Revelation (Written)

Tuesday, 2 February 2021

Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it, and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter. Revelation 10:10

The order is the opposite of what the previous verse provided –

 – it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.

– it was as sweet as honey in my mouth. But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.

The Angel knew the outcome of what John would experience and focused on the result. John, however, wrote the events as they occurred. Having noted this, John’s words begin with, “Then I took the little book out of the angel’s hand and ate it.” It is the same thought, expressed in the previous verse, that was also earlier expressed by both Ezekiel and Jeremiah –

“So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll.” Ezekiel 3:2

“Your words were found, and I ate them.” Jeremiah 15:16

For John, it turned out just as the Angel said it would, “and it was as sweet as honey in my mouth.” The Bible is a book of hope. It details the redemption of mankind, and it provides the gospel narrative. It tells us what God did in order to save us, and it tells us how to appropriate that salvation.

Further, Jesus really is coming back for His people. Because of these things, the Bible – the word of God – is a book of hope, wonderment, and joy. It is all revealed in what God has done, is doing, and will bring to completion for the people of the world. The messianic age will be marvelous to behold. And after that time, we have all of eternity to look forward to as well.

There will be no more pain or suffering. All things will be made new and we will walk in the light of the Lord. These things really will come to pass, and reading about them and conveying them to others is “as sweet as honey” to our souls. However, something else happened to John after eating the book. As he says, “But when I had eaten it, my stomach became bitter.”

When we know something bad is coming in our lives, our stomachs churn and we have all kinds of physical problems associated with that. The bitterness we feel inside can only be resolved by passing through those times of trial and getting to the other side. This is the case with the message John has been tasked to convey, and it should be the case for each of us as we continue reading on in Revelation.

The world really will come to a time of decision, rejection of God, judgment, and destruction. How can the love of God be complete in our hearts when we know that each person who dies apart from Christ will be eternally separated from God and sent to a place of eternal torment? This should be a great and bitter thought of all for each of us. However, one thing we cannot do in the process is to waffle on our convictions.

Life application: Like Ezekiel of the past, we need to stand firm and proclaim God’s word in its entirety –

“But the house of Israel will not listen to you, because they will not listen to Me; for all the house of Israel are impudent and hard-hearted. ⁸ Behold, I have made your face strong against their faces, and your forehead strong against their foreheads. ⁹ Like adamant stone, harder than flint, I have made your forehead; do not be afraid of them, nor be dismayed at their looks, though they are a rebellious house.” Ezekiel 3:7-9

John finished Chapter 9 with mournful words after the great battle that killed “a third of mankind” –

“But the rest of mankind, who were not killed by these plagues, did not repent of the works of their hands, that they should not worship demons, and idols of gold, silver, brass, stone, and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk. ²¹ And they did not repent of their murders or their sorceries or their sexual immorality or their thefts.” Revelation 9:20, 21

The bitterness of conveying what the rejection of God means is something that John faced, and it is something we must face as well. Many will be lost because they have rejected the fount of true life. But some will be saved. Let us be sure to continue to tell what God has done. Let us continue to tell the precious gospel message concerning JESUS.

It is true Lord, the thought of your coming judgment is a difficult concept to stomach, especially when we understand Your mercy provided in the cross of Jesus. But it is this very cross that demands Your justice on all who reject the offer, the glorious offer, of grace and peace that was given there. Truly You are just when You judge, O God. Amen.

Monday, 1 February 2021

So I went to the angel and said to him, “Give me the little book.”
And he said to me, “Take and eat it; and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.” Revelation 10:9

John was just told to take the little book that was open in the hand of the angel. In compliance with that directive, he says, “So I went.” It is a compound word in the Greek beginning with the preposition apo, signifying away, or from. The imagery here is in the form of a vision, and so he “went away” to the angel, as if he is moving from one place to another. In this movement, he says to the angel, “Give me the book.”

