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ANGELS ASCENDING AND DESCENDING (REV 10)
One Avenger I did not admire is Doctor Strange, but in the Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame he used his powers to look into the future to see how the Avengers could triumph over Thanos. The Galaxy Guardian Star Lord asked a transfixed Doctor Strange: “What was that?” Strange replied, “I went forward in time... to view alternate futures. To see all the possible outcomes of the coming conflict.”
Star Lord questioned, “How many did you see?” Strange answered, “Fourteen million six hundred and five.”
Iron Man Tony Stark chipped in, “How many did we win?” Strange concluded, “One.”
In a question and answer session, directors Joe and Anthony Russo explained, “Strange has took an immensely long time to actually review all these scenarios. He has to physically live them and then die in each of them, and right before he dies, he has to reset it, as we saw at the end of Doctor Strange, and do it again. And take copious notes each time he does it."
https://www.looper.com/117010/untold-truth-doctor-strange/?utm_campaign=clip
The context to chapter 10 is the damage brought by the fallen star and his army of locusts (Rev 9:3), horses (Rev 9:7) and scorpions (Rev 9:10), followed by the destruction of a third part of men killed by the fire, smoke and brimstone (Rev 9:18). The devastation was so tragic, thorough and troubling that seems be no redemption, restoration or rest for creature or creation. Enter the angels in chapter 10. The noun “angel” (aggelos) occurs 179 times in the Bible, of which 69 times are in Revelation, more than a third of the Bible. Revelation chapters 1-3 are angels over churches. Chapters 4-10 in creation and chapters 11 onwards are angels at combat.
This angel is prelude to the seventh angel in the next chapter (11:15). The last chapter tells us the presence of (Rev 9:3). Has God lost his battle?
What assurance do we have in this troubled life? How is God our strength and comfort? Why are we weak human beings special in God’s plan?
Leave to God the Battle
1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."
I was introduced to the long-running TV series “Touched by an Angel” by my wife, who made it a point to watch the show every Sunday evening, so this week I watched the first year episode 1 again. Angel Monica was an angel who was recently promoted from the "search and rescue" division to the “case work” division under the scrutiny and surveillance of the older angel Tess.
Monica’s first case was taking care of a young boy whose mother could not cope with the death of an infant and left the family. Instead of helping the boy to heal, Monica decided to look for the boy’s lost mother. She found the mother in a small town but mistaken the mother’s coworker instead for her because the coworker loved wearing the mother’s locket. The coworker did not have a social life but went to a bar at Monica’s persuasion, only to run for her life when they she was recognized by a cop who wanted to arrest her for her fugitive past.
The senior Tess was furious at her and said, “Did we learn a little something here
today? Did you hear what she said - she wasn't ready? Timing is everything in
this business you go off looking for somebody's mother and all of a sudden
you got the FBI tracking down a fugitive from the seventies.”
Monica asked, “What's going to happen to her, Tess?”
Tess replied, “That's still her decision. There are angels for every job, Monica, and this one wasn't yours!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YMClvcXQkbc
The noun “angel” appears an astonishing 179 times in the Bible, but 69 times in Revelation, more than double the next highest count at less than half in Luke’s 26 times. It appears six times in chapter 10 (vv 1, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10) – the most repeated word in the chapter, from the mighty angel (vv 1, 2, 5, 8, 9) to the seventh angel (v 7). There is no safer, stronger, sturdier, steadier and surer help than angels and the label “mighty angel” (5:2, 10:1, 18:21) is exclusive to Revelation. The mighty angel’s presence is eye-opening, earth-moving and ego-crushing to us, intimidating, impacting and interrupting heaven, cloud, and rainbow, sun and fire in verse 1 to sea and land/earth in verse 2.
Repetition Nature Angel Implication
V 1 Angel 6x in chapter V 1 Heaven V 1 his head V 1 God’s Power – heaven (5x)
V 1 Heaven 5x in chapter V 1 Cloud his face V 1 God’s Promise –rainbow on his head
V 2 hand 4x in chapter V 1 rainbow his legs (feet) V 2 God’s Peace (Eph 6:15) – right foot
V 2 Earth 4x in chapter V 1 sun v 2 his hand V 2 God’s Possession – hand (4x)
V 3 Voice 5x in chapter v 3 seven thunders v 3 loud shout (voice) V 3 God’s Perfection - seven thunders
The last time John saw a mighty angel with a loud voice (saw + mighty angel + loud voice) was in chapter 5:2. Most angels in Revelation were already present in John’s presence and view but this is one of three times he saw an angel descending from heaven (Rev 10:1, 18:1, 20:1).
Angels are God’s foot soldiers. They are His messengers, ministers and manifestation, reminding us of His creation of us, His care for us and His commitment to us. The angel’s head, and his face, his feet and his loud voice (3) reminds us we are sealed, surrounded by Him, separated to Him.
Lift Up High His Banner
5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220119-how-to-read-the-doomsday-clock
One of the athletes renowned for raising one’s hand to heaven in celebration is NFL’s Jason Avant after catching a ball. Why? Wide receiver Jason Avant escaped a life of gangs, drugs and violence on the south side of Chicago.
