His Kingdom will Come and Be Done.

INTRODUCTION

Recap from Last Week

We concluded last week with the Lord giving Apollyon the destroyer of worlds the key to the abyss and unleashing Satan’s army of destruction on the earth. Following all of this destruction, pain and death, people still loved their idols and immorality more and chose not to repent and turn to God. This concluded the first 6 trumpets.

GODS WORD COMES WITH AUTHORITY AND POWER

If we have learned nothing thus far we must remember that God is in control of everything. His word and authority rule and reign supremely over everything.

Chapter 10 The Authority of God on Display

Judgement Briefly Interrupted

The devastating and horrific judgement have now been interrupted for a moment. The interruption provides opportunity for God to powerfully and authoritatively again address John.

Chapter 10 Overview

John states “then I saw” an important recurring phrase in Revelation.

He again see’s what he describes as a “Mighty Angel” which had been mentioned more than 60 times in revelation. The angel comes to earth with the authority of God. He is surrounded by a cloud and a rainbow over his head echoing the story of Noah. This symbolizes God’s everlasting covenant and promise to His people.

His face was like the sun, brilliant and full of light.

His legs are like fiery pillars, depicting stability and uncompromising holiness.

The angel had in his open hand a little scroll.

This would appear to be different than the scroll in chapter 5. The angel is so massive that he lays claim for his message over all the earth, setting his right foot on the sea and his left on the dry land. (mentioned 3 times.

He cried out with a loud voice like a lion which is reminiscent to what Joel says about the voice of the Lord. His cry is accompanied by seven thunders, which spoke. In the little scroll is the Word of God. In the seven thunders there is additional judgement from God.

John hears the words of God in the scroll and gets ready to write them down before he is stopped by none other than God himself. God directs him not to write down what is said but to seal it up. These are the only words in Revelation which John is commanded to seal up. This tells us that the secret things belong to God and the revealed things belong to us.

Deuteronomy 29:29 ESV

29 “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

We can assume possibly that this is more judgments that are not to be revealed, since all of the instructions given to the angels thus far have led to judgement being dispensed on the earth.

TRUST GOD TO CONFIRM HIS WORD

Revelation 10:5–6 ESV

5 And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay,

In an act of what looks like swearing a solemn oath to God, the angel raises his right hand to heaven. This is the only time that we see an oath being taken in heaven.

Jesus taught against any such deceitful swearing of oaths, however, we see Abraham, Isaac, David, and even Paul along with Jesus and God himself, take oaths as a witness of confirmation to speak the truth about what God is about to do.

2 Fold Message of the angel (vs. 6-7)

Revelation 10:6–7 ESV

6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, 7 but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.

There will be no delay (no longer will there be a period of waiting for God’s people)

God will no longer stop or delay the remaining judgments on the world. Evil will now run its course quickly as the antichrist rises from the abyss (11:7) and emerges as a world ruler. God and evil, the Lamb and the dragon are headed for a cosmic conflict, and global showdown. It will now happen soon.

The Mystery of His hidden plan was revealed.

The mystery of God’s final plan will now be fulfilled, completed, finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. In the New Testament a mystery is a truth previously concealed but now revealed. We read about the mystery in Ephesians 3:2-11 where Paul declares the mystery is that the Gentiles are now fellow heirs of the kingdom of God just like the nation of Israel. The mystery of Christ for generations had been for the nation of Israel alone.

God’s whole plan and purpose have been revealed through Jesus Christ and the blood he shed for the redemption of both Jews and Gentiles.

1. We may Fail God, But God will Never Fail us.

Revelation 10:8–11 ESV

8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is 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 told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” 10 And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. 11 And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”

The following verses are some of the most applicable and practical verses of scripture we have read thus far. They have a clear relevance and application for all generations of believers and followers of Christ.

Note: Notice that “the little scroll” is mentioned three times in verses 8-10. God’s word and its promises and prophecies are certain to be fulfilled. It has little value to us personally if we do not do the following three things.

WE MUST:

WE TAKE IT AND READ IT

The voice we hear here is almost certain the voice of God. It commands authority and obedience. John is given the command to “go” and “take the scroll that lies open in the Angels hand. I think it is significant that this scroll lies open for you and me. We all today have an open book God has prepared for us to read. It is called the Bible.

God is commanding John to go and take this scroll for his own spiritual edification, to explore its vast truths. Why do we eat food? We eat food to provide us with the necessary strength and sustaining power to get through the day. Is it not the same for the word of God?

WE FEED ON IT

John approaches the angel with the mandate to take the scroll. The angel in turn tells him to “take” it and to “eat it.” Both of the verbs here are imperative commands. John is to take the scroll and completely devour it until there is nothing left.

