JCSLK 83 Jesus, The Great Angel and The Little Book - Revelation 10

 

JCSLK 83 Jesus, The Great Angel and The Little Book - Revelation 10

Introduction: 

Review / Chronology

I. The vision of Christ and letters to the seven churches. 1:9–3:22.

II. The Lamb opens the seven-sealed book is opened. 4:1–6:17.

III. The sealing of the 144,000 and the angels sounding the seven trumpets. 7:1–9:21.

What Is Happening In Heaven

It is natural for us at from time to time to wonder, is God aware of what is happening in my life? Is He aware of what is happening in this world? If God exists, if He loves us then why is there only silence coming from the Halls of Heaven?

Example: the book of Job takes place in two places. In chapter 1 the sons of God come before God and God questions them. Satan is also among those who come before God is Lucifer, Satan Job 1:6-12. 6 Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. 7 And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

In all that follows, with all that Job endures, all his suffering, all his losses and even when God speaks to him and corrects him, not once does God tell Job what was happening in heaven. God doesn’t say that Job as acting as God’s champion on the earth against the power of Satan, God doesn’t tell Job that even though he suffered greatly God limited what Satan could do. God doesn’t tell Job that his struggle and story would be read and shared down the ages to give hope, comfort and purpose to untold numbers of God’s children.

In the book of Revelation though, God takes a different approach and he opens up a window into heaven, for us and especially for those that will be enduring the tribulation upon the earth during this terrible period. Just as we can look back and see that what Job was going through was under God’s plan and purpose, those during the time of Jacobs trouble, the great tribulation will know that those last 7 years were part of God’s plan for his nation Israel and that events were taking place in heaven that meant the silence of heaven would cease for all time and eternity.

Revelation chapter 10 and 11 are an interlude, a parenthesis if you would, that takes place between the 6th trumpet and the 7th trumpet which will unleash the 7 bowl or vial judgments. This interlude fits the pattern we see throughout these septenary judgments. (Did you get that? Septenary. I didn’t want you to miss that, it means corresponding to seven, groups of seven. Yeah, I had to look it up this week so you know I’m going to share it with you. Septenary, groups of seven. Get it? Got it? Good.)

These judgments, the seals, the trumpets, the seven bowls are arranged the same way. Groups of seven but inside the seven, they are grouped by 4 followed by 3. There were four similar seals, the four horsemen of the apocalypse and then the next three that were not similar. The first four trumpets somewhat similar, and then there were three dissimilar; and there will be that same kind of division in the bowls, as we shall see later. The last three are always separated from the first four. Also, in each series of judgments, between the sixth and the seventh, there is an interlude, a break. Between the sixth and seventh seals, there was the interlude of chapter 7, the sealing of the 144,000. Between the sixth and seventh bowls, there will be the interlude of Revelation 16:13-16, the gathering of the armies before the great battle of Armageddon. And here, after the sixth trumpet sounds and before the seventh, there is an interlude from chapter 10 to chapter 11:14, the might angel, the little book and the 2 witnesses.

The purpose of these breaks in judgments, these glimpse behind the action, is to encourage and give hope to God’s people in the midst of the terror of God’s outpouring  wrath and judgment. “These interludes are to remind God’s people that God is still sovereign, His people are still remembered, and will be ultimately victorious.” – John McArthur

For us these chapters tell us that as God is watching over His own during the tribulation, then we know He is also watching over us during the church age. This chapter sends the comforting, encouraging message, “Heaven’s power and promise is standing by for God’s people!”

Let’s look at the first part of John’s interlude starting in …

 The Mighty Angel - Revelation 10:1–11

And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: 2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, 3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. 5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

Understanding the Mighty Angel

This is one of the most difficult figures in all the book of Revelation to identify.

Some say it is Jesus, because so many of the symbols match those of Jesus in the first chapters of Revelation. This angel is clothed with a cloud and a rainbow as was Christ in chapter 1. His legs are like pillars of fire and he roars like a lion. This mighty angel straddles the earth and the sea, a symbol of ownership, all these would fit Jesus as the coming King of the earth.

Others point out that this mighty angel is introduced as “another” angel the word another means another of the same kind, the same kind that we have already seen in Revelation. That would mean that this isn’t Jesus for He is not another of the same kind of angel, He was not created, but the Creator. Usually when John shows us Jesus, he is giving a clear title, like lamb of God or Lion of Judah, for Revelation is Jesus’ unveiling, His apocalypse, but here there is no clear title given here. This angel also swears by the one who sits on the throne, which doesn’t seem to be something Jesus would do. Also, Jesus is never called the angel of the Lord after the Old Testament and His birth and incarnation.

