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Revelation 10. Part II
Meat
October 1st 2017
Last week, prior to discussing what I have described as the “inserted commentary” of chapter 10, we ended with a rough reading of some Old Testament passages that describe or relate to the Kingdom of God.
Within Christianity the bookends of the Bible – Genesis and Revelation – contain prophesy point and fulfillments – that are worth some consideration before we move into chapter 10.
I think this examination is important to all students of the Bible but it is particularly vital to the fulfillment perspective because I suggest that this entire books material events and promises are complete – from beginning to end.
That God through Jesus has accomplished everything that He set out to do and that in and through Adam and Eve, Abraham, the Nation of Israel, Jesus and the Apostles, He has brought EVERYTHING back into place that was established in the Garden of Eden before the fall BUT that He has done this spiritually and therefore all the principles of the Bible are spiritually in place instead of materially.
So let’s kick today off comparing some of the prophetic contents of Genesis with some of the Fulfillment described in Revelation.
First we note that in the first two chapters of Genesis no devil or Satan is mentioned. He is absent from the picture. Isn’t that interesting?
What’s more interesting is that in the fulfillment book (Revelation – the other bookend) the devil is absent from the last two chapters as well.
We recall that in the third chapter of Genesis it says at verse 15
“And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall crush thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
This is an announcement of what the fate of Satan would ultimately be by God – He would be crushed.
We will read in chapters 12 and 20 of Revelation where this is carried out.
Now remember, that Satan was called the accuser. This was his primary job in the heavens. But it seems to me that if (or since) Jesus has both fulfilled the Law and the Prophets that Satan’s ability to accuse is greatly diminished and it also seems to me that if or since Jesus has overcome sin and death, paying for them and overcoming them once and for all then (AGAIN) Satan’s purpose and power is over.
I don’t understand the position people take of praising and rejoicing in Jesus finished work when with the same mouth people maintain that Satan is still in operation, with increasing power, and beating God despite Jesus victory over sin and death.
Of course, the natural response is that Satan is obviously still around – look at the conditions of the world but to this I think we have two reasonable responses:
Outside of the fallen angel Satan Darkness is always opposite of God and will always exist and two,
Human beings without God are certainly capable of tapping into the dark and doing very heinous things on their own. After all, Adam and Eve did BEFORE the Fall.
So, there’s that.
It is interesting that the Book of Genesis is the seedbed of all biblical cosmology, meaning the origin and development of heaven and earth. We note that this describes the beginning (in the beginning God) right? Beginning of what? The material universe which God created.
Paul says in that mighty chapter of 1st Corinthians 15:46
“Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.”
The Book of Revelation is the culmination of this cosmology described in Genesis and the introduction of a brand NEW cosmology – the Spiritual.
One was shakable, the second cannot be shaken.
One contained an old dusty Jerusalem filled with rocks. The New contained the New Jerusalem, which came down from heaven.
One was earthly and of the earth, but because of Christ Jesus the second is entirely of heaven – governed from and existing in – a new heaven, a new earth.
All created by and through Christ, the second Adam.
Remember that the First Adam is established on earth in Genesis chapter 2:4. He was taken from the material earth and then returned to the material earth to reside in sheol until the Second Adam came and overcame sin and death and the grave that He introduced to the earth? Well in Revelation this second Adam was wholly glorified in the heavens and sidled up to God.
We note, not knowing how to make perfect sense of it all, that in Genesis chapter 1 darkness is discovered and the sea but in Revelation there is no more night (darkness perhaps) no more sea (which I believe is a reference to the brazen sea)
We note that Adam is given a helpmate (Eve) in Genesis 2:18-28 taken from His side and that Christ is presented with a bride in Revelation, perhaps symbolically birth from the wound in His side while on the cross.
Of course there was a tree of life in the garden of paradise (Genesis 2:8) and we will also be presented a tree of life in God’s new creation (as described in Revelation 22:2).
Now the next one is difficult for some people today because for some reason they want to cling to the idea that sin remains – that death remains.
Long before I became a total fulfillment person (actually before I even knew what it was) I could see from scripture that sin was over. Had to be if Christ was the author and finisher of our faith, right?
It doesn’t mean sin can’t have deleterious effects on people on earth – it can and will. But it is over in God’s eyes – totally forgiven.
Well sin begins in Genesis and brings with it a curse – in that day they would surely die.
