The Introduction to a Bittersweet Drama

Introduction

Read Luke 14:25-35 The Cost of Being a Disciple.

-Those words were given to force us to ask the question, “Is following Jesus worth it?”

Question: How many of you have actually taken the time to ask that question? Have you really counted the cost of being a disciple?

Illustration: A few years ago, I found myself in a position that I could have never imagined. I was sitting at the kitchen table talking to my wife about the possibility of quitting my job as an engineer, moving to Southeastern Seminary, and taking classes on a fulltime basis. Oh, I had lots of questions like, how will I support my family; where will we live; what about school for the kids, and not least of all what to do with my house? There were several mornings on the way to work when I would pull over on the side of the road and set there and pray about the situation. Most of those times I would end up watery eyed and I’d have to take the long way to work so that nobody would ask about why my eyes were bloodshot. You see, what God was doing in that situation was forcing me to ask that question, “Is it really worth following Jesus?” I was being forced to count the cost of being a disciple. ---- Do you know why it was so hard? ---- It was because deep down inside I knew God had a plan, but I had come to the realization that getting to the end of it would require me to give up and leave behind many of the people and things I loved, it was going to be bittersweet. ---- As we come to the 10th chapter of Revelation John pushes the pause button, so to speak, when it comes to detailing the end-time judgements, backing up in order to give us a bittersweet introduction to how God’s people will be both persecuted as well as protected in ch.11. Now, you and I both know that any discussion about something of that sort requires that we be given at least a little assurance, and that’s what John does in ch.10. Believers are given assurance that God has a plan but warmed that it is bittersweet. Let’s read from God’s word and then dive in a take a look.

Read Revelation 10:1-11

Pray

10:1-7 “Assurance of God’s Plan”

- Let’s look at vv.1-7 where we’re given the assurance of God’s plan.

Explanation/Argumentation The first thing I want you to notice is that this section begins with the phrase “Then/And I saw” (kai eidon in Greek), and it runs all the way to 12:18 (Just as a side note: some translations place 12:18 with ch.13, making it 13:1, but the chapter and verse divisions are not part of the inspired text and were added much later to make it easier for readers. It has been proven by scholars and is generally accepted that 12:18 should be part of the ending of ch.12 and not part of ch.13. We’ll discuss that more when we get there.) The fact that 10:1 begins with And I saw means that the information contained within this section is part of one big interrelated visionary experience. In other words, all the material from 10:1 to 12:18 is related somehow.

Explanation: After beginning with “Then/And I saw”, John then gives a description of a “another mighty angel” he saw “coming down from heaven”. He describes this angel as being “1… wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire.” While we’re not explicitly told in the text who this angel is, we’d probably be on safe ground to say that he is in some way related to Jesus. The description we’re given here is very similar to what was said about the appearance of Jesus back in Rev. 1:15-16. But why an angel? ---- Do you remember how in the OT you often read about the Angel of the LORD? I wonder if something like that is what’s going on here in John’s vision? ---- What of this angel; what is the point and purpose of what John sees? Look at vv.2 and 3, “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.” First, notice what the angel has, “had a little scroll open in his hand”. Now, there’s all kinds of disagreement among commentators as to what this “little scroll” is. Is it the scroll mentioned in Rev.5, or is it something else? My take on it is this: The text doesn’t explicitly tell us whether or not this is the same scroll as the one in Rev.5, therefore, I’m not going to dogmatic about it. However, there may well be a connection between the two because both the seven sealed scroll in ch.5 and the opened scroll here contain material related to the destiny of God’s people (which we’ll talk about in Rev.11.). ---- What does John see the angel do? “2… 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.” The significance of what John sees and hears doesn’t lie in the “seven thunders”, we honestly have no clue as to what they are as the text simply doesn’t say, and that’s the point of our being told in v.4, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.” From our perspective as believers, the real significance may lie in where the angel places his feet, and here’s why. A little later in Revelation you read about two beasts, a sea beast and a land beast (Rev.13), and you’re told that they’re given authority over the earth for a brief period of time, most people know these beasts as the Antichrist and False Prophet. Now, here’s what’s important about where the angel of Rev.10 places his feet when read in light of Rev.13 with its sea beast and land beast. ---- Even though there’s going to come a time on this earth when it looks like the powers of darkness are winning and are in control under the rule and reign of the Antichrist, the one who’s really in complete control is God. I can say that’s true because of what’s said in vv.5-7, “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.” Church, that angel John saw raised his hand towards Heaven and took an oath by the highest authority that’s possible, God, and guaranteed that what God began way back in Genesis with Adam and Eve, what he promised all of those OT prophets, WILL come to pass. ---- The point, church, is this, God doesn’t have a plan B, he doesn’t need one, his kingdom is going to come here on earth. We are assured of that here!