In the past I’ve taught that this is Jesus, but with time, I now believe this is another of the mighty angels of heaven. Yes, my view has changed but what hasn’t changed is the purpose and message of this angel. This herald of God brings God’s message of power and promise

The Purpose of the Mighty Angel

This is a herald angel marking a place in the judgment of the Tribulation. The message he brings is in verse 6, “That there would time no longer.” The symbol of the cloud represents the power of heaven, the rainbow the promise of God, the sun shows righteousness and the feet show purifying judgment. His voice sounds like a lion roaring before leaping upon its prey. This angel represents the power that is standing by and waiting to be unleashed upon those who are the enemies of God and the tormentors of his people.

He stands here at this point in the visions of Heaven to herald the last of the 3 woes, which is the 7th trumpet. That trumpet is the beginning of the end of God’s judgments.

At this point in the timeline of the 7-year tribulation we are just before or just at the midpoint, 3 ½ years. The tribulation starts with the covenant signed by the anti-Christ and the nation Israel. The seven seals and the first 6 trumpets all take place in the first half of the tribulation. The mighty angel and the little scroll in chapter 10 take place just before the mid-point which is that 7th trumpet, the last of the 3 woes announced by an eagle in Revelation 8:3 Then I looked, and I heard an eagle crying out with a loud voice as it flew high in the sky, saying, “Woe, woe, woe to those who dwell on the earth, because of the remaining blasts of the trumpets the three angels are about to sound!”

The Seven Thunders – Revelation 10:4 4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.

Unlike the prophet Daniel who was commanded to seal up the prophecies until the time of the end, John has been told to record everything he sees except this, the voice of the seven thunders. It is to be sealed until the time of the tribulation.

Since it is sealed, we can’t know or guess what is said, but we can make some interpretations about the seven thunders based upon its timing and placement here.

David describes God’s voice 7 times in Psalms 29:3-9 The voice of the LORD is upon the waters: the God of glory thundereth: the LORD is upon many waters. 4 The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty.  5 The voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon.  6 He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn. 7 The voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire. 8 The voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh. 9 The voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovereth the forests: and in his temple doth every one speak of his glory.

Job 26:14 Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?’

Job 37:5 God thundereth marvellously with his voice: great things doeth he, which we cannot comprehend.

It could well be that the voice of the seven thunders is the full power of God’s voice affirming the message of the mighty Angel.

Then the angel make an oath in …

The Oath of the God – Revelation 10:5-7 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.

What the mighty angel is swearing to is the message that “there should be time no longer.” We would say it as “no more delay.” The angel swears it and the voice of the thunders amplifies it. The revelation which God began in the OT, God’s plan for the ages, has begun it countdown to completion. There is but a few days left for God’s people on earth, especially those of Israel who now believe in their Messiah to hold on to endure until the end, as Jesus encouraged them in Matthew 24. Matthew 24:13-14 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.

Believing In Heaven’s Pent-Up Power

As God’s people during the Tribulation will need the hope and assurance that God has not forgotten them, that He is working from heaven to cover and protect them, and that the promises of His Word are true and everlasting, so we also need to remember that today God is working from heaven on our behalf. That in the midst of our own much smaller but still hard tribulations God’s love, protection and promises are in effect in our lives.

We cannot see past the veil of this physical earth as John is doing in Revelation, but we can have faith that God is on our side, taking our part and preparing the power of heaven on our behalf according to His plan and purpose.

Here is a NT promise, Romans 8:28,37-39 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. …37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Here is an OT promise, Psalm 46:1-7 1  God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2  Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3  Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. 4  There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. 5  God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early. 6  The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: he uttered his voice, the earth melted. 7  The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

The power and promise of heaven is the peace of God’s people. It is our peace, our hope our comfort, our consolation in our times of tribulation. We may not be able to see it as John did, but we can and must believe it as John did and as Elisha once proved in…

Elisha and the Army of heaven

2 Kings 6:13-18 And he said, Go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, saying, Behold, he is in Dothan. 14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about. 15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do? 16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them. 17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

That is what we must also pray, “Lord open the eyes of my faith, that I may know the power of Heaven is standing by me.”

John sees giant, mighty angel coming down from heaven and standing upon the land and sea, a posture that shows possession of the earth and the sea on behalf of the one who sent the angel.

