The Second Interlude (Part 1)
Notes
Transcript
I want to thank Frank Pruden for filling in for me last week and finishing up chapter 9. At the end of chapter 9, there is condemnation/judgment-like declaration…
The rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands nor give up worshiping demons and idols of gold and silver and bronze and stone and wood, which cannot see or hear or walk, nor did they repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.
We’ve been through the opening of the 7 seals of the scroll of judgment by the Lamb that was slain. We’ve seen the blowing of six trumpets of judgment that has brought God’s wrath on wicked and rebellious humanity. The saints have been sealed and protected by God.
Yet there is still—all the way along—the opportunity for repentance. And people DON’T REPENT. Look…if nothing else, the book of Revelation should teach us that God is patient and merciful. There’s been a lot of wrath and a lot of judgment but God is patiently merciful. He’s offering forgiveness if people will repent—but like Pharoah, their hearts are just getting harder and harder.
And, so, just like in chapter 7—where there was an interlude between the 6th and 7th seals being opened—there is now a two-part interlude between the 6th and 7th trumpets of judgment.
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, 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.” And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven 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, 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.
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.” 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.” 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. And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”
There are three main “characters” in this chapter/interlude:
The Heavenly Messenger
The Heavenly Messenger
A “mighty angel” // Description
Coming down from heaven
Wrapped in a cloud
Rainbow over his head
Face like the sun
Legs like pillars of fire — one foot on land & one in the sea
He has been given authority from God.
The Heavenly Message
The Heavenly Message
He’s holding an open scroll.
Is this the same scroll as chapter 5? There’s difference of opinion on this but I think it could possibly be.
The point—God’s word is consistent. It’s telling ONE story.
This is the final chapter of prophecy. This is the full & final unfolding of God.
The Seven Thunders (allusion to Psalm 29)
God’s authoritative word. God’s judgment. His decree is final.
The Bible is God’s voice. It’s his decree.
It’s imminent — verse 6.
Look, again, at verse 7.
Why does the voice tell John not to write down what the seven thunders say? (Allusion to Daniel 8:26
The vision of the evenings and the mornings that has been told is true, but seal up the vision, for it refers to many days from now.”
He said, “Go your way, Daniel, for the words are shut up and sealed until the time of the end.
God’s sovereignty — he is in control and we do not need to know all of the details.
The Earthly Messenger
The Earthly Messenger
John is “recommissioned.” He is one in a long line of prophets. He’s in line with Daniel, Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah—all who prophesied about the coming and establishment of God’s kingdom in the face of empires and kings that oppose Him and His rule.
Bitter & Sweet
John’s authority is not his own. Notice—he’s not done ONE THING that wasn’t commanded of him. The angel or the voice says “go” — he goes. The voice says “write this down” — he writes it down. The voice says “don’t” — he doesn’t.
What is our response?
The Church is God’s prophetic voice in the world. By “church” I mean INDIVIDUALLY and CORPORATELY.
The Church is God’s prophetic voice in the world. By “church” I mean INDIVIDUALLY and CORPORATELY.
“no more delay”
We’re running out of time.
Twisting/Manipulating of God’s Word
Again—John’s obedience to the authority.
Sweet but bitter.
So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.
All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.