Yes, Jesus is the only one worthy and able to take the scroll.
Les Feldick teaches that Jesus alone can take the scroll because He fulfills every requirement for redeeming the earth. He is the next of kin, the Son of God, has the power to carry it out, and is willing to do so. His qualifications rest on His death, burial, and resurrection, which make Him worthy to pay off the mortgage that Satan holds on the world.
Revelation 5:5 — Names Jesus as the Lion of the tribe of Juda who has prevailed to open the book.
Revelation 5:9 — Declares that He is worthy because He was slain and has redeemed people to God by His blood.
Daniel 7:13 — Shows the Son of Man coming before the Ancient of Days, the Old Testament scene echoed in Revelation 5 when the Lamb receives the scroll.
In Revelation chapter 5, John sees a book or scroll in the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne. A strong angel proclaims, "Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?" John weeps much because no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. One of the elders then says, "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" (Revelation 5:5). The Lamb comes and takes the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne (Revelation 5:7). Those around the throne sing, "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" (Revelation 5:9). Daniel 7:13 also records a vision of "one like the Son of man" coming to the Ancient of days, which Revelation's language of the Lamb coming before the throne calls to mind.
Les Feldick teaches that the scroll in Revelation 5 is a mortgage that Satan holds on the earth. The world has been under a curse since Genesis chapter 3, and paying off that mortgage is what will deliver the planet from the curse. Les explains that in Israel's redemption laws, regaining title to lost property required a next of kin who was capable and willing. Jesus is that next of kin—the Son of David and the Son of God—and He has the power and all the attributes to carry it out. When John is told that no one was worthy, Jesus the Son of God comes before the Father at His right hand and says in effect, "I'll do it. I'll pay off that mortgage." Les repeatedly emphasizes that Jesus alone can do this because of His death, His burial, and His resurrection. He is the only one in all eternity who can fulfill every requirement, and He is willing to do it.
Les teaches that the scroll represents a mortgage. In his words, the planet has been under the curse since Genesis chapter 3, and it is now time to end it. Jesus takes the mortgage from the hand of God the Father and says, "I'll pay it off." By paying off that mortgage, Jesus lifts the curse and delivers the earth from the power of Satan. This is why the tribulation events are described as birth pangs leading to the delivery from the curse.
Les points to Israeli history and the law of redemption. When property was lost by default, it had to be redeemed by a next of kin—someone who was capable, had what it took, and was willing. Jesus, as the Son of David and Son of God, is that next of kin. He alone in all eternity can fulfill those requirements, because He has the power and attributes to carry it out and He is willing to do it.
Les says Jesus alone can take the scroll because of His death, His burial, and His resurrection. He is worthy because He was slain and has redeemed people out of every kindred, tongue, people, and nation. In Revelation 5, the four living creatures and twenty-four elders sing this to the Lamb. Describing the same scene, Les pictures the Son coming before the Ancient of Days according to Daniel, taking the mortgage from the Father's hand and paying it off.
What Happens When the Lamb Opens the Seals — Revelation 6
Hello, and welcome to Through the Bible with Les Feldick. An Oklahoma rancher and farmer, Les Feldick has been teaching homestyle Bible classes for 20 years in Iowa, Oklahoma, and Texas. Les Feldick's unique style of Bible teaching has made the books of the Bible come to life. When Les is teaching, it's so interesting that people say time just seems to fly by. And now, here is Les Feldick.
Next of kin must redeem
Les explains that in Israelite redemption, only a next of kin who was capable and willing could regain title to lost property, and Jesus takes the mortgage to pay it off and deliver the planet from the curse.
Son volunteers to pay the mortgage
Les describes God the Son coming before God the Father at His right hand and saying, 'I'll do it,' and notes that Jesus's cross work and His kinship as Son of David and Son of God qualify Him to fulfill all the demands.
Worthy because He was slain
Les connects Jesus's worthiness directly to His death, burial, and resurrection, and points to Revelation 5:9 where the elders sing that He was slain and redeemed them by His blood.
Only one in all eternity
Les stresses that Jesus is the only one in all eternity who could fulfill the mortgage requirements because He is the next of kin, the Son of God, has the power to carry it out, and is willing.
The mortgage idea from Genesis
Les begins to trace the mortgage concept back to Genesis, where God gave Adam dominion over the earth, and then shows the Lamb taking the scroll out of the right hand of the One on the throne.
No one else is worthy
Les walks through Revelation 5:2-5, emphasizing that no one in heaven, earth, or under the earth had the authority or capability to open the scroll, and that John wept because no one was found worthy.
Paying off Satan's mortgage
Les identifies the scroll as Satan's mortgage and says the Son of God comes before the Ancient of Days according to Daniel, takes the mortgage from God the Father, and alone can pay it off because of His death, burial, and resurrection.
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.
Shows that no one in all creation was able to open the book, setting the stage for Jesus.
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.
Points to Jesus's identity as the Lion of Judah who has prevailed to open the book.
Revelation 5:7: And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
Describes Jesus actually taking the book from God the Father.
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;
Declares the basis of His worthiness—being slain and redeeming people by His blood.
Daniel 7:13: I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
The Old Testament parallel to the Son coming before the throne to receive authority.
Genesis 1:28: And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
Les traces the mortgage concept back to God's original instruction to Adam.
John wept because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll. Les explains that no one in heaven, earth, or under the earth had the authority or capability to open this mortgage, and his weeping is resolved only when the Lion of the tribe of Judah appears.
Les teaches that the earth is under a curse that Satan holds like a mortgage. Jesus takes the scroll from God the Father and agrees to pay off that mortgage through His death, burial, and resurrection, delivering the planet from the curse and from Satan's power.
Yes. Les says Jesus is the only one in all of eternity who can fulfill the requirements because He is the next of kin, the Son of God, has the power and attributes to carry it out, and is willing to do it.
Watch the Teaching: What Happens When the Lamb Opens the Seals — Revelation 6