Revelation Part 15
Revelation 10:1-11
Introduction
Last time we concluded with 5 major sins that God wanted us to be aware of in the end times, and I believe it is because God is trying to give us a sneak preview of the world to come.
Because man will not repent today, I believe that God is trying to show us that the battle is never over, that even in the future sins will plague mankind in a way that is not only uncontrollable – but completely unbelievable as well.
This morning, we begin in Revelation Chapter 10. This period time is happening between the sixth and seventh trumpet and is happening just before the midpoint in what we have come to know as the Tribulation.
Chapter 10 is also the setting of the stage for the arrival of the two witnesses who will be responsible for spreading the Gospel to all the nations.
Pray
Point 1 – The Mighty Angel (v1-2)
Notice a change of the author’s standpoint, he saw the mighty angel come down from heaven so John must have been transported to the Earth to view these next events.
This angel must be very close to Jesus, perhaps his own angel – because the similarities are so close in description to how Jesus appears to John in Chapter 1 (feet like bronze, face shown like the sun, coming in the clouds … what is most interesting is Rev 1:1 says that Jesus has sent his angel to show these things to John, so perhaps this is Jesus angel being described and taking his place on the stage of history.
A scroll could be anything rolled up, and note that this scroll is small. It could be because this angel appears so large, that the scroll is very tiny compared to his hand. Another example of his size is how he appears: standing on the sea and the land! This angel has absolute authority from God to assume this position, and to have command over the entire area.
Perhaps this scroll is the Word of God which is to be spread to all nations? We will see how this scroll ties into everything in just a short while.
Note: This is not the same scroll that Jesus took in Rev Chapter 5.
Point 2 – A Voice of Authority (v3-4)
This voice that was booming from the sky has to be the all-mighty authority Jesus. Note that the angel speaks in what sounds like a roaring lion, and THEN there is an answer from Heaven.
God is waiting to hear from us today, and when we speak to Him he does answer – and here I believe that John is hearing the authority in the voice of God. Think for a moment of the zoo – you can hear a lion roaring from one end to the other … and they do this for authority, so that other animals will know they are in control. This angel is showing his control given to him by God, and louder than a lion’s roar is the sound of thunder.
The voice of the thunder is without a doubt, the ancient of days answering. I believe with everything in me that this angel belongs personally to Jesus, and they are in conversation - but due to the appearance of this angel, I think they are in close fellowship. Remember when Moses spent time with God on Mt Sinai – he had to wear a veil because his face shown so brightly - just as this angel appears to John.
Being obedient, John was prepared to write what the voice said and was then told to not write a thing. This may have been God correcting John because He heard too much. In all of Revelation John is a recorder (or a reporter) of events, and here he is told not to write down what he has just heard.
Daniel is also told something very similar in Daniel 12:9 when he is given his visions, the Lord’s angel says to him “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”
In this instance, there is a simple truth. In the book of Revelation we are seeing the future of the Earth according to God and are permitted to have it revealed to us – but we do not need to hear it all.
Perhaps our minds cannot comprehend it all, and perhaps revealed too much or could have been misinterpreted? Either way, God instructs John to not repeat what he has heard.
Point 3 – A Pledge and Prophecies Fulfilled
(v5-6)
This angel is taking an oath – he is pledging to God. Simply stated, this angel is showing his allegiance to the Father, and this is his act of worship – to testify who God is.
He swore by the eternal creator that there will be no more delay when the seventh trumpet is about to sound, in fulfilling God’s plan for His creation.
Examples of testimony:
The Elders at the Throne: Rev 4:11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."
Dan 12:7 “The man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the river, lifted his right hand and his left hand toward heaven, and I heard him swear by him who lives forever, saying, "It will be for a time, times and half a time. When the power of the holy people has been finally broken, all these things will be completed.”
(v7)
The angel in Daniel 10-12 was swearing that after 3.5 year period, “Time, times and half a time” when the power of the Jewish people has been completely shattered all things will be finished. In other words there will be no more delay. This is exactly what the “Mighty angel” here is also referring to at the “Midpoint” of the tribulation period.
I want you to see here that once God says it, it is final. This angel is declaring in verse 7 and 8 that this will be the end – that God’s declaration of what is to happen is about to happen – and that again those on the Earth have an opportunity to repent and get right – BEFORE – this time unfolds.
The Word tells us in Daniel 12:10 that the wise shall understand God’s plan: “Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.”
IF you want to be wise, you have to read and spend time in the Word and with the Lord. Note the warning we are given from Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
This time, the mystery of God will be finished. I read this to say that we (those who are in Heaven) will have the answers that we desire. That to be in God’s presence, we shall know what this verse means, we shall know what God has promised us because here it is being fulfilled. A day to God is a thousand years to us – and because of that we have no understanding of God’s calendar.
But here, we can understand that God’s fulfillment is upon us, and we should be excited!
(v8-10)
John is told to take the little book, and to eat it. Ezekiel is also told to consume a scroll and had the same reaction as John.
Ezekiel 3:1-4 says “And he said to me, "Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel." So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat. Then he said to me, "Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it." So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth. He then said to me: "Son of man, go now to the house of Israel and speak my words to them.”
This scroll, was what John needed for the second portion of his ministry here. If you consume God’s Word, it is there forever – and here John is literally consuming the Word of God to be able to deliver it to the nations.
Notice the references to God’s Word: Sweet as honey (Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”)
God’s Word is sweet going in – but being able to deliver it is very bitter. It does not always feel good to bring the message of God, especially in John’s case here where he is bringing a message of death and destruction on this world!
"Thy Word have I hid in my heart ..."
Conclusion
IMPORTANT – Look at Verse 11 again …
Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."
John is getting specific orders that he must continue spreading the Gospel! Even though he is being shown a glimpse of the end of time as we know it – he is still being told by God that spreading the Word is vital!
John is preparing to spread the Gospel and is being given strength for what is to come – the worst of time. The last three years of the Tribulation are upon us, and interestingly enough John is setting the stage for the two witnesses who will appear in Chapter 11 and proclaim the Word of God without shame, fear, or intimidation!
The scroll that John ate was the literal, physical strength and nourishment that he needed to continue for the next 3.5 years – and this gives credit to the idea that God’s Word ought to be OUR daily bread as well!
It should be our nourishment every day – and we should devour it … literally!
Invite Singers
Pray
* Research used from Apocalipsis.org and TruthNet.org
