Note: I used many sources to study this book, one of my favorites is Revelation: God’s Word for the Biblically-Inept by Daymond Duck and some out of different study bibles.
Title: The interlude
Theme: To show the bitter-sweetness of God's word
Text:
Revelation chapter 10 is the interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpet just as we saw an interlude between the sixth and seventh seal.
There were some things that had to be done in preparation for the next trumpet to be blown.
1 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:
There is easily two interpretations on who this angel was. Either it was the Christ or not. There are many great men who hold to both. Although it would seem that Christ would identify himself if it was him.
This phrase is also used in Revelation. Do you know where? Rev 5:2
another- so probably not Christ
Clouds have been associated with at least two things: 1) God’s presence at Mt. Sinai and leading the Israelites with pillar(cloud) of fire 2) the ascension (Acts 1:8-11) and return (Mt. 24:30) of Jesus.
Rainbow, symbol of? God's covenant but of what? His commitment to man to not flood the world. His commitment to man to provide a redeemer as he did for Moses. His commitment to man for judgment. God’s grace
face as the sun-maybe he had been in the presence of God just as Moses had when his face shown. You can tell when someone has been in the presence of God by their face.
feet as pillars of fire-judgment
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,
What is the book?
1. same book as the seven-sealed book of 5:1
2. it is the aggregate of Old Testament prophecy
3. it is the part of the Revelation that is subsequent to the sounding of the seventh trumpet
What was the book mentioned in 5:1 it is the book that is the title deed to the earth and contains the judgment
here we see the ownership of God-the land and the sea
Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas. (Psalms 8:6-8 AV)
Man is suppose to be the stewards to God's land. Not everyone sees this. Some people think that the land they own is theirs but it is not it is Gods and we are his stewards. The same as with the money we make. Some people think that the money they make is theirs and they decide what is priority but it is not true it is Gods and he decides that he and his work is priority.
3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
7 voices
Jesus-lion of Judah
seven thunders-God's activity in judgment
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.
John was told before to write what he saw but now he is told not to write. This is one reason it could be hard to interpret times in scriptures because we don't know when this happened.
The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. (Deuteronomy 29:29 AV)
So what are these things that John did not get to write down?
We don’t know but they must be so devastating that they could not be recorded
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 (delay) no longer:
or “There will be no more delay”
We read over in Rev 6:10-11 that God told the tribulation saints to be patience for God’s vengeance but now we read there will be no more delay.
delay of the judgment 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.
The mystery. It has been a mystery. It seems that all of life is a mystery. We don’t understand it. We don’t understand why God does what he does. We don’t understand why things happen. But we will have all eternity to get caught up on.
Mystery.
Mystery of the Rapture 1 Cor 15:51
1) Mystery of Israel’s blindness Romans 11:25
2) Mystery of God’s wisdom 1 Cor 2:7
3) Mystery of Christ and the Church Eph 5;31-32
4) Mystery of Christ in us Col 1:26-27
5) Mystery of the kingdom of heaven Matthew 13
6) Mystery of godliness 1 Tim 3:16
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.
John is now to become a doer of the Word and no longer a listener. A calling that the Lord has on all of our lives.
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.
But thou, son of man, hear what I say unto thee; Be not thou rebellious like that rebellious house: open thy mouth, and eat that I give thee. And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; And he spread it before me; and it was written within and without: and there was written therein lamentations, and mourning, and woe. Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. (Ezekiel 2:8-4:3 AV)
Other references to eating the word
Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. (Jeremiah 15:16 AV)
Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24 AV)
How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Psalms 119:103 AV)
How to eat the word? meditation and reflection
It is important that we not only read it but we digest it and put it in our heart. Because when we need to make a moral decision it is what is in here that will help us make it.
sweet and bitter-gladdens and saddens, means happiness to the Christian and judgment to the non-Christian.
Also a prophet understood the bitter sweetness of the word. It was sweet to know and hear from God as a servant but to hear the judgments is bitter.
Is it sweet to read of heaven? But look at the suffering for those who don’t go? What about us and our family?
Preaching is the same way it is sweet but it is bitter.
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.
John obeyed the command and it was just as it was told sweet and bitter. Now this is the true test of whether or not we study the scripture. IF there is just rosy picture for us to see and no judgement then we need to reevaluate.
Both Jeremiah and Ezekiel were told by God to preach. Whether the people liked it or not they were to preach. We don’t gauge our message by popularity but by God. We don’t gauge it by how we feel but what God wants. It don’t always feel good but inside here you can have peace.
And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings. (Revelation 10:1-11 AV)
This is what the rest of the book of Revelation is all about. A prophecy about future times. A prophecy about people. People who will be involved in the end of times. Some may read and realize it . Their purpose. Is your name in this book? If it is, is it before or after the rapture? Is it for good or for judgement?
There is more to come in this book.
