“Then I saw in the right hand of him who was seated on the throne a scroll written within and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?’
And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look into it, and I began to weep loudly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll or to look into it” (Revelation 5:1-4 ESV).
An ancient debtor who lacked the financial resources needed to redeem a piece of property could turn to a relative to do so on his or her behalf. That relative was known as a Kinsman Redeemer. Anyone who aspired to fulfill that role had to meet three qualifications:
- He had to maintain a family relationship to the debtor.
- He had to possess the resources necessary to settle the debtor’s financial obligation.
- He had to express a willingness to act in that capacity.(1)
So what does this have to do with the scroll in the right hand of the One who sat upon this throne? Well, the double-sided inscription on this scroll suggests that it functioned as a legal document pertaining to property rights. If so, then we should consider the possibility that it served as a title deed to this world. Consider the following sequence of events in support of this idea:
- This world was “deeded” to Adam in the Garden of Eden when God directed him to subdue the Earth (Genesis 2:15-17).
- Adam forfeited that obligation (and those of his descendants) when he disobeyed God’s directive at His enemy’s behest (Genesis chapter three).
- Adam’s forfeiture enabled that enemy to assume property management responsibilities, so to speak. This explains why Satan is called “the god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) and “the ruler of this world” (by Jesus) in John 12:31.
However, Revelation 5:2-4 alerts us to a seemingly insurmountable problem: “And I saw a strong angel, who shouted with a loud voice: ‘Who is worthy to break the seals on this scroll and open it?’ But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll and read it. Then I began to weep bitterly because no one was found worthy to open the scroll and read it” (NLT).
So John, our author, wept with disappointment at the fact that no one seemed to possess the authority to break these seals. However, a Kinsman Redeemer was about to make His presence known.
(1) The most prominent Biblical illustration of the function of a Kinsman Redeemer appears in the Book of Ruth