But in Revelation sin has been put down and death is no more. There is no sighing, dying, crying, moaning, groaning, or pain. The former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4-5)
Now, we note that most of the fulfillment passages in Revelation are taken from Revelation 21 and 22.
Many people are under the impression that these two chapters are the final chapters of everything and that they not only depict a description of what will someday be therefore they are entirely futuristic.
Some add in Revelation chapter 20 to the mix too because in this chapter Satan disappears all together.
So, and as mentioned, in Genesis 3:1 Satan appears on the scene for the first time. And in Revelation chapter 20:7-10 he is seen for the last time. Because I believe Christ has had the total victory over all things I believe that chapter 20 has been fulfilled.
Again, in Genesis 3:23-24 Adam and Eve (Man) is driven from God’s face but in Revelation 21 and 22 Man apparently beholds God’s glorious face – as we read:
Revelation 22:4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.
Finally, some Christians teach that Genesis begins with a wedding. Then they point out that Revelation ends with a wedding.
This is incorrect terminology. Let me explain:
There was absolutely no wedding in the Garden of Eden – though there was a marriage. It occurred when God created woman OUT of ADAM and the two were seen as one.
No wedding ceremony but marriage in the actual and literal sense – when two become or are seen by God as one!
In the material world this is accomplished through sexual intercourse – that is the literal actual definition of marriage in God’s eyes because the way that a couple of two different fleshes become one is uniting in their respective fleshes – when the bodies become one flesh.
This is the same with the marriage of the Lamb – He (and they) become one.
Of this event we read in Revelation 19:7-9
7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
(She had made herself ready to be one with the Lamb – to unite with Him in the most unifying manner possible – by and through the Spirit.)
In Galatians 3:28 Paul astutely says that In Christ there is neither male nor female.
This is an allusion to the fact that we become one with Our Lord and Savior spiritually.
It is not by mistake, however, that our word for communion (taken from the Greek koinia) is the same word that gives us coitus, meaning intercourse.
But let’s be clear (yet again) the material is shaken, done and over. We are speaking of heavenly unshakeable things, not carnal, earthly things.
The marriage of the Lamb is His becoming one with His Church – which the Book of Revelation is written and aimed to as a means to prepare them for His arrival to come and take them, it, or her.
If He has come and taken His church what are we?
Just like it is important to properly distinguish between wedding and marriage it is important to properly distinguish our terms today relative to Bride, Church and Body.
I suggest to you that the term church related to all churches established prior to the destruction of Jerusalem – in and out of Judea. If they were gathering in the name of Christ, they were part of the Church.
I would them suggest that the Bride of Christ were those believers – in or out of the churches of that day and age – who were truly His in word AND deed.
They were the ones who made it through the tribulation. They were the ones that the gates of hell did not prevail against.
And at the wrapping up of that age Jesus ate and drank with them at His marriage to them.
Revelation, still speaking of the Brige of Christ, describes her in the following way, saying at verse 8:
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.
So if that was the Church, and they were the bride, who and what are believers today since the 70 AD consummation of all things?
We, like all before us, even all the way back to the apostles, are part of His body.
So where people today are not in His church, and while were are not His bride all believers since the beginning of time who seek and walk with God are certainly part of His Body.
And this body is ever growing, never dying, never going to the grave. It lives as He lives, resurrected from the material grave of sin and death, abiding and thriving in and through Him by the Spirit.
See the differences? Is one better than another? Could not be. God is not a respecter of persons. But all fulfill His reconciling the world to Himself by and through His Only Begotten Son.
So there are some of the ideas presented in the Book of Genesis and reiterated or fulfilled in the Book of Revelation.
Of course, if someone believes that Revelation is still being fulfilled then we are still his church (which to me requires apostolic leadership and direction by men who are apostles like Jesus original apostles were apostles) and we are looking to be His bride (so we had better make sure we are ready to be taken up and saved by Him in order to participate in our marriage to Him).
But I just cannot see things in this sense any longer.
Alright, let’s get to our text – chapter 10:
This chapter contains the record of a sublime vision of an angel which, at this juncture, John saw descending from heaven, disclosing new scenes in what was yet to occur.
The vision is interposed between the sounding of the sixth, or second woe-trumpet, and the sounding of the seventh, or third woe-trumpet, under which is to be the final consummation according to Revelation 11:15.
And while this is its place we recall from last week that the effects of the sixth trumpet appears to continue to unfold until chapter 11:15.
