I don’t know about you, but with all of this judgment,
torment, death, and destruction, I could really use a timeout! Thankfully, the
book of Revelation offers us such with chapters 10-11 as yet another
pause/literary interlude is wedged between major units of the unfolding action. This leaves us with something else to look at, learn about, appreciate, and apply
to our lives . One of the things that I remember about timeouts and breaks
in the middle of an athletic competition (or, in my case, little-league soccer
games), were snacks! Oranges, Capri suns, granola bars, Rice Krispy treats,
etc. made the games worth it for someone like me who wasn’t very good on the
field. 😊 Interestingly, in this next timeout (which is about halfway through the book of Revelation), John is
given a snack as well—a most unusual snack. Let’s take the timeout with John
and look closely at what goes on in this huddle so that we might learn how we
ought to live when we break from our time together here and head back onto the
mission field.
a. REVELATION #1: The
Appearance of the Angel-10:1-3
Chapters 10-11 of Revelation once again break up the unfolding
action of the plagues (seals, trumpets, and bowls) with a dramatic pause. As
with the interlude of chapter 7, this does not mean that nothing worthwhile is
mentioned or revealed in these verses/passages. In fact, much to the contrary,
these interludes allow John to highlight other phenomena that he is witnessing.
In this particular pause, John says, “I saw another strong
angel coming down out of heaven, clothed with a cloud; and the rainbow was upon
his head, and his face was like the sun, and his feel like pillars of fire;…” (10:1).
This “strong angel” is, in many ways, similar to the mighty angel of Revelation
5:2 who asked “who is worthy to open the scroll?” Interestingly, both in
Revelation 5 and in Revelation 10 a scroll is mentioned. The only difference is
in Revelation 5 the scroll was sealed up seven times. Here, in Revelation 10,
the reader sees a scroll open in the hands of this mighty angel. (By the way, a
third and final mighty angel will appear in 18:21 and throw a large boulder
into the sea).
This strong angel has a fourfold description. First he is “coming
down out of heaven clothed with a cloud” (10:1a). Clouds often serve as indicators
of God’s glory (Exod. 16:10; Lev. 16:2; 1 Kings 8:10; Ezek. 10:4) and here, the
cloud encasing this angel serves as a sign of God’s presence and of end time
glory. Second, the angel has a rainbow on his head (“the rainbow,” in fact), demonstrating, along with the One of the
throne in 4:3, the mercy of God (think of the rainbow following the ark and the
promise that came with it). Third, the angels’ face is “like the sun” (10:1c)—a
description that is parallel to Christ’s own face that shown the same way in
Revelation 1:16. Therefore, the exaltation of Christ is also present in this angel’s
appearance. Finally, his legs are “like fiery pillars” (10:1d). This
characteristic is again comparable to Christ who in Revelation 1:15 is
described as having feet of “burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in
a furnace,…”. Though this characteristic render this angel similar to Christ, the
background here, and also in light of the cloud mentioned earlier, is of the
pillar of fire and cloud by day that was used to guide the Israelites in the
wilderness wanderings (Exod. 14:24) (Osborne, Revelation, 394). In all, this mighty angelic messenger is a
representative of the presence, mercy, and Christ-focused guidance of God.
In this angel’s hands is “a little book which was open.” Many
believe that this book is not the same book as the seven-sealed scroll described
earlier in John’s Apocalypse (Kiddle, Roloff, Mounce). In Revelation 5, the
seven sealed scroll was referred to as a biblion
(book/scroll). However, this book in Revelation 10 is
called blaridion (little
book). Also, the scroll of Revelation 5 was sealed seven times and in the right
hand of God. This book is open in the hand of the mighty angel. That said, many
believe that the two books are the same volume. If the scroll of Revelation 5
contains the title dead to the universe and all of the events that must
transpire for a new heaven and new earth to emerge, certainly what has yet to occur
in Revelation would be included in that volume (including whatever is revealed
in Revelation 10-11) (Sweet, Bauckham, Holwerda). The best option is that the
scroll that was sealed in the right hand of God in chapter 5 and was
progressively opened by the Lamb, now lies in the hand of the mighty angel in
chapter 10, ready to disclose the remainder of God’s divine plan for the end of
the age.
As the angel holds this book he also maintains a peculiar
posture. In a cosmic game of twister, the angel places “his right foot on the
sea and his left on the land;…” (10:2b). This stance demonstrates the angel’s dominion
over the whole world and the significance of the message of the little book for
all the earth (Thomas, Revelation, 64).