Appeal: But that brings up a question, doesn’t it, who’s going to get to be part of this kingdom? ---- The answer(?), only those who have placed their faith in Christ. If you haven’t done that, and you want to be part of the kingdom when it comes in its fullness, then I am calling you today to place your faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior and be saved!

10:8-11 “A Bittersweet Warning”

-Let’s look at vv.8-10.

Illustration: How many of you like happy endings? I know I sure do! I despise going to the movies and forking out all of the money for popcorn and a drink, only to watch the bad guy ride off into the sunset with the girl. It just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. ---- Maybe some of you are different than me on this one, but to me, what makes a movie really awesome is when the hero of the story battles through adversity and then ends up winning out. ---- Do you know the only real problem I have with movies like that? ---- Sometimes I wish they would give you fair warning that the hero is going to have to go through all of that bad stuff to end up on top. I wish they would tell you that the hero’s journey to victory was going to be bittersweet!

Argumentation: Well guess what, that’s exactly what John does here in vv.8-11. In vv.1-7 he gave us assurance that God’s plan is going to work out, but here, in vv.8-11, he gives us a bittersweet warning about how that plan will issue into victory in the end for God’s people.

Explanation: In v.8 John again hears that same voice from heaven (10:2,4) and it tells him, “8 … Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” John, then, does as he’s commanded and taking the scroll, he’s told this, “9 … Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” ---- What does this mean? John is taking his que from Ezekiel 2:1-3:3 when the prophet was given his commission to go to the people and call them to repentance (Read from Ezekiel if time permits). God told Ezekiel that the people wouldn’t listen because they were rebellious. Certainly, that was the bitter part of the message that Ezekiel had to bear, but he was also told to eat a scroll that would be sweet as honey. The sweetness for Ezekiel came from the knowledge that he was acting in obedience to what God had commanded. ---- Now, back to Rev. 10. Take a look at v.11, John says, “11 And I was told, ‘You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.” Just like Ezekiel, John was told to consume a scroll, and the message of what John has to tell is going to be bittersweet. Why(?) Because as God’s people spread the message about the salvation that’s available in Jesus Christ there will be those who completely reject it, and in their rejection, they will often lash out against the messengers (By the way, that’s you if you’re a believer!) That’s the bitter part. On the other hand, there will be those who gladly accept the message of salvation (that’s the sweet part).

Conclusion

Here’s where the rubber meets the road church. Jesus didn’t tell us when he left that the task before us would be an easy one. When Jesus sent the 12 out, he told them, 16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. 17 Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, 18 and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles. 19 When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. 20 For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. 21 Brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death, 22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” Friends, if we didn’t have that last sentence it would be pretty bleak wouldn’t it, but we have the promise that our Savior is with us through it all. Let me ask you, have you counted the cost of being a disciple of Jesus Christ? ---- In Rev. 10 John has presented us with the introduction to a bittersweet drama in chapter 11. In doing so he’s given us the assurance that God has a plan he’s sticking to, but he’s also warned us that it’s bittersweet, it’s costly. The question I set before you today as a believer is this, are you willing to be part of God’s plan, no matter what it costs you? ---- If you’re an unbeliever, are you willing to take the first step in becoming part of the plan by placing your faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and committing your life to him. What will it be, the choice is yours?

Invitation

Closing Prayer