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Revelation 10:1-11 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: 2And 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, 3And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.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. 5And the angel which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 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: 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.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. 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. 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. 11 And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

As we come to Revelation chapter 10 we are given the longest vision that John has had up to this point. As John received visions he always introduced them with the words:

“I saw”

When John saw the Churches as 7 golden candlesticks (1:12)
When John saw Jesus as Almighty God (1:17)
When John saw the Church in Heaven, the 24 elders (4:4)
When John saw the Tribulation saints martyred for their faith (6:9)
When John saw the 7 Trumpet Angels (8:2)

I haven’t listed every instance of the “I saw” statements of John for my time is limited. With this “I saw” in chapter 10 John does not say “I saw” again until chapter 13. The sixth trumpet has sounded, but before the seventh trumpet is played this long vision unfolds.

There Is ANOTHER Mighty Angel

Revelation 10:1-2 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:

Who Is The Angel At The Beginning Of Chapter 10?
This is NOT the Seventh Trumpet Angel.

We are told in …

Revelation 10:7 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.

The seventh trumpet angel is standing by. This is ANOTHER mighty angel. Some have suggested that this angel is Jesus Christ. I don’t believe this is Jesus. Jesus is the One who opened the Seven Seals, the “Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David”.We read in our text:

Revelation 10:1 And I saw ANOTHER MIGHTY angel come down from heaven

This Messenger is called “Another Mighty Angel”. He is“Another” like unto the first Six Trumpet Angels, but he is not a Trumpet Angel. He is not called the “Lamb of God” but a “Mighty Angel”.

When Jesus returns He will return nine Chapters from now in ..

Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the wine press of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

When Jesus returns He will rule this earth and sin will not be winked at. No, I do not believe this Angel is not Jesus – nor is he the Seventh Trumpet Angel. This Is Another Angel – A Mighty Messenger Like Gabriel Who Announced The Birth Of Christ. The Angel is described as:

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:

This angel comes down from Heaven. He represents God. The Angel is immense in size. He is “clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow was upon his head”. I’ve never seen either rainbow or cloud that I could touch with my hands – they are high above me. The Rainbow is a reminder of God’s mercy. After Noah left the Ark with his family the Lord told him:

Genesis 9:12-13 …. This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I doset my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token of a covenant between me and the earth.

The Rainbow is not human symbol of unity, but it is God’s symbol of mercyto a world that rejects Him even today. Though Judgment is coming and the Seventh Trumpet will reveal the anti-Christ, even in this 11^thhour God is merciful and loving. God’s saving arms are extended. God is, indeed, LOVE!

The Angel has a face like unto the sun.

When Moses went up into the Mount Sinai to receive the Commandments from God the Bible says that when he came down that mount that …

Exodus 34:29-30 …. Moses {did not know} that the skin of his face shone while he talked with {Aaron}. 30 And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come nigh him.

This Angel’s face is shining like the sun, for it came from the Presence of God.
The message this Angel brings is not its own, but the Lord’s – and his face proves it.

The Angel’s feet were like pillars of fire, again symbolic of God, for it was with “pillars of fire” that God led His Old Testament Family out of Egypt (Exodus 13:21). This is God’s Angel, a huge and mighty Angel.

Revelation 10:2-3 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, And cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roareth: and when he had cried, seven thunders uttered their voices.

Imagine what John saw. Here is an Immense Angel who’s right foot is on the sea and left foot is on the land. He is holding “a little Book”. The Word of God is often discounted by the world, and the Bible often disparaged by even professing Christians. What this Angel does will affect both land and sea – but it is not the angel that is doing it. It is the “Little Book”, the Word of God.

• God Is Still In Control. No matter what may come next – and we will see the anti-Christ and Satan revealed – God is still controlling events. The Angel is not running, but he is holding God’s Word in his hand and in his heart. He is not retreating but he is OCCUPYING. God is in control. GOD IS IN CONTROL!

Proverbs 19:21 ^ESVMany are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

1 Chronicles 29:11 ^ESVYours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all.

Isaiah 14:24 ^ESVThe Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,

Thomas a Kempis wrote in his book Of The Imitation of Christ:

Man proposes, but God disposes.

