In verse 1 we are now introduced to yet another angel. This angel came
down from Heaven in the clouds, had legs like massive pillars, had a
rainbow about him, and his face was like the sun. Many people believe that
is Jesus Himself because of this description. Some believe it might be
Michael the arch angel or another very important angel. I lean towards the
second choice.
This angel had a little book in his hand. Is this scroll the same
sealed scroll that was in the hand of Jesus? My guess is that it isn’t.
It is described as a little scroll, and the other scroll wasn’t so
described. I think the adjective "little" may well be inserted
to distinguish this scroll from the other scroll. It also seems to have a
different purpose which we will see later.
This angel planted his left foot on the land and his right foot on the
sea. This speaks of power and authority that Jesus definitely has and that’s
another reason why some claim that this angel is Jesus. I believe this
angel was given this authority by Jesus. If this was Jesus, then this
event would have to signify His return, and I don’t believe it does.
Like everyone else in Heaven, this angel spoke with a loud voice. Verse
4 says that when he shouted the "voice of the seven thunders
spoke". Are these seven thunders something like the seven seals and
the seven trumpets? Are there judgments connected with these seven
thunders? We don’t know the answer to this question because another
voice from Heaven told John not to write what these seven thunders said.
What they said is a complete mystery. Only John knows. My guess is that
they had some kind of judgment associated with them because the seven
trumpets were judgments.
In verses 5 through 7 we see this angel lifting his right hand to
Heaven to swear an oath by Him who lives forever. This is a point for this
angel being an angel and not Jesus. Jesus does not swear by anyone other
than Himself.
This angel proclaims that at the sound of the seventh trumpet the end
comes and will not be delayed. There’s no turning back.
The angel swears that "in the days when the seventh angel sounds
his trumpet" meaning, that the trumpet sounds are not just a quick
sounding. The trumpet sounds actually represents a number of days that the
event take place.
The second part of the angels statement speaks to the "mystery of
God that was announced to the prophets". This mystery, that is not a
mystery for those to whom it has been revealed is the wrapping up of this
present age with God judging those on earth. These things were foretold by
Old Testament prophets, that is why the Old Testament prophets have
relevance to end time prophecy.
Paul speaks of the mystery of God. When Paul speaks of this mystery, it
is in reference to the church, that is Christ in us, even us Gentiles.
This mystery is actually part of the whole mystery of God that is seen in
the Old Testament and that is unfolded over a period of time on earth and
ends in these final judgments.
In verse 8 and onwards John was told to take this little scroll and eat
it. So John did just that. The scroll tasted sweet in his mouth but became
bitter in his stomach. The prophecies about the coming of Jesus, the
judgments at His return, and all about the events of these days may be
sweet to us now as we read and learn about them, but when they actually
take place, the experience will be very bitter. These days will be
extremely terrifying.
John was told in verse 11 that "he must prophecy again about many
peoples, nations, languages and kings’. John was to deliver the message
of this vision to the people on earth and its message was directed to all
the countries of the world, not just the Jews or the church.
The eating of the scroll and the prophesying that John was to do were
associated in some way. This may give us a clue to what was in the scroll.
It might well have been what he was to prophecy. Receiving any word from
God is often times a great event, somewhat sweet in our mouths so to
speak, yet the outworking of God’s word may be a different story
altogether. Sometimes the outworking of God’s word is difficult and even
bitter.
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