The Angel & the Little Scroll

Looking at the Seven Trumpets:

• Most likely these are a revisitation of God’s justice that is poured out on the earth, but from a different perspectives

• The trumpets and the bowls have echos of the plagues that God sent upon Egypt in the book of Exodus )

Trumpets are Split into sections, much like the seals:

• Four Trumpets, and interlude, and then 3 more trumpets

Hebrews–Revelation Section Overview

Trumpet 1

Earth

8:7

Hail, fire, and blood on land

Trumpet 2

Sea

8:8–9

Burning mountain thrown into the sea

Trumpet 3

Rivers and springs

8:10–11

Burning star falls on rivers and springs

Trumpet 4

Sky

8:12

Sun, moon, and stars darkened

Interlude

8:13

Trumpet 5

First woe

9:1–12

Demons from the abyss

Trumpet 6

Second woe

9:13–21

Demons from the east

Interlude

10:1–11:14

Trumpet 7

Third woe

11:15–19

Kingdom come

Interlude:

After the sixth trumped, we would expect the blowing of the seventh trumpet.

Rev. 10:1-11:14, serves as an interlude prior to the final trumpet (i.e. the end of History)

According to Schreiner, “In this interlude, John prepares readers for the seventh trumpet by emphasizing the prophetic ministry of the church—namely—the proclamation of God’s Word.

Rev 10:1

Mighty angel coming down from heaven.

Mighty (Greek) = Strong, Mighty, Powerful

Wrapped in a Cloud (Together with Legs Like Pillars of Fire)

What OT story do “a cloud and pillars of fire” echo?

Exodus 13:21 (ESV)

And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.

These terms like denote God’s presence.

This seems to be a “good angel,” who is clothed in the likeness of the glory of God.

Rainbow over his head:

The rainbow likely reinforces God’s presence; it could represent some kind of brilliant crown, which—according to Craig Keener—some Jewish traditions attribute to high angels.

The rainbow may, again, just represent divine glory as rainbow imagery has already been used to describe God’s throne room.

Revelation 4:3 (ESV)

And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.

Face like the sun:

This, too, is a display of God’s glory.

Matthew 17:1–2 (ESV)

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.

Craig Keener points out that the angel described here is portrayed as mightier than most Greeks portrayed their gods; yet this angel is but a servant of the omnipotent, one true God.

Rev. 10:2

The Little Scroll

The angel has a small scroll in his hand

Some scholars see this scroll as the aforementioned seven sealed scroll. Because it is open, the Lamb has broken the seal.

Schreiner, amongst others, believe it is a different scroll (the view that I find most compelling)

It is “another angel” that has this scroll, not the angel who cries out in chapter 5, “who can open the scroll.”

Many see this scroll as a prophetic commission, drawing from Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 3:1–4 (ESV)

And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.

And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them.

Rev. 10:3-4

Revelation 10:3–4 (ESV)

and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.”

The angels voice was like a roaring Lion; the image of seven thunders reminds readers of the thunderous voice of God.

John 12:27–29 (ESV)

“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd that stood there and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”

The seven thunders could, then, be the voice of the Lord.

But John is NOT permitted to write down the message of the seven thunders, signifying that part of what is to come is hidden. Revelation does not contain an entire scope of the last days and final judgement.

Rev. 10:5-7

John sees the angel lift his hand to heaven and swear by the God who created all things.

Lifting one’s hand was a common practice for swearing an oath in ancient Israel… and—in the modern courtroom— it is a practice that is required of all witnesses before they take the stand to offer testimony at trial.

This gesture testifies to the certainty of his claim that the end shall finally come.

Though the prayers of the martyrs and God’s final judgement have been delayed, the sounding of the seventh trumpet by the seventh angel will wrap up history as we know it and God’s Kingdom will be consummated.

In the end, even the mysteries of the seven thunders will be revealed. All that God has spoken through the prophets will finally become a reality.

When the seventh trumpet is sounded, this present evil age will come to an end, and God will fulfill all of His divine prophesies and mysteries!

Rev. 10:8-10

The voice from heaven addresses John again, instructing him to take the scroll from the mighty angel.

When he takes the scroll, the angel tells him to eat it.

This echos Ezekiel, whom God commanded to eat the scroll given to him.

Ezekiel 2:8 (ESV)

“But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”

Ezekiel 3:3 (ESV)

And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.

Like Ezekiel, John’s taking and eating the scroll, signifies his role in prophetic ministry.

Thomas Schreiner states that as the church proclaims John’s message it shares in this prophetic ministry!

The Scroll Tasted Sweet

Eating the Scroll is sweet like honey in John’s mouth, which again echoes Ezekiel:

Ezekiel 3:3 (ESV)

And he said to me, “Son of man, feed your belly with this scroll that I give you and fill your stomach with it.” Then I ate it, and it was in my mouth as sweet as honey.

God’s Word is always a delight for to those who know Him.

Psalm 119:103 (ESV)

How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

On the other hand, the scroll causes John to experience an upset stomach!

(Niki’s chili that we ate on Saturday)

That the scroll proves to be bitter, likely represents the content of the scroll—namely words of judgment.

This too, fits with Ezekiel’s experience.

Ezekiel 2:10 (ESV)

And he spread it before me. And it had writing on the front and on the back, and there were written on it words of lamentation and mourning and woe.

Rev. 10:11

The Reason for Eating the Scroll:

John must internalize the contents of the scroll, that he might prophesy them.

The prophetic words are NOT just for Israel, but they are for many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.

Application:

Reminder of the Majesty of God

The powerful and glorious angel that John describes in this chapter, is but a servant of God.

2. The Seven Thunders reminds us that Revelation doesn’t provide us a complete road map of the end times.

While God—by His grace—has revealed much about the last days, coming judgement, and new creation, there is much that He conceals from us.

We must trust that God has given us what we need to know.

Revelation Contemporary Significance

we should avoid undue speculation about matters on which we cannot be certain and should avoid speaking dogmatically about them

3. The Promise of No More Delay:

We are eager for the return of the Lord, but we are in a waiting period.

We must remember that the delay will not last forever. The end will come.

4. The Word of God is Bittersweet:

Even God’s Words of judgement are—on one hand sweet—as it is truth, and we know that we will ultimately be vindicated.

On the other hand, the Word can cause lament and anguish, because it proclaims judgement on those who do not know the Lord.

God is sovereign over the future, but we don’t need to know all of the details.

Jeremiah wept over what was to come upon God’s people.

Jeremiah 13:17 (ESV)

But if you will not listen,

my soul will weep in secret for your pride;

my eyes will weep bitterly and run down with tears,

because the Lord’s flock has been taken captive.

In Matthew 23, Jesus weeps over an unrepentant Israel.

Matthew 23:37–39 (ESV)

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again, until you say, ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.’ ”

The end of the age ought to cause us—on one hand—to weep with joy; yet, on the other hand, we ought to mourn for those who do not truly know the Lord.

The Word of the Lord, given through Ezekiel, should resonate with us:

Ezekiel 18:32 (ESV)

For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”