Revelation
10:1-11.The Little Scroll.
Revelation
10:1-11.
American Journal of Biblical Theology
Copyright © 2007, J.W. Carter Scripture quotes
from KJV
Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars.
Chapters 10 and 11 constitute the second parenthetical text in the book. As John often presents his sections of the message in groups of seven points, he also often places a parenthetical discussion between the sixth and seventh point. The opening of the seventh seal was preceded by two visions, and likewise the heralding of the seventh trumpet is preceded by two visions. Coming between the sixth and seventh trumpets this parenthesis describes John's vision of the Strong Angel with the Little Book and his vision of the two witnesses. The climax of the heralding of the seven trumpets is postponed. The intense drama of the dispensation of the three woes is temporarily set aside as a message of encouragement is inserted in what is an intense drama that depicts the dramatic and violent spiritual demise of those who continue to reject God’s offer of salvation. Chapter 10 shows that the hour prayed for by the martyrs has come. Chapter 11 introduces the little book.
Note that John sees an angel coming down from heaven, a “mighty” angel with legs like fiery pillars. This implies that this angel is characterized by strength (5:2, 18:21). If the characterization of the angel is consistent with his message, we can also understand that the message that he brings is of great importance. Some have given this angel the name of Gabriel since Gabriel means “God’s strength.” We also see some other characteristics of this angel in John’s description.
He is robed in a cloud. The cloud was used to symbolize majesty and divine glory, often accompanying the presence of God. The ancients witnessed the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night that led them from Egypt through the wilderness, and came to rest over the tabernacle and temple for many centuries. All other cloud references in the Revelation employ the metaphor to represent the presence of the Son of Man. Consequently, some have misapplied this pattern to erroneously conclude that this angel is the Christ. Jesus ascended in a cloud (Acts 1:9) and is prophesied to return in a cloud (Matt. 24:30 et. al.) This strong angel gets its power and authority, not from its own glory, but from the very presence of God. When this angel presents his message, it carries the very authority of God.
With a rainbow over his head. The rainbow came to represent the promise of peace, and the head is the part of the body that represents its own authority. This parentheses comes in the midst of the dispensation of the three woes, a judgment against the spiritual depravity of this evil world. The insertion of this parenthesis at this strategic point serves as a reminder that these judgments are exacted upon those who have rejected God. Those who have placed their faith and trust in God have nothing to fear. God has promised that He would protect the faithful and provide a peaceful place for them. Like the rainbow that indicates the presence of sunshine after a storm, God reminds the faithful that the coming time of peace is assured. We may also be reminded of the rainbow that surrounds the throne of Rev. 4:3. The message of this angel is one of promise and peace to a first-century persecuted church.
His face was like the sun. Unlike that character of darkness we find ourselves immersed in while hearing of the judgments in the trumpets of woe, this angel is characterized by the light of the sun, a brightness that dispels the darkness. The light of the world is empowered by the Holy Spirit, and this angel carries that light. The face is the center of human expression, an unlike the darkness that emanates from the face of satan, the expression that we find in this angel is one of holiness and the power of God.
His legs were like fiery pillars. The legs of the body provide its foundation, its mobility, and in a large part, its power. We may also see an inference to the pillar of fire that led Israel from Egypt and illuminated the Tabernacle. This pillar represented the presence and glory of God. The foundation of the message of this angel is the presence and glory of a powerful God who is responsive to the needs of His people. He will go where He wills without encumbrance, and He will do what He wills in the authority of His own power. Though the power of the judgment upon the wicked is dynamic and powerful, the power in the message of God is far greater, a message of peace and restoration.
He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land,
The nature of the messenger is indicated in 10:1, holiness, peace, and power. The purpose of the coming of the messenger is indicated by what he is holding in his hands. If he were carrying a weapon, we would infer that he has come to dispense God’s judgment. However, rather than a weapon of judgment that characterizes the opening of the seven-sealed scroll of the Lamb, the messenger is carrying a small scroll. A separate scroll indicates an additional, and different, message. Its diminutive size indicates its simplicity. The revealing of this scroll will not require the bulk of the Revelation to disclose.
Also, unlike the sealed scroll, this scroll lay open in the messenger’s hand. The message that God is bringing is available to all to see, hear, and read. The revealing of the contents of this scroll is not being held until the day of judgment, or any other time of God’s own choosing. John has the privilege of reading this message.
The planting of his feet in both the sea and on dry land illustrates his authority over both. There is nowhere on earth that can escape his presence and authority. The message of the scroll is relevant for every part of the earth. Its contents is available to all who would read.
and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."
Again using the number seven, a reference to that which is complete by God’s standard, John is given a powerful message. The roar of the lion is an unchallengeable message, one that is to be heard and not debated. The final judgment is about to come, but before that judgment takes place, there is an unchallengeable and powerful message to be heard. However, unlike the other messages of the Revelation, this one is intended for John, himself. Given this vision of heaven and of God’s purpose of redemption and judgment, John may see himself as a mediator, or simply one whom God has chosen to share this message with the church. However, the command to remember the message rather than write it is far more personal, and intended to meet John’s individual need. Despite all of the world-wide and culture-wide emphasis of the events of the Revelation, God never loses sight of the needs of each individual. God is a personal God, and John is reminded of this fact.
