Revelation - Part 11
Notes
Transcript
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.”
The Angel and the Scroll
The Angel and the Scroll
So, here, in the middle of the 6th trumpet, we have an interlude.
The same thing happened during the 6th seal.
This does not seem to be something that happens chronologically after the events we just read last week.
John’s vision has shifted, and we know this by the phrase, “Then I saw” in verse 1.
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.
That phrase has always preceded a change of scenes in this book, and it doesn’t stop living up to that purpose here.
Who is this Angel?
Who is this Angel?
Let’s look at what we know about him based on the text.
He is mighty
He is coming down from Heaven
He is wrapped in a cloud
Has a rainbow over his head
Note, this same Greek word we found in Rev 4.3 that was also translated as “rainbow”
3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.
However, we concluded that it actually meant a circle of green light, or a halo.
The Greek word is “iris”, and it simply means circle of light.
It can refer to a rainbow, but it doesn’t seems to fit the context to me.
It is only found twice in the Bible, and the first one is talking about the “iris” looking like an emerald around the throne that Jesus is sitting in.
The second, and only other mention of this word “iris” is in Rev 10.1
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.
And, it is possible it is a 7 colored rainbow, but I would think the imagine is more like a halo of light, since it is followed by the next characteristic of this mighty angel, which is that…
His face was like the Sun.
Then we see that his legs are like pillars of fire.
What else do we know about this angel?
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,
He has a scroll.
His hand is open…
He has one foot in the sea
He has one foot on land.
3 and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded.
His voice is loud
His voice is like a lion roaring
His voice carries the sound of 7 Thunders…
Now, I’m about to saw something that might seem strange at first, but hang with me.
We are asking the question, Who is this Angel
Let me remind you that “Angel” just simply means “messenger”.
It does not always apply to the spiritual beings that make up what is commonly referred to as the “heavenly host” or “Lord’s Army”.
And this angel seems to be doing things that are above the rank of an angel.
Let me explain.
First, we said he was mighty
Is 9.6 says that the Son of God would be called “Mighty God”.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Next, we said this “angel” is wrapped in a cloud.
Let me remind you what scripture says about the One wrapped in a Cloud…
21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.
10 And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud.
9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord,
15 Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain.
16 The glory of the Lord dwelt on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days. And on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the midst of the cloud.
Here, we see 6 days the Lord was in the cloud, and speaks on the 7th.
In our text, we’ve reached an interlude between the 6th and 7th trumpet, and A mighty Angel speaks from a cloud with a voice like Thunder.
5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord.
I could just say the Bible says Yahweh is in the Cloud a bunch of times, but I wanted to make sure you see I’m not making this up.
25 Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. And as soon as the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied. But they did not continue doing it.
10 And when the priests came out of the Holy Place, a cloud filled the house of the Lord,
11 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.
1 The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!
2 Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
1 An oracle concerning Egypt. Behold, the Lord is riding on a swift cloud and comes to Egypt; and the idols of Egypt will tremble at his presence, and the heart of the Egyptians will melt within them.
5 He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.”
9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.
10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,
11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
7 Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.
30 Then will appear in heaven the sign of the Son of Man, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
13 “I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him.
14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
I could go on about the “cloud”, because trust me, there is more Bible to back this up than anything I’ve every looked into.
The next thing we said was that this mighty angel would come down from Heaven.
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.
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Then, what about the Iris over his head… That word is only found twice in the Bible, and the only other time it is used, it is talking about Jesus on the Throne.
3 And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald.
His face is like the Sun…
Who could that be?
16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.
That verse is about Jesus
So, is this one…
2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
At the Transfiguration, the face of Jesus was like the Sun.
Daniel said it this way…
6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
Is this not the same being?
Are we not all talking about the same Person?
None other than Jesus?
All of it lines up.
Legs like pillars of fire.
15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters.
This is about Jesus having feet like bright bronze
which is very similar to the look of fire
Daniel said the same thing about his arms and legs
6 His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.
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,
One foot on land, and one on sea symbolizes his authority over the whole earth.
