Jubilee Community Church
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  • “WHO IS WORTHY TO OPEN THE BOOK?”

    PRIMARY SCRIPTURE READING
    Revelation 5:1–10
    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 sermon follows a powerful biblical pattern: dominion lost through the Fall, property placed under bondage, a legal right of redemption, a sealed deed awaiting the qualified redeemer, and finally the Lamb stepping forward to reclaim what was lost.
    A helpful interpretive caution: Revelation 5 does not explicitly call the scroll “the title deed to the earth.” That language is a theological interpretation. But when Revelation 5 is read alongside Genesis 1–3, Leviticus 25, Ruth 4, Jeremiah 32, Daniel 7, and Revelation 11, the imagery of inheritance, redemption, legal authority, and reclaimed dominion becomes extraordinarily rich.

    INTRODUCTION — THE STORY BEGINS WITH A KINGDOM THAT WAS LOST

    Before we arrive at Revelation 5, we need to understand why there is something to redeem.
    And one of the most startling places to begin is not Genesis.
    It is Luke 4.
    Jesus has been baptized. The Spirit has descended upon Him. He has been led into the wilderness, and there He encounters Satan.
    Satan shows Jesus the kingdoms of the world.
    Luke 4:5–6 — “And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.”
    Notice those words:
    “It is delivered unto me.”
    The Greek word translated “power” is exousia — ἐξουσία (G1849) — authority, jurisdiction, right, delegated power.
    Satan is claiming jurisdiction over the kingdoms of this world.
    And what is striking is that Jesus does not respond:
    “You are lying. None of this belongs to you.”
    Instead, Jesus rejects Satan’s proposed method of obtaining the kingdoms.
    Luke 4:8 — “Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”
    Satan was essentially saying:
    “You can have the kingdom without the cross.”
    But Jesus knew something Satan did not understand.
    Jesus had not come merely to receive a kingdom.

    HE HAD COME TO REDEEM ONE.

    Satan offered Jesus the kingdoms through worship.
    The Father would give Christ the kingdoms through Calvary.
    Satan offered a shortcut.
    Jesus chose redemption.
    And to understand that redemption, we have to go all the way back to Genesis.

    DOMINION WAS ORIGINALLY GIVEN TO MAN

    Genesis 1:26 — “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion…”
    Then:
    Genesis 1:28 — “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion…”
    The Hebrew word translated “dominion” is radah — רָדָה (H7287) — to rule, have dominion, exercise authority.
    God created the earth.
    Therefore God is its absolute Owner.
    Psalm 24:1 — “The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.”
    But the Owner delegated governmental authority within creation to humanity.

    GOD OWNED THE EARTH.

    MAN WAS GIVEN STEWARDSHIP AND DOMINION OVER IT.

    Adam was not merely gardening.
    Adam was governing.
    He was God’s earthly representative.
    That makes the temptation in Genesis 3 far more serious than simply eating forbidden fruit.
    This was a kingdom rebellion.

    THE FALL WAS MORE THAN A MORAL FAILURE

    When Adam sinned, three catastrophic things happened.
    Sin entered humanity.
    Death entered humanity.
    Human dominion became corrupted under the influence of the serpent.
    Paul says:
    Romans 5:12 — “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin…”
    Adam’s disobedience opened the door to an entirely different dominion.
    That is why Scripture later uses extraordinary language concerning Satan.
    Jesus calls him:
    John 12:31 — “the prince of this world.”
    Paul calls him:
    2 Corinthians 4:4 — “the god of this world.”
    And John writes:
    1 John 5:19 — “the whole world lieth in wickedness.”
    Yet Satan never became the ultimate owner of creation.
    The earth remained God’s.
    What Satan gained was usurped influence and authority within the fallen world system through humanity’s rebellion.
    Think of it this way:

    THE OWNER NEVER LOST OWNERSHIP.

    BUT THE STEWARD LOST HIS RIGHTEOUS DOMINION.

    And now humanity needed someone who could recover what Adam had forfeited.
    That brings us to one of the most beautiful laws in the Old Testament.

    THE LAW OF THE KINSMAN REDEEMER

    God established a principle concerning property belonging to an Israelite family.
    Leviticus 25:23 — “The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine…”
    That statement is crucial.

    “THE LAND IS MINE.”