We see this command clearly displayed in the Old Testament.

Jeremiah 15:16 ESV

16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.

Ezekiel 2:9–3:3 ESV

9 And when I looked, behold, a hand was stretched out to me, and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. 10 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. 1 And he said to me, “Son of man, eat whatever you find here. Eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he gave me this scroll to eat. 3 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.

What an incredibly powerful image of how we should approach the word of God. How many of you hear this morning would go days without eating? How many of us go days, weeks, months, even years without feeding on the word of God?

And we wonder why our lives, marriages, and families are in the shape that they are in today.

“The Book is Honey”

Better than bread, meat, and milk. Here is a diet for spiritual health and nourishment. However, we are pointed towards a twofold reaction when eating and digesting this book.

It is Sweet in our mouths but Bitter in our Stomachs.

Sweet because it reveals the Good News of the Gospel Message. (God’s goodness, grace, and mercy towards us, and His providential plan to save us.)

It is bitter because it is a word of judgment for the unbeliever. (also the bitterness comes in persecution and suffering for believers.)

WE PROCLAIM IT

It appears that God has a commission or recommission for John. The commission is similar to the Great Commission. “You Must” sounds like a moral imperative, a moral and spiritual obligation. You must prophesy, preach, and proclaim.

He is to prophesy to many people, nations, languages, and kings. The word Kings is only used here probably in reference to the presence of the “kings of the earth” as rulers of nations and persecutors of believers.

Make no mistake about it, our assignment is to “go,” our calling is to proclaim the good news of the gospel.

HAVE YOU ACCEPTED GODS COMMISSION ON YOUR LIFE

If you have not then this morning needs to be a time of commissioning for you. (Commissioning services before missionaries leave for the mission field. Every Sunday should be a Sunday of commission for the Church.)

2. God’s Kingdom is Coming, Are you Ready?

Revelation 11:1–2 ESV

1 Then I was given a measuring rod like a staff, and I was told, “Rise and measure the temple of God and the altar and those who worship there, 2 but do not measure the court outside the temple; leave that out, for it is given over to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for forty-two months.

Today is historically Palm Sunday. The Sunday that Christ rode into Jerusalem on a donkey amid shouts of “Hosanna, Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.” Jesus road into Jerusalem on a donkey in a procession that was only reserved for emperors and kings.

It would only be a few short days before Jesus would die a sinners death stripped naked of the cheers and royal greeting he had received. We can be certain that God’s kingdom is coming and his will is going to be accomplished on earth as it is in heaven. Jesus kingly rule and authority was never stripped away from Him. He was in complete control of the whole scene on Palm Sunday as well as Good Friday.

Beginning in Revelation 11:1-2 we see John is given a “measuring reed like a rod”. He is given the modern day equivalent of a yard stick. He is told to go and measure God’s sanctuary and the alter, and count those who worship there.”

The idea here is one of ownership and protection. However, in verse 2 John is told to exclude the outer courtyard, outside of the sanctuary. Do not measure it, because it is given to the nations, and they will trample the holy city for 42 months. We read about where Jesus predicts this happening: Luke 21:24

Luke 21:24 ESV

24 They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

Here are the three questions you might be asking:

What is God’s sanctuary?

What is the holy city?

How do we understand the 42 months? (3 1/2 years)

On face value 42 months would be 3 1/2 years, however, some take it to mean a short period of time not literally 3 1/2 years. It would have seemed that John’s 1st-century audience would have seen the holy city to be Jerusalem.

Some have thought that it might represent the church or even “the earthly, ‘not yet’ aspect of the future heavenly Jerusalem.”

What is the Sanctuary John is told to measure?

Historically 2 temples have been built on the Temple mount. First, was the temple built by King Solomon that was destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar in 587-586 BC. The second was Zerubbabel’s temple that was later enlarged by Herod the Great only to be destroyed by the Romans in AD 70. Spiritually the idea of the Temple is multifaceted in scripture:

Jesus used the Temple to refer to Himself. (John 2:19-22 “Destroy this Temple and int three days I will raise it up.”)

The Church is called the Sanctuary of God. (1 Cor. 3:16 “Do you not know that you are the temple of God.”)

The Sanctuary in Revelation refers to the place God dwells and even God himself.

Some well-meaning scholars believe that it represents the church, the Christian community. They see no reason to expect a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem.

However, based on what Jesus said in Matthew 24:15

Matthew 24:15 ESV

15 “So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand),

And Paul in 2 Thessalonians 2:4

2 Thessalonians 2:4 ESV

4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God.

I believe that the future temple will be built in the last days. I believe that there will also be a millennial temple as described in Ezekiel 40-47.