• God’s Word Is Going Out Across The Land. This“Little Book” so despised by the world now takes center stage. We often think that we hopelessly preach God’s Word, but His Word is power. TheAngelstands on LAND and SEA,“Little Book” in hand, and SEVEN THUNDERS utter their voices.

THUNDER precedes a storm!
These “Seven Thunders” have a voice.
They convey a message.
The message is only for believing John.

Revelation 10:4And 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.

John hears what the seven thunders of the angel say, but God tells John to “seal up these things and do not write them”. What the angel said was not to be written. Why? Because God said so. We can surmise that the “seven thunders” were all impending judgments on the earth, for thunder comes before a storm. But God did not want what the angel said to be exposed.

Why?
We have a good example in John 12.

In John chapter 12 Jesus is teaching His disciples about His upcoming crucifixion. As Jesus speaks to His disciples He Himself is overwhelmed by the thought of Calvary. Jesus says:

John 12:25-28 (KJV)  He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.  [26]  If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.  [27]  Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.  [28]  Father, glorify thy name. Then came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.

John – the same John writing Revelation – heard the prayer of Jesus and Heaven’s response. John heard the Father say:

I have both glorified My Name, and will glorify it again!

But look at the verses that follow:

John 12:29 (KJV)  The people, therefore, that stood by, and HEARD IT, SAID THAT IT THUNDERED: others said, An angel spake to him.

John heard what the Father said to the Son because he believed in Jesus. The people who stood around Jesus – there but not believing – heard only thunder. I believe the same thing is happening in the Book of Revelation in this chapter. John believes in Christ and so hears the words of God from Heaven. But the Lord says “seal it up – do not reveal it” because it is not for the unbeliever.

Those who believe hear God’s Word, but those who will not hear only thunder. John understood the Seven Thunders from God for to him they were not Thunders but God’s Word! If you will not believe, you cannot hear. If you will not believe, you cannot receive!

The “Little Book” Is To Be Taken By John

Revelation 10:8 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 Words of that Book are to be cherished by John, even in the midst of his trial. John knows what the Seven Thunders said. He receives the little open Book from the Angel. Then the Voice from Heaven says:

Revelation 10:9 … 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.

God’s Word is so sweet and satisfying to the believer.
We take it and cherish it.
We literally eat it up until it becomes part of our very lives.

Tempted and tried by a fallen world we who love the Lord say with Jeremiah

Jeremiah 15:16 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.

Ezekiel 3:1-3 (KJV)  Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, eat that thou findest; eat this {scroll}, and go speak unto the house of Israel.  [2]  SoI opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that roll.  [3]  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.

The seven thunders promised judgment on the earth, but John was safe. Why? Because John loved the Word. The Christian loves the Word of God. We love His Bible. We do not make excuses for it. We do not try and modify it to make it more palatable to a sinful and dying world. We do not compromise it to satisfy the sons of men. We cherish His Word. We believe His Word. We eat it, we digest it, we take it into our souls and grow by it.

Jesus illustrated this one day when He told those following Him:

John 6:54-58 (KJV)  Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.  [55]  For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.  [56]  He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.  [57]  As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.  [58]  This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

We are not called to be “fans” of Jesus, but are to take that which He has said and live by it. It is to enter our souls, to be our sustenance and our strength. I am saved from judgment because of what God’s Word has promised. Shall I cherry pick what I believe? No! My God’s Word will not

Isaiah 55:9-11 (KJV)  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.  [10]  For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:  [11]  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

The world cries out for a gentle, Christ rejecting Word. It is to them a “Little Book”.

Isaiah 30:10-15 … Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits: 11 Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. 12 Wherefore thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: 13 Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant. 14 And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters’ vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit. 15 For thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not.

If we “return and rest”in what God has said we have peace in the midst of the storm. John takes the “Little Book”.

Revelation 10:10 … 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.

Seal up these words –store them in your hearts. They are sweet to the mouth, but bitter in the stomach. What is this “bitterness in the stomach”? Receiving Christ’s Word – the Word of God – you are obligated to share it with those around you. The chapter closes with:

Revelation 10:11 (KJV)  And he said unto me, Thou must prophesy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

You must share what God has given you with others. We are to share His Cross, His salvation, and the impending judgment to come for those who will not hear Him. It makes us nervous – we are in a spiritual battle. But we can do no less! Let us live out His Word and share Christ with others.