This vision occupies an important interval between the events which were to occur under the sixth trumpet, and the last scene–the final overthrow of the formidable power which had opposed the reign of God on the earth, and the reign of righteousness, when the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdom of God (which again happens at Revelation 11:15).
Many believe that this chapter should never be, meaning it should just be a continuation of chapter nine as it constitutes one continued vision all the way up to at least Revelation 11:15, where the sounding of the seventh and last trumpet occurs.
As a preemptive summary the tenth chapter contains the following things:
An angel descends from heaven, and John’s attention is turned from the contemplation of what was passing in heaven to this new vision that appeared on the earth.
This “angel” (we will discuss whether it could be deity later) but here it is clothed with a cloud; he is encircled by a rainbow; his face is as the sun, am/his feet like pillars of fire which are all indicative of its exalted rank.
In verse 2
The angel appears with a small volume in his hand.
This book is not closed and sealed, like the one in chapter 5, but was “open”–so that it could be read.
This imagery indicate some new message or revelation from heaven; and the book would be, properly, a symbol of something that was to be accomplished by such an open volume.
The angel sets his feet upon the sea and the land, which seems to indicate that the message was to who entire world or to both the Jews (land) and the invading Gentiles (sea).
Then this angel makes a proclamation–the nature of which is not here stated–with a loud voice, like the roaring of a lion.
This cry or roar is responded to by heavy thunders that John heard for he says (in verse 4) that he was about to make a record of what was said but he is forbidden to do so by a voice from heaven.
For some reason, not here stated, he was commanded not to disclose what was said, but so to seal it up that it should not be known and we are not told why – at least not in this chapter.
At this point the angel lifts his hand to heaven and swears by the Great Creator of all things that the time should not be yet–in our common version, “that there should be time no longer.” We will talk about this verbiage when we get to verses 5-7.
In all of this it seems that God is about to reign on earth at this point but the angel, says that his was not yet to be, but that it would occur when the seventh angel should begin to sound. Then the great “mystery” would be complete, as it had been declared to the prophets.
John is then commanded, by the same voice which he heard from heaven, to go to the angel and take the little book that he held in his hand, and eat it–with the assurance that it would be found to be sweet to the taste, but would be bitter afterwards – more to talk about there, right, and then the chapter concludes with a declaration that he must yet prophecy before many people and nations.
This then takes us to chapter 11 where all sorts of stuff follows including a commission to measure the temple; a command to separate the pure from the profane; an account of the prophesying, the death, and the resurrection to life of the two witnesses–all preliminary to the sounding of the seventh trumpet, and the introduction of the universal reign of righteousness.
Alright, verse one:
Revelation 10:1 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:
Okay, back to verse 1
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:
Remember a couple of things here. This section is speaking of the Seven Trumpets being blown (and we discussed at length the biblical precedence for this being a signal for war and or the arrival of royalty.)
What blew these trumpets – angels.
These angels – described in Revelation 8 – are simply called angels who are given seven trumpets.
So here it seems (because we are in this place talking about trumpets and the angels that blow them) that this is in connection to them.
I don’t think so. John writes:
“And I saw,” I had a vision of, but he adds a few things unique to his description of this angel. Let’s break this vision down that is stuck here in between the sixth and seventh trumpet.
He says (let’s look at the first three verses which describe this angel in thirteen distinct ways):
And I saw (which I believe is his seeing another entirely new and disconnected vision)
1 “another mighty angel”
The word Mighty can just as easily be described as strong and when it is used in conjunction with heavenly angels we find it used twice in all of scripture – both in Revelation – here and in Revelation 18 (which we will get to later on)
We remember that while angels in heaven are certainly a real creation of God the term angel can mean messenger – and in this case I would suggest you consider this being another heavenly messenger who transcended heavenly angels.
So this messenger was mighty. And number 2
“he come down from heaven” (from heaven)
Now I realize that when seeing heavenly angels – especially in vision and in relation to them working among men – that they all come down from heaven.
But this mighty messenger that come down from heaven is easily seen as different than all others.
It is not by chance that all through scripture Jesus is described as coming down from heaven. For example Paul writes in 1st Corinthians 15:47
“The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.”
John continues and says in point three:
3 clothed with a cloud
We know that to the Hebrews God was often described as being clothed or riding upon the clouds.