We have God’s Promise of Protection to complete our Ministry

Revelation 11:3–6 ESV

3 And I will grant authority to my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” 4 These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of the earth. 5 And if anyone would harm them, fire pours from their mouth and consumes their foes. If anyone would harm them, this is how he is doomed to be killed. 6 They have the power to shut the sky, that no rain may fall during the days of their prophesying, and they have power over the waters to turn them into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague, as often as they desire.

God in His power gives the Holy city over to the nations to be trampled for 42 months. His place and His people are objects of intense opposition and persecution. God will also raise up at the same time two witnesses who will come in the power of the spirit of Moses and Elijah. They will proclaim His word and display His power. No one will be able to harm them until they “finish the testimony”.

Numerous suggestions have been given as to who these two witnesses are and what they represent:

WHO ARE THE TWO WITNESSES?

Elijah and Enoch; Elijah and Moses; Zerubbabel and Joshua; Elijah and Elisha; James and John; Peter and Paul; Law and Prophets; Law and gospel; Israel and the church; Israel and the Word; Church of Smyrna and Philadelphia

Even though each of these may have some merit, it seems best to see the two witnesses as individuals or a group who come in the spirit of Moses and Elijah to fulfill a specific ministry given to them by God.

WHAT WILL THEY DO?

Note: They will prophecy in Sackcloth the clothing of mourning, humility, grief, and repentance.

HOW WILL THEY CARRY OUT THEIR MINISTRY

They will do their ministry as two olive trees and two lampstands that represent God on Earth.

Olive trees provide the oil for the olive lamps which provide light. Therefore, they are to become the divine light of God. The oil of the spirit keeps alive the ministry light of life. This clearly represents the ministry of Moses and Elijah.

WHEN DO THEY COME

According to the text they prophecy during the time of the tribulation. It was expected that Moses and Elijah would come at the end of history, and here they are. Deuteronomy 18:18

Deuteronomy 18:18 ESV

18 I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

Malachi 4:5 ESV

5 “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.

They would come at the end of History and here they are preaching by the mighty power of the word of God.

And they are untouchable until their work is done. The Baptist missionary to China, Lottie Moon, said, “I have a firm conviction that I am immortal ’til my work is done” (Akin, 10 Who Changed the World, 64). She was right, and that is a truth every servant of God can claim.

We can Expect Persecution and Death for Telling the Truth

Revelation 11:7–10 ESV

7 And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them, 8 and their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city that symbolically is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from the peoples and tribes and languages and nations will gaze at their dead bodies and refuse to let them be placed in a tomb, 10 and those who dwell on the earth will rejoice over them and make merry and exchange presents, because these two prophets had been a torment to those who dwell on the earth.

Exalting Jesus in Revelation (We Can Expect Persecution and Even Death for Telling the Truth (Revelation 11:7–10)

The faithful missionary to the Auca Indians, Jim Elliott, had the same conviction as Lottie Moon. In a letter to his parents, he wrote,Remember you are immortal until your work is done. But don’t let the sands of time get into the eyes of your vision to reach those who still sit in darkness. They simply must hear.

(Akin, 10 Who Changed the World, 81)

It appears as those these two witnesses know that they only have a short time to proclaim their message. They are certainly not wasting any time in getting the job done.

Diana’s dad has a phrase that we have coined in our family, “You don’t make time sitting on the highway.” So, anytime they would take trips once Kenneth got into driving mode he was focused on getting from point A to point B with as few stops as possible.

How do we live our lives today for the Kingdom of God? Are we living at the pit stops of life and never truly ministering the way God has planned for us to minister. “You don’t make time sitting on the Highway of Life.”

When the two witnesses had finished their task they were attacked and killed by someone called “the beast.” Actually we are told that he will “make war” against them until he murders them.

Note: this beast will be mentioned in reference of Revelation 36 times.

He is clearly the one whom John calls the antichrist. Paul calls him the man of sin or “the lawless one.” He is Satan possessed and a demonically inspired person who will rule the world.

This will all take place that John symbolically describes as “Sodom and Egypt,” the place where our Lord was crucified. Sodom is a city that represents that which is abominable, immoral, and wicked. Egypt is a nation which symbolized idolatry, oppression, slavery, and suffering.

John appears to be separating Egypt and Sodom in terms of symbolism from Jerusalem.

Notice that all the evil nations of the world had their hand in the death of King Jesus. Jerusalem in this day will be no better that Sodom and Egypt.

First, we see that people from every tribe and nation will first see their dead bodies left in the street, shamed and humiliated.

Second, they will gloat and celebrate and send gifts! A new holiday is being established, we can call it “Dead Witness Day.”

