| The
Little Book and the Unutterable Thunders (Revelation
10)
Between the opening of the
sixth and seventh seals there was a pause to reveal
four significant visions which would give assurances
to the oppressed saints. In the first of these two
visions the servants of God were sealed before the
winds of God's retribution were let loose upon the
earth. In the second vision we saw a multitude of
the victorious saints who had faithfully endured the
tribulation and were standing before the throne,
praising god and rejoicing in their victory. By
these two visions, the Christians still living are
assured that they will not be forgotten and will
join their victorious brothers and sisters around
the throne if they remain faithful to the end.
After this first pause we
see the opening of the seventh seal which has been
going on now since the first trumpet announcement
beginning in chapter 8. The first four trumpets
announced God's use of various natural disasters to
punish the Roman Empire in an effort to bring them
to repentance. Horrific natural disasters often
remind people of just how helpless they really are
and sometimes causes them to seek answers in places
they may not have formerly looked. It is a pretty
humbling experience when one beholds the death of
countless thousands of people and the destruction
wrought by these disasters and wonders why it has to
be. And this humble attitude of heart is precisely
the one anyone should have when approaching God on
His throne. These natural disasters were God's way
of telling His enemies that He is the one in charge
and He is the one they should be seeking.
Then the fifth and sixth
trumpets sounded and the enemies of righteousness
faced woes that were a lot more direct and
specific. Disease from their decadent lifestyle and
then direct attacks from their worldly enemies. In
the face of earthquakes, famine, weather, plagues
and incessant attacks from one's enemies, it should
be easy to conclude that something is amiss.
History records that some of the Romans did indeed
seek answers to their problems. But they sought
them in the wrong places. They thought their pagan
gods were angry with them for tolerating the
Christians and set out to destroy them all the
more. They failed to recognize that no matter what
they did, the Christians were still there. No
matter how hard they tried to stamp Christianity
out, it persevered. They tried to appease their
false lifeless gods of wood and stone by persecuting
and trying to destroy the children of the one true
and living God. The God they should have been
seeking all along.
Now we are approaching the
seventh and final announcement which is God's final
and complete judgment against the enemies of the
Christians. When this judgment has been concluded,
it will be finished and those who live in the Roman
Empire and are the enemies of righteousness will
have no more opportunity to repent. we will see in
this interlude between the 6th and 7th announcement
that there comes a time when God no longer warns the
unrighteous. He has said all he is going to say,
has given all the warnings He's going to give and
has given them up to their vile lifestyles and going
to let them suffer the consequences of their
choices. We see this attitude in God on a personal
level directed at individuals in Romans 1:18-32 but
now it is seen on a much larger scale as the entire
Roman Empire is given over to suffer the
consequences of their unrighteousness.
In this interlude between
the sixth and seventh trumpets, we will see four
main things in John's vision.
- The unutterable
thunders, Revelation 10:1-7
- The little book,
Revelation 10:8-11
- The measuring of the
Temple, Revelation 11:1-2
- The two witnesses,
Revelation 11:3-13
Revelation 10:1
"And I saw another strong angel coming down out
of heaven, arrayed with a cloud; and the rainbow was
upon his head, and his face was as the sun, and his
feet as pillars of fire"
This word
cloud or clouds occurs in the New Testament
twenty seven times in the KJV. In all but a few
usages, it is used in some relation to deity or of a
divine appearance, often in judgment. Being arrayed
in a cloud means this messenger is coming on a
divine mission relating to judgment. This angel
shares some of the attributes given to Jesus with
his face as the sun and feet as pillars of fire.
This angel being thus described is indicative of
strength and the importance of his mission. Clouds
and fire are symbols of judgment and the sun is the
symbol of light which represents righteousness.
This angel is of a similar rank as the angel seen
earlier in Revelation 5:2 where we read of the
strong angel asking who was worthy to open the book
and loose the seven seals. Inspiration does not
tell us whether this is the same angel seen earlier
or by what name he is identified. All we know is
that he is strong enough to make the declaration
that is forthcoming.
The
rainbow is symbolic of God's everlasting
covenant taken from the rainbow seen in the clouds
after the great flood. The bearer of this message
from heaven is wearing God's covenant with mankind
upon his head, meaning that it is at the head or
forefront of all messengers from the throne. What
is getting ready to come when the seventh trumpet
sounds is terrible indeed but the righteous see that
God's covenant is there in a prominent place where
it can be seen by all.
