Revelation for Now & Future Part 21

If you have been with us for some time in this study:

You can remember that there was an interpretive pause between the sixth and seventh seals.

Here we once again see an interpretive pause, yet this time it is between the 6th and 7th trumpets.

While the pause extends thru 11:13, we will divide the pause into two sections

Revelation 10:1–11 ESV

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.”

A Shift in Focus

Notice up until this point and for some time we have focused on the vision in Heaven or one might say before the throne of God.

Here in this aside/interpretation John focuses his attention on the earth.

Revelation 10:1–2 ESV

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,

Here we have a description which may be familiar:

“another mighty angel” — powerful would be the exact translation

We should find a clear connection to the between this Angel and the might of the angel in 5:2

Revelation 5:2 ESV

2 And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break its seals?”

Notice that this angel is not ordinary, but is given divine attributes. —attributes applicable in Revelation only to God or Christ.

Attributes connected to the Divine:

clothed with a cloud -Dan. 7:13; Rev. 1:7, 13; 14:14

rainbow upon his head - Ezekiel 1:26-28

face was like the sun - Rev. 1:16; Matt. 17:2

feet like pillars of fire - Rev. 1:15; Ex. 13:21

If we compare all of these to the OT we say He is the Angel of the Lord. =Yahweh/Christ

He holds a “little scroll” =A word that seems to be made up by John to differentiate between this small scroll and the larger scroll.

βιβλαρίδιον- used three times and all in this chapter.

This lets us know that there is a purposeful distinction pointed to here.

The book contains a prophecy against — Many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.

The book is put on display in chapters 11-16

Significant comparisons —

The books/scrolls are both open and held by Christ

Both are allusions to the scroll of Ezekiel

Both are related to Daniel 12

Both concern the destiny of people throughout the earth.

One final importance from the first two verses:

His feet were on both sea and land — the sovereignty of God over both.

Prophetic Not Disclosed

Revelation 10:3–4 ESV

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.”

We have the loud voice like a lion - definitely reminding us of Christ.

7 Thunders - implication of judgement.

John is told not to write them down.

not all prophecy given by God has been recorded

2 Thessalonians 2:5 ESV

5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?

Paul reminds that he gave some prophecy to the church at Thessalonica, but did not fully record it.

So why not disclose it to all:

God’s prerogative.

God’s purpose — established plan that disclosing would interfere.

Possibly the disclosure of the judgement included would alter the heart or mind of those God did not wish to alter.

No Delay

Revelation 10:5–6 ESV

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,

Significant features about the Angel’s actions:

He swore an oath to God

We can compare to Daniel 12:7

Daniel 12:7 ESV

7 And I heard the man clothed in linen, who was above the waters of the stream; he raised his right hand and his left hand toward heaven and swore by him who lives forever that it would be for a time, times, and half a time, and that when the shattering of the power of the holy people comes to an end all these things would be finished.

So we see a reproduction or picture of God’s word to Moses to judge the ungodly as in Deut. 32:40-43

Revelation 10:7 ESV

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.

From the church age till final judgment is the time frame.

We might compare this passage to the time of delay spoken about in 6:11

The fulfillment of Daniel 2:28-45. the revealing of the mysteries of God which is the Gospel.

John Eats the Prophecy/Scroll

Revelation 10:8–11 ESV

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.”

In converse or antithesis of v.4 John is now told to take the scroll that is open.

So from don’t write this to take the open scroll in one chapter.

The things that are hidden will be made known.

In vs. 9-10 John is given the book and it is symbolic of his call as a prophet for the time. Compare it to Ezek. 2:8-3:3 where the prophet eats the scroll as part of his being set aside.

He is told to eat and the physical is representing the spiritual.

Sweet in that it contains God’s life-giving words

of delight and bitterness.

The purpose brings the bitterness.

Those who would listen were still enemies/rebellious

Judgment was coming

Compare with Jeremiah

Jeremiah 15:15–18 ESV

15 O Lord, you know; remember me and visit me, and take vengeance for me on my persecutors. In your forbearance take me not away; know that for your sake I bear reproach. 16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts. 17 I did not sit in the company of revelers, nor did I rejoice; I sat alone, because your hand was upon me, for you had filled me with indignation. 18 Why is my pain unceasing, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Will you be to me like a deceitful brook, like waters that fail?

So just as Jeremiah was in lamentations, so John here.

Revelation 10:11 ESV

11 And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”

John is told what he must do again.

Walking Away, But In:

The destruction and judgement referred to in this passage is for those who do not know Christ.

We should not want or long for the judgment of others.

God does not look fondly upon judgement, but His righteousness/holiness require it.