The Study of End Times Week 24

Praise and Prayer

The Interlude of a Mighty Angel and Small Scroll - June 29th

Last week we finished out chapter 9, and the world has gone crazy with part III of that section of chapter 9.

We looked at the purpose factor, the perversity factor, and the pride factor.

With that we seen how harsh the judgment will get with the sixth trumpet as it will release what we called the filthy four, the four angels from the great Euphrates River.

Tonight we are going to look at chapter 10 of Revelation as we look at an interlude between the sixth trumpet and the seventh trumpet.

God’s intention is to encourage and comfort His people in the midst of the fury and to remind them that He is still sovereign, that He remembers His people, and that they will ultimately be victorious.

In this Interlude we will see a Mighty Angel and a Small Scroll, and how they come into play to fulfill God’s plan.

In chapter ten tonight we will see seven things that happen during this interlude with this Mighty Angel and Small Scroll.

There is only eleven verses in chapter 10, but these verses can be confusing if we are not careful, therefore, if anyone at any time has a question stop me, and we will work it out.

Let’s look at the whole of the chapter, then go back and dig through the text.

Revelation 10:1–11 CSB

1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, his legs were like pillars of fire, 2 and he held a little scroll opened in his hand. He put his right foot on the sea, his left on the land, 3 and he called out with a loud voice like a roaring lion. When he cried out, the seven thunders raised their voices. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down!” 5 Then the angel that I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 He swore by the one 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, “There will no longer be a delay, 7 but in the days when the seventh angel will blow his trumpet, then the mystery of God will be completed, as he announced to his servants the prophets.” 8 Then the voice that I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the scroll that lies 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 asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take and eat it; it will be bitter in your stomach, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” 10 Then I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I ate it, my stomach became bitter. 11 And they said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

Again this chapter is an interlude between the sixth trumpet and the seventh trumpet which the interlude actually carries over into chapter eleven also.

The first thing we see this evening is the

I. Mighty Angel V. 1

Revelation 10:1 CSB

1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, his legs were like pillars of fire,

This was not just some ordinary angel found roaming around in heaven sent down with a small scroll.

This was a Mighty Angel, this was not one of the seven angels responsible for sounding the seven trumpets, this was one of the highest ranking angels in heaven.

This angel had a very important job here, it was assigned an important job.

This angel is wrapped in a cloud - When Jesus ascended to heaven in Acts 1:9

Acts 1:9 CSB

9 After he had said this, he was taken up as they were watching, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

there we see Jesus ascended and a cloud took him out of their sight, we are also told that we will be caught up in the clouds with the Lord in 1 Thessalonians 4:17

1 Thessalonians 4:17 CSB

17 Then we who are still alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

We see that this angel being wrapped in a cloud is not just some kind of fairy tale or something, but if you go back to 1 Thessalonians 4:16

1 Thessalonians 4:16 CSB

16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

We see there that Jesus will come with an archangel, maybe here in our text it is an archangel that is wrapped in a cloud coming down, but the angel is not just wrapped in a cloud, but has a rainbow over its head.

This angel is also bring with it, more than just the scroll but some symbolism, the rainbow stands for something, and as we are coming to the end of pride month let me tell you the rainbow does not stand for gay pride.

God made a covenant between himself and all living creatures, and the sign is the rainbow which we see in Genesis 9:12-17

Genesis 9:12–17 CSB

12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all future generations: 13 I have placed my bow in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I form clouds over the earth and the bow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all the living creatures: water will never again become a flood to destroy every creature. 16 The bow will be in the clouds, and I will look at it and remember the permanent covenant between God and all the living creatures on earth.” 17 God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and every creature on earth.”

Here God is reminding us of His promises to us, I believe first, with the cloud, that He will end the judgment for those that are enduring it and have turned to him.

Second with the rainbow, that He never forgets His promises and since the time of Noah has never destroyed the entire earth with water, with flood, and will never again destroy the entire earth with water, flood.

The text continues with His face was like the sun, this radiance of the face denotes, like the revelation of God, both grace and judgment.

Along with the sun-like radiance of the face the legs like pillars of fire are showing the greatness of his majesty along with judgment.

II. Small Scroll. V. 2

Revelation 10:2 CSB

2 and he held a little scroll opened in his hand. He put his right foot on the sea, his left on the land,

Here we are not told what is written in this scroll, but we may assume that it is more prophecy of events that are will transpire in the tribulation period.

The angel is a messenger of Jesus Christ, the angel has been sent by God to come to earth, and has been sent with this scroll, we are told that this scroll is opened.