The message that John describes like “seven thunders” is not literally recorded in the Revelation, but what God revealed privately to John very likely shapes the context of his writings. We probably see the message embedded within the content of the Gospel, epistles, and the Revelation of John as its truth shaped John’s knowledge and wisdom.
Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven.
Though the character of the angel is clearly that of holiness and power, before making the following statement he still raises his right hand to heaven. This indicates that what is about to be said is a solemn oath that carries all of heaven’s authority. Though Jesus has commanded the faithful not to “swear by” the authority of heaven, Himself, or any other authority (Matt. 5:6), the LORD did exact the practice in the Old Testament concerning the promises that Israel was to make to God (Gen 24:3, Leviticus 19:12, et. al.). The metaphor of raising the right hand and taking an oath communicates its intent of appropriating in that oath the very power of God. The authority of the oath shares that of the messenger and the One who sent him. Consequently, the message to follow is not to be taken lightly.
And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay!
We may recall the prayers of the martyrs and their question, “how long until our blood is avenged?” (Rev. 6:9). The LORD has tarried from His judgment since the creation of man, and nearly 2000 years since the coming of Christ. How much longer will He tarry? We understand that God waits because He is giving all who will come to Him an opportunity to do so, but He will not wait forever. There will be a time when this age of grace will come to an end. God will close this age with an opportunity for those who remain to repent from their wickedness, and the prayers of the saints will be answered. With this announcement, the angel proclaims the imminence of the sounding of the seventh and final trumpet.
But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."
The mystery of God, that is, the whole purpose of God in regard to the world which was declared to the prophets (Gal 3:18) is finished. God’s revelation of Himself to mankind was progressive, as He was first well-known to Adam, but separated from Him by the scourge of sin. God continued to reveal Himself and His purpose to mankind through the Prophets as recorded in the Old Testament, and through the last prophet, John the Baptist. God presented the fulfillment of the revelation of His love and His purpose of redemption through Jesus Christ, the Messiah. However, many questions concerning the nature of God’s ultimate judgment remained unanswered, giving mankind an opportunity to accept His promise of judgment by faith. However, with the sounding of the last trumpet, God’s plan for the final judgment of those who have rejected Him will be openly known.
Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land." 9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey." 10 I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour.
Representing God’s message, John was instructed to “eat” or consume the scroll with all of its contents. Initially, God’s word is sweet. In it we learn of God’s love and mercy. In it we learn of God’s grace and purpose of redemption. As John comes to understand the fullness of God’s purpose through this revelation, he also comes to recognize that redemption implies that there is something to be saved from, and those who have rejected God have rejected that salvation. It may have seemed to the first-century Christians, as it does to many today, that those who live a lifestyle of evil seem to be lavishly rewarded. Their greed is satiated through ill-gotten gains. The wicked prosper while the faithful remain persecuted.
However, the sounding of the last trumpet is also the last opportunity for salvation, and those who think they have prospered will find all their gains to be worthless, serving only as a testimony to their own wickedness. God will not be mocked, and He will exact His judgment upon all who have rejected Him without exception. This judgment is exacted upon all people, including the Jews whom John relates to. As he realizes the import of the judgment upon Jew and Gentile, the news is sour and discouraging. Called by God to love those whom He created, there is no joy in knowing that there will come great suffering upon so many people. The sweetness of one’s own salvation is brought into context when we come to understand the consequences of God’s judgment, presented in this set of metaphors of the Revelation of John.
Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."
John had already been given by God a tremendous education in spiritual matters. He walked with Jesus as part of the inner-circle, those who were closest to Him. There would have been thousands of personal conversations, answering many questions, providing much instruction that is not specifically recorded in scripture. As John was called as an Apostle, the Holy Spirit worked in his life, continuing to reveal His plan and purpose as John shared the gospel with all who would listen. Still, at this late time in John’s life, there is far more yet to learn. Through this revelation, God would give to John yet more resources with which to prophesy to the people. When the vision of the Revelation would end, John’s prophetic work would start. He would write the words of the recorded Revelation, and spend the remainder of his days teaching them to the faithful.
We might also be reminded of Amos 3:7 that states that God will do nothing without revealing His plan unto the prophets. This parenthesis between the woes serves to allow God to reveal to John the complete revelation of what He is about to do. We often to not list John the Apostle among the prophets, preferring to refer to John the Baptist as the last one. However God makes no such distinction, revealing Himself to whosoever He chooses. God is not going to bring the age to an end without making His plan for salvation clear. By reading John’s revelation we hear the clear message that the cost of living a life of wickedness is not worth its petty and temporal gains, for the price of judgment is devastating and eternal. However, God has provided a plan of salvation for all mankind that will save us from the eternity without God that we deserve. John has published that message, and it is appropriate that we read it, understand it, and respond to it by turning to God in faith.