    Israelites could lose possession through poverty.
    Property could pass temporarily into another’s hands.
    But God created a mechanism whereby the inheritance could be recovered.
    Leviticus 25:25 — “If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold.”
    The Hebrew word is גָּאַל — ga’al (H1350).
    It means:
    to redeem, reclaim, buy back, act as kinsman, avenge, restore something belonging to the family.
    The person performing that function was the go’el — the kinsman-redeemer.
    This was not merely somebody with money.
    He needed a legitimate family relationship.
    The biblical pattern required a redeemer who was:
    related to the one who lost the inheritance, legally qualified, able to pay the redemption price, and willing to redeem.
    And nowhere is this illustrated more beautifully than Ruth.

    BOAZ — THE KINSMAN WHO COULD REDEEM

    Naomi’s family had suffered tremendous loss.
    Elimelech died.
    His sons died.
    Naomi returned with Ruth.
    The family inheritance was in jeopardy.
    Then Boaz enters the story.
    Ruth 2:20 — “The man is near of kin unto us, one of our next kinsmen.”
    Eventually the redemption becomes a legal transaction at the city gate.
    But there is another relative who is nearer than Boaz.
    That man technically has the first right to redeem.
    Yet when the full cost is revealed, he refuses.
    Ruth 4:6 — “I cannot redeem it for myself…”
    Then Boaz steps forward.

    ONE MAN HAD THE RIGHT BUT WOULD NOT REDEEM.

    BOAZ HAD THE RIGHT AND WAS WILLING TO REDEEM.

    Church, hold onto that.
    Because when we arrive in Revelation 5, heaven will ask a question:

    “WHO IS WORTHY?”

    Not:
    “Who is powerful?”
    Not:
    “Who is intelligent?”
    Not:
    “Who is an angel?”
    But:

    WHO HAS THE LEGAL AND MORAL QUALIFICATION TO REDEEM?

    THE TWO DEEDS

    Now we come to an extraordinary Old Testament passage that helps illuminate the imagery of Revelation.
    Jeremiah is living during one of Judah’s darkest moments.
    Babylon is coming.
    Jerusalem is under siege.
    Judah is about to lose possession of the land.
    Yet God tells Jeremiah something that seems ridiculous.

    BUY PROPERTY.

    Why purchase land when Babylon is about to conquer it?
    Because God is making a prophetic statement:
    Israel may lose possession temporarily, but God has not canceled the inheritance.
    Jeremiah buys the field.
    Then we read:
    Jeremiah 32:10–11 — “And I subscribed the evidence, and sealed it, and took witnesses, and weighed him the money in the balances. So I took the evidence of the purchase, both that which was sealed according to the law and custom, and that which was open:”
    There they are.

    TWO DEEDS: A SEALED COPY AND AN OPEN COPY.

    Jeremiah then gives them to Baruch.
    Jeremiah 32:14 — “Take these evidences, this evidence of the purchase, both which is sealed, and this evidence which is open; and put them in an earthen vessel, that they may continue many days.”
    Why preserve them?
    Because the deed testified:
    THIS PROPERTY HAS AN OWNER.
    THIS PROPERTY HAS BEEN PURCHASED.
    THIS PROPERTY CAN BE CLAIMED.
    The open document provided accessible evidence of the transaction, while the sealed document preserved the authenticated legal instrument.
    And God connects that transaction with restoration:
    Jeremiah 32:15 — “Houses and fields and vineyards shall be possessed again in this land.”
    Jeremiah was buying property that looked lost.
    God was saying:

    “IT IS NOT LOST FOREVER.”

    Now keep Jeremiah 32 in your mind…
    …and walk with John into the throne room.

    JOHN SEES A SEALED DOCUMENT

    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.”
    John sees a scroll.
    It contains writing.
    It is sealed.
    And it is being held by God Himself.
    Then an angel makes a proclamation throughout creation.
    Revelation 5:2 — “Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?”
    The question is not simply:

    “WHO CAN BREAK A SEAL?”

    The question is:

    “WHO IS WORTHY?”

    Who possesses the qualification?
    Who possesses the authority?
    Who has the right?
    Who can execute what is written?