Revelation 10:2
"and he had in his hand a little book open: and
he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left
upon the earth"
In this part of the vision, the strong angel was
holding a "little book" in his hand. The
Greek word for these two words is "biblaridion",
a diminutive of "biblion". This word could
be translated as the single word "booklet"
and be perfectly accurate. Books have been
established in this series of visions as the
figurative means which God used to express Himself.
Certainly we know that these are not literal books
with binding, paper and ink. In the first century
this would likely have been a scroll. This little
book or scroll is figurative for a message and with
the book being open, it is obviously a message which
was intended to be revealed to John. This is a
continuation of the vision where Jesus Christ
unsealed the scroll containing the ultimate fate of
the enemies of Christianity. This little book is a
part of the message already unsealed by the Son of
God.
This angel with his right
foot upon the sea and his left foot upon the earth
simply means the whole earth. The message contained
within the little book is therefore directed at the
inhabitants of the all the earth.
Revelation 10:3
"and he cried with a great voice, as a lion
roareth: and when he cried, the seven thunders
uttered their voices."
Lions represents great strength, boldness and
bravery. The voice
of this angel was powerful, bold and was accompanied
by the voices of the seven thunders. The number
seven represents the totality or completeness
associated with God's authority on the earth.
Thunder signifies authority, power and volume and
often is associated with a message from the divine.
This voice thundering with the voice of the angel
can only mean a direct response from the throne of
God. All the messages to man originate from the
throne but this one is given special notice in order
to signify the authority and importance of it.
Revelation 10:4
"And when the seven thunders uttered (their
voices), I was about to write: and I heard a voice
from heaven saying, Seal up the things which the
seven thunders uttered, and write them not."
John heard what the voices of thunder revealed but
was commanded to refrain from recording this
message. Scripture teaches that there comes a time
when sinners are given over to suffer the
consequences for their actions. Hymaneaeus and
Alexander were disfellowshipped by Paul in order
that they repent. Paul instructed the Christians in
Corinth to do the same with the man who was in
sexual sin with his father's wife. The objective in
both cases was so that they would repent. They were
given over to their sin in order to suffer the full
consequences of it in their lives. There are no
more warnings, there are no more exhortations. The
sinners were withdrawn from and left to face the
ravages of sin alone.
I remember as a young
spirited boy growing up the times when my
misbehavior pushed my father over the limit. The
time was not appropriate for punishment but I could
tell from his stony silence that his mind was made
up and at his earliest convenience, I was going to
receive correction. The warnings which were few to
begin with utterly stopped and when I looked at him
I was met with a ice cold stony silent glare that
boded ill for me. It was at these times when
contemplating my forthcoming immediate fate that I
considered my actions and my predicament. The
thunder of my father's anger was apparent in his
silence. There is something about a father's grim
irresolute silence that is quite disturbing to a
child. As long as the child is being corrected, he
feels somewhat secure in the knowledge that Dad is
still working with him. But when that stops and
nothing but silence is forthcoming then an attentive
child knows he has gone too far. It was during
these times that I tried the hardest to be on my
best behavior. I knew that my only remaining chance
to avoid disaster was immediate and total surrender
and impeccable obedience.
The Roman Empire had gone
too far. God sent earthquakes, famines, diseases,
violent weather and vicious enemies in an effort to
get them to repent from their unrighteousness. They
rebelled against God's authority, insisted on
worshipping their own gods and persecuted His
children until He had enough. Everything God had
done had not produced any change in their behavior
and He was done talking to them about it. There was
plenty more He could say, but like an earthly father
who has put up with all he's going to, it will be
communicated in the actions soon to come. What a
horrible thought it should be to an erring Christian
to think that God had given up on him. It is no
different for an unbeliever. When God gives up on
them, talking is over, the last opportunity to
repent is at hand and they better avail themselves
of it. The wrath of our God is far worse and much
longer lasting the wrath of an earthly father. The
judgment is final and the punishment is eternal.
John knew what the thunders
revealed but was commanded to keep it to himself.
