Revelation 10v1-11

Hey friends would you pray with me - if you’re able, would you please stand for the reading of God’s word. Revelation 10:1-11

Revelation 10:1–11 (CSB)

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, his legs were like pillars of fire, and he held a little scroll opened in his hand. He put his right foot on the sea, his left on the land, and he called out with a loud voice like a roaring lion. When he cried out, the seven thunders raised their voices. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down!”

Then the angel that I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. He swore by the one 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, “There will no longer be a delay, but in the days when the seventh angel will blow his trumpet, then the mystery of God will be completed, as he announced to his servants the prophets.”

Then the voice that I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take and eat it; it will be bitter in your stomach, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”

Then I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I ate it, my stomach became bitter. And they said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

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This is the Word of the Lord. Please be seated.

Having grown up in the church I’ve been part of many different trainings for how to share your faith. How to witness. How to bring your friends to faith. How to “evangelize” others.

That word became kind of a dirty word for a lot of people, partly as it can make us treat people only as souls and not as complete people, but also because the task feels so strange and difficult and scary.

And so, I looked for a tool to make evangelism easier. I just wanted a system that worked and cost me very little.

Like i knew that a good christian was supposed to share - but if I’m honest I didn’t REALLY want to, and I had all the good excuses, like I’m not an evangelist, I’m gifted in other ways, Im in school, etc.

So what is the best tool? I tried Ray Comforts 10 commandments way, I tried online debates. I even remember trying gospel tracts at one point - and I gave one to one of my best friends at the time who was an atheist, and he thanked me for the chance to recycle and promptly through my tract in the recycle bin.

What I found is tools don’t make someone a master.

No surprise to most of yall, but I am not the most handy of men. Like my skills are limited. And if I just went to menards and bought all the best tools building a house, like all the dewalt power tools and even splurged on pack of the 5 hour batteries, that would not qualify me for the job. In fact - it just makes me an indebted and much more dangerous man. And Even if I were to somehow attach the pieces together into a home - I wouldn’t trust it without a master checking over everything I do!

Friends - in order the share the Gospel, we must be transformed by the Gospel. In order to share the hope of new creation, we must first be a new creation in Christ. In order to share Christ, we must participate in the life and death and resurrection of Christ.

As the word became flesh and God was incarnate amongst us to save the world, we too must be so incorporated into the body of Jesus that wherever we go we can live as the tangible presence of Jesus.

Because Jesus is up to something incredible. There have been no periods of Silence from heaven post-Pentecost. Jesus is on the move. The Kingdom is expanding. And the lost sheep are being found.

Our Text today is a bit of an intermission. We’ve been in the seven trumpets for the past few weeks, and just like the seven seals, where there was a break in between the 6th and 7th seal, so too, here, there is an intermission in between the 6th and 7th trumpet.

And this new vision starts with a giant angel. Let’s look at chapter 10, verses 1-3

Revelation 10:1–3 CSB

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, his legs were like pillars of fire, and he held a little scroll opened in his hand. He put his right foot on the sea, his left on the land, and he called out with a loud voice like a roaring lion. When he cried out, the seven thunders raised their voices.

We read that John saw a mighty spiritual being - and that word mighty means just that - powerful and strong. And this angel descends from heaven, wrapped in a cloud - adorned with a rainbow. And his face was brilliant and shining like our sun, and even his legs were glowing like fire.

And we see he’s holding a scroll in his hand - and it’s opened.

And apparently in this vision the angel is massive, with one foot in the see, and one on land, and as he opens up his mouth - there is a loud noise like a lion, and thunders respond to his cry.

Friends this is a very peculiar depiction of an angel. And because of how unique and spectacular the description, it has lead to some question as to the identity of this angel.

Specifically some postulate if this angel is Jesus. And you can see why as you look at the descriptions, and how they compare with Revelation 1, 5 and old testament language.

Being wrapped in a cloud seems like son of man language from Daniel seven. Adorned with a rainbow, well we saw the rainbow imagery used for God himself. His face like a sun - in Revelation 1, John used that language for Christ, and legs like fire, perhaps again like Revelation one and his feet being bronze, or even God leading the israelites through the wilderness by a pillar of fire.

On tope of that, his voice is like a lion - and he is holding an opened scroll! Which some theologians are saying isa the scroll in revelation 5 that Jesus was worthy to open.