The angel put his right foot in the sea, and his left foot on the land, in Biblical times when a conqueror overthrew a nation that had a shoreline he would put one foot in the water and the other foot on the land and raise his hand in victory.

This was a sign that he had conquered the area and was claiming the area, just as God had told Joshua to do in Joshua 1:3

Joshua 1:3 CSB

3 I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, just as I promised Moses.

In our text the angel is standing one foot in the sea and one foot on land, with the scroll opened in hand, some say that the scroll is symbolic as the deed to the earth, and the angel stance is a sign in preparation of taking the earth back from Satan.

We must remember that the earth was created by Jesus and for Jesus as we are told in Colossians 1:16

Colossians 1:16 (CSB)

16 For everything was created by him, in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through him and for him.

When Adam sinned the deed to the earth was turned over to Satan, but Satan will be returned to were he belongs in the lake of fire for eternity soon.

III. Seven Thunders Vs. 3-4

Revelation 10:3–4 CSB

3 and he called out with a loud voice like a roaring lion. When he cried out, the seven thunders raised their voices. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven, saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down!”

He cried out with a loud voice, that is the angel cried out with a loud voice like a roaring lion.

The lion is considered the king of the jungle, Jesus is called the Lion of Judah, the roar of a lion will get everyone’s attention that is in the sound of that roar.

Amos 3:8 (CSB)

8 A lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken; who will not prophesy?

The angel of God here is prepare the people for what is about to be delivered.

Joel 3:16 (CSB)

16 The Lord will roar from Zion and make his voice heard from Jerusalem; heaven and earth will shake. But the Lord will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the Israelites.

Heaven and earth will shake because of the delivery of the news of judgment to come, but the people of God will be able to take refuge in the Lord because they will be safe in the Lord.

The text continues that when he cried out, the seven thunders raised their voices, there is some differences of interpretation of what this could be but the majority of theologians and scholars believe this is - this is seven Spirits of God, that are preparing to pour out seven different judgments on the earth.

Seven is the number of completion in Scripture.

The sound of thunder has also been a referenced too the voice of God speaking, one example of this is found in John 12:28-29

John 12:28–29 (CSB)

28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd standing there heard it and said it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.”

Therefore, the angel has the small scroll in his hand, the scroll is opened, the seven Spirits of God, or we may say that God speaks completely of what is written on the scroll, and as John is about to write down what he is witnessing, what he just heard from God, he is told to seal up what the seven thunders said, and do not write it down.

Up to this point John has been instructed to write everything down, but know he is told to not to write it down.

The mysteries of God are too wonderful for explanations, and some things are too terrible for description.

Some things are like God told Daniel in Daniel 12:8-9

Daniel 12:8–9 CSB

8 I heard but did not understand. So I asked, “My lord, what will be the outcome of these things?” 9 He said, “Go on your way, Daniel, for the words are secret and sealed until the time of the end.

There are certain things in God’s Word that we will never be able to explain, and there are certain things in God’s Word that He just never meant for us to know.

As Dr. Adrian Rogers once said, if God wanted us to know certain things, which he was talking about the number of wisemen, He would have told us. But He did not tell us therefore, God did not find it important enough for us to know or want us to know therefore, He did not add it into Scripture.

Here we have what was written on the scroll, God tells John, to seal it up and do not write it down. Therefore, we must understand God had a reason for us not to know what the seven thunders, the seven Spirits of God, that is what He said, what was written on that scroll.

IV. No More Delay. Vs. 5-6

Revelation 10:5–6 CSB

5 Then the angel that I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 He swore by the one 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, “There will no longer be a delay,

The angel that John had seen standing with one foot in the sea and on on the land raises his right hand to heaven, just as a person would do in a court proceeding before taking an oath

The angel raises his right hand and swore by God that there will no longer be a delay.

See there is one more trumpet to come; then the mystery of God could be revealed.

With the rapid pace at which description of judgment have proceeded thus far. It may seem surprising that God’s messenger would say there has been a delay!

Yet what has been delayed to this point is the full and final outpouring of God’s wrath.

Through the judgment of the seven seals and the first six trumpets, God has been restraining his final judgment to allow continued opportunity for repentance.

Peter explained the the delay is not slowness but patience: 2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9 CSB

9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.

This initiates the last plagues of the Day of the Lord , indicating that the time the disciples anticipated has come.

This will be the time when the prayers of the saints will be answered, the prayers mentioned in Revelation 6:9-10

Revelation 6:9–10 CSB

9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slaughtered because of the word of God and the testimony they had given. 10 They cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, the one who is holy and true, how long until you judge those who live on the earth and avenge our blood?”

