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What in the World is Going On? • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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The book of Revelation is much more than just a warning to those who have yet to place their faith in Jesus as Savior, it is also a book of encouragement to those of us who have.
Already we have seen a parenthetical passage between the sixth and seventh seal judgment (chapter 7) which dealt with those who are sealed by God. Now that the sixth trumpet has sounded, there is a parenthesis between it and the final trumpet in 11:15.
Chapter ten brings in a scene change again, we have been looking at events unfolding on earth FROM heaven, now we are looking at events that will begin in heaven and have their ending, ON earth. Church, the overarching theme of these messages has been “What in the world is going on”, while we are daily shocked, angered, and overwhelmed by the events in our world, I am glad that there is a God in heaven who KNOWS, what is going on!
Chapter ten proves to us that God is in control, we see this by the events which unfold. Notice first...
The Mighty Angel v. 1-6
The Mighty Angel v. 1-6
1 And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: 2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, 3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.
Let’s jump in here and discuss...
Who the angel is not
The angel is not Jesus
Although some have suggested that he is
Although the angel bears similarities to the glorified Savior, he is not the Lord
The evidence which proves this...
Yes, in the OT, Jesus often appeared in preincarnate form as “the angel of the LORD”
However, this was BEFORE He took on flesh and was robed in humanity
Ever since the birth of Jesus, even after His resurrection, He has appeared as the Son of God
As the Son of God, He is seen throughout the NT by this signification, holding forth His deity.
Who the angel must be
The Bible calls him a “Mighty angel”
The word “Mighty” is translated in Revelation 5:2 as “strong”
“2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?”
Interesting how no one argues that the angel in chpater 5 is the Lord Jesus
The Bible refers to this angel as “another mighty angel”
there are two words for another
One meaning of the same kind or order
The other meaning of a new kind or order
In this case the word means one of the same kind or order
Some have suggested that this angel, and the one in Revelation 5, and later in Revelation 18, are members of special order of angels that make up, if you will, the entourage of the Lord Jesus, something like the Secret Service…though Jesus needs no bodyguards.
This then would make sense why here the angel is described as
Coming down from heaven, being in the Lord’s presence
Clothed with a cloud - indicating majesty
A rainbow, a symbol of God’s glory and promise, on his head
Face shining like the sun (Rev. 18 the angel that appeared brightened the earth) speaking of his closeness to the Lord
Feet as pillars of fire (speaking of judgment - some already passed, some ongoing, and some yet to come)
This would also explain why he could speak with authority, “a loud voice, as when a lion roareth”
To me this answers another question, look at Rev. 1:1 “1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John:”
“His angel” has been understood by some to mean Jesus appearing in His glory, but a better understanding was His angel was an angel belonging this special class of angels
Angels, after all, are messengers. John was saying that the book was revealed to him, some by God directly, some by Jesus, and some of what he wrote came from angels.
Further evidence would be the oath that is sworn in Revelation 10:5-6 “5 And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer:”
While the Bible has passages that teach God sometimes swears by Himself,
Hebrews 6:13 “13 For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,”
Ps. 89:35 “35 Once have I sworn by my holiness That I will not lie unto David.”
Here it is evident that the angel is swearing and oath by the highest name in the universe: The name of God!
There is still today no name higher than the name of our God! In chapter 10, this angels appears and has a message that affects the entire planet, this is noted by the fact in verse two that his right foot is on the sea, and his left on the earth. What is this message we read in verse 3? Good question! It leads us from the mighty angel to...
The Mystery of God v. 4, 6b-7
The Mystery of God v. 4, 6b-7
We read in Revelation 10:3 “3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.” What are these seven thunders? For the answer we look at Revelation 10:4
4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.
We don’t know what they said, and we’re going to leave it there. Where many get into trouble from the pulpit is when they try to tell us what they don’t know. Speaking the truth to you is more important to me than preaching a message full of made up facts, and the only fact we need concern ourselves with is that there are certain things which God simply does not want us to know.
There are, however “mysteries” that God wants us to know and understand. “How do you know that pastor?” Becasue the Bible says so! In fact, there is one in Revelation 10:6-7
6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer: 7 But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets.
A mystery in the Bible is not something that you must figure out. God is not asking us to play Clue! Rather, when the Bible mentions a “mystery” what is meant is that God is about to reveal something to us that has previously been hidden. We see this in 1 Corinthians 15:51
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
What mystery was Paul declaring? The rapture of the church, and the fact that not ever Christian will die, some will be alive when the rapture occurs.
What then is the “mystery of God” mentioned in verse 7? That God’s plan for the ages is about to be finished. The curse of sin is about to be lifted, and the earth is about to be cleansed. Did you know that sin did not just affect mankind, but also the earth? When Jesus died He died to redeem man, but when He returns He will redeem the earth!
Do you want to hear the best part? Verse six tells us that “…there shall be time no longer...”. The angel was not telling John that time was about cease, there will still be 3.5 years of tribulation when the seventh trumpet sounds. The word “time” is the word “kronos” and it can mean time, as in hours, or it can mean “delay”. The context tells us that the time of Jesus’ second coming is approaching and without delay!
Are you ready? If I wasn’t sure about where I was going to spend eternity, I’d be taking care of that today.
How is the angel to speak with such authority on this subject? The answer is found in...
The Manuscript to be Eaten v. 8-11
The Manuscript to be Eaten v. 8-11
God speaks to John in verse 8, “Go and take the book...” what is this book?
Some have suggested that the “little book” is none other than the seven sealed book we have seen already in Revelation 5. They claim that after the seals were broken that the Lord must have given it to the angel to give to John. However, there is no indication that Jesus did so.
What then is the significance? The best explanation I can give is that the little book represents the Word of God and how important it is that we devour it. Psalm 119:103
103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Compare also:
4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts.
Certainly there are promises in the Bible that bring a sweet taste to our mouth, promises of forgiveness of sin, our home in heaven, the love of God, the peace of God, the rapture and the return of Jesus! These are all sweet, but the Bible is a book of warning to unbelievers:
9 He will keep the feet of his saints, And the wicked shall be silent in darkness; For by strength shall no man prevail.
32 Then hear thou in heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, condemning the wicked, to bring his way upon his head; and justifying the righteous, to give him according to his righteousness.
22 They that hate thee shall be clothed with shame; And the dwelling place of the wicked shall come to nought.
9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: For the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.
7 The memory of the just is blessed: But the name of the wicked shall rot.
11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: For the reward of his hands shall be given him.
23 Behold, the whirlwind of the Lord goeth forth with fury, A continuing whirlwind: It shall fall with pain upon the head of the wicked.
3 And ye shall tread down the wicked; For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet In the day that I shall do this, saith the Lord of hosts.
This is the message that John was to carry before many people, but how? He was an old man, weak and frail. How could he preach this message? Through the written Word! This message has been preached before kings and in nations around the globe!
Christian, it is our responsibility to take the gospel to our community, and with God’s help we are going to do just that!
Conclusion: Everything we have just looked at today tells us one thing: God is in control.
I wonder today, is God at the center of your life? He is sitting on the throne of heaven, but is He also seated on the throne of your heart?
Let’s bow for prayer…as our musicians make there way forward, I invite our deacons to come as well.
In a moment we are going to partake of Communion, but before you can participate in that it is important to know that you are a child of God. Now is the time you should search your heart and be sure you are clear of any sin.
Now is the time ask, “Am I in the family of God? Do I believe in God, or have is believed on God’s promise of salvation through Jesus”? There is a big difference between the two. If you are uncertain then I invite you to come forward as we stand to sing...