Alpha and Omega, Part 34, Revelation Part 11
God’s Messenger and its Little Scroll
Revelation 10:1-11 and Revelation 11:1-2
Introduction
- Been studying together, chapter by chapter, to understand God’s plan for creation
- Last week, we saw the 5th and 6th trumpet (1st and 2nd terrors prophesied in Ch 8)
• A fierce storm and volcanic explosion - destroys industry and shipping
• A meteor that contaminates 1/3 of the fresh water supply – can’t drink it
• An eclipse that temporarily removes 1/3 of the daylight – disrupts days
• A demonic locust attack that causes unbelievable torture to the ungodly
• A second demonic army, 200M, that kills 1/3 of the ungodly on Earth
-- Why? Remember: Billions will follow the Antichrist in the end days
-- They will believe his nonsense, his lies, his promises, and his fake miracles
-- But their allegiance will be their undoing – and now we see them being judged
- Today is (again) a bit of a parenthesis (like Ch 7 was) … a pause to understand
-- Show CHART of Revelation as a reference to where we are in time
-- This is just before the 7th trumpet, or the 7th woe, is heard from Heaven
- Read Revelation 10:1-11 and 11:1-2 / Pray
- With so much doom falling upon the Earth, a natural question comes to mind:
-- “Is there any hope for mankind at this point?” The answer is, YES!
-- The triumph that is coming will settle all things - good overcoming evil!
-- For mankind, there is hope if you choose to turn to Jesus Christ!
- TR: Ch 10 shows us three things that we must understand today … First
Point 1 – John sees a mighty angel descend on the Earth
- He has come with an incredible appearance and an announcement
-- Greek (seen this before): aggelos; a messenger or an angel
- Know this: the message comes from the throne of God, from Heaven itself
• Messenger was dressed in a cloud – symbolizes a heavenly appearance
• Had a rainbow on its head – symbolizes mercy of God
• Had a face that shone as the sun – symbolizes light, wisdom, splendor
• Had feet that were pillars of fire – symbolizes purity and strength
- He held a small book – (later) v11 tells us this is what must be proclaimed
-- The message is the Word of God, it’s the declaration of God’s promises
• Set his feet on sea and earth – signifies his giant size, power and reach (v5)
• Had a voice that roared like a lion – this is the symbol of the voice of God
-- This confirms Joel 3:16, “The Lord’s voice will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth will shake. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a strong fortress for the people of Israel.”
• Messenger called forth the 7 thundering voices – symbolizes voice of God
o It demonstrates the completeness / fullness of authority (power!)
-- Voice does speak to John; see how John is stopped from telling their words (v4)
- There is no way to know what was said – but in it we can find our curiosity
-- The word of God is always perfect in its timing – and it’s not for us to know yet
- Natural question: Who is the angel or messenger? (v1)
-- Some say this is one of God’s highest angels – perhaps it is Gabriel
-- Gabriel’s name actually means “mighty one”; Daniel rcvs. 2 messages from him
-- But others say that this Jesus Christ Himself (note the glorified appearance)
-- Strengthening this, he refers to “His witnesses” in Revelation 11:3
-- It is not clear, but those are two options of who this is Second …
Point 2 – John hears a declaration and an oath by the angel
- This moment is so spectacular, that we cannot help but marvel at it (v6)
-- He speaks an oath (GR: omnuó; oath) to the one who has sent Him … oath is:
• By Him who lives for ever and ever
• Who created the heavens and everything in them
• Who created the earth and everything in it
• Who created the sea and everything in it
- Now consider this … what is the great oath (or promise) that is made?
• That soon, time shall be no more
• The delay of the end shall be no more
• The culmination of all events is now at hand – be ushered by the 7th trumpet
• All the horrors of Revelation and God’s judgment will be revealed
• And then … God’s wrath will be complete
- Don’t miss how the angel declares this: re-read verse 7
-- Greek: mustérion; a secret doctrine or a mystery
-- The mystery of God to be completed is the same that prophets told us about
-- It is the same way that Jesus told the disciples and those early followers about
-- Homework: Read Matthew 24, it is a perfect recounting of the events to come
- This is also the same promise that we have discussed here at Seasons Church!
-- BIG: God will confront the ungodly, and then all that we know will end
-- Consider this impact: Isaiah 65:17, “Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore.”
- FACT: The 7th trumpet will bring forth the final events of human history
-- But, it hasn’t happened yet! There is where we (right now) can find hope!
- The hope we have, and that we can share, is that Jesus is still available!
-- IMP APP: See – this is why Revelation is so pivotal to the church today
-- It is why we are called to know this - it is why it matters (don’t be afraid of it)
- TR: The third thing seen …
Point 3 – John sees an emphasis on the “little book”
- What is this book and why is it called out so clearly for us today?
