Yes — Jesus is worthy because He alone fulfilled every requirement to take the scroll and pay off the curse on the world through His death, burial, and resurrection.
In Revelation 5, no one in heaven, on earth, or under the earth could open the scroll, and John wept. Then the Lamb — Jesus — takes the scroll, and the heavenly host sings that He is worthy because He was slain and redeemed people to God by His blood. Les Feldick explains that Jesus is paying off what he calls Satan's mortgage on the world.
Revelation 5:9-10 — The heavenly song directly states that the Lamb is worthy because He was slain and redeemed people to God by His blood, and that He has made them kings and priests to reign on the earth.
Revelation 5:5 — The elder identifies the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, as the one who has prevailed to open the book and loose its seven seals.
Revelation 5 describes John's vision of a book in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne. A strong angel proclaims with a loud voice, 'Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?' Verse 3 says, 'And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.' John weeps because no one was found worthy, but an elder tells him not to weep: the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the book and loose its seven seals. When the Lamb takes the scroll, the four beasts and four and twenty elders sing a new song: '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.' Verse 10 adds, 'And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.'
Les Feldick says the scroll in Revelation 5 is essentially a mortgage — a claim against the world. The world is presently in the lap of the wicked one, with Satan exercising total dominion over its kingdoms. In Matthew 4, Satan could honestly offer Jesus the kingdoms of the world because they were his to give, but Jesus did not bow to him. Jesus, as God the Son, is the next of kin who is capable, has the wherewithal, and is willing to pay off the mortgage. He is worthy because He alone, through His death, burial, and resurrection, fulfills all the requirements. As the Lamb, He takes the scroll and begins to open the seals, which inaugurates the seven-year tribulation, Satan's final time, and the process of lifting the curse from the planet.
Les describes the scroll as a mortgage against the world. No one in heaven or on earth could open it because no one had the authority or capability. John wept because it appeared the mortgage could not be paid off. Jesus, as the Lamb, is the next of kin who is capable, has the wherewithal, and is willing to pay it off.
Scripture says no man in heaven, in earth, or under the earth was able to open the book or look thereon, so John wept much. Les tells his listeners that nowhere in God's creation was there anyone with the authority or capability of opening this mortgage.
Les states that Jesus alone can do it because of His death, His burial, and His resurrection. The new song says He is worthy because He was slain and redeemed us to God by His blood. Les adds that God the Son fulfilled all the requirements of the mortgage — He has the wherewithal, He is the next of kin, and He shows Himself willing.
Once the Lamb takes the scroll, He opens the seven seals one at a time. Les connects this to the four horsemen of the apocalypse and says the seven seals take events up to the midpoint of the tribulation. The purpose is the seven-year tribulation when Satan has his final time and the curse on the planet is lifted.
Satan's Dominion Over the World
Les explains that Satan had a legitimate claim to the world's kingdoms, so his offer to Jesus in Matthew 4 was real — but Jesus did not need to bow to him.
The Song of Worthiness of the Lamb
Les connects the Lamb's worthiness directly to His death, burial, and resurrection — the slain Lamb who redeemed people from every kindred, tongue, people, and nation.
The Scroll as a Mortgage to Be Paid Off
Les teaches that God the Son takes the mortgage and agrees to pay it off in order to deliver the planet from the curse, acting as the next of kin who is capable and willing.
No One Worthy in All Creation
Les points to Revelation 5:2-4 to show that no one in heaven, earth, or under the earth had the authority or capability to open the scroll.
Worthiness Based on the Cross
Les highlights the qualifications: Thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by Thy blood — the blood aspect of the gospel cannot be compromised.
The Lion of Judah Who Prevailed
Les ties John's tears to the moment the elder reveals the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the root of David, who has prevailed to open the scroll.
Christ Alone Fulfills the Requirements
Les explains that Jesus is ready to take the scroll because of His finished work on the cross, because of who He is as the eternal Creator God, and because He alone is the next of kin with the wherewithal and willingness.
Opening the Seals and the Tribulation
Les teaches that when God the Son opens the seals, the four horsemen appear and the seals lead to the midpoint of the tribulation — the process of paying off the mortgage.
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 angel's question frames the issue of worthiness and sets up why no one else could open the scroll.
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.
This verse establishes that no one in all creation was 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 weeping shows how hopeless it seemed that the scroll could be opened.
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.
This verse reveals that the victorious One is Jesus, the Lion of the tribe of Juda and Root of David.
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;
This is the central declaration that the Lamb's worthiness is based on His sacrificial death and redemption.
Revelation 5:10: And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
The redemptive work of the Lamb also results in believers being made kings and priests who will reign on the earth.
Matthew 4:8-9: Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
This is the temptation passage Les uses to show that Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world — kingdoms that were presently in Satan's dominion.
John wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. Les says this was because no one in God's creation had the authority or capability of opening this mortgage.
Les teaches that the scroll is a mortgage against the planet. Jesus, as the next of kin, takes it and agrees to pay it off to lift the curse from the earth. This is why it required someone worthy, capable, and willing.
Les uses Matthew 4 to show that Satan could legitimately offer Jesus all the kingdoms of the world. He says the world is in the lap of the wicked one and that Satan has total dominion. Christ did not need to worship Satan, because the kingdoms would one day be His.
When the Lamb opens the seals, the four horsemen of the apocalypse appear. Les says the seven seals take events up to the midpoint of the tribulation, which is when Satan has his final time and the curse is lifted.
Watch the Teaching: The Scroll in God's Hand That No One Could Open — Revelation 5