The Little Scroll
Revelation, Part 12, Revelation 10:1-11
Introduction
- In Ch. 9 John sees 5 sins that will plague mankind during the tribulation
-- Idolatry (Greek word is eidololatria)
-- Murder (Greek word is phonon)
-- Sorceries (Greek word is farmakeiva)
-- Sexual immorality (Greek word is porneiva)
-- Thefts (Greek word is klope)
- If we need to repent of these then we need to do so immediately
-- Our dependency must be on God (we AREN’T able to do this ourselves)
--- PROOF: We always try but go right back to our “favorite sin”
- But, what about others that we come in contact with?
-- How do we share this truth but love on them in the same manner?
- APP: We need to be bold … yet gracious (repeat)
-- Bold: confident and courageous
-- Gracious: courteous, kind, and pleasant (showing grace)
- The truth is not convenient, nor does it always make us feel good
-- However, God’s word is not to make us feel good, but to change us
-- This is our challenge … and why it’s important we know that we know!
- This morning, we begin Chapter 10
-- This is just before the midpoint of the Tribulation
- Chapter 10 is also the setting of the stage for the arrival of 2 two witnesses
-- They will be responsible for spreading the Gospel to all the nations
Read Revelation 10:1-11
Ω Point 1 – The Mighty Angel (v1-2)
- Notice a change of the author’s standpoint
-- John saw “the mighty angel” come down from heaven
-- John has been transported to the Earth to view these next events
- This angel must be very close to Jesus, perhaps an angel of his own use
-- The similarities are close in description to how Jesus appears to John
-- It demonstrates a brilliance of the beings in Heaven at God’s disposal
-- What is most interesting is Rev 1:1 says that Jesus has sent his angel to show these things to John (“The revelation from Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”).
- Due to the appearance of this angel, they are obviously close in fellowship
-- Remember when Moses spent time with God on Mt Sinai – he had to wear a veil because his face shown so brightly – this angel shines also!
-- APP: It demonstrates what those who are in God’s presence look like
- A scroll could be anything rolled up, and note that carries information
-- It could be because this angel appears so large, that the scroll is very tiny
-- Another example of his size is: he’s standing on the sea and the land!
-- Again, this angel has absolute authority from God to assume this position
- IMP: This is not the same scroll that Jesus took in Rev Chapter 5
-- That is deed to the Earth which demonstrates ownership; which God has
Ω Point 2 – The Voice of Authority (v3-4)
- This voice that was booming from the sky is the Ancient of Days
-- The authority of what to write comes from Jesus (Rev 1:19, “Write, therefore, what you have seen, what is now and what will take place later.”)
- The angel speaks in what sounds like a roaring lion
-- THEN there is an answer from Heaven
- There is an important application here for us to see:
-- God is waiting to hear from us, and when we speak to Him he does answer
-- Here I believe that John is hearing the authority in the voice of God
- Think about the zoo: you can hear a lion roaring from one end to the other
-- They do this for authority, so that other animals will know the authority
-- This angel is showing control given by God by demonstrating his power
- John was prepared to write what the voice said, but told NOT to write
-- In all of Revelation John is a recorder (or a reporter) of events
-- This may have been God correcting John because He heard too much
- 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
-- We are permitted to have it revealed to us; but we do not need to hear it all
-- Perhaps our minds cannot comprehend it?
-- Perhaps it revealed too much or could have been misinterpreted?
-- Either way, God instructs John to not repeat what he has heard (authority)
Ω Point 3 – The Pledge of Loyalty (v5-6)
- This angel is taking an oath – he is pledging to God
-- This angel is showing his allegiance to the Father
-- VERY IMP: This is his act of worship – to testify who God is
- 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
-- God’s declaration of what is to happen is about to happen
-- Again those on the Earth have an opportunity to repent and get right
-- APP: It is GRACE that God is showing to mankind, again …
- He swears by the eternal creator that there will be no more delay when the seventh trumpet is about to sound: fulfilling God’s plan for His creation
-- In other words there will be no more delay
-- This is the “midpoint” of the tribulation period we are seeing (see map)
- 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.”
- APP: IF you want to be wise, you have to read and spend time in the Word -- Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.”
- In this time, the mystery of God will be revealed and then finished
-- All will revealed to those in Heaven worshiping Christ
-- We will be made to know, and to understand, what God’s will is
-- IMP: Right now, 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.”
- The scroll is what John needed for the second portion of his ministry
-- APP: If you consume God’s Word, it is there forever
-- John is literally consuming the Word of God to be able to deliver it
-- Word choice: “Sweet as honey” (Psalm 119:103 says, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”)
- IMP: God’s Word is sweet going in – but being able to deliver it is 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
-- (Psalm 119:11) "Thy Word have I hid in my heart ..."
Ω Big Ideas
- IMP: Look at Verse 11 again (re-read)
-- “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!
VERY IMPORTANT APPLICATION: SO ARE WE!
- John is preparing to see the Gospel propelled around the globe
-- He is being given strength for what is to come … the worst of time
-- APP: The last three years of the Tribulation are now upon mankind
-- 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
-- This is his strength to continue writing of the next 3.5 years
-- APP: God’s Word ought to be OUR daily bread as well!
- It should be our nourishment every day – and we should devour it …
-- God is not calling us to give one another lip service, but to be devoted
-- Here we see how devoted John is to God … are we?
- Are we willing to do all we can to tell others? We must!
-- The Bible is an instruction manual for living: 2 Tim 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness …”
- What will you do with it?
- Pray