The angel speaks like a lion roaring, John hears the 7 thunders speak. and then John hears the voice of the One on the throne. And suddenly in vs. 8 John is no longer a spectator but becomes a participate in in the vision himself.

 The Little Book - Revelation 10: 8-10

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go and take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth. 9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. 10 And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter.

The Bittersweet Message

We are not told anything about this book other than its size in comparison to the angel and its effects on John when he eats it.

Could this be the book that we first saw sealed with seven seals but now opened in the hand of this angel. If it were then the interpretation that this was Christ would be a little stronger. Or is this another book, another scroll that represents not the title deed of heaven and earth and not the story of the unveiling of Jesus return, but another book that pertains to John and the time in which he lives, the time in which we all live, the church age, the age of grace.

We are only told that John takes the book, as he is commanded by the voice speaking from heaven, and he is told to eat the scroll. When he does this, he says it was sweet in his mouth but bitter in his stomach.

I can’t think of any of the scholars, bible students, commentators that I have read over the years that disagreed on this aspect of Revelation 10. The little book represents the charge of God to his people to preach the Gospel and warn the lost world to repent for God is holy and righteous and will judge this world and its sin.

The Bittersweet Commission

The book is sweet because it confirms who we are, the servants of God. It is sweet because it confirms our commission, it is sweet because it presents the love and forgiveness of God to all who would believe. Is there anything better, anything sweeter than telling people God loves them and sent his only begotten son to die for them? Nothing is sweeter than the Gospel spoken from the mouth of God’s redeemed people.

Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation;
that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

That is us, the ones who bring good  tidings and publish peace and salvation. Oh, there is nothing sweeter.

But then there is the other side of the message of the Gospel and it is bitter, filled with sorrow and judgment.

Romans 2:3-6 3 And thinkest thou this, O man, …, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:

Revelation 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

This is what John experienced and it is what any child of God knows, “There is nothing so sweet as the Gospel, but there is nothing so bitter as an unrepentant soul destined for Hell.”  And we can never forget the two sides of this bittersweet book lest we forget our purpose as God’s people and the Lord’s church.

And that brings us to the last part of this chapter, “The Great Command”

The Great Command - Revelation 10:11

And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

John Must Prophesy

John the last living apostle, the final member of the original church was told by the angel, your task is not finished, “You must prophesy again.” The word prophesy is another Greek word that has passed into our language almost unchanged, it is the word propheteuo, (prof-ate-yoo'-o) which means to foretell events, to speak under divine inspiration, and to exercise the prophetic office.

It is believed by most that John didn’t die on the island of Patmos as the Emperor Domination intended. It is believed that when the Emperor died, John was released from his exile and returned to the churches of Asia. Perhaps he carried his own last book to the churches or perhaps he was able to go and tell them first hand what he saw after they had received his letter through another means, but as the Lord said, John was not finished.

Also, in another way John is still not finished. The Book of Revelation, the Apocalypse, the Unveiling of Jesus is still prophesying today, still prophesying even this morning. Telling us that Jesus is coming back and that Heaven is standing by ready to bring righteousness and judgment to a world that has rejected their own creator, savior, Lord and King. John’s words still speak with a divine authority after 2000 years. King Jesus is coming to rule and reign.

We Must Prophesy

John not only represented himself, but I believe John, when he takes and eats the little book, also represent us, the believers and the church of Jesus in this age. We must accept the bittersweet commission, we must continue to work, continue to give, continue to preach for we also are under a divine authority and must prophesy again and again before many peoples, nations, tongues and kings. 

The marching orders for us is the Great Commission. Matthew 28:18-20 All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Like John, we must hear and accept the words “You must prophesy” This is our sacred service, it is our tireless task, it is our divine destiny. It is our God given, angel assisted, Bible boosted, Christ commanded commission. We must prophesy. Tell the world who Jesus is and that He is coming again.

And yes this calling will often bring with it suffering, deprivation, sorrow and pain, but always remember, Heaven’s power and promise is standing by. We are not alone we are not forgotten. Jesus has promised, “Lo, I am with you always.”

Conclusion

Daniel Prays and Heaven Answers

Daniel 10:7-147 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves. 8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands. 11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling. 12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia. 14 Now I am come to make thee understand …

We will not see visions like John or Daniel. We will not behold the throne room of heaven or physically feel the empowering touch of an angel, but this we do share with John and Daniel. We all loved by the One who sits on the throne and when we pray, when we serve, when we faithfully continue our calling, Heaven’s power is there for us. The angels may not be seen, but they are still sent from the same God and for the same reasons, to help us stand.