Revelation Chapter 10

Revelation 10 Observations 1. Another mighty angel…this is amidst the six trumpets, particularly the sixth, which had sounded at the mid-point of the last chapter; thus, this is a continuation of the sixth trumpet, where the first part was against the idolatrous visible church. This chapter is as an interlude, preparing for the upcoming furtherance of the sixth trumpet’s revelations. 2. Come down from heaven…He comes from above, He is a mighty Angel, much as God is described throughout the Old Testament. 3. Clothed with a cloud…he veils his glory, which is too great for mortality to behold; and he throws a veil upon his dispensations. Clouds and darkness are round about him.  4. A rainbow…rainbow was upon his head; he is always mindful of his covenant, and, when his conduct is most mysterious, yet it is perfectly just and faithful. 5. His face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire…as seen in the first chapter, this is Christ 6. A little book open…And he held in his hand a little book opened, probably the same that was before sealed, but was now opened, and gradually fulfilled by him, or better yet, that little book representative of the gospel. We are still in the midst of the revelation of the matters of those things which shall come to pass in this hereafter. 7. His right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth…His divine sovereignty is here detailed by His stance upon them. to show the absolute power and dominion he had over the world. 8. A loud voice, as when a lion roareth…here is the sound of the Lion of the tribe of Judah. Seven thunders, seven solemn and terrible ways of discovering the mind of God. This is but Christ coming as a roaring Lion for His people, to the answer of their pleas, as Joel notes, Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon shall be darkened, and the stars shall withdraw their shining. The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel. Our Lord’s gospel goes forth as a roar from the Lion of the tribe of Judah. 9. He had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices…thunder represents the strength of God and seven their entirety. 10. I was about to write… for preserving and publishing every thing he saw and heard in these visions, but the time had not yet come. 11. Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not…unless otherwise commanded, It becomes them to deliver every message with which they are charged, whether pleasing or unpleasing to men. That which is least pleasing may be most profitable; however, God’s messengers must not keep back any part of the counsel of God. 12. There should be time no longer… when this mystery of God is finished time itself shall be no more, as being the measure of things that are in a mutable changing state; but all things shall be at length forever fixed, and so time itself swallowed up in eternity. Imagine time no more; time was the consequence of sin, since sin marked out life and ended with death. This though is better understood to mean, the end has come. 13. The mystery of God should be finished…all that God has decree is but a mystery until it is revealed; until then, it is kept in the secret council of God. 14. When he shall begin to sound... 15. As he hath declared to his servants the prophets…God’s servants though the ages are as one. 16. Give me the little book…while the book is little, it is yet grand. 17. Take it, and eat it up… when this book of prophecy was more thoroughly digested by the apostle, the contents would be bitter; these were things so awful and terrible, such grievous persecutions of the people of God, and such desolation made in the earth, that the foresight and foreknowledge of them would not be pleasant, but painful to the mind of the apostle: thus was Ezekiel’s prophecy to him, ch. 3:3. “To eat the book; this part of the charge was given by the angel himself, hinting to the apostle that before he should publish what he had discovered he must more thoroughly digest the predictions, and be in himself suitably affected with them (Henry).” 18. It shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey. The immediate taste of God’s glorious work is sweet, but, once digested, the bitterness of the stamping out of sin and the evil one. 19. Thou must prophesy again…until all is said and done God’s prophets must but proclaim the Lord’s will to all. Doctrines I. The Secret things of God Even John’s Revelation is not a full revelation of all things, as certain things remain hidden with God. Even the fullness of revelation is bordered by our frailty, fallen condition, and mortality, so that we cannot begin to imagine the things of God. At the height of our knowledge of Him, we still are but greatly limited in our assessment of the divine Lord. II. The Bittersweet design of God’s word As God’s providence is always a balance of justice and mercy, it will always be bittersweet. So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me (Ez. 3: 3; 14). Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. Then the LORD put forth his hand and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth (Jer. 1: 8ff).” III. The Power of the Gospel trough God’s Word; Irresistible Grace See how His roar is no beckon, but a command. Ramsey says, “Let it never be forgotten that the gospel is not a mere voice of invitation, but of divine authority, and of resistless power, either for salvation or ruin. It spreads ruin to the foes of Jesus, while it assures His people of a speedy and complete triumph.” All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, He is pleased, in His appointed time, effectually to call, by His Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and, by His almighty power, determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ: yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by His grace. WCF IV. The Burden of the will of God Those entrusted with the proclamation of God’s word have no say in the matter, but are restrained by God, with a heavy hand He places it upon us to proclaim what has been shown and made known. V. Heaven and Time “That when this mystery of God is finished time itself shall be no more, as being the measure of things that are in a mutable changing state; but all things shall be at length for ever fixed, and so time itself swallowed up in eternity (Henry).” Our text though refers to the end and summarization of al things coming to an end. VI. The Sovereignty of God and of His Christ Observe the lofty position of God and Christ, see how He ministers, the Son, as High Priest, over His church, while still functioning as Sovereign over the land and seas, which He stands upon. Uses 1. For our pause let us recall the glory and awe of Christ that precedes all seen. 2. For our solace let us behold the rainbow above His head that is an ever present reminder. 3. For our contemplation let us assess the bittersweet nature of the decrees of God. 4. For our invigoration let us hear again the Lord’s dispatch to us of His word.