    THE SEARCH FOR A REDEEMER

    Revelation 5:3 — “And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book…”
    Think about that.
    Heaven searches creation.
    ADAM?
    No.
    Adam lost dominion.
    NOAH?
    No.
    He survived judgment but could not remove sin.
    ABRAHAM?
    No.
    He received promises but could not redeem humanity.
    MOSES?
    No.
    The lawgiver himself needed grace.
    DAVID?
    No.
    The king himself needed forgiveness.
    ISAIAH?
    No.
    DANIEL?
    No.
    AN ANGEL?
    No.
    MICHAEL?
    No.
    GABRIEL?
    No.
    Nobody in creation qualifies.
    And suddenly John understands the magnitude of the problem.
    Revelation 5:4 — “And I wept much, because no man was found worthy…”
    John is not shedding a casual tear.
    The Greek word translated “wept” is klaiō — κλαίω (G2799) — to mourn, lament, weep aloud.
    Why such grief?
    Because if there is no redeemer…
    the inheritance remains unrecovered.
    If there is no redeemer…
    the curse continues.
    If there is no redeemer…
    death continues.
    If there is no redeemer…
    the usurper remains.
    If there is no redeemer…

    ADAM’S FALL HAS NO ANSWER.

    John is staring at the entire tragedy of Genesis.
    And he weeps.
    But then an elder speaks.

    “WEEP NOT”

    Revelation 5:5 — “Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed…”

    JOHN, STOP CRYING.

    There is a Redeemer.
    There is One who qualifies.
    There is One who can open the scroll.
    There is One who can recover the inheritance.
    And John turns expecting to see a Lion.
    But look at what he sees.
    Revelation 5:6 — “And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne… stood a Lamb as it had been slain…”
    He heard:

    LION.

    He saw:

    LAMB.

    Because Christ conquers as Lion because He first redeemed as Lamb.

    WHY JESUS QUALIFIES AS THE KINSMAN REDEEMER

    Here is where the incarnation becomes absolutely magnificent.
    To redeem humanity, the Redeemer had to become our kinsman.
    That helps explain:
    John 1:14 — “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”
    And:
    Hebrews 2:14 — “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same…”
    God entered our human condition.
    He took flesh.
    He became related to Adam’s race.

    THE CREATOR BECAME OUR KINSMAN.

    But there was another qualification.
    The Redeemer needed the ability to pay the redemption price.
    Peter tells us the price.
    1 Peter 1:18–19 — “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold… But with the precious blood of Christ…”
    Silver couldn’t buy it.
    Gold couldn’t buy it.
    Religion couldn’t buy it.
    Good works couldn’t buy it.
    Human righteousness couldn’t buy it.

    THE PRICE WAS BLOOD.

    And there was only one blood sufficient to pay the debt.

    THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST.

    THE CROSS WAS THE REDEMPTION PRICE

    Now Luke 4 becomes even more powerful.
    Satan said:
    “I’ll give you the kingdoms.”
    Jesus refused.
    Why?
    Because Jesus would not take from Satan through compromise what He had come to reclaim through redemption.
    At Calvary:
    Colossians 2:15 — “And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”
    The cross looked like Satan’s victory.
    It was actually Satan’s defeat.
    Jesus died.
    Jesus was buried.
    But on the third day…

    THE KINSMAN REDEEMER WALKED OUT OF THE GRAVE.

    And after His resurrection Jesus makes a declaration:
    Matthew 28:18 — “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.”
    Compare that with Luke 4.
    Satan said:

    “THIS AUTHORITY HAS BEEN DELIVERED UNTO ME.”

    After Calvary and resurrection Jesus says:

    “ALL AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GIVEN UNTO ME.”

    There is the reversal!

    WHAT ADAM LOST, CHRIST RECOVERED

    Paul deliberately contrasts Adam and Christ.
    1 Corinthians 15:45 — “The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”
    Adam represents fallen humanity.
    Christ inaugurates redeemed humanity.

    THE FIRST ADAM WAS DEFEATED IN A GARDEN.

    THE LAST ADAM CONQUERED THROUGH A GARDEN, A CROSS, AND AN EMPTY TOMB.

    The first Adam reached for a tree and brought death.
    Jesus was nailed to a tree and brought life.
    The first Adam surrendered to temptation.
    Jesus defeated the tempter.
    The first Adam hid from God.
    Jesus brings us back to God.
    The first Adam brought the curse.
    Christ became a curse for us.
    The first Adam lost righteous dominion.
    Jesus Christ restores the kingdom.

    THE LAMB TAKES THE SCROLL

    Now watch Revelation 5 carefully.
    Revelation 5:7 — “And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.”
    That may be one of the most consequential movements in all biblical prophecy.

    THE LAMB TAKES THE SCROLL.

