Scripture: Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.” And the angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay, but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.
Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me again, saying, “Go, take the scroll that is open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. And he said to me, “Take and eat it; it will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet as honey.” And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. And I was told, “You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.”
Revelation 10:1-11 ESV [Click here to read the entire chapter.]
Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, the fifth and sixth trumpet blasts signal invasion. With the fifth, John sees a fallen heavenly star who dwells on our planet and, having the key to the bottomless pit, opens its shaft and releases billowing smoke from a massive furnace that further darkens the air and sun. Amid the smoke swarms locusts with the sting of scorpions who torment all humans who do not have the seal of God on their foreheads with excruciating pain that spurs the afflicted to long to die. Their king is the angel of the bottomless pit. Next, with the sixth blast, John hears a voice from the four horns of God’s golden altar, commanding the release of the four fallen angels bound at the Euphrates River, who had waited until this appointed time to ravish humankind. So the Four muster a massive demonic army of two hundred million who ride horses with heads like lions, mouths that breathe out fire and smoke, and tails like serpents that wound with their bite. Still, those humans who survive will not repent of their demonic worship and evil deeds.
Today’s reading continues the divine revelation of our Triune God with the first of two interludes before the seventh and last trumpet blast. John sees another mighty angel descend from heaven with the supernatural appearance of:
- a cloud-like garment,
- a rainbow headdress,
- a face with sunlike brilliance, and
- legs like pillars of fire.
Holding a small scroll, the angel sets his right foot on the sea and left on the land, roaring like a lion. As he speake, it thunders seven times. So John starts to record the thundering words, but a heavenly voice commands him to keep what he will hear to himself. Meanwhile, the earthbound angel raises his right hand toward heaven, praises the Creator of our world, and vows to hasten the fulfillment of prophetic judgment with the seventh trumpet call. Then, the same voice from heaven that previously spoke to John commands him to take the open scroll. So John asks the angel standing on land and sea to hand him the scroll. The angel, in turn, tells John to eat the scroll and informs him that it will be sweet to the mouth but bitter to the stomach. Thus, John eats the scroll and experiences the sweetness and bitterness as forewarned. Lastly, the earthbound angel commands John to continue prophesying about all the nations and their rulers.
Of note: raising the right hand toward heaven alludes to Jewish oath-swearing (Deuteronomy 32:40).
Takeaway: The mighty angel is likely Michael, whom Daniel prophesied as “the great prince,” described in similar dazzling terms (Daniel 12:1). The scroll in his hand is not the Lamb’s scroll but would align with that described and eaten by the prophet Ezekiel (Ezekiel 2:9-3:3). In both instances, eating God’s prophetic word symbolizes receptiveness and confidence to proclaim it. Meanwhile, its initial intake and consequential effect point to how God’s word can bring joy and sorrow. Initially, John experienced joy not in anticipation of pronouncing judgment but in receiving God’s word as his spokesperson.
As for why John is not permitted to report to his audience the meaning of the seven thunders, we may understand its mention signals that there will be much more to the Parousia than John’s Book of Revelation is permitted to reveal. Still, “the mystery of God” (v.7) will be fully disclosed as it comes to its conclusion, referring to those mysteries we read from the breadth of Scripture.
Our takeaway? Indeed, it is a privilege to be called by the Lord to herald his prophecy. Still, we need to prepare for the pushback. John’s first-century audience would include people of influence who would not like his message of imminent judgment if they failed to repent. (He had already faced exile to Patmos for his outspoken words.) In short, his call to prophesy was bittersweet for him and those who would hear it. Thus, like John, whether a counselor, pastor, teacher, or friend, we must act on our discernment of God’s prophetic directives with humility and courage, understanding that we are not superior to the message and must submit to it before we have anything to say to others. And we need to communicate his prophecy with humility and courage, knowing that most people do not respond well to having their sins exposed (confer John 15:20).
Prayer: Father God, we thank you for your Son, who faithfully proclaimed your prophetic word, whether calling others to repentance or foretelling looming disaster. And we thank you for your Holy Spirit, who continues your Son’s good work in us. Still, we confess that we are only sometimes faithful about receiving and pronouncing bittersweet revelatory words. So, in your mercy, when your Holy Spirit grants us your insights, please help us act on them with humility and courage, submit to their direction, and then share them with others, following in the footsteps of your Son. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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