This Material Has Not Been Edited For s7

THIS MATERIAL HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR

SCRIPTURAL ACCURACY, SPELLING, OR GRAMMAR

Revelation

Chapter 10

Rev 10:1-7

10:1 The Mighty Angel with the Little Book

I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head; his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. 2 He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, "Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them." 5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 6 and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, 7 but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. NKJV

Rev 10:1-4

A TIME FOR TESTIMONY

Rev 10-14 describes the events that will occur during the last part of Daniel’s 70th week [Daniel 9:27] of the three and half year Tribulation. This explains John's repeated mention of the three-and-a-half-year time segment in one form or another (Rev 11:2-3; 12:6, 14; 13:5). The first part of the 70th week was fulfilled by Titus of Rome in the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. For the subject of gaps in prophecy see www.lakesideministries.com under third section Prophecy.

Remember: Man’s number is 6 because he was created on the 6th day by God.

1. ‘But the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city [Jerusalem] shall they tread under foot forty and two months [3 ½ years].’ Revelation 11:2

2. ‘And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, [3 ½ years] clothed in sackcloth.’ Revelation 11:3

3. ‘And they of the people and kindred’s and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half [this is speaking of days and not years] Revelation 11:9

4. ‘And the woman [Israel’s 144,000] fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore days [3 ½ years].’ Revelation 12:6

5. ‘And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half of a time [3 ½ years], from the face of the serpent.’ Revelation 12:14

6. ‘And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies; and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months [3 ½ years].’ Revelation 13:5

Note: If you were to add these up it would be a period of 17 ½ years. But this does not fit the pattern we found in the book of Daniel. Paul the Learner

CHAPTER TEN

Rev. 10:1-7

‘Seventy weeks [each week is a period of 7 {360 day not 365 day} years or 360 x 7 = 2,520 days] are determined upon thy people [Israel] and upon thy holy city [Jerusalem], to:

1. Finish the transgression,

2. And to make an end of sins, THE JUDGMENTS OF REVELATION

3. And to make reconciliation for iniquity,

4. And to bring in everlasting righteousness,

5. And to seal up the vision and prophecy, GOD TAKES CHARGE OF THINGS.

6. And to anoint the most Holy.’

THE SEVENTY WEEKS BROKEN UP.

1. ‘Know therefore and under stand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be: (a) seven weeks [7 years x 7 years = 49 years],(b) and threescore and two weeks: [62 years x 7 years = 434 years]: the street shall be built again and the wall in troublous times [the times of Ezra and Nehemiah – 1st section]

2. ‘And after [Jesus coming into Jerusalem and telling them ‘if thou hadst known even thou, at least in this thy day, {that day fulfilled this second half of the prophecy to the letter}, the things which belong unto thy peace but now they are hid from thine eyes.’ Luke 19:42

3. ‘And after [this period of 434 years in just a few days Jesus was crucified] threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: [He died for the sins of mankind]

4. ‘And the people of the prince that shall come [This is speaking about Titus of Rome that will bring destruction on Jerusalem] shall destroy the city [Jerusalem] and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined [Jesus spoke of this period in Matthew 24:15 ‘When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand).’

5. ‘And he shall confirm the covenant [Titus did not want to destroy Jerusalem or the temple] with many for one week: [ remember that we are talking about a period of 7 years a day for a year]:

6. ‘And in the midst [3 ½ years] of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, [literally this happened for the soldiers of Titus were so mad at the Jews and seeking wealth that they killed the priests as they were trying to do there daily ritual and burned the temple down after a period of 3 ½ years] and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate.’ Daniel 9:25-27

Note: If you take my idea then we have a period left of only 3 ½ years or if you want to include the whole week in this prophecy of the end time then certain things must take place:

1. The Jews will have to build a temple and start sacrifices again. This is very unlikely.

2. The man of sin will set in this temple and declare himself God. This I doubt. Paul the Learner

CHAPTER TEN

However depressing the events of this middle segment of the Tribulation may be, God is not without His witness to the world. In Rev 10-11 are three important testimonies:

1. From a mighty angel (Rev 10),

2. From the two special witnesses (Rev 11:1-14), and

3. From the elders in heaven (Rev 11:15-19).

*6. THE TESTIMONY OF THE MIGHTY ANGEL [JESUS?] (Rev 10:1-11) *******

More than sixty references to angels are made in Revelation. They are God's army sent to accomplish His purposes on earth. Believers today seldom think about these servants (Heb 1:14), but one day in heaven we shall learn about all they did for us here.

The description of the angel (vv. 1-4). This angel amazes us, for he has some of the characteristics that belong especially to the Lord Jesus Christ. John had seen and heard a "strong angel" (Rev 5:2), and the same Greek word is here translated "mighty." All angels excel in strength (Ps 103:20), but apparently some have greater power and authority than others.

THE RAINBOW AS A CROWN.

We first saw the rainbow around the throne of God (Rev 4:3); now it sits like a crown on the head of this messenger. The rainbow was God's sign to mankind that He would never again destroy the world with a flood. Even in wrath, God remembers His mercy (Hab 3:2). Whoever this angel is, he has the authority of God's throne given to him.

