Revelation 10 Study
Notes
Transcript
Announcements
Prayer
1. As we continue to study through the more symbolic and mysterious parts of Revelation, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the details and miss the overall point that God is making through John. Let’s start by talking about some ways that you’re learning to understand the main point of passages in Revelation and not get lost in the obscure details.
1. As we continue to study through the more symbolic and mysterious parts of Revelation, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the details and miss the overall point that God is making through John. Let’s start by talking about some ways that you’re learning to understand the main point of passages in Revelation and not get lost in the obscure details.
Coming back to the main idea of the passage is helpful. Trying to keep the “big picture” in mind. Remembering the point of Revelation, as John makes clear is important too. At the beginning:
3 Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.
And at the end:
7 “And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.”
Read Revelation 10:1-11
Read Revelation 10:1-11
1 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.
2 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,
3 and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded.
4 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.”
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,
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.
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.”
2. How is the angel described in vv. 1-3? How do these descriptions point to the nature of the angel’s authority and the divine source of his message?
2. How is the angel described in vv. 1-3? How do these descriptions point to the nature of the angel’s authority and the divine source of his message?
v. 1 - coming down from heaven; wrapped in a cloud; rainbow over is head; face like the sun; legs like pillar of fire
v. 2 - had little scroll open in his hand; right foot on the sea, left on the land
v. 3 - loud voice like a lion
The way this angel is described should call to mind the way Jesus is described in Revelation 1:13-16. His feet were like bronze, a loud voice like many waters, his face shining like the sun.
Also, the description of God’s throne in Revelation 4:3 includes a rainbow around the thone.
So whether this angel is Christ or not, it is certainly a representative of Christ who must be listened to.
3. In v. 2 we read about a “little scroll” that is “open in his hand.” We’re not told exactly what the contents of this scroll are. It could be the same scroll from Revelation 5 that has the seven seals. Or it could be a new scroll that reveals the events of Revelation 11. Whichever it is, what matters is that it is open and it signifies that the prophecy will continue.
3. In v. 2 we read about a “little scroll” that is “open in his hand.” We’re not told exactly what the contents of this scroll are. It could be the same scroll from Revelation 5 that has the seven seals. Or it could be a new scroll that reveals the events of Revelation 11. Whichever it is, what matters is that it is open and it signifies that the prophecy will continue.
4. In v. 4, John tells us that when the seven thunders sounded, he was told not to write what the seven thunders have said. The seven thunders likely refers to a proclamation of judgment. What does this teach us about God’s sovereign choice to reveal or conceal his plans?
4. In v. 4, John tells us that when the seven thunders sounded, he was told not to write what the seven thunders have said. The seven thunders likely refers to a proclamation of judgment. What does this teach us about God’s sovereign choice to reveal or conceal his plans?
God reveals all that we need to know, but he hasn’t revealed everything to us that will take place. He wants us to know that there are things that we can’t know.
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.
What he has told us, we are to heed and obey, rather than conjecture about what he has kept concealed.
5. The next verses in Rev. 10 kind of fill this out for us though by pointing to a future fulfillment of Gos’ promises and plans. That brings up question of waiting on God. Why do we often find it difficult to wait on God and the fulfillment of his plans?
5. The next verses in Rev. 10 kind of fill this out for us though by pointing to a future fulfillment of Gos’ promises and plans. That brings up question of waiting on God. Why do we often find it difficult to wait on God and the fulfillment of his plans?
We tend to be impatient. We live in a society where we want and can have everything within minutes and we project that mindset onto God. Plus, we can easily put ourselves into the place of God by suggesting that we know exactly what we need, when we need it. This isn’t the case. God has a bigger and better plan than we could ever imagine. But we need the grace and strength of the Holy Spirit within us to be patient, trust God, and believe that his plans and his timing are always best.
6. What is John told to in vv. 8-11? Read Ezekiel 3:1-7 for OT context. What similarities and differences do you see?
6. What is John told to in vv. 8-11? Read Ezekiel 3:1-7 for OT context. What similarities and differences do you see?
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.
4 And he said to me, “Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them. 5 For you are not sent to a people of foreign speech and a hard language, but to the house of Israel— 6 not to many peoples of foreign speech and a hard language, whose words you cannot understand. Surely, if I sent you to such, they would listen to you. 7 But the house of Israel will not be willing to listen to you, for they are not willing to listen to me: because all the house of Israel have a hard forehead and a stubborn heart.
Both John and Ezekiel are instructed by God to eat a scroll. They are both commissioned to speak God’s Word of judgment.
Ezekiel prophesied to Israel whereas John was instructed to prophecy to many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.
7. If the little scroll is symbolic for God’s Word, how are we to apply the fact that John is instructed to eat the scroll?
7. If the little scroll is symbolic for God’s Word, how are we to apply the fact that John is instructed to eat the scroll?
We must eat the Word of God as well, that is, we must have a regular diet of Bible intake. God’s Word is the spiritual nourishment for our souls. It is how we have life. Remember what Jesus said in Matthew 4:4 ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ We must discipline ourselves and prioritize the study and meditation on the Bible as much as we prioritize eating every day. Otherwise, we will spiritually waste away.
8. Not only are we to take in the Word, but what else are we to do once we have dwelt in the Word?
8. Not only are we to take in the Word, but what else are we to do once we have dwelt in the Word?
Share the good news. In v. 11, John is told that he must again prophesy to the peoples, nations, languages, and kings. He was told to take God’s Word to the people so that some might repent and believe. We have the same commission. Take the good news of the gospel to the world so that some might repent and believe.
9. Now, in vv. 9-10 we see that the scroll tastes sweet but was bitter in John’s stomach. What does that mean as it relates to God’s Word and the proclamation of it?
9. Now, in vv. 9-10 we see that the scroll tastes sweet but was bitter in John’s stomach. What does that mean as it relates to God’s Word and the proclamation of it?
The Word is sweet as it is a message of salvation for those who believe. But it is bitter as it is a message of righteous judgment for those who refuse to repent. When we take the gospel to our neighbors and nations, there will be those who repent and that is a sweet truth. But there is also the bitterness that some will not and if they never do, they will be subject to God’s righteous judgment.
