The Mighty Angel And His Message

Revelation 10:1–11 (NLT)

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire. And in his hand was a small scroll that had been opened. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. And he gave a great shout like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered.

When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Keep secret what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down.”

Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand toward heaven. He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay. When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.”

Then the voice from heaven spoke to me again: “Go and take the open scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”

So I went to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. “Yes, take it and eat it,” he said. “It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!” So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach.

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

INTRODUCTION:

I- TAKE HEED TO THE MESSENGER AND MESSAGE OF GOD. (Revelation 10:1-7)

Revelation 10:1–7 (NLT)

1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire.

2 And in his hand was a small scroll that had been opened. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.

3 And he gave a great shout like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered.

4 When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Keep secret what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down.”

5 Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand toward heaven.

6 He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay.

7 When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.”

A- Remember the origin of the message. (Revelation 10:1)

Revelation 10:1 (NLT)

1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire.

1- The origin is heaven, not men.

(2 Timothy 3:16)

2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

(2 Peter 1:21)

2 Peter 1:21 (NLT)

21 or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

2- The origin of any message delivered by God’s messenger is heaven and must not be ignored.

(Hebrews 2:1-4)

Hebrews 2:1–4 (NLT)

1 So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it.

2 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished.

3 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak?

4 And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

B- Recognize the position of the messenger. (Revelation 10:1)

Revelation 10:1 (NLT)

1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face shone like the sun, and his feet were like pillars of fire.

1- Note the angelic messenger here:

a- Clothed in the glory of God.

b- He is a messenger of the covenant-filled rainbow.

c- The message is one of judgment.

(1) Sun in brightness - nothing hidden

(2) feet of fire - refers to judgment

C- Respect the message delivered. (Revelation 10:2-7)

Revelation 10:2–7 (NLT)

2 And in his hand was a small scroll that had been opened. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.

3 And he gave a great shout like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered.

4 When the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. But I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Keep secret what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down.”

5 Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand toward heaven.

6 He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay.

7 When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.”

1- It is an open message from God. (Rev. 10:2)

Revelation 10:2 (NLT)

2 And in his hand was a small scroll that had been opened. He stood with his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.

a- Note that the book is open- God’s message is open to all who will hear.

b- Note the angel’s authority:

(1) Heaven and Earth both respond to the angel’s voice. (Rev. 10:3)

Revelation 10:3 (NLT)

3 And he gave a great shout like the roar of a lion. And when he shouted, the seven thunders answered.

(2) The Angel derives his authority from God. (Rev. 10:5-6)

Revelation 10:5–6 (NLT)

5 Then the angel I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand toward heaven.

6 He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay.

2- The time of grace will come to an end. (Revelation 10:6-7)

Revelation 10:6–7 (NLT)

6 He swore an oath in the name of the one who lives forever and ever, who created the heavens and everything in them, the earth and everything in it, and the sea and everything in it. He said, “There will be no more delay.

7 When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled. It will happen just as he announced it to his servants the prophets.”

a- God’s master plan will come to fulfillment.

II- ACCEPT THE MISSION THAT BELONGS TO EVERY BELIEVER. (Revelation 10:8-11)

Revelation 10:8–11 (NLT)

8 Then the voice from heaven spoke to me again: “Go and take the open scroll from 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 small scroll. “Yes, take it and eat it,” he said. “It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!”

10 So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach.

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

A- Take hold of God’s Word. (Revelation 10:8)

Revelation 10:8 (NLT)

8 Then the voice from heaven spoke to me again: “Go and take the open scroll from the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.”

(2 Timothy 2:15)

2 Timothy 2:15 (NLT)

15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.

(1 Peter 2:2)

1 Peter 2:2 (NLT)

2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

1- You must know God’s Word if you are going to share it.

2- One of the great tragedies is the number of professing believers who do not search the scriptures daily.

(1 Peter 3:15)

1 Peter 3:15 (NLT)

15 Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it.

Christian youth whose faith is easily damaged because they don’t know what they believe,

Lost opportunities to witness because believers can’t give an answer to the world about beliefs.

B- Take the Word into your life (obey it). (Revelation 10:9)

Revelation 10:9 (NLT)

9 So I went to the angel and told him to give me the small scroll. “Yes, take it and eat it,” he said. “It will be sweet as honey in your mouth, but it will turn sour in your stomach!”

1- The Word of God is spiritual food that will help you grow.

(1 Peter 2:2)

1 Peter 2:2 (NLT)

2 Like newborn babies, you must crave pure spiritual milk so that you will grow into a full experience of salvation. Cry out for this nourishment,

2- Note the reaction: (Revelation 10:10)

Revelation 10:10 (NLT)

10 So I took the small scroll from the hand of the angel, and I ate it! It was sweet in my mouth, but when I swallowed it, it turned sour in my stomach.

a- Sweet in the mouth- because it is a message of grace.

(John 3:16)

John 3:16 (NLT)

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

b- Bitter in the belly because it brings judgment when rejected.

(Hebrews 9:27)

Hebrews 9:27 (NLT)

27 And just as each person is destined to die once and after that comes judgment,

C- Testify of what you have been shown. (Revelation 10:11)

Revelation 10:11 (NLT)

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

1- Believers are clearly instructed to be active witnesses.

(Acts 1:8)

Acts 1:8 (NLT)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

(Matthew 28:19-20)

Matthew 28:19–20 (NLT)

19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

(Mark 16:15)

Mark 16:15 (NLT)

15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.

(Ezekiel 3:17-18)

Ezekiel 3:17–18 (NLT)

17 “Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman for Israel. Whenever you receive a message from me, warn people immediately.

18 If I warn the wicked, saying, ‘You are under the penalty of death,’ but you fail to deliver the warning, they will die in their sins. And I will hold you responsible for their deaths.

CONCLUSION:

As believers and Christ-followers, this passage admonishes us to do two things:

Don’t take the message of God lightly- Remember where it is from.

Take hold of God’s Word, obey it and share it with the others.