CLOUDS.

God is often identified with clouds:

(A) God led Israel by a glorious cloud (Ex 16:10),

(B) And dark clouds covered Sinai when the Law was given (Ex 19:9).

(D) "[He] maketh the clouds His chariot" (Ps 104:3).

(E) A cloud received Jesus when He ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9);

(F) And, when He returns, it will be with clouds (Rev 1:7).

The fact that the angel's face is "as the sun" corresponds to the description of Jesus Christ in Rev 1:16; his feet correspond to the Lord's description in Rev 1:15. His voice like a lion suggests Rev 5:5. This being could well be our Lord Jesus Christ, appearing to John as a kingly angel. Jesus often appeared in the Old Testament as "the Angel of the Lord" (Ex 3:2; Judg 2:4; 6:11-12, 21-22; 2 Sam 24:16). This was a temporary manifestation for a special purpose, not a permanent incarnation.

THE BOOK AND THE AWESOME POSTURE.

Two other characteristics would suggest identifying the angel as Jesus Christ: the book in his hand and the awesome posture that he assumed. The little book contains the rest of the prophetic message that John will deliver. Since our Lord was the only One worthy to take the scroll and break the seals (Rev 5:5 ff), it might well be concluded that He is the only One worthy to give His servant the rest of the message.

CHAPTER TEN

Rev. 10:1-4 Continued.

The angel's posture is that of a conqueror taking possession of His territory. He is claiming the whole world (see Josh 1:1-3). Of course, only the victorious Saviour could make such a claim. The Antichrist will soon complete his conquest and force the whole world to submit to His control. But before that happens, the Saviour will claim the world for Himself, the inheritance that His Father promised Him (Ps 2:6-9). Satan roars like a lion to frighten his prey (1 Peter 5:8), but the Lion of Judah roars to announce victory (see Ps 95:3-5; Isa 40:12-17).

JOHN WAS TOLD NOT TO WRITE WHAT THE SEVEN THUNDERS UTTERED.

We are not told why John was forbidden to write what the seven thunders uttered, the only "sealed" thing in an otherwise "unsealed" book (see Dan 12:9; Rev 22:10). God's voice is often compared to thunder (Ps 29; Job 26:14; 37:5; John 12:28-29). It is useless for us to speculate when God chooses to veil His truth (Deut 29:29).

Rev 10:1-11

(Revised Text). "And I saw another, a mighty angel descending out of the heaven, clothed about with a cloud, and the rainbow on his head, and his face as it were the sun, and his feet as it were pillars of fire, and having in his hand a little book (or, scroll) opened; and he set his right foot upon the sea, but the left upon the land; and he cried with a great voice even as a lion roared; and when he cried, the seven thunders uttered their voices; and when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; and I heard a voice out of the heaven saying,

Seal up those things which the seven thunders spoke, and write them not. And the angel whom I saw standing upon the sea and upon the land lifted up his right hand into the heaven, and swore by him that liveth for the ages of the ages, who created the heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it, that there shall be no more delay; but in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall sound, the mystery of God is to be fulfilled, even as he preached glad tidings to his servants the prophets.

And the voice which I heard out of the heaven I heard again speaking with me, and saying: Go; take the book (or, scroll) which is opened in the hand of the angel who standeth upon the sea and upon the land. And I went to the angel, saying to him, Give me the little book. And he saith to me, Take, and eat it, and it shall make bitter thy belly, but in try mouth it shall be sweet as honey. And I took the little book out of the hand of the angel and ate it; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey; and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was made bitter. And it was said to me, Thou must prophesy again upon peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings many."

This part of the Apocalypse is sometimes treated as an episode, thrown between the second and third woe-trumpets, and having little or no relation to either. This is an error. We have still to deal with the blast of the sixth Trumpet. It is only in Rev 11:14 that we find the note of indication that the woe of the sixth Trumpet is accomplished. What now comes before us accordingly pertains to the sixth Trumpet, the same as the sealing of the 144,000, in Rev 7, pertained to the sixth Seal. It introduces new subjects and phases of the judgment administrations, but continues the same general narrative and burden found in what precedes and follows. God give us soberness of thought and earnestness of consideration, as we proceed to unfold what is here written for our learning!

CHAPTER TEN

Rev 10:1-11 Continued.

We observe:

I. A VISION OF A VERY NOTABLE PERSON JESUS CHRIST AS YAHWEH ANGEL.

John writes, "And I saw another, a mighty angel descending out of the heaven." This person I take to be the Lord Jesus himself. He is called an Angel, but there is nothing in that to prove him a created being. Angel is a title of office, not of nature. In the Old Testament the Son of God is continually described as the Yahweh-angel.

We had a somewhat corresponding vision in the first chapter; yet, he who there appeared, announced himself as the First and the Last, the Living One, who became dead and is alive forever. We had an account of an angel in Rev 7 and again in Rev 8, whom there was reason to regard as none other than the Lord Jesus. We do know that he appears in the Apocalypse as a Lamb, as a Lion, and as an armed Warrior, and there is nothing to hinder his appearance also as an Angel.