Jason said, “When I lift my hands up, it's me saying 'Lord, I know where I could be and I thank you for where I am. There were times when I was growing up when I didn't have enough to scrounge up a quarter to get an ICEE. I remember the times our house was shot up. I remember when I didn't have any avenues, when I sold drugs. So I lift my hands up and thank the Lord for all He has done for me. My grandmother would pray for me every night. 'Lord, let him be different. Let his life change.' I was her favorite and everybody knew it. We didn't have much money, so I would sleep in the same room as my grandmother. She would lay her hands on me for an hour at night and just pray for me."
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/eagles/2012/12/25/jason-avant-philadelphia-gangs-drugs-church-bible/1791141/
The noun “heaven” – second most repeated word in chapter 10- tells you all about :
the angel comes “out of” (ek) heaven (v 1)
a voice out of heaven (ek) v 4
raised his voice/hand to (eis) the heaven (v 5)
who created the heaven (v 6)
voice from (ek) heaven (v 8)
Angels, like his creation, bids to do God’s command, but to love doing His will. The angel come from heaven means their “source.” Raised his voice/hand means our “supply”. It shows their devotion to God, their dependence on Him and their deliverance in Him. It describes their origin, office, operation, opportunity, obedience and Created the heaven means strength. V8 go take the book is the angel in service. The angels do not write the speech, the screenplay or the song. The supporting actor has been given to man; angels are merely the extras. They won’t get a Nobel Prize, an Oscar or a Grammy, - trophies, attention, affection, accolades, applause
What do we know about God’s “hands” from the Bible:
Matt 3:12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Heb 1:10 In the beginning, O Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands.
Heb 10:31 It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time
The repetition of “heaven” implies authority, handiwork, habitation and holiness. He is wise, worthy and watchful. He creates, controls and corrects everything, Nothing is outside his one can outduel, throne, residence, abode, dwelling, domain and domination.
There shall be “no more delay” is simply no doubt, negotiation, “time shall be no more” (v 6, KJV) in Greek. What time does it refer to? I think it refers to the end of the Great Tribulation which brings us to a new episode! The mystery of God (v 7). A mystery in the Bible is not a secret. A mystery is usually “something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain” (Dictionary.com). No stone is left unturned,
Rev 10:1 the mystery of God will be accomplished (NIV, future tense)
Rev 10:7 the mystery of God is finished (NASU, present tense)
Which tense is correct?
The Greek version is aorist. The mystery has been finished from time after time everyday to eternity evermore. There’s no mercy or compassion in Revelation, no forgiveness of sins, redemption, and no grace apart from greeting (Rev 1:4) and farewell (Rev 22:21). Things missing: mercy, grace (1:4, 22:21), forgiveness.
Let Us Be the Bridge
8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land." 9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." 10 I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."
There is a story told of an American who went over to Paris, and, wishing to buy his wife a little gift, purchased a phosphorescent, mother-of-pearl match-box container; and the beauty of it was that in the dark it was said to radiate a wonderful light. He packed it in his trunk, took it home to the U.S.A., and after the family welcome dinner asked for the lights to be put out. In the dark he took the match-box container from his pocket to present it to his wife, but, when he looked at it, it was as black as the darkness around. Then he said, 'That is just what they palm off on foreigners. I've been swindled.'
Next day the man’s wife, a bit curious, discovered on the box a few words in French. She took it down to some friends who had a French maid and had it translated. That night, in the darkness, it was all aglow, for she had followed the instructions written on the box, which said: 'If you keep me all day long in the sunlight, I will shine for you all night long in the darkness.'
This is the only the second time the imperative “take” occurs twice in a chapter (vv 8, 9), the other time being partaking in the Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:17, 19), so “take” is more than physical and biological, but mental. It is edible,
The scroll occurs for the first time in Revelation chapter 1 as a scroll sent to the seven churches (Rev 1:11). It next appears in chapter 5 when the Lion of Judah, the Root of David was found worthy to open the scroll (Rev 5:4-5). Now John is to "go, take the scroll,” but in the imperative mood twice (vv 8, 9). It is not a comment, a challenge or cooperation, but a command, a charge, a commission. The word of God is sweet, but the work of God is bitter sweet. The progression is from angels to prophets (v 7) to John.
Yet it is interesting how we see our task. The angel said, “Take it and eat it (the little scroll). It will turn your stomach sour/bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey,” (v 9) but John it “tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour/bitter” (v 10). God said it was bitter + sweet, but John experienced it as sweet and sour!
Prophesy means forth-telling not foretelling, proclaiming not predicting, Revelation not calculation, conveying and not conjecturing God’s word. revelation not guessing God’s news. It is to ask us all be active participants and partners and pronounce not announce, not pedestrians or passerbys or patrons in God’s kingdom plan.
Laos (people) Ethnos (tribe) Glossa (language) Basileus (king)
Townsmen Tribe Talk Throne
Individuals Inhabitants Interaction Influence
Community Clan Conversation Chiefs
Conclusion: God is active, able and authoritative. He is merciful, meek and mighty. Are you acceptable to Him, available to Him and accountable to Him? Do you believe He’s able, He’s got the whole world in His hands and He’s coming soon?