    And heaven explodes in worship.
    Why?
    Listen to their song.
    Revelation 5:9 — “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…”
    There is the word.

    REDEEMED.

    The Greek is agorazō — ἀγοράζω (G59) — to purchase, buy in the marketplace.
    Why is the Lamb worthy?

    BECAUSE HE PAID THE PURCHASE PRICE.

    His authority to execute God’s redemptive judgment is inseparable from His sacrificial death.
    He isn’t merely the Lion.

    HE IS THE SLAIN LAMB.

    THE SEALS BEGIN THE PROCESS OF RECLAMATION

    Revelation 6 begins:
    Revelation 6:1 — “And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals…”
    Who opens it?

    THE LAMB.

    Seal after seal is opened.
    Judgment begins moving through the earth.
    And Revelation is moving toward a declaration that answers Luke 4.
    Listen:
    Revelation 11:15 — “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.”
    There is the trajectory of the whole story.

    LUKE 4:

    Satan says, “The kingdoms are under my authority.”

    REVELATION 5:

    The Lamb takes the sealed scroll.

    REVELATION 11:

    “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord…”

    REVELATION 20:

    Satan is bound and ultimately judged.

    REVELATION 21:

    A new heaven and new earth appear.

    REVELATION 22:

    The curse is gone.
    Genesis 3 is finally answered.

    LOOK AT THE WHOLE REDEMPTIVE STORY

    The Bible begins:
    PARADISE.
    Then comes:
    THE FALL.
    Then:
    BONDAGE.
    Then:
    THE PROMISE.
    Then:
    THE KINSMAN.
    Then:
    THE BLOOD.
    Then:
    THE SEALED SCROLL.
    Then:
    THE LAMB TAKES IT.
    Then:
    JUDGMENT FALLS.
    Then:
    THE USURPER IS REMOVED.
    Then:
    THE KINGDOM IS RESTORED.
    Then:
    THE CURSE DISAPPEARS.
    And finally:
    Revelation 22:3 — “And there shall be no more curse…”
    That is redemption completed.

    THERE IS ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL CONNECTION

    Remember Jeremiah’s deed?
    Why was it preserved?
    Because possession would eventually be restored.
    Jeremiah bought land while Babylon surrounded Jerusalem.
    Everything Jeremiah saw said:

    “YOU’VE LOST IT.”

    But the deed said:

    “GOD IS NOT FINISHED.”

    And perhaps somebody needs that word personally.
    Your circumstances may look occupied by the enemy.
    Your family may look lost.
    Your children may look lost.
    Your future may look lost.
    Your calling may look buried.
    But never confuse present occupation with permanent ownership.

    GOD IS NOT FINISHED.

    The enemy may occupy territory that belongs under God’s rule.
    But occupation does not make him the rightful owner.

    THE DEVIL IS A USURPER — JESUS IS THE REDEEMER

    This distinction matters.
    Satan did not create the earth.
    He did not create humanity.
    He did not create the kingdom.
    He corrupted what God created.
    SATAN STEALS.
    JESUS REDEEMS.
    SATAN ENSLAVES.
    JESUS LIBERATES.
    SATAN ACCUSES.
    JESUS JUSTIFIES.
    SATAN DESTROYS.
    JESUS RESTORES.
    That is why Jesus said:
    John 10:10 — “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy…”
    But Jesus continues:
    “I am come that they might have life…”
    The entire Bible is the story of God recovering what sin devastated.

    STOP LIVING LIKE THE ENEMY OWNS YOU

    The enemy wants you thinking:
    “You belong to me.”
    Your past says:
    “You belong to me.”
    Addiction says:
    “You belong to me.”
    Condemnation says:
    “You belong to me.”
    Generational patterns say:
    “You belong to me.”
    But redemption says:

    “YOU HAVE BEEN BOUGHT.”

    1 Corinthians 6:20 — “For ye are bought with a price…”
    You are not waiting for Jesus to decide whether He wants you.

    THE PRICE HAS ALREADY BEEN PAID.

    The blood has already been shed.
    The Lamb has already been slain.
    The tomb is already empty.

    PROPHETIC INSIGHT — WE ARE MOVING TOWARD RECLAMATION

    Revelation is not ultimately the story of Satan taking over.

    IT IS THE STORY OF JESUS TAKING BACK.

