Revelation 10

Just like the 6th and 7th seals are interrupted here the 6th and 7th trumpets are interrupted. This is to prepare the reader for the next events Remember the book is not written to the world, but to believers in: 1) the early church 2) through out the church age (us) 3) saints in the tribulation. Meaning, that there will be believers living during the great human upheavals of the seals, the natural disasters of the first four trumpets and during the demonic release and angelic invasion on the earth of trumpets 5 and 6. These words of chapter 10 would be for those saints who are living during these demonic infested times. The judgment is overwhelming, but God still has believers on the earth. Their reaction may be similar to Job Habakkuk 1:13 These people will not understand naturally what is going on. Why is God silent? Why do the righteous suffer? 10:1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun and his legs were like fiery pillars. This angel is not Jesus. Angels in the NT and in Revelation are always angels. The word “another” is the Greek word “allos” which means “another of the same kind”. A different word could have been used which would be “heteros” which means “another of a different kind.” When Jesus appears in Revelation he is given a title. Here is it just “another angel of the same kind”: The faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth (1:5) The son of man (1:13) The first and the last (1:17) the living One (1:18) The Son of God (2:18) He who is holy, who is true (3:7) The Amen, the faithful and true witness, the Beginning of the creation of God (3:14) The Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root ofDaviud (5:5) The Lamb (6:1, 16; 7:17; 8:1) Faithful and True (19:11) The Word of God (19:13) King of Kings, and Lord of Lords (19:16 This angel could be Michael, the great prince (Dan.12:1), but there is not need to say it is. 10:1 He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun and his legs were like fiery pillars. Compared to the demons and fallen angels of chapter 9 this angel has the coloring and symbols of the very throne room of God “Cloud” the fact that clouds draped him like clothes indicate power, majesty glory. Clouds are associated with the return of the Lord for judgment. “Rainbow” was seen around the throne of God. Rainbows are associated with God’s covenant mercy like Noah received. So this angel comes with judgment but also mercy for the faithful. Though the world is crumbling and the foundations are being shaken God will again distinguish between the righteous and the unrighteous “You will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.” (Malachi 3:18) “Sun” his face lit up the earth “pillars of fire” 10:2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. This scroll is not the scroll that the lamb opened. If anything we can get insight from Ezekiel’s scroll in Ezekiel 2:9-3:3 and Jeremiah 15:16 10:2 He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, Land and sea indicate the message is for the whole world. 10:3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. This loud shout triggers the seven thunders 10:3 When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. Thunder we have seen on Mt. Sinai indicates God’s presence. Through out the OT and in Rev. 4-6 thunder is associated with the judgment of God on the earth. In the gospel of John 12:29 God voice sound like thunder to those who did not understand his words. These seven thunders deal with God’s presence, God’s judgment and possibly were God’s voice 10:4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” Why seal them up? Could be: 1) Intended only for John’s illumination 2) Were not important for the overall vision 3) Indicate that there will be some mystery to the final days to create an unannounced type of shock and awe in the world. 4) They could not be properly expressed in human terms such as Paul’s vision in 2 Co. 5) The thunder judgments are too terrifying to be revealed What these thunders said is not known nor can it be known. Anyone who explains this by identifying what was said is absolutely wrong. Certain information has not been revealed (Daniel 12:9; the mark of 666; the mysteries of the church age) Notice Daniel 8:26, “The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true; but keep the vision secret, for it pertains to many days in the future.” Job 37:5, “God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.” 10:5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. The raising of the right hand is a reference to the Jewish oath swearing (Dt.32:40; Dan. 12:7) This vow indicates that what is said is absolutely the truth. 10:6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay!” “No more delay” indicates things have been progressing through the seals and the trumpets and that the 7th trumpet is for the end of time when there is no more delay. The sounding of the 7th trumpet in Rev.11:15 proceeds the announcement that “the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ.” 10:7 “But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.” The seventh trumpet will announce the final out pouring of the seven bowls The bowls coming from the seventh trumpet are referred to in the phrase “in the days”. Notice it will be a period of days and not just one event. 10:8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” 10:9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” Eating of the scroll symbolizes the acceptance of the message and the commission of the proclamation of the scroll The word is sweet, but the message is bitter. Some say the message was bitter because it announces the most sever persecution of true believers ever. Jeremiah received something similar in Jer. 15:16: “When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight for I bear your name, O lord God Almighty. I never sat in the company of revelers, never made merry with them; I sat alone because your hand was on me and you had filled me with indignation. Why is my pain unending and my would grievous and incurable? (read on) The Lord replies: 1) 15:19- repent of respecting men as in Jer. 15:10 2) 15:19-repent of false doctrine and worthless words as in Jer.14:7 3) 15:19-repent of joining with people as in Jer.14:13 Jeremiah had received a command to not be terrified before them or he would be. (1:17) Ezekiel 2:3-3:9 Ezekiel received a scroll that sweet as honey in his mouth, but was going to be very offensive to Israel 10:10 I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth., but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 10:11 Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” “You must prophesy again,” indicates that this chapter has been an interlude. It was an intermission between the first half of John’s message of judgment and the second half. The first half was unbearable and unbelievable, now John begin the second half and is recommissioned to prophesy again. The response of the people does not determine the message. A ministers message is determined by God and established before you meet the people. To cater to people is to fail in the proclamation of the message. John had already been given a message. It was sweet to be called. It was sweet to be received, but the ministry itself would be distasteful, bitter and turn his flesh sour.