The Trumpet Interlude: Part 1
Notes
Transcript
The Mighty Angel With The Little Book
The Mighty Angel With The Little Book
1 I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire.
The phrase “I saw” signifies another vision, or at least the next stage of the ongoing vision.
John now sees another mighty angel coming down from heaven. Though the description of this angel (clothed with a cloud, rainbow on his head, face like the sun) seems to be similar to the description given by John of Jesus in Revelation 1:12-17, it is doubtful that this is indeed Jesus. This is most likely another one of the angelic beings carrying forth the plan of God.
This angel is said to be clothed with a cloud. Many times throughout Scripture, clouds signify the judgment of God. This is fitting seeing that the seventh and most severe of the trumpet judgments is about to take place.
It also says that there is a rainbow on his head. This visual of the rainbow reminds us of God’s promise during the time of Noah. It reminds us of how God spared those few faithful people in the midst of worldwide, cataclysmic judgment. This angel represents the same thing. Those who are found in Christ will take courage upon seeing this angel’s arrival. He will be the very reminder they need in the midst of such horrible disaster.
The fact that his angel’s face shown like the sun, speaks of how he dwelt in the presence of God. This is the same effect that is witnessed of Moses after spending 40 days on the mountain with God (Exodus 34). Because he had dwelt for so long in God’s presence, his face literally glowed. It was so obvious that it scared the people of Israel and he had to wear a veil to cover his face. This angel no doubt glows for the same reason, signifying that he has been sent by God Himself.
John next tells us that this angel’s feet were like pillars of fire. Pillars represent something that is solid and unmovable. Fire represents judgment. This angel is sent forth to herald to sure coming of God’s wrath upon all sin.
2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.
John tells us that when this angel reached earth, he straddled the shoreline placing one foot on the sea and his other foot on the land.
We are given no reference as to where he was, or what body of water he was stepping on, so this is more than likely symbolic of how God’s judgment will reach the entirety of the earth, falling upon land and sea.
With his feet planted, this angel now begins to herald the message for which he was sent to proclaim with a loud voice.
It is so loud that it is compared to when a lion roars. A lion’s roar can be heard from miles away. Though this angel’s voice was no doubt much louder than that, reaching the ends of the earth, a lion’s roar was the only thing John had to compare it to.
We are told that when this angel cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. These seven thunders could be just that, just thunderings, which seem to accompany the presence of God. Some could argue that they are not as well, seeing that whatever they uttered was a language John could understand. It is not unthinkable that thunders spoke though. Jesus told the religious leaders that if He were to stop the people from giving Him praise, that the rocks would cry out in the same manner (Luke 19:40). Everything that God created was meant to give Him praise and speak to His majesty, so these thunders could very well have done so.
4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.”
After the seven thunders uttered their voices, John was about to write down what he heard as commanded, but a voice from heaven stopped him. He was told to seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them. This is the only time that John is told not to write something down. In all of the other instances, John is commanded to record all of the details of each vision, but here is pen is stayed.
We do not know what these seven thunders uttered, and to speculate would be useless, but whatever it was needed to be reserved until a later time.
5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven
6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer,
7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets.
In preparation to speak his message, the angel raised up his hand to heaven. This was a common gesture when giving an oath in the name of God, which is what this angel is about to do. His oath is one of fulfillment, fulfillment of the many cries and prayers from those mentioned in Revelation 6.
The angel swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer.
According to what this angel is saying, those who had been slain for the word of God are now being answered:
9 When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held.
10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?”
This group is not the only group who has ever pondered this question. Since the beginning, people have often questioned why those who are ungodly seem to make it just fine while those who are trying to live for the Lord are faced with such difficulty.
10 O God, how long will the adversary reproach? Will the enemy blaspheme Your name forever?
11 Why do You withdraw Your hand, even Your right hand? Take it out of Your bosom and destroy them.
3 Lord, how long will the wicked, How long will the wicked triumph?
4 They utter speech, and speak insolent things; All the workers of iniquity boast in themselves.
7 Why do the wicked live and become old, Yes, become mighty in power?
1 Righteous are You, O Lord, when I plead with You; Yet let me talk with You about Your judgments. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why are those happy who deal so treacherously?
2 You have planted them, yes, they have taken root; They grow, yes, they bear fruit. You are near in their mouth But far from their mind.
13 You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, And cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, And hold Your tongue when the wicked devours A person more righteous than he?
Not any more. The time of delay is over and things are about to be set right… for good. The mysteries of God will be unveiled and nothing will be left in secret. Jesus is coming!!! And when He does, Satan and all of his henchmen will be bound and thrown into the abyss. There will be no more temptation, no more accusations, no more sin. We will reign with Christ during the millennial kingdom free from evil.
John Eats The Little Book
John Eats The Little Book
8 Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.”
9 So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.” And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”
10 Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.
11 And he said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”
Some have argued that this little book is the same small scroll in which Jesus has been opening. Others have argued that it is a completely different scroll all together. I am not sure if there is any way we could know for sure, but whatever this scroll is, John is commanded to take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.
Once again, John is thrust into action within this vision. It is truly a unique experience. John is not only getting the opportunity to see thousands of years into the future, but is also getting to participate in the action as if he were part of the plan all along.
John follows orders and asks the angel for the book. The response of the angel is take and eat it. This seems like an odd command, but this angel already seems to know exactly what the outcome will be. He tells John that it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth. John took the book, ate it, and the results were just as the angel said. It was sweet because Jesus is taking the throne, but it was bitter because of all of the unsaved people that were perishing due to denying the grace of God. It is truly a bittersweet thing to behold.
Finally, the angel tells John that he must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings. It seems as if the angel is telling John that everything coming after this moment was to be recorded as before. It was a reminder for John to carefully write out each event for prophetic reasons.
