The scroll in Revelation 5 is a mortgage — the mortgage Satan holds on planet earth, sealed with seven seals.
In the King James Version it is called a book, but Les Feldick explains it should be understood as a scroll written within and on the backside, just like a Jewish mortgage document. God the Father holds it on His throne, yet Les identifies it as Satan's mortgage, which no one but Christ is worthy to open and pay off.
Revelation 5:1 — This verse describes the object John sees in God's right hand — a book/scroll written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
In Revelation 5:1, John writes: "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 KJV uses the word 'book,' and it is the object around which the next scene turns. A strong angel asks who is worthy to open the book and loose its seals (Revelation 5:2), yet John reports that no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open it or even look on it (Revelation 5:3). John weeps because no one is found worthy (Revelation 5:4), but one of the elders tells him not to weep because the Lion of the tribe of Juda has prevailed to open the book and loose its seven seals (Revelation 5:5). The Bible itself does not call the object a mortgage; that is a connection Les makes from the Old Testament practice.
Les teaches that the KJV word 'book' is an unfortunate translation — in John's day scrolls were used, not bound books. The scroll is written within and on the backside, which Les says corresponds to the Old Testament Jewish mortgage practice: public details were written on the outside and private details on the inside. He therefore identifies the scroll as a mortgage. Even though it is God the Father who holds the scroll, Les explains it is actually Satan's mortgage, picked up when Adam lost dominion and fell. Christ is the only one worthy to open the scroll because of His finished work on the cross, because He is the Creator, and because He is the next of kin who can pay off the mortgage. Christ opens the seals in order to read the mortgage and pay it off.
Les shows that the scroll's form matches an Old Testament mortgage. In Israel, as with property today, details that were public were written on the outside of the mortgage document, and details that were not public were written on the inside. Since Revelation 5:1 says the scroll is written within and on the backside, Les identifies it as a mortgage. He also notes that the seven seals connect to the number of completion.
The Bible shows the scroll in the right hand of God on the throne. Les clarifies that even though God is holding it, the mortgage belongs to Satan. When Adam fell and lost his dominion, Satan picked up the mortgage on planet earth and has been the god of this world ever since. Now God holds the mortgage ready to be paid off.
Scripture records that no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth was worthy to open the scroll. Les adds that Christ alone has fulfilled all requirements to pay off the mortgage because of the finished work of the cross, because He is the eternal Creator God who instituted the mortgage, and because He is the next of kin with the wherewithal to pay it. John weeps, but the elder points to the Lion of the tribe of Juda.
The Scroll in God's Hand That No One Could Open — Revelation 5
millions, and ten thousands times ten thousands stood before him. Now, there's a colon, so we're going to stop there because the rest of the verse leaps the millennium again and ends up at the great white throne. We're not ready for that. So, now I'm going to take you over to verse 13. Verse 13. I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like who? Now, I'm in Daniel, chapter 7, Virgil.
The Book Is a Scroll
Les corrects the KJV word 'book' to 'scroll' and explains the scroll is written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals, and that this form matches a mortgage.
A Mortgage Written Within and Without
Les explains the Old Testament mortgage practice: public details written on the outside, private details inside, and then identifies this scroll as a mortgage held by God but belonging to Satan.
Christ Worthy to Open the Scroll
Les teaches that Christ is ready to take the scroll because of His finished work at the cross and because He, as the Creator and next of kin, has the wherewithal to pay off the mortgage.
Christ Opens the Seals to Pay the Mortgage
Les notes that during the seal judgments Christ is opening the scroll in order to read the mortgage and pay it off.
Satan's Mortgage from Adam's Fall
Les identifies the scroll as the mortgage Satan took on planet earth when Adam fell and lost his dominion, making Satan the god of this world.
The Book/Scroll Translation Review
Les reviews the same scene, repeating that the KJV 'book' is an unfortunate translation because scrolls were used in John's day.
No One Worthy to Open the Scroll
Les describes the strong angel's challenge and the fact that no one anywhere in creation had the authority or capability to open this mortgage.
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.
This is the verse that introduces the scroll/book and its physical characteristics.
Revelation 5:2: And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
The challenge is issued to find someone worthy to open the scroll and break its seals.
Revelation 5:3: And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
No one anywhere in creation is able to open the scroll.
Revelation 5:4: And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
John's grief shows how central the opening of this scroll is.
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.
The elder points to Christ as the only one worthy to open the scroll and loose its seals.
The KJV calls it a book. Les explains that this is an unfortunate translation because John's day used scrolls, not bound books.
He compares it to Old Testament Jewish mortgage documents, which were written within and on the backside — public details outside and private details inside. Since the scroll in Revelation 5 is described that way, Les identifies it as a mortgage.
According to Revelation 5:3, no one in heaven, earth, or under the earth is worthy. Les teaches that Christ alone is worthy because of His finished work of the cross and His role as next of kin with the wherewithal to pay off the mortgage.
Watch the Teaching: The Scroll in God's Hand That No One Could Open — Revelation 5