The issue that others raise is that no where else in revelation is JEsus referred to as an Angel - and there are a lot of references to angels in this book.

Perhaps another way to look at it, some scholars argue we are seeing here a resurgence in Revelation of the Angel of the Lord that appeared throughout the Old Testament. Now, this is likely a qhole sermon in and of itself, but when you are reading through the old testament, there are times when a “angel of the lord” will show up, and seems to operate like God. Some have even postulated that when we read “The Angel Of The Lord” in the old testament that we are perhaps seeing a pre-incarnate Christ stepping into history. Fascinating, and a really fun study. Some are postulating that John is using that language here - so perhaps it is Jesus, but in the form and language of the Old Testament.

Regardless - this angel is communicating to John.

Verse 3 ends with the seven thunders raising their voices. But now look at verse 4

Revelation 10:4 CSB

And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down!”

This is another verse that has provided a bunch of speculation - which may be a bit ironic, as John is told not to reveal it - so is it really right to speculate wildly about something God tells him not to reveal?

I think it’s best in such a thing like this - is to remember that God is still God - he’s in control. and there are things that only he knows. So even though he’s revealing things to the churches through John here, we need to remember that he hasn’t revealed everything.

This is a complaint I hear occasionally about the Christian faith. Sometimes it comes from a young teenage person: “What am I supposed to do with my Life? Where am I supposed to go to school? Why won’t God just show up and reveal all the things to me in person?”

Or from older ones, skeptics, sometimes in good faith, sometimes not saying: “I’d believe if Jesus showed up here in the flesh. If he just revealed all the things to me I’d trust him.”

We forget that God did not make us robots. Like you have a will. And you have a life. And God is asking you to be faithful in that life. And sometimes there are 3 options and all of them are right or good. Sometimes God doesn’t just reveal himself because he wants us to pursue him rather than spoon feed us.

And sometimes, we just have to rest that God is God, and we are not. And theres a reminder here, I think, and invitation to trust God, even when we don’t understand. And that’s not to say we have blind faith - of course not! The whole faith we have is built on God stepping into history! We can look and press and research, and we can have great faith and confidence in the faith. But it is a faith. And there has to be trust too. God is still God. We are still the clay. We trust Him.Let’s read on

Revelation 10:5–7 CSB

Then the angel that I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. He swore by the one 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, “There will no longer be a delay, but in the days when the seventh angel will blow his trumpet, then the mystery of God will be completed, as he announced to his servants the prophets.”

Here we have a pronouncement - there will be no more delay - the idea is thus: the time has come. For such a time as this. Everything is about to come to it’s resolution.

This is like the grand crescendo before the finale of a musical score. It’s an alert, to John, thus the seven churches, and therefore us - that hey - the time is NOW.

Perhaps this is one of the frustrations I have when people use revelation predominately or exclusively as a furtitistic puzzle to be decoded. It diminishes what I think God is telling us - Hey the time is NOW. There is no more delay!

We are in the crescendo before the end. This is the final stretch before the finish line.

When I ran track in middle school, and as I watched the olympics this last summer - it seems like in the 400 relay, you put your best sprinter at the final stretch. You sprint towards the end.

But the people in the seven churches were feeling like it’s time to be complacent and capitulate with Rome.

Friends - that is the same tenor I sense in our own culture. We have grown tired of the faithful witness of Jesus - so instead of faithful living and preaching - let’s just do it the worlds way. Let’s put our hope in political leaders. Let’s dunk on people on facebook. Let’s let our bumper stickers do the preaching so I can just chill out till JEsus comes back.

Friend, in love - we need to WAKE UP!

There is never a time in a race to just stop and lay down - not if you want to finish. We must press on.

And that’s what the voice from heaven tells John here. verses 8-9

Revelation 10:8–9 (CSB)

Then the voice that I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take and eat it; it will be bitter in your stomach, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”

This is reminiscent of the scroll in Ezekiel. Johns told to eat the the scroll - that it will be sweet in the mouth, and yet bitter in his stomach.

Look at the next two verses

Revelation 10:10–11 CSB

Then I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I ate it, my stomach became bitter. And they said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

So John does so.

Okay- so the scroll perhaps the scroll from Revealtion 5 - which would have been Jesus will and testament to bring about all things to completion. Perhaps just the word of the Lord.

John takes it - and we see, it was as sweet as honey in his mouth.

