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The Book of Revelation
THE CONFLICT FROM THE WORLD SIDE
Unit 12
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THE SIXTH TRUMPET - THE SECOND WOE - Chapter 9:13-11:14 - THE SADISTIC WOE -
Considering the indifference and persistent wickedness of the world some might question whether Christians are backing a loser and that their God is on the way out?"
THE MIGHTY ANGEL WITH THE SMALL SCROLL
Chapter 10
10:1-11 (9:21 "repented not of ...") GREEK DRAMA: ARE WE ON A LOSER? IS GOD ON THE WAY OUT?
v.1
"another mighty angel"This is not the Lord Jesus. He is not an angel and is nowhere spoken of as an angel. He is superior to the angels.
Hebrews 1:4-5 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
Do not forget that this drama is being staged before the Almighty God on his throne [ch.4] before which are the elders, the lamps, the sea of glass, the living creatures with the slain little Lamb standing right in the middle of it all [ch.5].
The "angels" portray different aspects of the spiritual drama that the children of God are totally involved in.
"cloud" - "rainbow" - "sun" In scripture these portray Divine majesty and authority:
"cloud" Exodus 3:21, Ezekiel 1:4, Matthew 17:5, Acts 1:9
"rainbow" Exodus 1:28, Revelation 4:3
"sun" Revelation 1:16, Matthew 17:2 the transfiguration.This is the mighty agent of God and of his little Lamb, coming down from heaven, reflecting all their glory.
1 Timothy 3:15 ... the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
v.2
"small scroll open"He imposes his power over land a sea, that is over the whole world, by means of - notice this paradox - the mighty angel offers a little scroll.
Zechariah 4:6 ...This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.It not sealed, but open so that anyone can know all its contents. The "good news" is that, in this day and era, God's agent accomplishes the Almighty's purposes by the sword of the Spirit.
Ephesians 6:17 ... the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:"he set his left foot on the sea, and his right foot on the earth."
God's purpose is that the Gospel shall be made known world wide by his church.
Ephesians 3:9-11 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
v.3
"like a lion roars" Making the wicked tremble.Hosea 11:10 They shall walk after the LORD: he shall roar like a lion: when he shall roar, then the children shall tremble ...The LORD has not forgotten His people.
Joel 3:16 The LORD also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem; and the heavens and the earth shall shake: but the LORD will be the hope of his people, and the strength of the children of Israel."the seven thunders"
The thunders came in response to the prayers of the saints.
Revelation 6:10 And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? 11 And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, O Lord,Revelation8:3-5 And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given unto him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake.
"How long, O Lord" - Are the thunders answering that question?
"preserved" the servants of God are preserved
God's word not returned to him void. [Hosea 11:10-11, Joel 3;16, compare Psalm 29, and John 12:28-29]
v.4
"a voice out of heaven" By Divine command."Seal up"
John had previously been told to write down what he saw.
Revelation 1:11 ... I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: ... What you see, write in a scroll ...But what these thunders say is to remain secret. It is not for us to know when the End of the world and Day of Judgement will come.
Deuteronomy 29:29 The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.The servants of God must be prepared.
Matthew 24:36 But of that day and hour no man knows, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.
44 so you be ... ready: for the Son of man comes in an hour such as you don't think.Deuteronomy 29:29 "the secret things belong unto the Lord"
"the Euphrates" (cp. 16:12)
The large river Euphrates was the major political and military divide between the Chaldeans and Israel [e.g. 2.Kings 23:29]. Imagery is taken from terrible Chaldean onslaughts, issuing forth from beyond the Euphrates, to depict Satan's war of sin. Babylon is the symbol of all that is worst in evil [e.g. Revelation 17:5]. Just like Sodom and Gomora became symbolic of the worst perversions [e.g. Isaiah 1:9-10].
v.5-6 ENOUGH IS ENOUGH
"and swore by him who lives for ever and ever"However we are told something that is absolutely definite.
"there shall be no more delay" [Revelation 6:9-11 "how long" "hand raised" Daniel 12:6-9]
The King James' "there should be time no longer" has given rise to peculiar doctrines about there being no such a thing as time before creation neither will there be after the Day of Judgement. That is not what is meant here. Read on:-
v.7 GOD'S HIDDEN THINGS FINISHED AT SOUNDING BY THE SEVENTH ANGEL
We are within "the ends of the ages" [1 Corintians 10:11, 1.Corintians 15:50 ff.] from the cross to the termination of the worlds."... God's mystery would be completed at the very moment the seventh angel is about to sound ."
Beyond that there will be no more delay. We are in the ends of the ages!
1 Corinthians 10:11 ... they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come. [ta telh twn aiwnwn]The word "mystery" does not mean mysterious. It means "secret". His servants, the prophets, predicted the coming of the Messiah to set up His Kingdom at the ends of the ages. That was to be the final era of the world's history. The reign of Christ is from the crucifixion to the day of Judgement. We are in that final era of the world's history. When the Lord Jesus appears that is the end of his reign.
1.Corinthians 15:23-24. .. afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then comes the end, when he will have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father ...Genuine Christians are members of the Lord's Kingdom here and now. When the little scroll has accomplished God's purpose, then there will be "no more delay". No future era will intervene. It will be the Day of Judgement. That is what these verses are telling us.
Isaiah 55:11 So will my word be what goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it will accomplish that which I please, and it will prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.The Gospel message will accomplish God's purpose.
"the voice" - not the angel.- "speaks" [see v.4]By Divine command. "Take the little scroll."
vv.9-10
"eat it up" inwardly digest its contents ["all my words" Ezekiel 3:10 "all"]Jeremiah 15:16Your words were found, and I ate them; and your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart: for I am called by your name, O LORD God of hosts.The content of the little scroll has to be inwardly digested and taken to heart [Psalm 40:10].
Little though it is - It is God's methodology - We must imbibe it then use it
Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation."sweet"
Psalm 119:103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!How joyful we are when we first embrace the Gospel. We want everyone to know about it and for them to have the same joy.
Ezekiel 2:8But you, son of man, hear what I say to you; Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house: open your mouth, and eat that which I give you. 9 And when I looked, behold, an hand was sent unto me; and, lo, a roll of a book was therein; Ezekiel 3:1-3 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat what you find; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness."bitter"
Ezekiel 3:14 So the spirit lifted me up, and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me.How bitterly sad it is to us when we discover that God's love is spurned by mankind in general.
Proclaiming the gospel of God's love will bring some to salvation and repel others to damnation, "savour of life" "savour of death" [See the use of piel in the Hebrew language]
2 Corinthians 2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for theseCompare Psalm 19:10
v.11
"many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings."Must tell God's word to peoples, nations, tongues, kings.
The content of that little scroll must be proclaimed to small and great, world wide, again and again and again.
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