The Angel and the Scroll (Day 19)

                                          

                                              REVELATION

 

 

          John, the last of the apostles was on the Island of Patmos after    having been banished there. Early Christian writers had recorded that John had been boiled alive in olive oil, but did not die. He had not been allowed to die as a martyr like the other disciples because God had a special work for him to do. God wanted the prophetic book of Revelation to be written in order to encourage, rebuke, warn, and give hope to the church of that era as well as the church of today.

            In this next lesson, John continues to tell about the events that he saw in his vision. These events are warnings from the throne room of Heaven about things that will be taking place during these last days. Much of what John had seen has already happened throughout history, but darker days are coming. We are living in a world who would rather worship foreign gods than the God above. These gods come in the form of money, sex, drugs, alcohol, greed, murder and more. Not only are these things taking place in the world, but many of these ungodly acts are taking place in the church as well as the pulpits.

          God sent these warnings to John so that His people would not be unprepared in the last days and as a witness to those who do not know Christ. Unfortunately, so many people are asleep and they keep pressing the snooze button on God’s time clock. God is sending sign after sign to alert people to get ready for the day of the Lord is near. Despite the ringing of the clock, many are acting as if they never heard it chime. However, the hitting of the snooze button, does not stop the clock from ticking. Time is running out!

 

 

 Quick Review from Lesson 5

 a.) There was silence in Heaven for half an hour.

 b.) There were seven angels who were given seven trumpets to  
       blow.

 c.) Another angel had a golden censer was given much incense to 
      offer, which were to prayers of the saints.

 d.) At the sound of the first trumpet, hail and fire mixed with blood
      came down on the earth.

 e.) At the sound of the second trumpet, something like a mountain
      all ablaze was thrown into the sea.

 f.) At the sound of the third trumpet, a great star fell from heaven
      on a third of the rivers and water named Wormwood.

 g.) At the sound of the fourth trumpet, a third of the sun, moon,
      and stars turned dark.

 h.) At the sound of the fifth trumpet, the fallen star was given the
       key to the Abyss and it was opened.

 i.) At the sound of the sixth trumpet, the four angels who were
     bound at the river Euphrates were loosed.

  

The Angel and the Little Scroll

 

 

Description of the angel

 

Revelation 10:1-4 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. ⁽²⁾He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, ⁽³⁾and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. ⁽⁴⁾And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” (NIV)

 

 

          John saw another great angel come down from Heaven. This lets us know that this angel was one from God and not one of the devil’s fallen angels. He was clothed in a cloud with a rainbow above his head. His face was like the sun and his legs like fire. This description represents the presence of God. After the exodus of the Children of Israel from Egypt, they were led by a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire by night. Exodus 13:21 By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. (NIV) Because there is no night in Heaven, God’s brightness shows over all who is in His presence. Moses’ face shown of God’s glory when he was given the Ten Commandments upon returning from Mount Sinai. Exodus 34:29 When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD. (NIV)

 

 

 

          The rainbow above the angel’s head represents the everlasting covenant that God has with mankind. Not only does this represent God’s promise to never send a flood to destroy the world again, but it is a covenant that if we remain faithful unto Him, we will receive Eternal Life. Genesis 9:16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth." (NIV) Therefore, this angel was a representation of who God is and His everlasting covenant with mankind.

          The angel had a small scroll in his hand as he had his right foot on the sea and the left foot on the land. The scroll that he was holding was the word of God and the sea represents people, while the land represents the earth itself. God is in control over all the inhabitants of the earth and sea because He created them. Psalm 89:9 You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, you still them. (NIV) Man has often taken credit for having control of the earth and even though God gave dominion to man, he has often abused it in his blatant unwillingness to surrender and submit to the One who created him.

  

 

          John describes the angel as having the roar of a lion and the voices of seven thunders. We know that the number seven means completeness and thunders means judgment, which seems to be a prelude to the seven bowls of God’s wrath to be discussed in upcoming chapters. 1 Samuel 2:10 Those who oppose the LORD will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. "He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed." (NIV)

          Once again John was about to write down what he had heard the seven voices of thunder say, but he was told not to do so from a voice from Heaven. Sometimes, God will reveal things to an individual, but for His own reasons, he does not allow it to be revealed to others at that time. This took place with Daniel when he was shown a vision, but was told to seal it up for a future time. Daniel 12:4 But you, Daniel, roll up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge." (NIV) There’s a time and season for everything. The time of revelation was not at that moment, but God is revealing more and more to His people during these last days.

The Angel Swears by God

 Revelation 10:5-7 ⁽⁵⁾Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. ⁽⁶⁾And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! ⁽⁷⁾But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.” (NIV)

          Then John witnessed the angel as he swore by God who made everything in the world that there would be no more delay. There is no one higher than God to swear by. Therefore, the angel being a representative and messenger of God had the authority to declare an oath from God. This is not the first time that God declared an oath by himself. There is no one higher than God whom He can declare an oath on. Therefore, whenever God makes an oath, it is upon Himself. Hebrews 6:13 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself. (NIV) When God makes an oath, it is one that will not be broken by Him and this is why the covenant between God and Abraham’s descendants still exist today.

 

           The angel announced that there would be no more delay. He was speaking of the judgments to come. Many in the world today have the ideology that just because God has not yet returned that they can continue in their wicked ways without any consequences or they feel as if time is on their side. However this is not true. Israel thought the same thing when they had turned away from God and was content in their idolatrous ways. However, God is never in a hurry to administer judgment and punishment upon His children. He gives us every opportunity to get it right, but when He finally render judgment, it is more than well deserved. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (NIV)

Join us on Monday for our continuation in the book of Revelation. These lessons are available on Amazon.com. Revelation: Removing the Prophetic Veil Bible Lessons 1-11.