Friends - this is what happens when we, the redeemed of the Lord, come and taste and see the goodness of God. When we experience salvation and hear the gospel. The Goodness of the salvation and the lordship of JEsus.

Do you remember that moment for yourself? Do you remember coming to faith and understanding that Jesus died for you? That your sins can be forgiven? That you can be made alive in Christ? That you can enjoy god forever? That shame is no more? That condemnation is over?

Do you remember the feeling of freedom when you heard the words that you are given?

Oh the sweetness of God’s mercy! Oh the goodness of salvation! There is NO sweeter truth that in Christ we can be reconciled to God.

John feasts on the scroll, and his mouth is filled with pleasure.

And yet his stomach turns - why?

It’s not cause the word of God is poison - nothing like that.

I think it’s because sometimes the gravity of the situation can make us sick to our stomach.

I don’t know if you’ve noticed this - but people who speak the truth of God to power throughout history usually end up dead.

Or they end up alone - as there are many who will abandon us as we pledge our allegiance to Christ and him alone.

Perhaps this is the hardest thing as a believer - to hear in faith the message of the gospel - and then to face the fact that as we tell others - many will reject the message that has the power to save. And it can break our hearts.

Look at verse 11 again

Revelation 10:11 CSB

And they said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

You must prophesy AGAIN. AGAIN. That is an underline, highlight, bold, italicized word.

This is an allusion back to Ezekiel - where the prophet was told to prophesy to the kingdom of Israel about what was about to happen - here again we see through Jesus the word now going forth to everyone.

And John must do it AGAIN.

But Lord, I already did, and now I’m old and imprisoned on this island.

Prophesy Again.

But God, I am weak. I’m old and I’ve already given you my years.

Prophesy Again.

But God, I am tired. I am poor. I have nothing left to give.

Then come eat the scroll - fill yourself on the goodness of God - and prophesy AGAIN.

For the time is now. There is no more delay. We MUST proclaim the gospel to all people.

Okay. Let’s ask our question

So What?

I believe it was the late JI Packer who said that whenever he reads a passage of scripture, he asks three questions:

What does this passage reveal about God?

What does this passage reveal about the world?

And what does this passage reveal about me?

And I think that’s a helpful framework

First - what does this passage reveal about God?

Jesus is here. Speaking. And creation, the thunders even respond to his call. And he is on the move. He is involved in this world. Seeking and saving the lost.

And God is so great and mysterious.

So what? so we should MARVEL at Christ. And we ought to listen to him.

What does this passage reveal about the world?

To me - it reveals that many in the world have hardened hearts. And we ought to PRAY fiercely that God would melt their hearts of Stone and would grant them faith.

There is a great mission field ahead of us. In Centerville, and beresford, and viborg, and hirley, and sioux falls, and america, and europe, and israel, and jordan, and asia, and africa - Friend they NEED to hear about Jesus!

And finally - what does this passage reveal about me?

Friend - to me, it’s so significant that before John is called to speak the word, he’s first called to eat it.

Some of us jump to speaking to others - but we haven’t come to Christ and savored his grace and we need to be reminded of the goodness of God.

This means we need to be fully focused on God and his word. We need to hear and be transformed, and delight in God - to the extent where it fills our mouths with sweetness.

And friends - if we are honest - this is not a once and done thing. This is a disciplined ongoing process of going to the God of Grace and Mercy and feasting on the goodness of God. invite Band

I wonder what would happen if we focus on fully ingesting the word of God ourselves - I wonder how that would impact our desire and our faithfulness in working with God to raise the spiritual temperature of southeastern South Dakota.

I wonder what would happen if we were so enraptured with Christ and his salvation and so fixated on his goodness - that when people wack us with words and taunts - all that would flow from us is the word of God.

And we need to remember - you can have all the best tools of evangelistic strategies down. You can go to all the camps.

But in order to be effective - we need to first come to Christ ourselves and be transformed - and we need to remeber that God is the one who saves. He will build the house. He is the agent of Salvation.

But that doesn’t mean we don’t keep preaching and proclaiming and telling people about Jesus.

Season your speech with salt and love and truth.

I can think of NO other way to end our time then to look to the table of communion.

This table, given to us by God, is a sermon that we participate in each time we come to the table. And we need to feast on Christ. For we need to be filled with him for sustenance so we can boldly proclaim the truths of his kingship.

move to communion.