The utterances of the thunders were carried
unwritten to John's grave. We will never know this
side of heaven exactly what those thunders said, but
we can be assured it was serious indeed. The
implication of receiving no more warnings from God
is serious enough in and of itself to speak volumes
to anyone left who might listen. Sometimes it's the
things not said that speak the loudest.
Revelation 10:5
"And the angel that I saw standing upon the sea
and upon the earth lifted up his right hand to
heaven,"
It is one's right hand that mankind today raises to
swear oaths such as to tell the truth, the whole
truth and nothing but the truth in a court of law.
Revelation 10:6
"and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever,
who created the heaven and the things that are
therein, and the earth and the things that are
therein, and the sea and the things that are
therein, that there shall be delay no longer"
The angel seen standing on the earth with his
right hand lifted in a solemn display swears an oath
by Jesus Christ, the one who lives for ever and ever
(Hebrews 7:24-25), who created the heaven and the
things that are therein, and the earth and the
things that are therein, and the sea and the things
that are therein (Ephesians 3:9, Colossians 1:16).
The swearing of oaths was a big thing in old
testament times. The swearing of an oath was the
invoking of a curse upon one's self if one has not
spoken the truth (Matthew 26:74), or if one fails to
keep a promise (1 Samuel 19:6; 20:17; 2 Samuel
15:21; 19:23). It played a very important part, not
only in lawsuits (Exodus 22:11; Leviticus 6:3,5) and
state affairs, but also in the dealings of everyday
life (Genesis 24:37; 50:5; Judges 21:5; 1 Kings
18:10; Ezra 10:5). In new testament times, the
swearing of oaths by man is prohibited by divine
commandment, "Again, ye have heard that it was
said to them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear
thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine
oaths: but I say unto you, swear not at all; neither
by the heaven, for it is the throne of God nor by
the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor
by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, for thou canst
not make one hair white or black" (Matthew
5:33-36). A literal angel did not stand on the
earth with one foot in the seas and one foot on land
and lift his right hand and swear and oath on the
name of Jesus Christ. The image here is to
illustrate the solemn seriousness of the next
phrase.
"that there shall be
delay no longer"
Time was up. Judgment which had been partial
and scattered over the Roman Empire at different
periods of time was now going to be total. The
Roman Empire was reduced to a mere shadow of what
she once was and was about to be utterly destroyed
and would never ever again rise to power. Today
there are no more Caesars or crested Roman
soldiers. There are no more temples built to
worship the Roman Emperors and the other various
pagan gods so prevalent in their culture. The
shining magnificent cities are lay in ruins, the
powerful legions of soldiers only march in the pages
of history now. This is a grim testament to the
utter and total finality of God's judgment. The
Roman Empire did fall and they had no one to blame
but themselves.
Revelation 10:7
"but in the days of the voice of the seventh
angel, when he is about to sound, then is finished
the mystery of God, according to the good tidings
which he declared to his servants the prophets."
The seventh angel with the trumpet has not yet
sounded but when he does, the mystery of God will be
finished. The Romans had no idea why their empire
was crumbling about them. The workings of God in
opposition to their unrighteousness was a complete
mystery to them because they refused to repent and
turn to righteousness. The Christians knew what was
going on. They had the good news of the gospel
given to them. The mystery of God was the plan of
redemption and the promise of eternal life for the
faithful (Colossians 1:26-27), once delivered to his
apostles and servants (Jude 3), now is almost
finished and will be completed when the seventh
angel sounds. This reference to the good tidings
being completed is linked to the Book sealed with
the seven perfect seals, the book that contained the
coming of righteousness, followed by the influence
of Satan and the steps progressing up to the rise of
the great persecution and now with the little book
at the end, we see the final chapter about to close
on this greatest earthly enemy the Christians had
ever known.
The good tidings in the
view of the oppressed Christians is of course the
victory they will achieve from their perseverance in
Christ. This was good tidings indeed for them,
especially in view of what is about to come chapter
11. The oppressed Christians are going to need all
the reassurance they can get because the persecution
was yet to get so bad that the enemies of
righteousness thought they had successfully stamped
out Christianity forever. The battle is almost over
but the worst was yet to come.
Revelation 10:8
"And the voice which I heard from heaven, (I
heard it) again speaking with me, and saying, Go,
take the book which is open in the hand of the angel
that standeth upon the sea and upon the earth."
