripture explicitly promises creation's deliverance from the curse into the liberty of God's children.
Revelation 5:1: And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
The sealed book in God's hand is the scroll/mortgage that the Lamb takes to pay off the curse.
Revelation 5:5: 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.
Jesus alone has prevailed to open the book and loose the seals.
Revelation 5:9: And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
The Lamb is worthy to take the book because He was slain and redeemed people to God.
Les explains that the scroll/book in God's hand in Revelation 5 is really a mortgage representing Satan's hold on a cursed world. When the Lamb takes it, He is saying He will pay off the curse and Satan's claim on the world.
Les teaches that the seven-year tribulation is the paying off of Satan's mortgage. After it is completed, the planet is delivered from the curse, renovated, and made ready for Christ's Kingdom.
Jesus is the next of kin, the Son of God, has the power and attributes to carry it out, and is willing. He is worthy because of His death, burial, and resurrection.
Watch the Teaching: Who Can Open the Scroll? Daniel 7 & Revelation 5 Explained