[1] “And I saw another mighty angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a rainbow [was] upon his head, and his face [was] as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire”: There are 76 references to angels in Revelation.
Cf. Christ:
Jesus often appeared in the OT as “the Angel of the Lord” (Exd 3:2; Judg 2:4; Judg 6:11-12, 21-22; 2Sa 24:16). He appears to have the authority of God’s throne.
This is the third appearance of a distinctive messenger.
[2] “And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and [his] left [foot] on the earth”: Is this the book of Rev 5? Only Christ was able to take it. He has the posture of a conqueror taking possession. He is claiming the whole world (Deu 11:24; Josh 1:1-3; 1Cr 10:26, 28; Col 1:16). All things must be put under His feet (Psa 8:6; Heb 2:8). We are but tenants. The owner is coming.
[3] “And cried with a loud voice, as [when] a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices”:
“Lion’s roar”: Prov 19:12; Joel 3:16.
[When the Father spoke to the Lord Jesus on the earth, “The people that stood by heard it and said it thundered” (Jhn 12:28-29).]
[4] “And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not.”
This is the only “sealed” thing in this unsealed book. (Cf. Dan 12:9; Rev 22:10). [Note 7 voices thundering in Psalm 29:4-9]
No doctrine can be built upon the “Canon” being complete until the 7 thunders are recorded. [Many misapply 1Cr 13:10—gifts of the Spirit are documented in early four centuries: (re: Jeffrey).]
6] “And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and the things which are therein, that there should be time no longer”: God put Himself under oath when He made His covenant with Abraham (Heb 6:13-20); when He declared His Son to be high priest (Heb 7:20-22); and when He promised David that the Christ would come from his family (Acts 2:29-30).
“Delay” no longer. He has been delaying His judgments so that lost sinners will have time to repent (2Pe 3:1-9). Time’s up. The prayers of the martyred saints (Rev 6:10-11) are about to be answered.
The Lord Jesus will now pray for the world! There is no record of Jesus ever praying for the world in its evil state (Cf. Jhn 17:6, 9). Why? 1Jo 5:19. Psalm 2 tells the whole story.
It may come as a surprise to learn that God has never reigned on the earth. Surely He is, indeed, the sovereign King over all of the universe—over both heaven and earth. He has ruled, overruled, and intervened upon the earth. He governs in a manner that appears remote and incomplete. He has never used His absolute power to bring about an end to demonic evil, human rebellion, and global injustice and suffering. And He does not receive the worship and honor that is His due. That is all about to change. That is what we pray for when we pray, “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
This reign will be inaugurated in Rev 11:17.
[7] “But in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as he hath declared to his servants the prophets”: Which mystery? The problem of evil in the world. Evil is permitted to increase until the world is ripe for judgment (2Th 2:7ff; Rev 14:14-20). The price has been paid.
[8] “And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto me again, and said, Go [and] take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel which standeth upon the sea and upon the earth”: The 7 seals have been loosed, and the book is now completely open.
[9] “And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take [it], and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey”: See, taking, knowing... isn’t enough. Assimilation is essential.
God’s Word often compared to food:
[10] “And I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten it, my belly was bitter”: Cf. Jer 15:16 and Eze 2:9-Eze 3:4. The reality of the futility of man is bitter. What we call achievement and civilization is seen to be rebellion and apostasy crying out to God for judgment. Political, economic, and ecclesiastical life is emptiness. God will be vindicated from all of the blasphemies of men. Our entire hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ.
[11] “And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.”
[Mid-point of the book?]
Chapters 11-14 are parenthetical. The 7th trumpet will signal the completion of the wrath of God (Rev 15:1).
It is only after assimilating the book that John is able to “prophesy again.” There is pain in change, and anguish in true obedience.
God does not expect to convert the world through judgment. His plan is to save us through His grace. Yet His forthcoming judgment should cause us to listen and to think soberly and seriously. It should melt our pride, silence our excuses, and prepare our hearts to humbly receive His grace.
You, too, must “prophesy again”—but only after the assimilation of His Word. Today, if you hear His voice (He is shouting!) harden not your hearts...
Homework for Next Session: Study the Temple of God. Two Witnesses =? Moses + Elijah? (Mat 17).