    We sometimes preach Revelation as though the Antichrist is the central character.
    He isn’t.
    We preach about the beast.
    We preach about the dragon.
    We preach about Babylon.
    We preach about judgment.
    But Revelation begins by telling us whose revelation it actually is:
    Revelation 1:1 — “The Revelation of Jesus Christ…”
    Revelation is unveiling the King.
    And Revelation 5 is the hinge.
    The Lamb steps forward.
    The Lamb takes the scroll.
    The Lamb breaks the seals.
    The Lamb executes judgment.
    The Lamb conquers.
    The Lamb reigns.
    And by Revelation 19, heaven announces:
    Revelation 19:6 — “Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.”

    FROM GENESIS TO REVELATION

    Here is the whole Bible in one redemptive sweep:
    Genesis 1 — Man receives dominion.
    Genesis 3 — Man falls and the serpent gains usurped influence.
    Leviticus 25 — God reveals the law of redemption.
    Ruth 4 — Boaz demonstrates the kinsman-redeemer.
    Jeremiah 32 — We see the sealed and open purchase documents preserved for future possession.
    Luke 4 — Satan claims authority over the kingdoms of the world.
    Calvary — Jesus pays the redemption price.
    Resurrection — Death’s authority is shattered.
    Matthew 28 — Jesus declares all authority in heaven and earth.
    Revelation 5 — The slain Lamb is found worthy and takes the sealed scroll.
    Revelation 11 — The kingdoms of this world become the kingdom of our Lord.
    Revelation 20 — Satan is judged.
    Revelation 21 — Creation is renewed.
    Revelation 22 — The curse is gone.
    Church—

    THAT IS THE STORY OF REDEMPTION.

    THE GOSPEL IS BIGGER THAN “GOING TO HEAVEN”

    Jesus did not merely come to get sinners into heaven.
    He came to redeem fallen humanity and ultimately restore creation under the reign of God.
    Romans 8:22–23 teaches that creation itself groans while awaiting redemption.
    The gospel reaches all the way back to Genesis 3.
    And Revelation reaches all the way forward to the restoration of what sin destroyed.
    The Bible begins with:
    GOD.
    MAN.
    EARTH.
    LIFE.
    FELLOWSHIP.
    A TREE.
    A RIVER.
    NO DEATH.
    Then sin enters.
    But watch Revelation 22.
    We again find:
    GOD.
    REDEEMED HUMANITY.
    A RENEWED CREATION.

    LIFE.

    FELLOWSHIP.
    THE TREE OF LIFE.
    THE RIVER OF LIFE.
    NO MORE DEATH.
    What was broken in Genesis is healed in Revelation.

    BEHOLD THE LAMB

    John was crying because nobody was worthy.
    Then the elder said:

    “WEEP NOT.”

    Why?
    Because somebody stepped forward.
    Not Adam.
    Not Abraham.
    Not Moses.
    Not David.
    Not an angel.

    JESUS.

    The Lion.
    The Lamb.
    The Root of David.
    The One who was slain.
    The One whose blood paid the price.
    The One who conquered death.
    The One who holds the keys.
    The One who takes the scroll.
    The One who opens the seals.
    The One who defeats the dragon.
    The One who destroys Babylon.
    The One who judges evil.
    The One who restores creation.
    The One who reigns forever.

    OUR KINSMAN REDEEMER HAS STEPPED FORWARD.

    So when Revelation 5 asks:

    “WHO IS WORTHY?”

    Heaven already knows the answer.
    Revelation 5:12 — “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”
    And eventually every creature joins the worship.
    Because the story that began with a serpent in a garden does not end with a serpent ruling the world.

    IT ENDS WITH THE LAMB ON THE THRONE.

    CLOSING

    Adam lost dominion.
    Sin brought bondage.
    Satan became the usurper.
    The inheritance required redemption.
    The law demanded a qualified kinsman.
    Humanity could not produce one.
    So God came in flesh.
    The Kinsman paid the price with His own blood.
    The Lamb prevailed.
    The Lamb takes the scroll.
    The Lamb opens the seals.
    The King reclaims His kingdom.
    And ultimately:
    Revelation 22:3 — “And there shall be no more curse…”
    THE DEED IS IN THE HAND OF THE REDEEMER.
    THE PRICE HAS BEEN PAID.
    THE LAMB IS WORTHY.
    THE KINGDOM IS HIS.
    AND JESUS CHRIST SHALL REIGN FOREVER AND EVER.
    Amen.
    “The heart of the gospel is redemption, and the essence of redemption is the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ.”— C. H. Spurgeon
Jubilee Community Church
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