Sermon Tone Analysis

Revelation Series #13

 

*The Angel and the Book*

* *

*Revelation 10*

* *

*Opening Thought *

1) A friend (or child) asks you, "If God is so good, why is there so much evil in the world?"

How would you respond?

2) A new Christian confides in you: "I'm reading the book of Revelation and, frankly, I don't understand most of it.

But I /do /understand that the notes in my study Bible clearly say that all these /terrible /judgments will be poured out on unbelievers-maybe even some of my friends!

Do you believe that?

Is all this punishment and wrath /really /going to happen?

I guess I'm having a hard time believing that a loving God could do all that to His beloved creatures!"

How do you respond?

 

* *

* *

Is any of this EVER going to happen?

It is obvious that even DURING the Tribulation some are going to wonder if it will ever end

 

So … here in the midst of the 7th and final seal … following the blowing of the 6th Trumpet there is a pause but that pause is part of God making sure we still understand WHO is in charge and WHERE this is all heading

 

*READ CH. 10*

 

 

*/4 viewpoints/*

/ /

/vv1-4/

/ /

/Historicist - Rome fell in the first 4 seals, the eastern empire fell in the 6th trumpet ch's 10 and 11 deal with the Reformation period … the Mighty Angel is Christ because the little book is in his hand.

The book is the Bible which HAD been inaccessible to most of the world but NOW is being translated and released.

The loud voice is Christ's challenge of the Roman church.

The 7 Thunders are crusades, wars, French revolution, et al … /

/ /

/Preterist - might angel is Jesus, his face shining like the sun … rainbow over his head … all point to Christ … standing on the sea and the land refer to the Gentile nations contrasted with the land of Israel … the Book is the same book from ch 5 …  7 thunders are the power of God's voice from Ps. 29 … not allowed to record the sayings because they were too terrible to write … it was intended for John alone … some things are yet unfilled in John's time.

SO, while most of the book is about events SOON to come, these thunderings are of events not coming immediately/

/ /

/Futurists - angel is thought by some to be Christ and others see as a holy angel with special authority and power.

The little book … various interpretations arise from this being the book from ch5 to an altogether different book … seal up the 7 thunders … the secrets of God are NOT all fit for revelation to man/

/ /

/Spiritual ~/ Idealist - angel … Christ or a special envoy of Christ … has a message for all the world indicated by a foot on the sea and on the land … little book contains prophesies for the world, yet small enough to be ingested by John … 7 thunders are the voice of the Lord … Sealing their words … the whole counsel of God has not been revealed … we can't know all things/

*/ /*

/vv6-7/

/ /

/Historicist - the papal church has been given many centuries to repent and returned as the Jews had been given as well.

"No more delay" … no opportunity is needed or given … /

/ /

/Pretorist - no longer will the martyrs have to wait … every seal is opened in the book and the prayers will now be answered … completion of the "mystery" the predominantly Jewish nature of the church will now be ended by the destruction of the Temple … the mystery is of course that the gentiles will be on equal footing with the jews and be united with them/

/ /

/Futurist - mystery … the "secret of his allowing Satan to have his way and man too … evil prospering and good being trodden underfoot … it seems as though evil has triumphed … the mystery can also be that all about God has not been full revealed … but will be fulfilled and revealed fully and finally … the mystery of predestination, retribution, struggle between light and darkness will finally be revealed and explained/

/ /

/Spiritual ~/ idealist - the mystery taught of in col.

2:2; ro 16:25; eph 3:3-6 is revealed clearly for the first time in the New Testament era … meaning the whole purpose of God in history … the consummation of this includes the final judgment on the wicked and the perfecting of the saints … being finished doesn't mean terminated but carried out completely/

/ /

/vv 8-11/

/ /

/Historicist - eating represents the Bible received during the Reformation as the Scriptures for the first time are available to the masses … it was sweet because they had not had it … it was bitter because of the persecution from the church that came with it … John then becomes the preachers of the reformation who are challenged to preach what they now have/

/ /

/Preterist - Just like Ezekiel "eating the words of God" were in regards to a prophesy of the destruction of Jerusalem … so they are here about the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70 … there are both sad and glad revelations in this book/

/ /

/Futurists - the word is sweet in promises received and yet bitter in the revelation of divine judgment poured out on the wicked … that there is no further delay is sweet but there will be a bitter prelude of judgment before the sweet fulfillment and that makes it hard to swallow/

/ /

/Spiritual - the book is sweet and glorious but bitter in that it's proclamation brings bitter persecution.

We can't simply understand and digest it, but as a prophet we must experience both the sweetness and the suffering, the cross bearing  The persons to whom John must prophesy are identified by a fourfold enumeration-*peoples, nations,* *tongues, and kings* (v.

11)-suggesting that all of mankind must hear his message (four being the number of the world).//

/

 

 

 

Now … to the Text as I have dug through it for Today

 

*1.