Note: The coming of the beast is predicated on all of culture being so depraved that they gloat at the suffering and misery of others. All value of human life is gone.

Revelation 11:11–14 ESV

11 But after the three and a half days a breath of life from God entered them, and they stood up on their feet, and great fear fell on those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, “Come up here!” And they went up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies watched them. 13 And at that hour there was a great earthquake, and a tenth of the city fell. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the rest were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven. 14 The second woe has passed; behold, the third woe is soon to come.

We can Be Sure that God Breathes Life into His People.

The language used here is from the vision of Ezekiel 37, where the dry bones of God’s people are covered in sinews, muscles and skin and then the “breath (pneuma, wind or spirit) entered them and they became a ‘vast army.’

The phrase in Ezekiel and also here is from the creation account in Genesis 2:7 where ‘Adam’ who has been formed from the dust of the earth becomes a living, breathing being when God breathes the ‘breath of life’ into him. The hope we are given is of the post-mortem bodily resurrection in the age to come.

The raising of the witnesses after three and a half days parallels the three and a half years of testifying to the true power of the true giver of life and the one who brings dead things to life again.

God vindicates his saints. Friends, do not avenge yourselves, instead leave room for the wrath of God. (Romans 12:19). What about the 3 1/2 days, it was believed in Hebrew culture that after three days the spirit had left the body. Someone was not coming back from the grave.

Fear struck everyone who saw them come back to life. Remember at Jesus Resurrection there we but a few at the tomb now people from every tongue, tribe, and nation will see this taking place. Every news agent will be covering the event and it say’s they will be struck with fear.

Revelation 11:15–19 ESV

15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 18 The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.” 19 Then God’s temple in heaven was opened, and the ark of his covenant was seen within his temple. There were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake, and heavy hail.

We can be certain that God will be Glorified in the Coming of His Kingdom.

Remember that last week we reference the prayer that Christians have prayed for thousands of years. “Your Kingdom come, and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven,” that day is here.

The people of God have been silent for far too long. Remember when the seventh seal was opened we expected the climactic judgment to take place. Instead there was half an hour of silence.

Now as the trumpets reach their climax we are still kept in suspense. There is a difference in that this time there are ‘loud voices’ instead of silence. But we do not reach the final judgment or anything like it.

Instead we have a heavenly chorus of voices praising God.

God has come to this world and our God and His Christ will reign forever, and ever from Psalm 2.

Again we have more falling on their faces in absolute worship of the King of Glory.

It is almost like competing voices in a sporting event challenging anyone to contend that there team is greater however, in this shouting match there is no equal. No one can match the volume of the intensity that is being laid out by the saints in the heavenly Kingdom.

No Solos in the Book of Revelation

Interestingly, of all the songs in the Book of Revelation, not one is a solo. The twenty-four elders sing and cast their crowns before His feet, the united voices of countless angels resound, every living creature in heaven and earth and under the earth and all that is in them are joined in one song. Those who are victorious over the beast are given harps and a song to sing. In every case multitudes of people or angels unite in the same song with absolute unity.

God has always been sovereign and worked out His plan for His Glory and honor alone, however, now the rebellion of evil that has consumed this world will be crushed once and for all being now swallowed up in Sweet Victory.

FORMAT OF THE WORSHIP

Giving thanks to the one who is and was. (The thanksgiving characterized in terms of His power and eternity)

He has taken his great power and begun to reign. (you have taken is in the perfect tense meaning God has taken the power permanently).

God’s righteous judgment and wrath on a defiant and rebellious world. (the nations were angry and received God’s righteous anger in return. The time is now for the dead to be judged. The Great White Throne of Judgment)

5 Different Categories were used to describe the People of God

servants (literally slaves)

prophets (prophet, priest, and King. No need for prophets today, God has given us His word.)

saints (all True believers of Christ)

those who fear Your name. (Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge; fools despise wisdom and understanding. The world represents the fools.)

small and great. (The first shall be last and the last shall be first at the table of God. There is no room for soloist at the table of our Lord)

CLOSING

Chapter 11 concludes with a glimpse of the ark of the covenant seen in his temple. The ark is no longer restricted only to the High Priest it is now open and visible for all to see. Because of the redemptive work of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. As a kingdom of priests redeemed by the Lamb, all believers enjoy the fullness of God’s presence

To Know and Receive Jesus is to Receive Grace.

To Reject the Savior is to Receive Wrath.

ARE YOU A FRIEND OR ARE YOU GODS ENEMY?

“It is Hard to imagine a More important Question”

James 4:4 “you adulterous people, or do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore, whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

James 2:23 ESV

23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.