SESSION #8: REVELATION #10 – THE ANGEL AND THE SMALL SCROLL:
“I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.” (Rev. 10:1).
Some interpreters believe this angel could be Jesus Himself:
• clothed with a cloud - see Rev. 1:7 - Jesus is coming with clouds
• a rainbow on his head - see Rev. 4:3 - rainbow around God’s throne
• his face was like the sun - see Rev. 1:16 - from the vision of Jesus
• his feet like pillars of fire - see Rev. 1:15 - a description of Jesus’ feet (see Ex. 13:21)
“He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” (Rev. 10:2-4).
• The message of the seven thunders was intended for John alone – not for the church.
• QUOTE: “The meaning is clearly this: never shall we be able to know and to describe all the factors and agencies that determine the future.” (William Hendriksen).
“The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.” (10:5-7).
• What is the mystery of God? “by revelation He made known to me the mystery...that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel.” (Galatians 3:3-6).
“Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, "Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth." So I went to the angel and said to him, "Give me the little book." And he said to me, "Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth." Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. And he said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” (Rev. 10:8-11).
PARALLEL PASSAGE: “Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it…Moreover He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll. And He said to me, "Son of man, feed your belly…with this scroll that I give you." So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.” (Ezekiel 2:9-10; 3:1-3).
• What is the little book? The Word of God.
• Note: God told both Ezekiel and John to ‘eat’ a book before speaking God’s Word to people. We too must put God’s Word into our hearts before sharing it with others.
• Why was it sweet? – the Good News of the Gospel for all who will believe
• Why was it bitter? – the punishment of the wicked who will not repent of their sins.
REVELATION #11 – THE TWO WITNESSES:
“Then I was given a reed like a measuring rod. And the angel stood, saying, "Rise and measure the temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there. But leave out the court which is outside the temple, and do not measure it, for it has been given to the Gentiles. And they will tread the holy city underfoot for forty-two months.” (Rev. 11:1-2).
• Is this a literal or symbolic temple? It most likely symbolically represents the church. We are the temple of God (1 Cor. 3:16).
“And I will give power to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy one thousand two hundred and sixty days, clothed in sackcloth. These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands standing before the God of the earth.” (Rev. 11:3-4).
WHERE DOES THIS IMAGERY COME FROM? The Old Testament Prophet Zechariah.
“Now the angel who talked with me came back and wakened me, as a man who is wakened out of his sleep. And he said to me, "What do you see?" So I said, "I am looking, and there is a lampstand of solid gold with a bowl on top of it, and on the stand seven lamps with seven pipes to the seven lamps. Two olive trees are by it, one at the right of the bowl and the other at its left.” (Zech. 4:1-3).
• In Revelation 1, lampstands represent the churches.
• Sackcloth is a symbol representing humility or repentance.
“And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner. These have power to shut heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues…” (Rev. 11:5-6).
WHO DO THESE WITNESSES REMIND US OF?
• They have power to shut up the skies: Elijah did the same thing in 1 Kings 17.
• They turn waters to blood, and send plagues on the earth: Moses did this in Exodus 7-13.
WHO ARE THE TWO WITNESSES? Here are some different interpretations…
1. Literal: Two Jewish prophets who come in the power of Elijah and Moses
2. Symbolic #1: The Bible (Old and New Testaments; law & prophets)
3. Symbolic #2: Israel and the Church (olive tree & lampstands)
4. Symbolic #3: The Witnessing Church (Jesus sent His disciples out ‘two by two’)
QUOTE: “The two witnesses are symbols of the witnessing church militant, proclaiming the gospel accompanied by signs and wonders. They are purposefully not identified as individuals.” (Jack Hayford, Spirit Filled Life Bible).
• Because of the symbolic nature of the Book of Revelation, I don’t see any good reason to adopt a literal interpretation.
• Fire coming from the mouth is a symbol used for powerful preaching. "I will make my words in your mouth a fire and these people the wood it consumes." (5:14).
• “But you shall receive power after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses.” (Acts 1:8).
THE TWO WITNESSES:
“7 When they finish their testimony, the beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. 8 And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. 9 Then those from the peoples, tribes, tongues, and nations will see their dead bodies three-and-a-half days, and not allow their dead bodies to be put into graves. 10 And those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them, make merry, and send gifts to one another, because these two prophets tormented those who dwell on the earth. 11 Now after the three-and-a-half days the breath of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 And they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they ascended to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies saw them. 13 In the same hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. In the earthquake seven thousand people were killed, and the rest were afraid and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe is past. Behold, the third woe is coming quickly.” (Rev. 11:7-14).
QUOTE: (William Hendriksen, More Than Conquerors).
“The Gospel age is, however, going to come to an end (Matt. 24:14). The Church, as a mighty missionary organization, shall finish its testimony. The beast that comes up out of the abyss, that is, the antichristian world, urged on by hell, shall battle against the Church and shall destroy it. This is the Battle of Armageddon. The beast will not kill every believer. There are going to be believers on earth when Christ comes again, although they will be few in number (Luke 18:8)… Thus, just before the second coming, the corpse of the Church, whose public and official testimony has been silenced and smothered by the world, lies on the great city’s High Street… The corpse suddenly begins to stir; the breath of life from God has entered into it; the witnesses stand upon their feet. In connection with Christ’s second coming the Church is restored to life, to honour, to power, to influence. For the world the hour of opportunity is gone, and gone for ever. On the day of judgment, when the world shall see the church restored to honour and glory, the world will become frozen with fear. The Church – still under the symbolism of the two witnesses – now hears a voice, “Come up here.” Thereupon the Church ascends to Heaven in a cloud of glory. “And their enemies beheld them.” This is no secret rapture!”
THE SEVENTH TRUMPET:
“15 Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, "The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!" 16 And the twenty-four elders who sat before God on their thrones fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned. 18 The nations were angry, and Your wrath has come, And the time of the dead, that they should be judged, And that You should reward Your servants the prophets and the saints, And those who fear Your name, small and great, And should destroy those who destroy the earth." 19 Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail.” (Revelation 11:15-19).
• Here we see a description of that ‘Great Day’ again: God’s wrath against His enemies.
• Punishment is decreed for the unrepentant, but rewards are promised to God’s people!
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://thelandofpromise.blogspot.com/
