Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church 2080 West Grand Boulevard Detroit, Michigan 48208 Pastor Nathan Johnson, D.D., Senior Pastor Revelation 10 (HCSB) Pastor s Bible Study A Bible Study Series Based on the book "Revelation Four Views" by Steve Gregg Part II When God Breaks His Silence 1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, surrounded by a cloud, with a rainbow over his head. His face was like the sun, his legs were like fiery pillars, 2 and he had a little scroll opened in his hand. He put his right foot on the sea, his left on the land, 3 and he cried out with a loud voice like a roaring lion. When he cried out, the seven thunders spoke with their voices. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write. Then 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 an oath 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 an interval of time, 7 but in the days of the sound of the seventh angel, when he will blow his trumpet, then God s hidden plan will be completed, as He announced to His servants the prophets. 8 Now 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 I was told, You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages, and kings. A question that has troubled God's people throughout history is why God has allowed evil in the world. The wicked often appear to prosper. Sin seemingly runs wild and unchecked. Page 1 of 10
Why, people ask, does God not stop all the carnage, corruption, and chaos in the world? Why does He allow His children to suffer? When will divine justice prevail and the righteous be delivered and the wicked punished? All the pain, sorrow, suffering, and evil in the world cause the godly to long for God to intervene. A day is coming when He will break His silence, a day when all the purposes of God concerning men and the world will be consummated. At that time, the Lord Jesus Christ will return and establish His earthly kingdom. He will rule righteously, with "a rod of iron" (Ps. 2:9), and "the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" (Isa. 11:9). All the atheists, agnostics, and scoffers who mocked the thought that Christ would return (2 Pet. 3:3-4) will be silenced. The millennia of sin, lies, murders, thefts, wars, and the persecution and martyrdom of God's people will be over. Satan and his demon hosts will be bound and cast into the abyss for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1-3), unable any longer to tempt, torment, or accuse believers. The desert will become a blossoming garden (cf. Isa. 35:1; 51:3; Ezek. 36:34-35), people will live long lives (Isa. 65:20), and there will be peace between former enemies at all levels of society and even in the animal kingdom (Isa. 11:6-8). Sorrow, sadness, mourning, and pain will vanish like the morning mists before the noonday sun (cf. Rev. 7:17; 21:4). The sounding of the seventh trumpet, which heralds the imminent return and reign of the Lord Jesus Christ, will usher in that long-anticipated day: "Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, 'The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever'" (11:15). The seventh trumpet will release the seven rapid-fire bowl judgments that immediately precede Christ's return to earth (16:1-21). But before the seventh trumpet sounds there will be an interlude, which stretches from 10:1 to 11:14, allowing John (and present-day readers) to pause and assimilate the startling truths that have just been revealed to him. The interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets parallels such interludes in the seal and bowl judgments. Page 2 of 10
Between the sixth and seventh seals came the interlude of chapter 7; between the sixth and seventh bowls comes the brief interlude of 16:15. These interludes encourage God's people in the midst of the fury and horror of divine judgment, and remind them that God is still in sovereign control of all events. During the interludes God comforts His people with the knowledge that He has not forgotten them, and that they will ultimately be victorious.» MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The - MacArthur New Testament Commentary Revelation 1-11. 1. (10:1-4) : first, there is the mighty angel or messenger of the great announcement. This angel was apparently the mightiest of God's messengers. Remember: the word angel means messenger. Note how mighty he is: The messenger came down from heaven. He came from the very presence and throne of God Himself, from the most exalted place. This tells us that he is the very highest of beings. The great announcement he was about to make was the announcement straight from the throne of God itself. The messenger was clothed with a cloud: this symbolizes a majestic, glorious, and heavenly appearance. Just as the heavens are clothed with the majesty and glory of clouds, so this angel was clothed. He was clothed in the cloud of the majesty and glory of heaven. The great announcement he was about to make was coming from the majesty and glory of heaven. The messenger had a rainbow upon his head: this symbolizes the glory and mercy of God. This is seen in that a rainbow is part of the glory of the throne of God (Ezekiel Page 3 of 10
