"A MESSAGE FROM A MIGHTY ANGEL" = Rev. 10:1-7
It is a generally accepted principle that most actions have some sort of re-action
Thank the Lord that it is still generally true, good actions tend to lead to beneficial results
+ Tend a garden properly, you will reap a good harvest
+ Save your money, invest it wisely, and you can have a good, secure retirement
+ Work hard, and you will get recognized, you will probably be promoted, and you will find success
And, thank the Lord, it is still generally true, when you do wrong, there are generally negative consequences
+ Exceed the speed limit, you may get a ticket
+ Why do we keep poisons secure from infant children?
+ Cheat on a test, you may get caught
+ Make bad, or even immoral, decisions in running a business, you could go bankrupt
+ And look at all of the problems & heartaches caused by individuals engaged in intimate, sexual relationships which happen outside the boundaries approved by God
This principle is a foundation upon which God put into practice very early in His creation = Gen. 2:15-17
+ And God tells us that there are consequences for our actions = Gal. 6:7-8
+ And that includes judgement & damnation for those who die without Christ
+ And for those of us who have been "bought with a price," our duty is to STUDY HIS WORD = to know how to live pleasing to God
+ AND TO PREACH HIS WORD = with our lips AND our lives = glorifying God
+ AND TO TEACH HIS WORD = discipling those who believe the Gospel so they can go & do likewise
This is especially true when we speak of studying Biblical prophecy
We read & study about the judgements to come, our studying should...
+ ...calm our fears about the future = God is in control, on the Throne
+ ...generate enthusiasm about God’s plan / program = God’s perspective
+ ...motivate us toward holy living = As Paul writes...1 Cor. 9:24-27
And according to God = [Rev. 1:3] = That’s His reason for giving us this Revelation
+ And the heart of the book is a revelation of judgement
+ And the sequence of events can leave the reader breathless by the amazing and sweep of movement through time
+ So thank God that He occasionally pauses the action of judgement to give us insight on other concurrent events in the Tribulation
+ And just as there was an interlude between the 6th & 7th Seals = In chap. 10 & most of 11 we find an interlude between the 6th & 7th Trumpets
+ And just as there were 2 parenthetical visions before, so there are 2 now here
+ And in case your wondering, in terms of the time-line, we are nearing the mid-point of the Trib. period
WHAT IS IT THAT GOD WANTS US = WHO WILL NOT GO THROUGH THE TRIB = TO SEE IN THIS FIRST PARENTHETICAL VISION?
AND, HOW WILL IT HELP US LIVE FOR HIM HERE & NOW?
FIRST, WE SEE THE INTERLUDE OF THE "MIGHTY ANGEL" [1-2]
+ A minor "controversy" of Revelation = The identity of this angel
+ Those who believe it is Jesus Christ include Dr. Henry Morris, Dr. Harold Wilmington, and in the notes in their respective Bibles, Dr. CI Scofield & Dr. Charles Ryrie seem to suggest it
+ The general reasons why = His description [1, 3] = His stand [2] = His oath [5-6]
+ Heb. 6:13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
+ HOWEVER....there are many who say it is NOT CHRIST = Dr. John Walvoord, Dr. Jerry Falwell, Dr. Tim LaHaye, Dr. MerrillUnger
+ The general reasons why:
[1] Christ doesn’t appear as an angel in the Book, or else where in the NT
[2] True, He IS "the angel of the Lord" in OT theophanies = BUT that was in His pre-incarnate state = Rev. is well past the point of His conception, birth, life, death & resurrection
[3] Up to this point, John seemed to recognize Christ when He appeared = 1:12-17 = 5:5-6
[4] Consider His Self-References in His message to His churches = 2: 1, 8, 12, 18 = 3:1, 7, 14
[5] And what happens when He appears? (Especially when He is not directing the judgements to come...) = 4:10 = 5:14 = 15:3-4
[6] AND the clincher for me = mere angels refuse John’s worship. They re-direct his attention to the Lord = 19:10 = 22:8-9
[7] Even here, the angel directs our attention to the Lord [5-6]
+ So I’m not convinced this angel is Christ = But if you made the argument He was, you’d be in good company
+ But let’s not let this controversy obscure the rest of this portion of the vision
NEXT WE SEE THE INTERACTION OF THE ANGEL [3-4]
+ Seven thunders? = The glory of God! = Ps. 29:3-9
+ And those seven thunders utter their voices = But God CONCEALS it! Why?
+ When God speaks from Heaven, His voice is like thunder = John 12
+ Thunder in Rev. is connected to judgements
+ These must be some great & terrible judgements to be concealed
+ What a merciful God (to us, here & now)!
+ AND what is revealed about future should be enough for us to act upon = Either getting saved if we are not...or witnessing to the lost if we are saved
FINALLY, WE SEE THE INFORMATION THE ANGEL GIVES [5-7]
+ [6] that there should be time no longer = Does this mean time itself would cease?
+ No = Because the creation itself is a space / mass / time continuum
+ And consider what God has declared concerning all His creation = Ps. 148:5-6
+ No, God makes the meaning clear in [7]
+ Not "no more time" but "no more delay" = God’s purging of the earth will not be further delayed after the "days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound"
NOW WITH THESE THOUGHTS IN MIND...
+ WITH SEEING & UNDERSTANDING WHAT GOD HAS CHOSEN TO REVEAL TO US IN THIS PORTION OF THIS VISION
+ IT IS OUR DUTY TO ASK = WHAT ARE THE LESSONS GOD WOULD BE PLEASED THAT WE LEARN FROM HIM...IN ORDER TO HELP US TO LIVE FOR HIM?
First, from the "interlude of the angel" I think God is trying to teach us that we need to occasionally stop and re-direct our thoughts to Christ
+ In the midst of judgement God stops everything & sends an angel which lifts up his hands and his heart to worship the Living God
+ And we live in the midst of a world under judgement right now
+ Even if we have been forgiven = We are still affected / effected by that fallen world
+ What a good reminder! We sometimes need to simply stop & worship Christ!
Second, from the "interaction of the angel" I think God is trying to remind us of that which should motivate us here & now
+ Judgement is coming = Some of it apparently so bad that God in His mercy will not allow us to see it
+ But He is reserving THAT for those who will experience it THEN
+ Every day brings us 1 day closer to these events coming to pass
+ Friend, if you are here today unsaved...and the rapture happens in your life-time...and you live through the first half of the Tribulation...knowing all the other horrors God has revealed...do you really want to face what He is reserving? = What good reason holds you back from being saved?
+ And if you are saved, think back over this week:
[1] What did you do to help someone escape the wrath to come?
[2] When did you choose to not help someone escape?
[3] What are you planning to do this week as a witness for the Lord?
Finally, from the "information the angel gives," God makes it clear the time is short...(Rom. 13:13), The night is far spent, the day is at hand
+ God’s timetable is set = And has been ETERNALLY
+ No one is guaranteed their next breath = Let alone tomorrow
+ If God has spoken to you through His Word today, will you act on it now?
+ Or will you delay?
+ Heb. 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
+ And when God sets his judgements into motion, it will be too late
+ RIGHT NOW, AT THIS MOMENT, IT’S NOT TOO LATE
+ Don’t let it become too late for you.
Pastor Timothy Shumer,
Colosse Baptist Church, Parish NY
June 3, 2001 = 11 am service