Another Mighty Angel*

 

  A.

Description

    1.

Coming Down from Heaven

    2.

Robed in a Cloud - often used as an image of God's presence

    3.

Rainbow above his head -

      a. a rainbow was seen in ch 4 in the throne room - whomever this is they are from God and bear God's covenant

      b.

a rainbow was significant to the Hebrew ~/ Biblically trained reader as a promise a covenant between God and man that he will never destroy them with a flood of water again --- even in the midst of judgment God's merciful promises are seen

    4.

His Face was like the Sun - Jesus was seen this way in ch1, by Paul … but also as the Angels at the Tomb, as the Angels to the Shepherds; Moses shined this way EVERY time he had been in the presence of the Shekinah or Glory of God … he shone like the sun because they couldn't look at him … so this one has come FROM HEAVEN or God's presence so he would shine as well like the Sun.

Remember in Heaven we will need to sun, moon, or stars because of God's radiance shining.

We will all glow that way, but in our glorified bodies we will be able to handle it and see one another

    5.

His Legs were like fiery pillars - image similar to Jesus in chapter one … also shows the firmness this one … set like a pillar, not easily moved …

 

  B.

Identity?

    1.

JESUS? - The reasons for assuming this to be Jesus are many and are obvious … this one holds the book that Jesus only could open … his description fits parts of descriptions of Jesus … he lays claim to the earth.

I will NOT argue much with anyone who would claim this to be Christ …

    2.

But … there are notable expositors who would say this is NOT a picture of Jesus.

Criswell, Ryrie, John MacArthur, David Jeremiah, to name several. 

    3.

the word appears again "another" angel … and this creates the biggest problem for me in seeing this as Jesus.

The word is the word "/allos" / which is synonymous with the word /"heteros"/  which mean "another of the same form, nature, kind, or class" … I do not believe Jesus would be described that way.

When he is seen or referred to as an Angel or Messenger in the Old Testament he is ALWAYS distinct from other angels and identified as THE ANGEL and the LORD in those instances.

So … I believe this is a different angel … a Herald of God

    4.

We have seen him cry out "who is worthy to open the book?" We've seen him hold back the judgment while 144,000 are marked for God … We have seen him as an Angelic Priest in chapter eight and we will see him in Chapter eighteen lighting the world with the glory of his presence.

He is splendorous and glorious but created as an angel

    5.

He is acting as Christ's Proxy his Steward his Supreme Representative here in important acts

    6.

He swore by Heaven … in Genesis it says that God swore by himself because there was no one higher to swear by … this one swore by The One Who Created … NOT by himself

 

But not just his identity let's see his Actions on behalf of the Lamb as a Representative of Christ

 

*2.

Declaration of Reclamation of Property*

 

  A.

Claiming Property

    1.

He places his feet on the Sea and on the Land

    2.

this is a clear statement, declaration of ownership

    3.

I am NOT just a God in Heaven but God on earth

    4.

I may have appeared to you to be a God from a distance but I am taking back what is mine

    5.

In Dt. 11 - God told them … "wherever you place the soles of your feet will be yours" Joshua 1 says the same thing

    6.

When Columbus landed in the Indies he placed a banner there and claimed it for the King of Spain … He placed his feet on that land and claimed it

    7.

There is only one countries flag on the Moon … USA why?

Because we are the only one's to set a foot on it and plant a flag

 

  B.

God's "Realtor"

    1.

God created and bought it through Jesus Christ

    2.

Now he was reclaiming what was rightfully his

    3.

LOUD SHOUT like the ROAR of a Lion --- it was NOT the roar of the Lion of Judah, but it was LIKE the roar of the Lion of Judah … Angels or God's Messengers do NOT speak their own message if you will their own voice, but they are the VOICE of God, they are the Mouth of God … the speak his word, his message, his voice

 

when God staked his claim through his representative there was …

 

*3.

A Response from Heaven*

 

  A.

Thunders Roll

    1.

The voice of THE 7 Thunders spoke

    2.

What are they?

They are the voices of Judgment

    3.

they are heard during the Judgment at the Throne in chapter 4 when the People of God Raptured into Heaven, the 24 Elders are before the Throne at the Bema Seat where our Actions are Judged

    4.

They are heard in chapter 8 when Judgment is cast down on the earth

    5.

Psalm 29 speaks of the power of the voice of God --- Power over the waters, Power to cause cows to calve, Majestic, breaking Cedars, Twisting Oaks, Striking Lightning, Shaking the Deserts …

    6.

God's voice spoke this world into existence and God's voice will bring Judgment on this earth … When Jesus comes in Chapter 19 he will attack with a two-edged sword from his mouth … The Word of God … divides soul and spirit, joints and marrow.

7.

Criswell says /these are not just reverberations of a crash of lightning, but they are the voices of the judgment of God.

They are THE seven thunders./

B.