"The Little Book"
Notes
Transcript
READ TEXT (10:1-11) - PRAY
The first nine chapters of Revelation have brought us almost to the middle of the Great Tribulation.
Now (Revelation 10:1-11:14) is a parenthetical section given to John just before the prophecy concerning the last half of the Tribulation.
(10:1-11:14) is to the Trumpet judgments what chapter 7 was to the Seal judgments: a description of conditions that existed during the particular period of time covered by the preceding judgments!
After describing six terrible judgments which result in millions of people being killed, John is given a vision of a mighty angel with a little book that prepares him for what is yet ahead.
The seventh trumpet is sounded apparently at the middle of the tribulation period and its message contains all the events that remain.
I. The APPEARANCE of a MIGHTY ANGEL - (10:1-4)
I. The APPEARANCE of a MIGHTY ANGEL - (10:1-4)
A. THE IDENTITY OF THIS ANGEL - (vv.1-3)
A. THE IDENTITY OF THIS ANGEL - (vv.1-3)
Angels are angels, not symbols of events, things, places, or persons!
Many contend that this "mighty angel" is none other than Jesus Christ!
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Jesus Christ is Michael the archangel, but that is NOT true!
All the angels of God are told to worship Jesus Christ! –
And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.”
We are specifically forbidden to worship angels!
I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me.
But he said to me, “Do not do it! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers the prophets and of all who keep the words of this book. Worship God!”
We are told to worship God alone, not what He created! –
They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
However, it is obvious by the description of this angel that divine authority and attributes are being presented.
Four things about this angel lead many people to conclude that it is Christ:
1. The picture of divine characteristics connected with this angel (v.4).
1. The picture of divine characteristics connected with this angel (v.4).
"...robed in a cloud," - a symbol of divine presence.
Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out;
but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out—until the day it lifted.
So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.
"...a rainbow" - picture the faithfulness of God!
And the one who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian. A rainbow, resembling an emerald, encircled the throne.
(Psalm 89:1-2, 30-37)
"...his face was like the sun" - reminds us of Jesus Christ!
In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.
"...his legs were like fiery pillars"
His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters.
Q: "Is this a picture of Jesus Christ?"
NO! Jesus Christ is not described as an angel in the book of Revelation. He is Lord of the angels, using them to execute His judgment and purposes on the earth.
Also, this angel is described as "another mighty angel" (v.1), which means he is "another of the same kind."
Obviously, the strong angel of (5:2) is not Jesus Christ, the "Worthy One" to open the seals.
The "strong angel" in our passage is like the one previously mentioned in Chapter 5.
It is possible that this angel is Gabriel, (if the angel in chapter 5 is not him). Gabriel's name means "strength of God."
It is also possible that this angel is Michael, the archangel, who appears in the book of Daniel as a special agent for the nation of Israel.
But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.
“At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered.
If this angel is Michael (whose name means ‘Who is like God’), this would explain some of his characteristics.
WHAT WE KNOW: God's presence, authority, & power are pictured by this "mighty angel."
2. The presence of the little book open in his hand. (v.2a)
2. The presence of the little book open in his hand. (v.2a)
The word used for the seven-sealed scroll is different from that used for this little book, but that does not necessarily mean this book contains a different message.
The size of the book may mean that most of the message has been revealed--only a small portion remains. Yet due to the importance of what remains (seventh trumpet), this dramatic interlude is given to John to empress upon him what is about to be revealed!
3. The place where the angel was standing! (v.2b)
3. The place where the angel was standing! (v.2b)
Pictures the sovereignty of God's authority and control over the whole earth!
The tremendous size of the angel likely emphasizes the message will impact the entire world!
4. The power of the angel's voice! (v.3)
4. The power of the angel's voice! (v.3)
God's anger is described as the roaring of a lion, especially when He is ready to devour!
They will follow the Lord; he will roar like a lion. When he roars, his children will come trembling from the west.
B. THE INSTRUCTION ABOUT THE SEVEN THUNDERS - (v.4)
B. THE INSTRUCTION ABOUT THE SEVEN THUNDERS - (v.4)
While Revelation is primarily designed to reveal and not conceal God's purpose and future events, some revelation was kept hidden as illustrated by God's prohibiting John to write what the seven thunders said (John clearly understood the messages of the seven thunders)!