Even Jesus Himself says this of Himself in Matthew 24:30
And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
And then again to Pilate Jesus said in Matthew 26:64
Nevertheless I say unto you, “Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”
Then of course in our very first chapter of Revelation we read:
7 Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
For me these passages are a direct fulfillment of these verses that John is seeing in vision. Number 4
4 and a rainbow was upon his head
We recall that in Revelation chapter 4 John saw into heaven and one sat upon a throne and there was a rainbow round about the throne.
We talked about the symbolism of rainbows being around the throne of God and all that it could represent but in the Book of Revelation the only mention of rainbows is associated with God and this throne.
With Christ being the head of the church, and the head of Man, it seems fitting that the rainbows of Revelation would both be around the throne of God and the ONE who sat upon it AND around the Head of this Mighty Messenger from heaven. 5th
5 and his face was as it were the sun
We have a heavenly vision here mirroring yet another event related to Jesus.
On the mount of Transfiguration, when Jesus was shape shifted into His heavenly personage we read in Matthew 17:2:
“And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.”
Paul taps into this characteristic of Jesus when he wrote in 2nd Corinthians 4:6 (listen closely)
“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”
This was no typical angel folks – this was Jesus. But why doesn’t John say so? I think the plain answer lies in the word Messenger.
Which is what Jesus was – a messenger of God bringing salvation and the Good News to the world.
Another reason John MAY not have identified this mighty messenger as Jesus is that John did not know Him in this way of power and glory and might.
He knew Him as a man full of the power of God but capable of being hurt – even killed, a man of sorrows acquainted with grief.
This was a mighty messenger clothed in rainbows and riding clouds and speaking like a lion. Point number 6 brings us even closer to this identification as it says:
“and his feet as pillars of fire:”
Daniel 10:6, speaking of someone other than Jesus but as an Old Testament type for Him says
“His body also was like the beryl, and his face as the appearance of lightning, and his eyes as lamps of fire, and his arms and his feet like in color to polished brass, and the voice of his words like the voice of a multitude.”
And then speaking of Jesus we do read a fulfillment of Daniel 10:6 in Revelation 2:18 which says
Revelation 2:18 “And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass;”
So again, I am convinced that this is but another additional description of Jesus Christ.
But before we leave why does scripture describe Him here (and other apparent heavenly beings as being bright, light, and especially the feet being like burnished brass?
I am convinced that in order to dwell in the midst of God, the consuming fire, beings must be able to endure the inconceivable energy – like a billion suns coalesced into His presence – but spiritually – and for ANY thing to survive it they must be equipped or clothed with righteousness.
In the event that they are it seems that whatever abides becomes translucent in the power and glory and this is why the feet are described as “pillars of fire” and “of fine brass.”
Number seven (verse 2)
“And he had in his hand a little book open:”
There are a number of ideas passed around what this book is.
We’ll wrap today up talking about them.
For starters, the angel hand hands, and in his hand was “a little book opened.”
We might suppose that the book appeared little because this mighty angel was apparently big – big enough to place on foot in the sea and another foot on land (though this IS possible for a normally sized human being to do).
Some say that the “little book” is probably a title deed to the earth symbolizing Christ’s right to possess and rule the earth. Tied directly to this some suggest that this open book was the Book out of which the dead would be judged at the Great White Throne judgement.
Finally, because John will be commanded to eat the book some suggest that the little book was a Bible.
Of course we have an Old Testament connection to eating books.
In Ezekiel 3:1-3 we read God telling Ezekiel:
“Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this roll, and go speak unto the house of Israel. So I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll. And he said unto me, Son of man, cause thy belly to eat, and fill thy bowels with this roll that I give thee. Then did I eat it; and it was in my mouth as honey for sweetness. “
Additionally, we also read in Jeremiah 15:16
Jeremiah 15:15 O LORD, thou knowest: remember me, and visit me, and revenge me of my persecutors; take me not away in thy longsuffering: know that for thy sake I have suffered rebuke.
16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
So it may be that the “Little Book” that was seen in heaven (here in verse 2), has a similar mission as that given to Ezekiel and Jeremiah.
The prophetic Word, which is what the “Little Book” is, contains the “sweet” message of God’s wonderful plan for mankind including the coming of Christ, the Millennium Kingdom, and Heaven, but it also contains the Judgment of God on sinners who do not repent and come to Him.
The fact that this mighty messenger has it in his hand, that it is opened, and that he is going to give it to John to eat tells me that the book is in fact Revelations from God/Jesus to John that Jesus will give Him and then ask Him to repeat, share and or even write.
We’ll leave off here today.
Q and A
Prayer
