Revelation Lesson
27
Revelation Chapter 10
Introduction:
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10:1-11:14 is a parenthetical section
1. Already seen the 6 seals opened in ch-6; then
a pause; ch-7 a parenthesis.
2. Out of this 7th seal flows
the Trumpet judgments, ch 8-9,
3. In ch-16 the details of the bowl judgments
are given, vs:1-12
- And immediately another
pause, a parenthesis to fill in more detail.
With Chapter 10 much is made of who the strong
angel is in vs:1 but the real story here, or what is
really important I believe is a little book!
Outline:
1. Identity and character of
the strong angel; vs:1-2.
2. His cry and its consequences; vs:3-4
3. Confirmation of the msg; vs:5-7
4. John's commands and
commission; vs:8-11
1. Identity and character of the strong angel; vs:1-2.
Who is this strong angel??
The elect angels are seen as
God's armies sent to accomplish His purposes on the earth; especially in Rev.; to announce God's
wrath.
- Ps 103:20 angels are mighty in strength and
perform His word!
His description is very graphic/dramatic.
- He is clothed with a cloud; periba,llw encircled, enveloped with a cloud
- has a rainbow upon his
head;
- his
face was like the sun;
- his
feet like pillars of fire;
His mission is related to the
contents of the "little book."
All of this is but an
introduction to the important point of context: the little book in vs:2!
"and
he had in his hand a little book which was [standing] open."
This book here in ch-10 is not
the same book as chapter 5 at all!
- Several reasons:
#1. Name
used; ch 5- bibli,on; ch 10- biblari,dion similar
but different;
5 = a book; 10 = a little book (pamphlet or booklet vs. a book)
#2.
Condition of the books also different;
5 = sealed; 10 = opened (perf.
tense stands as an open book)
#3.
Worthiness; 5 = no one but the lamb/Christ worthy to open;
10 = here John takes the book
vs:8-9
As he is introduced he has an
unusual posture. 10:2b
- has
right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.
- He is
a strong/mighty messenger, whose origin is heaven, who has divinely delegated
authority and is saying here that God is in possession, has authority over the
entire earth.
2. 10:3-4
His Loud cry and its consequences!
- 10:3
a voice of a roaring lion;
This indicates the strength/power of the angel's voice.
- seven peals of thunder; thunder is a harbinger of coming
judgment
-
10:4 The peels of thunder communicated
something that was understood by John; he appears to be anxious to write it
down;
He was
commanded not to write; to seal up the msg!
What this indicates is that there will be more ongoing in
that final period, than we know about, that is revealed to us in scripture;
* Couple of principles involved
related to God's revelation.
1. God reveals much but not all.
2. The much that God reveals is fully adequate to meet our
needs!
* Question? How should this adequacy of the revelation we
have impact us?
The fact that God reveals much should lead us to certainty
and gratefulness.
The fact that He has not revealed to us all things should
lead us to dependency on and awe of God.
The fact that what He has revealed is adequate should lead
to satisfaction while resting in the sufficiency of Scripture.
3. Confirmation of the msg; vs:5-7 (no more delay)
Focus is on an oath and its content.
Notice that the truthfulness and dependability of his oath
is based on 2 things:
His
person/character =
eternality; "lives forever and ever,"
His work = creation; what we found in
What this does, The messenger's reiteration of these
particular characteristics of God,
coupled with his stance of possession;
is to brush aside the foolishness of man that says man and creation are
a part of a closed system, that no outside forces have ever acted on the universe, especially not a
"God".
- That
each aspect of the physical creation; heaven, the earth, the sea was created by Him is a reminder to us
that because of this He has the right and authority to judge it.
* Does
mankind today as a whole respect God as creator? Is that the dominant view today?
Those who do not respect God as
creator; do you
think that they fear Him as judge! If
they are blind to Him as creator they will be blind to Him as judge.
I would think that it is to
Satan's advantage for men to be blinded to God's plan for the future; to what
the end of things is to be!
The way for him as the god of
this age to see that that is the case is to get men to deny the creatorship of
God and they will deny that He is able to consummate His plan.
** So its very important that he swears by a creator God.
- The
statement of Consummation
10:6b-7
vs:7 tells us just when this delay is over!
- The
announcement being made here is that God's longsuffering, His great patience is
over!
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The Emphasis here is on the consummation; no more delay; when the action
actually picks up again, there will be swift completion to the end.
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Wrath, return and reign! Overall pattern.