It is difficult to understand why this message was "off limits" to John and all future readers.
James Patterson - The New American Commentary: Revelation
“…the tragic nature and the overwhelming consequences of the judgments of God poured out on earth in the days of the great tribulation is portrayed for us in poignant and extensive detail throughout these middle chapters of the Apocalypse. Yet there remains a depth and an extent of the judgments of the great tribulation, which while shared with John are sealed against further revelation to the reader.”
II. The ANNOUNCEMENT of this MIGHTY ANGEL (10:5-7)
II. The ANNOUNCEMENT of this MIGHTY ANGEL (10:5-7)
A. THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS BASED ON GOD'S AUTHORITY! (vv.5-6)
A. THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS BASED ON GOD'S AUTHORITY! (vv.5-6)
The angel swears by God Who created all things; he could swear by none greater!
When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself,
saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.”
And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.
Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument.
Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.
God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.
God will not lie. The end is coming; God's purposes will be fulfilled on this planet!
B. THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS BASED ON GOD'S TIMING! (v.6b-7a)
B. THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS BASED ON GOD'S TIMING! (v.6b-7a)
God is now ready to complete His predicted plans for judging this world and to answer the prayers of the saints (6:9-11).
Human history operates according to Divine plan! Although at times we wonder if God knows or cares about what is taking place on earth, the Bible assures us that He does!
The events remaining on God's calendar, described in the little book, will happen (read v.7a).
C. THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS BASED ON GOD'S PROMISE! (v.7)
C. THE ANNOUNCEMENT IS BASED ON GOD'S PROMISE! (v.7)
The long-standing promise of God is about to be fulfilled! No longer mysterious and hidden, God now reveals what He will do!
It is a mystery about God Himself as well as His plans. The prophets knew portions of this mystery, but they did not understand it in its complete fulfillment.
According to (11:15), this mystery of God includes the fact that the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ!
The mystery involves HOW the establishment of God's kingdom on earth with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, ruling and reigning over all would take place.
III. The APPLICATION of the ANGEL'S MESSAGE to JOHN (10:8-11)
III. The APPLICATION of the ANGEL'S MESSAGE to JOHN (10:8-11)
A. THE MESSAGE ILLUSTRATES A PREVIOUS REVELATION! (vv.8-9)
A. THE MESSAGE ILLUSTRATES A PREVIOUS REVELATION! (vv.8-9)
The unusual action John took in eating the little book is like the experience of Ezekiel!
Then I looked, and I saw a hand stretched out to me. In it was a scroll,
which he unrolled before me. On both sides of it were written words of lament and mourning and woe.
And he said to me, “Son of man, eat what is before you, eat this scroll; then go and speak to the house of Israel.”
So I opened my mouth, and he gave me the scroll to eat.
Then he said to me, “Son of man, eat this scroll I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.” So I ate it, and it tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth.
In Ezekiel's day, God's judgment fell upon the people of Israel; Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and the temple of Solomon in 586 B.C. And although the message of the scroll contained lamentations, mourning, and woe, it was sweet to his taste!
The symbol of eating the scroll pictures the complete assimilation of the message! The prophet who proclaims the message is not unrelated to its impact! It becomes a part of him!
B. THE MESSAGE INVOLVES A TWOFOLD RESPONSE! (v.10)
B. THE MESSAGE INVOLVES A TWOFOLD RESPONSE! (v.10)
To hear God's Word and to know that He will fulfill His promises and judge this sinful world is sweet news to the believer's ears. But the longer we contemplate what God will do, the more we see that the bitter is mixed with the sweet!
God's people will suffer greatly during the tribulation period. We rejoice that God's plan is fulfilled and His righteous judgment executed, but we also grieve to see what His people will suffer.
C. THE MESSAGE INDICATES A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY! (v.11)
C. THE MESSAGE INDICATES A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY! (v.11)
The words "You must prophesy..." remind all preachers of God's Word that we cannot compromise! God's Word must be proclaimed no matter how it affects or offends people!