-- Greek: bibla-rid-ion; a little book (small papyrus scroll)
-- FYI: “Bible” is from the Greek word “biblia” (which means “many books”)
- Make no mistake … this little book is exactly what it appears to be
-- It is a scroll of wisdom, of guidance, of instruction, and even of correction
- John is commanded to go and take the book from the angel (v9)
-- See this: God’s word is never forced upon us – it is never shoved on us
-- John is called to go and take it, to physically grab it and know its contents
- He is commanded to take and eat (Greek: kat-es-thió; to eat up) the book (v10)
-- Ques: Why does it need to be consumed, or eaten, as referenced here?
-- 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”
-- It’s then he understands that the book is sweet and bitter to him “personally”
- Why? Because God’s word causes change, it is meant to affect us
-- It is not just a list of stories that have cute endings as bedtime reading
-- APP: The word of God is nourishment and a navigation signal to change course
- This book’s truth brings several critical things to the creation:
• There is sin and forgiveness
• There is judgment and salvation
• There is corruption and perfection
• There is redemption and condemnation
- Don’t miss: John is then recommissioned - called to a specific mission (v11)
-- He is told to go and proclaim God’s truth – to teach it to all who will listen
-- And he is told to go and to proclaim the Word’s effects:
• It is sweet because of what it yields: redemption and salvation
• It is bitter because it calls you to stop what you’re doing: to change
- Every minister (and believer) is called to the same purpose: to go and tell
-- Acts 5:20, “Go to the Temple and give the people this message of life!”
- The grace and judgment of God is upon us, and in its clearest terms ever …
-- The gospel is the clearest example of love – and now of pending judgment
- TR: So, let’s take a peek into one of the most exciting chapters of Revelation
-- Ch’s. 11-14 are truly a work of art – it is part of what John is told to proclaim!
-- Need to establish the mission of John to understand why these chapters matter
Point 4 – John is told to measure for God’s Judgment
- John is to measure the temple, its altar, and all that worship there
-- Greek: metreó; to measure, to estimate
-- Metaphorically: metreó means to judge according to any rule or standard
- KEY: God is seeking to measure those worshiping at the temple for judgment
-- Why? We know that the antichrist will go into the temple and defile it
-- He will set himself up as a deity and demand to be worshiped as God
- Paul prophesied about this in his letter to the Thessalonica church
-- It coincides with Revelation 13:5 -- 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, “Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed - the one who brings destruction. He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God.”
- So, the reference to measure & count (v1) is God preparing to judge
-- Who? Those who have chosen to worship the antichrist at the temple!
-- APP: They are being marked for judgment because they worship Satan
- Big lesson for Sept 3, 2023 – hidden in the application of this passage:
-- When we worship, we must be sure we are doing so according to God’s truth
-- Worship is not about the place we go to, or being with a group of people we like
-- Worship is not because you enjoy the songs or like the free coffee/donuts
-- Worship is ESP. not about going because you like the way a speaker talks
-- Worship is about your focus on Jesus – because of Who He Is!
- What brings God’s judgment are those who worship a false idea of who He is!
-- Jesus told us this clearly in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter.”
- FACT: Anyone who does not worship Jesus is worshiping a false god
-- So, God commands John to mark the temple for judgment
-- He is preparing to judge and condemn their false, unholy, & sinful adoration
-- This is a very valuable lesson for us: God is paying attention to your worship!
- John is also told not to measure the outer courts – b/c this is court of the Gentiles
-- FYI: This was an area outside the inner court, reserved for non-Jews only
- Why? The outer courts will already be under the control of the antichrist
-- Matter of fact, the nation of Israel and all others will have given him power
-- They will have surrendered to him fully all of their authority and governance
- Know this: The Jews will not surrender easily to the antichrist
-- They will do what they have always done – resist any man-made control
- However, v1 and v2 shows us that at some point many choose to worship him
-- They choose to allow him to perform his desecration within the temple walls
-- And because of this, those exalting him will be measured and judged
- Matter of fact, we even have a timeline! (see this more on Wed night)
-- For 42 months, the city will be trampled – persecuted – evil will run free
-- “They” (v2) are the same ones who have allowed the worship of Satan
-- They are the ones who allow God’s city to be trampled and handed over
-- Greek: pateó; to trample on or to tread on
-- Greek full phrase: pate-so-usin; “they will trample upon”
- For reference sake: 42 months = 3 ½ years (1,260 days is 3.5 years)
-- Scripture teaches that the antichrist will be given 7 years to rule and reign
-- The first half will be a calling to him led under a covenant of peace
-- The abomination of desolation will unleash the 2nd half of the tribulation
-- God is allowing John to see this timeline to declare the turn Satan makes
- This is also the same time that the woman and wilderness will be preserved
-- It is the time that the antichrist will be wounded and healed (false resurrection)
-- It is the time we shall see the woman, the child, Michael, and the dragon battle
-- It’s the time that the beast, the devil, is allowed to have full control of Earth
- And during this time the city will be preached too by 2 witnesses (next week!)
- Let’s pray together …