Accompanying his glorious appearance and powerful stance is
a loud voice-“ and he cried out with a loud voice, as when a lion roars; and
when he had cried out, the seven peals of thunder uttered their voices…” (10:3).
Comparing the announcement of this angel to a “lion’s roar” accentuates how
loud the sound is. The shout of this angel is followed by seven peals of
thunder. Most scholars agree that this is an allusion to Psalm 29 where God
speaks like thunder seven times in a celebration of his sovereignty. This
allusion fits this present context as God, by means of this mighty angel, is
demonstrating his power over sea and land (Osborne, Revelation, 396). Though this passage does not reveal what the
voice cried or the thunders echoed, it is safe to assume that at the very
least, these sounds telegraph more terror yet to be unleashed upon the earth.
b. REVELATION #2: The
Mystery of the Thunder-10:4-7
John continues “When the seven peals of thunder had spoken,
I was about to write; and I heard a voice from heaven saying, ‘Seal up the
things which the seven peals of thunder have spoken and do not write them’…” (10:4).
Up to this point, John has been doing his best to record all of the many
visions and messages that have been disclosed. However, whatever was revealed with
loud cry of the strong angel and the corresponding peals of thunder was to
remain a mystery.
Reflecting on this for a moment might be healthy. Though God
has given his church a preview of the end, like a trailer to an upcoming movie,
not everything about the future has been revealed in the book of Revelation.
That said, what he has disclosed brings great hope and should motivate the
church to be on mission.
Next, John reveals, “Then the angel whom I saw standing on
the sea and on the land lifted up his right hand to heaven” (10:5). By
repeating the unusual stance of the angel, John highlights God’s sovereignty
over all the earth. The peculiar posture is made more impressive (twister in 3-D!)
as the angel lifts his right hand to heaven as if to prepare for an oath. This gesture
serves as an allusion to Daniel 12:7.
Daniel 12:7-“I heard the man dressed in linen, who
was above the waters of the river, as he raised his right hand and
his left toward heaven, and swore by Him who lives forever…”
After raising his right hand, the angel of Revelation 10 then,
makes his oath—“ and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created
heaven and the things in it, and the earth and the things in it, and the sea
and the things in it, that there will be delay no longer,…” (10:6). Many oaths
in the Old Testament are introduced with “as the Lord lives” in order to invoke
the eternality of God. Here this idea reiterated with “by Him who lives forever
and ever,” suggesting that the promise to be made is as sure as God is eternal
and in control (Osborne, Revelation, 399).
The theme of control and sovereignty is further emphasized by the dominions
invoked in the oath made—“who created heaven and things in it, and the earth
and the things in it, and the sea and the things in it,” (10:6). In other
words, the angel is swearing by the one who is forever and over all.
What is promised in the oath is that there will no longer be
any delay—“ that there will be delay no longer,…” (10:6). Delay for what? Delay
for the end along with the corresponding judgment of the world. “When God has
decided to complete his purposes and to terminate history, there will be no
delay in its termination” (Beale, Revelation,
539). Here, it would seem, God has instigated the final events of world
history and nothing will hold back their speedy roll down the hill of destiny. On
this mystery, John concludes, “but in the days of the voice of the seventh
angel, when he is about to sound, then the mystery of God is finished, as He
preached to His servants the prophets…” (10:7). All of the prophecies of
Daniel, Ezekiel, Matthew, etc. that have looked ahead to the final days, are
now being fulfilled.
c. REVELATION #3: The
Consumption of the Book-10:8-11
Following the revelation of the strong angel and the
mysterious oath is the revelation of the task that John must execute—the consumption
of the book and the disclosing of the prophesy. Verse 8 states, “Then the voice
which I heard from heaven, I heard again speaking with me, and saying, ‘God
take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and
on the land.’” John has already recorded what has transpired as a result of the
opening of the seven-sealed scroll in Revelation 6-9. Now, John is called upon
to take the remaining revelation recorded in this document from where it now
sits in the hands of the strong angel, the idea being that he would then
disclose it to the world.
John dutifully obeys—“So I went to the angel, telling him to
give me the little book” (10:9). However, thereafter John is commanded to do something
unexpected—“And he said to me, ‘Take it and eat it; it will make your stomach
bitter, but in your mouth it will sweet as honey’…” (10:9). While this might sound
weird to many readers, it is not the first time something like this has been
commanded of a prophet.
