In the Book of Ruth we are introduced to the “kinsman redeemer,” a person qualified under the Law to redeem land owned by a family member. In this case Boaz was the redeemer of the land owned by Naomi, the mother of Ruth’s deceased husband. Boaz was a kinsman of Naomi and redeemed the land. In the process, he got a Gentile bride - Ruth.

The Prophet Jeremiah had the right of redemption for a piece of property in Anathoth, in the territory of the tribe of Benjamin. (1) In the procedure of redeeming the land of his uncle, certain documents were completed. One document was sealed; the other unsealed. The prophet states that this was the customary practice.

In the Revelation chapter five the Apostle John describes the search for one worthy (and qualified) to open the sealed scroll. In this case, the scroll is the redemption document for the earth, and only Jesus is qualified to open the seals of the document. Interestingly, in the process of redeeming the earth, Jesus will also obtain a Gentile bride - the Church.

As I was reading the account of the land redemption in Jeremiah, I wondered why there were not two redemption documents in the account of Jesus redeeming the earth as found in the Revelation. Then I realized that there is a second, unsealed redemption document. It is the Bible! The Word of God contains the redemption story and the plan of redemption. It is unsealed and open to all who will accept it.

Solomon tells us that “there is nothing new under the sun,” (2) and “that which is has already been, and what is to be has already been.” (3) Likewise, the prophecy of Jesus redeeming the earth was foreshadowed by Boaz and Jeremiah. The patterns found in the Old Testament continue in the New Testament and also into the future. Praise the Lord for His consistency!

Endnotes:
1 - Jeremiah 32:6-14
2 - Ecclesiastes 1:9
3 - Ecclesiastes 3:15