V. A Rush to End. V. 7

Revelation 10:7 CSB

7 but in the days when the seventh angel will blow his trumpet, then the mystery of God will be completed, as he announced to his servants the prophets.”

Verse seven begins - but - this signifies a change from the delay referenced in verse 6 and the announcement of the angel blowing the seventh trumpet.

We will see the seventh trumpet be blown in chapter 11:15, it will mark a shift to the end of the tribulation, when the seven bowls of God’s wrath will be poured out on the earth. Which we will see the seven bowls in chapter 16.

At that point, the narrative truly will begin rushing forward toward the return of Jesus to set up his throne on earth.

It might seem puzzling that John would announce a rush to the second coming when there are still twelve chapters remaining, however, some of those chapters will rehash from a different perspective events already described.

This far, God has revealed events to come. Beginning in chapter 11, He will focus on personalities involved in those events, these include the two witnesses, the Antichrist, and the false prophet.

VI. Take and Eat. VS. 8-10

Revelation 10:8–10 CSB

8 Then the voice that I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the scroll that lies 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 asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take and eat it; it will be bitter in your stomach, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” 10 Then I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I ate it, my stomach became bitter.

John has been told by God, do not write none of this down, the angel takes this oath if you will and states that the delay is over, everything is going to rush forward now, toward to time of Jesus second coming.

Now God speaks to John again, and tells him to go and get the scroll from the angel, John has been in a trance or a vision in heaven since Revelation 4:2

Revelation 4:2 CSB

2 Immediately I was in the Spirit, and there was a throne in heaven and someone was seated on it.

He was taken in the spirit into heaven, and has been writing from heaven since that point, but now this angel with one foot in the sea and one foot on the land, John says, I heard the voice from heaven says to me, go take the scroll, therefore, John is back on earth in his physical body.

John goes to the angel and asks for the scroll, the angel tells him to take and eat it. Now if you asked me for my Bible and I said, here take and eat it, you would surely look at me like I was crazy.

Because if we think about it, in those days, a Bible would have been a scroll or in that format if you will.

The angel says take and eat it, and it will be bitter in your stomach but sweet as honey in your mouth.

Now I can do the sweet as honey in the mouth, but you tell me it is going to be bitter in my stomach, I take that as it is going to leave a bad after taste.

Now why in the world do I want to eat something that is going to purposefully leave a bad after taste, or heart burn or indigestion with me.

But John went got the scroll, took it and ate it, and just like the angel said it was sweet like honey in the mouth, but when it got to his stomach it was bitter.

A very similar situation happened in the Old Testament to the Prophet Ezekiel in Ezekiel 3:1-3

Ezekiel 3:1–3 CSB

1 He said to me, “Son of man, eat what you find here. Eat this scroll, then go and speak to the house of Israel.” 2 So I opened my mouth, and he fed me the scroll. 3 “Son of man,” he said to me, “feed your stomach and fill your belly with this scroll I am giving you.” So I ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.

The hard word of prophecy is pleasant to receive because it is, after all, the very Word of God. Processing the prophecy internally, however, is a different matter that can prove difficult and even unpleasant.

John’s physical reaction demonstrate what every believer’s proper response to God’s judgment should be - sweet anticipation of God’s glory and our victory, and at the same time, the bitterness of seeing God’s wrath poured out on those who reject His Son.

As John truly digest what the seal, trumpet, and bowl judgments hold in store for the sinner, he becomes nauseated.

But still God’s final victory and vindication are sweet realities to the believer.

VII. You must Prophecy. V. 11

Revelation 10:11 CSB

11 And they said to me, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings.”

Equipped with this harsh word from God, John is instructed by the angel and God - the voice from heaven to prophecy to many people, nations, languages, and kings.

Even when though message is difficult, John must continue to proclaim it.

John had taken in the Word of God, he had eaten the scroll and digested it, this was a picture of a literal eating of something, but John was to take in the words of the scroll, what was going to take place and he was to prophecy about it, that is he was to warn people about it.

We are to take in the Word of God, eat it spiritually, write it on our hearts and on our minds, digest it, that means learn it, understand it to the best of our ability, in order that we may go forth and proclaim it.

We as Christians are all to go our and share the message of God’s Word, and everyone thinks it is just that God is love, but it is also that God is just, and if you reject his love, if you reject His Son and the sacrifice that His son has made for you then you will be sent to the lake of fire, Hell’s damnation for eternity.

See we have to proclaim God’s love, but we also must proclaim God’s wrath also, we have to share the gospel message that Jesus died on the cross for all sin, but that rejecting the free gift of salvation, leads to God’s wrath which is eternity in Hell’s torment.

People need to know the truth, the deserve to know the truth.

It is our job as Christians to share the truth.