Jesus has that authority.
18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
3 and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded.
Voice like Thunder,
I’ve already read many passages that talked about the cloud, and also described the voice of God like Thunder, many waters, a multitude of people, and so forth. I won’t read them again for the sake of time.
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.”
Voice like a roaring lion
12 A king’s wrath is like the growling of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life.
8 The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who can but prophesy?”
10 They shall go after the Lord; he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west;
4 For thus the Lord said to me, “As a lion or a young lion growls over his prey, and when a band of shepherds is called out against him he is not terrified by their shouting or daunted at their noise, so the Lord of hosts will come down to fight on Mount Zion and on its hill.
That verse is about the second coming, and says the Lord will growl like a lion.
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.”
So, the words that came out with the 7 thunders, John was told not to write them.
But to seal them up.
This means this mighty angel has information that we do not have.
This is also an indication that the angel symbolizes Jesus.
He is God, and God is omniscient, or all knowing.
There are some things that he shares here with John, that we are not to know about yet.
He did the same to Paul when he took him up to the 3rd heaven
So, what is it that we are not to know?
We can only speculate, but it feels to me like it the names of those who are saved.
10 They shall go after the Lord; he will roar like a lion; when he roars, his children shall come trembling from the west;
It is quite possible that John heard the names of those being called home.
And he could not write them down.
But we can only guess, because we were never meant to know.
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,
Here we see that this mighty angel is able to sware by God.
This is something that the Bible says we should never do.
The word “swore” is found 26 times in the Bible,
And almost all of them are tell us not to do it.
The only time it is viewed in a positive light is when God does it.
I won’t share all 26 examples, but just two passages to make my point.
Notice the words swear, sworn, and oath in the following passage, and trust me that it is the same greek word found in rev chapter 10.
33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’
34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God,
35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.
37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.
So, we are not to swear by anything, especially by God,
And this angel raises his right hand to heaven, a symbol of authority over Heaven
and swears to God on the throne.
How can he do that?
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
14 saying, “Surely I will bless you and multiply you.”
15 And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.
16 For people swear by something greater than themselves, and in all their disputes an oath is final for confirmation.
People swear by something greater than themselves,
And let me go back and read vs 13 again…
13 For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
So, Jesus tells us to never swear by anything, especailly God.
And this angel raises his right hand to Heaven and swears by the One on the Throne.
Who else can do that but God?
He can swear by himself since there is none greater.
And what does he swear?
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.
The mystery of God would be fulfilled without delay…
what is the mystery of God?
Feels like I’ve heard that term before…
16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
Sounds to me like the mystery of God is Christ… in fact, that is what Paul says in…
2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ,
3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
For the mystery to be fulfilled, if that mystery is Christ, then I would surmise that everyone needs to know about him, and we know that they all will know, when every knew will bow, and every tongue…
To finish up the chapter, we see that John is told to eat the scroll,
And the scroll would taste sweet in his mouth, and then bitter in his stomach.
This is very similar to another passage…
8 “But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”
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.
Bittersweet Message
Bittersweet Message
Why is it sweet for John, and then bitter?
It seems the appearance of Jesus will be sweet to us,
But bitter to those whose names are not written in that scroll.
that is my best interpretation of it.
It is like a bitter aftertaste
Justice is a two-edge sword
On one side, many will be saved
but on the other side, many will be lost.
Hence the news being “bittersweet”.
Now, there are many commentaries that will disagree with my interpretation of Revelation ch 10, but the main reason they do so, is because they do not see Jesus as God himself… so the argument of swearing by the one on the throne being God swearing by himself, wouldn’t make sense to them, as one example.
If it was not Jesus himself,
Then it was a vision of a being that symbolized Jesus.
Because, I do not think any angel, no matter how great could swear by God, shine like God’s glory, and come in a glory cloud from heaven. That is above the pay grade of an angel IMO.
