Revelation 10:1-11

1. who is this mighty angel – 10:1
1. is it the Lord Jesus Christ
1. this angel is mighty
2. this angel came down from heaven
3. this angel is clothed with a cloud – a sign of Deity
4. the face of this angel is like the sun – Revelation 1:16
5. the feet of this angel are as pillars of fire – Revelation 1:15
6. he has in His hand "a little book open" – the book with the seven seals
7. he stands with one foot on the land and one on the sea -- denoting universal ownership and authority
2. or is it just another mighty angel
1. that is what the text says
2. could not these things be said of an angel
3. Jesus Christ is the one who is directing everything from heaven
4. the angels feet which are as pillars of fire is symbolic of judgment, and Christ is directing it
5. He does not come back to this earth until He is ready to set up His kingdom
6. in verse 4 there is a voice heard from heaven – the voice of Jesus
7. in verse 6 this angel swears by Him that lives forever, and created all things
8. in verse 8 the voice from heaven directs the actions of John – the voice of Jesus
3. this is just another angel
1. Christ does not appear in Revelation as an angel, nor anywhere in the NT
2. in the OT Christ was seen as the Angel of the Lord
3. after He took upon Himself our humanity, and died and rose again and ascended back into heaven; we find Him in the place of power and glory at the right hand of God
4. He is now the one judging this Christ rejecting earth
2. the cry of the angel – 10:2-4
1. the angel had a little book in his hand – 2
1. some people seem to know what this book is
2. I do not know what this book is
2. the angel plants his feet in the sea and on the earth, and cries with a loud voice – 2-3
3. after the angel had spoke, seven thunders utter their voices
1. they are the judgment thunders, and therefore proceed from the judgment throne
2. thunder is the voice of the Lord in judgment
3. seven is the number for completeness
4. John was forbidden to write what these thunders said – 4
1. since this is a book of revelation, why is there something concealed
2. if God did not want these things revealed, why did he mention these things at all
3. this is the only place in the book of Revelation that anything is sealed
4. many people claim to know what these thunders said, but the Lord said, "seal them up"
5. they remain a secret to this day
6. if we attempt to say what was spoken, in a short time we will look like a fool
7. though Christ is revealing much to us, there are yet many thing that God is not telling us
3. a noteworthy proclamation – 10:5-7 [there should be time no longer]
1. time does not end here, this is not the beginning of the eternal ages
1. what the Angel is announcing is that there will be no further delay; God is about to lower the boom of holy fury and judgment
2. the meaning is that now it will be a very brief time until Christ returns – 7
2. here we turn from blood, strife, chaos, demon maniacs, to God's eternal purpose concerning the earth - 7
1. the earth is the Lord's, and one day the Lord Jesus will posses it and give it to His own
2. there will be no further delay, judgment is about to fall, the thousand years of peace are just ahead
4. the little book – 10:8-11
1. John is commanded to go and take the little book- 8
1. this order come from Christ in heaven
1. He is directing every operation recorded in the book of Revelation
2. He is in full charge
2. since we don’t know what the little book is, it may symbolize for us the Word of God
1. the Word of God is to be taken and received by every Christian
2. even in heaven the Word of God will be important for us
2. John immediately obeys the command of Christ – 9-10
1. obedience to Christ should be our way of life here on earth, but in heaven it most definitely will be
2. John is instructed by the angel to eat the book
1. eating the little book means to receive the Word of God with faith
2. the part of the Word of God taken by John was prophecy (11)
3. it is sweet because the future is sweet for the Christian
4. it is sweet to know what God is going to do, but when we find out that judgment coming, it is bitter
3. prophecy should both make us glad and sad
1. if we take delight in reading about these judgment that are coming, then we need to pray and get the mind of Christ
2. the Lord has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, and neither should we
3. He is long-suffering, and so should we
4. but the time will come when the wicked must be judged
5. some of those judged may be friends or loved one (bitter)
6. all will be those whom Christ died for and whom we should have sought to win
4. another possible application
1. many people begin a study of prophecy with enthusiasm, but when they find it makes demands on their life, they lose interest
2. some people don’t like prophecy because it frightens them
3. may I say unto you that it is supposed to do that, but it should also have some sweetness
4. there is nothing in the Word of God that motivates more to holy living than a thorough study of prophecy
5. a student of prophecy and a dirty life lead to abnormalities
1. many study prophecy because of a curiosity to know the future
2. it is unfortunate that people get interested in prophecy , but not in Christian living
3. a great many people are more interested in antichrist than they are in Christ
3. John must prophecy again - 11
1. this is not a new commission, but a renewal of the commission
2. "again" points to what has preceded and also to what is to come
3. there is a lot of prophecy yet to come
4. who the prophecies are intended for: peoples, nations, tongues, and kings
5. John is to prophecy of them and to them [before many]