1:28), and it was the sign of God's mercy shown to Noah (Genesis 9:12-13). Therefore, the glory of God and the mercy of God are seen in this angel. The great announcement he was about to make was to be a message of glory and mercy. The messenger had a face that shone as the sun. This symbolizes the light, luster, brightness, brilliance, and splendor of the messenger. The great announcement of the messenger was to be the message of enormous light, luster, and splendor. The messenger had feet like pillars of fire. This symbolizes the holiness, purity, righteousness, and strength of the messenger. The great announcement of the messenger was to be the strong pillar of God's holiness, purity, and righteousness to earth. The messenger held a little book open. What is the book? Verse eleven says that it is the message that must be proclaimed to the world. What is that message? The Word of God, the Holy Scriptures, both the love and grace and the judgment and woe of God. The great announcement of the messenger was to be the message of God's Word, in particular the message of Revelation. The messenger set his feet upon the sea and the earth. This symbolizes the gigantic size, strength, and power of the messenger. He was claiming both sea and land, the whole world for God. The great announcement of the messenger was a message that was to involve the whole universe. The messenger had a voice that roared like a lion. This symbolizes the voice of God, the very voice of the lion of Judah, Christ Himself (Rev. 5:5; Joel 3:16; Hosea 11:10). The great announcement was to be the very message of God Himself. Page 4 of 10
The messenger called forth seven thundering voices. The number seven symbolizes completeness, fulfillment and finality. Thunder symbolizes the power and strength of God's voice. The great announcement of the messenger will be the message of completeness and fulfillment and of finality. And the seven thunders of God's voice have the power to complete and fulfill and finalize all things. But note: a voice from heaven stops John from revealing the message of the seven thunders. The voice tells John to seal up whatever it was that the seven thunders said. The point is this: a great announcement is to be made to the earth, an announcement so great that the mightiest of messengers is sent from heaven to deliver it. The very might of this messenger shows that the great announcement must be heard by all. The awesome importance of the great announcement is clearly seen by glancing at what the mighty messenger shows us. He shows us that the great announcement... comes straight from the throne of God itself. comes straight from the majesty and glory of heaven. is a message of glory and mercy. is a message of enormous light, luster, and splendor. is to be the strong pillar of God's holiness, purity, and righteousness upon earth. is to be the message of God's Word. is to be a message that involves the whole universe. is to be the message of God Himself. is to be the completion, fulfillment, and finalization of all things. Who is this messenger? Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible Revelation. This strong angel is distinct from the seven angels who sound the seven trumpets. Noting the similarities between his description and that of Christ in 1:12-17, and that he, like Christ, descends in a cloud (cf. 1:7), some identify this angel as Jesus Christ. But several factors argue against that identification. Page 5 of 10
First, the use of allos (another of the same kind) identifies this angel as one exactly like the previously mentioned trumpet angels. If 279Christ were being referred to here, the word heteros (another of a different kind) would be expected, since Christ is essentially different from angels. Christ could not be described as an angel exactly like the other angels, since they are created and He is the uncreated, eternal God. Second, whenever Jesus Christ appears in Revelation John gives Him an unmistakable title. He is called "the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth" (1:5), the son of man (1:13), the first and the last (1:17), the living One (1:18), the Son of God (2:18), "He who is holy, who is true" (3:7), "the Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God" (3:14), "the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David" (5:5), the Lamb (6:1, 16; 7:17; 8:1), Faithful and True (19:11), the Word of God (19:13), and "King of Kings, and Lord of Lords" (19:16). It is reasonable to assume that if Christ were the angel in view here He would be distinctly identified. Third, other strong angels, who clearly cannot be identified with Christ, appear in Revelation (5:2; 18:21). Since other angels are so designated, there is no compelling reason to associate that title with Jesus Christ. Further, while the preincarnate Christ appeared in the Old Testament as the Angel of the Lord, the New Testament nowhere refers to Him as an angel. Fourth, it is inconceivable that Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Trinity, could make the oath that this angel makes in verses 5 and 6: "Then the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it." Since He is God, the risen, glorified Lord Jesus Christ would swear by Himself (cf. Heb. 6:13). Page 6 of 10