The final chapter in the mystery of the good tidings
is laying open in the hands of the angel. John is
instructed to go take that book.
Revelation 10:9
"And I went unto the angel, saying unto him that
he should give me the little book. And he saith unto
me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy
belly bitter, but in thy mouth it shall be sweet as
honey."
This is the second time John was instructed to take
the book. It was not handed to him even after he
asked for it. The meaning here is that God's will
is never forced on anyone. We must reach out and
take it of our own free choice through a conscious
act on our part.
The imagery of eating the
book is taken directly from Ezekiel's vision where
he was similarly instructed to take the open roll of
a book and eat it
(Ezekiel 2:8-3:3). John was to take the message
contained within this book and and ingest it into
his being. He was to take this message into his
bowels and make it a part of his life. This message
of the hope of the victorious will be sweet as honey
in his mouth but the message of the fate of the
enemies of righteousness will be bitter and hard to
deal with. The Psalmist wrote, "Horror hath
taken hold upon me because of the wicked that
forsake thy law" (Psalms 119:53). The good
tidings of this final message for the righteous was
honey in his mouth but the horrors it contained for
the unrighteous was bitter and would make him sick.
The application for us today is that while the good
news of the gospel message is wondrous for us, it
contains a very different message for the
unrighteous. The horrors that will be the eternal
fate of the enemies of the cross should make us sick
to our souls. God was willing to sacrifice the life
of His only Son in order to give people an
opportunity to escape this horrible fate. What
should we today be willing to sacrifice in order to
help fulfill this great purpose?
Revelation 10:10
"And I took the little book out of the angel's
hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as
honey: and when I had eaten it, my belly was made
bitter."
John took the book and did as instructed which
resulted in the bittersweet taste promised him. The
reception and comprehension of God's word is indeed
sweet to the ears of the saints but fraught with
bitterness of spirit in its condemnation of sinners
and the declaration of the consequences awaiting the
disobedient.
Revelation 10:11
"And they say unto me, Thou must prophesy again
over many peoples and nations and tongues and kings."
While the fate of the enemies of Christianity is
impending, John's job is not yet complete. He is
going to prophecy much more and over many nations
and people of the earth. Being only half way
through the Revelation it is easy to see what is
being said here. Following the seventh trumpet
announcement, John immediately starts over with the
radiant woman which was the nation of Israel
bringing forth the Messiah. The whole saga we are
now nearing the conclusion of, repeats itself, but
with different visions and a lot more detail. In
Homer Hailey's commentary, it is stated that the
rest of the Revelation from chapters 11 thru 20 is
the message within the little book. I see no reason
why this cannot be the case.
Summary Paraphrase:
Revelation 10
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from
heaven, robed in a cloud, with God's covenant with
man over his head like a rainbow. His face was
bright and shining like the sun, and his feet
carried the judgment of God like pillars of fire.
He carried a message in a small open book in his
hand for me to see. He set his right foot on the
sea and his left foot on the land and stood over the
whole earth. Then he shouted with a loud voice like
the roaring of a lion; and when he had finished, the
seven thunders gave voice and uttered their message
in distinct words. And when the seven thunders had
spoken, I was going to write down what they said,
but then I heard a voice from heaven saying, "do not
reveal what the seven thunders have said! Do not
write it down!"
Then the mighty angel whom I had seen stationed on
sea and land raised his right hand to the sky and
swore in the name of Him Who lives forever and
ever, Who created the heavens and all they contain,
and the earth and all that it contains, and the sea
and all that it contains. He vowed that no more
time would pass and there would be no more delay.
But when the days come when the trumpet call of the
seventh angel is about to be sounded, God's secret
design and hidden purpose as He had announced in the
gospel to His servants the prophets, shall be
completed and accomplished.
Then the voice that I heard from heaven spoke to me
again, saying, Go and take the little book
containing the last message which is open in the
hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on
the land. So I went up to the angel and asked him
to give me the little book. And he said to me, Take
it and consume its message into your very being. It
will be as sweet as honey in your mouth but in your
bowels it will be bitter. So I took the message in
the little book from the angel's hand and consumed
it and made it part of my life and its message was
as sweet as honey in my mouth, but deep down inside
it sickened me to my soul.
Then it was said to me, You are to make a fresh
prophecy concerning these many peoples and races and
nations and languages and kings.
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