This odd snack is actually in keeping with John’s formal
commission as a prophet and is very similar to what is required of his Old
Testament colleague Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 2:8-3:3, Ezekiel is commissioned by
being told to take a scroll and eat it. In that context, Ezekiel is called to
warn the Israelites of coming despair if they failed to repent of unbelief and
idolatry. He is asked to preach so that they will “know what a prophet has been
among them.” Yet, he is also told that “Israel will not be willing to listen”
to this message because “the whole house of Israel has a hard forehead and a
stiff neck” (2:2-8; 3:4-11). The prophet’s consumption of the scroll signifies
his identification with its message—“take into your heart all my words [of woe]
that I will speak to you” (Ezek. 3:10) (See Beale’s discussion of this background
in Revelation, 550-551).
For John, the eating of the scroll is similar, although the
situation is different. Both totally identify with the message being given (both
eat the scroll) and as such are called to prophesy to a group of people.
However, John’s message is not exclusively to Jews, but to the world in general—a
world that in large part has proven itself stubborn and unwilling to listen to
God (see 9:20-21) and a world in which God’s tribulation saints are being persecuted.
John dutifully “took the little book out of the angel’s hand
and ate it” (10:10). In direct correlation with what was predicted by the angel
John says, “in my mouth it was sweet as honey, and when I had eaten it, my
stomach was made bitter” (10:10). The sweetness reveals the pleasure prophets
take in God’s word because of the following: 1) God’s word expresses his holy
will, which will ultimately turn circumstances of woe into opportunities for
his glory; 2) God’s righteousness, justice, and holiness are clearly witnessed
when he punishes sin, and 3) punishment of the church’s persecutors vindicates
Christians and reveals that they have been right all along (Beale, Revelation, 551).
Ultimately, it is “sweet”
because God’s sovereign will is always for the final benefit of his chosen
people—they will be vindicated and rewarded for their sacrifices. However, John
reveals, “when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter” (10:10b). The
bitterness comes because in order for God’s will for his people to be executed,
a great deal of judgment of the evil world and a great deal of suffering and
persecution, even martyrdom of the saints, must take place.
This two-fold message of the scroll reiterates the apocalyptic
dualism at play throughout this book. Good vs. evil, judgment vs. reward, sweet
vs. bitter. Ultimately, the book as a whole accomplishes two things simultaneously—it
inspires the saved and frightens the lost. This comes about because at its
core, Revelation spells hope for God’s people and doom for God’s enemies. What has
yet to take place and what has not yet been revealed will play into this
bifocal message—a message that John is then instructed to share.
“And they said to me, ‘You must prophesy again concerning
many peoples and nations and tongues and kings’…”(10:11). John’s work of
disclosing this preview of the end times is not over. There is more to share
with the church and that will take up the remainder of the book. What John would
disclose from this point on, much as earlier in Revelation, would involve all
the world and her people and her leaders.
So What?
You might say that part one of this literary pause reenlists
John for the rest of his task. He is commissioned to once again take part in
sharing God’s plan for the end—a plan that spells victory and hope for God’s
people and doom and destruction for God’s enemies. Though some things will be
left a mystery, God has decided in his sovereign will to disclose just enough
for his church to obtain two things: 1) the hope they need to endure to the end
in spite of all the pressures and persecutions they might come across and 2) the
kick in the pants they need to share the hope of the gospel with those who,
without it, will be judged most severely for their sin. Do you know this hope
today? Does the promise of ultimate victory with God overwhelm your present
struggles? Is God’s Word and will sweet like honey to you? If not, the Bible is
clear, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart
that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved! By turning from your
present path and in faith following after Christ with all of yourself, you can
know the peace that surpasses all understanding and the hope that brings perseverance
through life’s struggles.
For those who know the sweetness of God, are you on mission
today? Does the proposition of God’s judgment on a wicked planet and your lost
friends and family turn your stomach? Are you moved with urgency to be about
the business of showing and sharing the love of Christ and his gospel with
those who don’t yet know him? As John was enlisted in his special role, may
today help remind you that you, brother and sister in Christ, have already been
enlisted as Jesus’ witnesses sent out into the world to testify about Christ’s
work. It is about time we make the most of it!
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