Finally, this angel came down out of heaven to the earth. To identify him as Christ is to add another coming of Christ to the earth unforeseen elsewhere in Scripture, one that is not in accord with the biblical descriptions of the Second Coming (cf. Matt. 24:30; 25:31; 2 Thess. 1:7-8).» MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The - MacArthur New Testament Commentary Revelation 1-11. 2. (10:5-7) second, there is the declaration and oath of the great announcement. Note how spectacular this moment is, yet how meaningful. The mighty angel, so huge in size and majestic in being that he straddles the whole earth with one foot upon the sea and one foot upon the earth, lifts up his hand toward heaven and wraps the great announcement in the most solemn of oaths. He swears by God Himself: "By Him who lives forever and ever." "Who created heaven and the things therein." "Who created the earth and the things therein." "Who created the sea and the things therein." Once the solemn oath has been taken, then the great announcement is made. What is it? That time shall be no more. The delay of the end will be no more. The consummation of all things is at hand. When? When all the catastrophes have happened all the horror that Revelation covers up to this point when they have all happened then the voice and trumpet of the seventh angel will blast forth and the very last events of human history will take place. God is going to confront the ungodly and the evil of the world for the last time, and He is going to destroy them and establish righteousness in the earth forever and ever. Note what the angel declares: this climax of human history is the mystery of God, the very same mystery and message that has been declared by the prophets. The ungodly and evil of the world should have accepted the message of the prophets, but they chose to go their own way. They committed all kinds of evil and violent deeds upon earth. Page 7 of 10
Therefore, after the first six trumpet judgments take place upon earth, God is going to launch the last events of human history: The antichrist, the great world leader who brought peace and so much hope to the world while the world was suffering so much catastrophe, is going to turn against the world. The Lord God, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, is going to launch His last judgment upon the earth and destroy both the antichrist and his followers all the ungodly and evil upon earth. The Lord Jesus Christ is going to establish His kindgom and righteousness upon earth and reign for one thousand years. The Lord Jesus Christ is going to create a new heavens and earth that will last forever and ever. The seventh trumpet is going to bring forth the last events of human history. Time will soon be no more, not like man has known it, not after the events of the seventh trumpet. When the events of the seventh trumpet have taken place, then the mystery of God will be finalized. The glorious salvation and redemption of the whole universe will then take place. This is the great announcement. There is hope for the world. We can be optimistic and look forward to the most glorious salvation imaginable. God is going to save all who will let Him; and in addition, He is going to create a new heavens and a new earth that will last forever and ever. 3. (10:8-11) third, there is the bitter and sweet taste of the great announcement. Note three significant points. 1. John is commanded by the voice of heaven to go over and take the little book from the mighty angel. 1) The Word of God is never just handed to us; it is never forced upon us. If we are to receive its message, we have to go over to the book shelf, table, or drawer and take it and study it. Page 8 of 10
2) God commands us to go over and take the Word of God and study its messages. 2. John is commanded to take and eat and consume the little book. This he does, and when he does, the message of the book is both sweet and bitter. What does this mean? It means that the Word of God contains... both sin and forgiveness both death and life both judgment and salvation both damnation and deliverance both heaviness and joy both hell and heaven both bondage and freedom both destruction and a new world both corruption and perfection When John saw the truth of the world, its evil and corruption and the coming judgment upon it, he tasted the bitterness of God's Word. When he saw the righteousness and perfection and the salvation that is coming to the world, he tasted the sweetness of God's Word. 3. John is re-commissioned: he is to proclaim the Word of God to the whole world. He is to proclaim the bitter as well as the sweet, the judgments that are coming as well as the salvation that is coming. The final days of human history are coming, are about to begin the days of the seventh trumpet. The days are to include some judgments beyond anything ever experienced before: these judgments and the glorious promise of a new world are both to be proclaimed by John. Every minister and teacher of God's Word is called to proclaim both the sweet and bitter of God's Word, both the grace and judgment of God. And the minister and teacher is to be faithful to his call: he is to proclaim the judgment of God as well as the grace of God. He must hold nothing back. The truth must be proclaimed, for the eternal fate of people is at stake.» Preacher's Outline and Sermon Bible - Commentary - The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible Revelation. Page 9 of 10
John was to prophesy before others. That was the assignment of the angel. God was not done with John yet. Believers who receive God's truth are obligated to pass that truth on too. God is not done with you either. He wants to use you for His glory! Failure to preach the whole counsel of God brings judgment to the messenger. Is the Word of God sweet or bitter to you? Are you feeding on it and making it a part of your life? Are you passing it on?» Mattoon's Treasures - Mattoon's Treasures Treasures from Revelation. Page 10 of 10