Revelation Chapter 10 - The Mighty Angel Series

“Revealing the Revelation”

January 3, 2010

Chapter 10

Welcome, once again, to the New Year - 2010. We are in the first Sunday of the New Year. The past is gone, the future lies ahead of us – unknown and mysterious; unused and unblemished. Will it bring triumph or tragedy? Will it bring pleasure or pain? Will it bring prosperity or poverty? Will it bring success or sadness? I don’t know. I only know we must face it one day at a time; one step at a time; one experience at a time. I only know that as I keep my eyes on Jesus, I will be alright. It is when we take our eyes off of Jesus and look at the problems, like Peter did, that we fall. I am determined to keep my eyes on Jesus and follow Him to my very best ability. Turn with me, to Revelation 10.

Revelation 10

1Then 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. 2He 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, 3and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4And 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."

5Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6And 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! 7But 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."

8Then 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."

9So 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." 10I 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. 11Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."

It’s been three weeks since I last spoke from this book. I had to travel to Minnesota for my younger brother’s funeral, then we had a Christmas program, then I felt God wanted me to encourage you as we faced the New Year. Last Sunday we received our commission for the New Year – Go, have a part in the making of disciples, gitem’ baptized, and teach them obedience. (Matt 28:18-20)

This morning we come to the 10th Chapter of Revelation –and it doesn’t get any easier. The 10th chapter (graph) is an event between the 6th and 7th Trumpet Judgments, just as chapter 7 was an event between the 6th and 7th seals. Chapter 10 takes place just prior to the “Midpoint” of the tribulation period.

Following the 6th Trumpet Judgment, a “Mighty angel” descends from Heaven to claim possession of Earth. This angelic scene, takes place in the spiritual realm. In the physical realm, those who know Jesus Christ, suffer death, persecution and are in hiding. The scene on earth seems bleak for all humanity.

At this point in chapter 10, the earth is a pretty scary place. War alone has killed nearly half the earth population (Rev. 6:8, 9:15), a quarter in the first Four Seals and a third in the 6th Trumpet Judgments. Earth, physically has also suffered tremendous judgments, with two asteroids crashing into the Oceans, killing a third of sea life, and making one third of fresh waters poisonous. Earthquakes and volcanic activity also cause havoc on a spiritually hardened earth. During this same period, “Two Witnesses” have been the verbal mouthpiece of judgment, causing it not to rain on the earth. As they speak, the outrage on the earth begins to mount against them, as technologies such as television, cell phones, and the internet instantaneously make known what is happening- and of course they put their own evil spin to the events unfolding. The world view of God and Christians are pretty grim. We are blamed for all this stuff happening. It’s only a matter of time until we suffer the wrath of the world.