He complied with what he was told to do. The symbolism here seems to reflect what occurred in Isaiah 6. Isaiah had a vision of the Lord. During that vision, someone was needed to go forth and proclaim the Lord’s words to Israel. With that in mind, it says –

“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:
‘Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?’
Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’” Isaiah 6:8

In Revelation, the Angel is standing there with this little open book in His hand, anticipating that someone will take it and proclaim its contents. John is instructed to take it and he complies with the instruction. In doing so, John says, “And he said to me, ‘take and eat it.’” This is what happened to Ezekiel as well. Ezekiel saw a hand with a scroll in it. On the scroll were writings of lamentations, mourning, and woe. When he saw it, the account then says –

“Moreover He said to me, ‘Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel.’ ² So I opened my mouth, and He caused me to eat that scroll.
³ And He said to me, ‘Son of man, feed your belly, and fill your stomach with this scroll that I give you.’ So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness.” Ezekiel 3:1-3

Like Ezekiel, John is instructed to take the book and eat it. For Ezekiel, there was the effect of it filling his stomach, but first was the effect of it being like honey in sweetness. The taste of honey represents the sweetness of the word of God –

“The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
⁸ The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;
⁹ The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
¹⁰ More to be desired are they than gold,
Yea, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
¹¹ Moreover by them Your servant is warned,
And in keeping them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:7-11

&

“How sweet are Your words to my taste,
Sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalm 119:103

For John, there are two effects to be realized. Quoting the words of the Angel, he says, “and it will make your stomach bitter, but it will be as sweet as honey in your mouth.”

Nothing is said of the bitter stomach in Ezekiel, but it is surely implied because the words on the scroll are of “lamentations, mourning, and woe.” In other words, the taste of the word of God is sweet, but there is also the responsibility of conveying the word to others. It is a sobering and difficult responsibility. For Jeremiah, both effects can be seen. First, from Jeremiah 16 –

“Your words were found, and I ate them,
And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;
For I am called by Your name,
O Lord God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16

However, Jeremiah also says –

“O Lord, You induced me, and I was persuaded;
You are stronger than I, and have prevailed.
I am in derision daily;
Everyone mocks me.
⁸ For when I spoke, I cried out;
I shouted, ‘Violence and plunder!’
Because the word of the Lord was made to me
A reproach and a derision daily.
⁹ Then I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him,
Nor speak anymore in His name.’
But His word was in my heart like a burning fire
Shut up in my bones;
I was weary of holding it back,
And I could not.” Jeremiah 20:7-9

Jeremiah ate the words and they blessed him, but in conveying them to others, he found that the mission was painful and a burden. But he bore the commission and found himself unable to withhold the words he had eaten. John is being given a commission in his taking of the book. He too must proclaim the word, even if it makes his stomach bitter.

Life application: When we meditate on God’s word, we can compare ourselves to what it says. In this, we find that God is infinitely greater than we are, and we can never compare to what His word proclaims – absolute holiness and complete purity. Because of this, it makes our stomach bitter, knowing our fallen state. And even more – when we share it with others, knowing that we are sharing God’s truth, we can expect those who hear it will often shun us and revile us.

Many people want nothing to do with holiness and purity. They will accuse those who proclaim the word of being “holier than thou.” And when we proclaim God’s judgment for rejecting His word, the accusations and hatred only grow more intense.

The world is at war with God and His word, and this brings about bitterness and strife. But let us never compromise God’s word for the sake of tolerance or non-confrontation. We are in a spiritual war and all wars contain bitterness, lamentation, and woe. But there is also great reward for those who proclaim the word, and for those who hear it and respond. That reward is JESUS!

Lord, fill us with Your word. Surely it is sweeter than honey to the mouth. In tasting its sweetness, may we never withhold its truth or diminish the lessons it teaches us, even though they can be hard to stomach, even causing bitterness of soul. And, Lord, give us the desire, stamina, and fortitude to stand fast on Your word and to proclaim it to the people of the world. It is a message the world simply cannot do without. Amen.

Sunday, 31 January 2021

Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again and said, “Go, take the little book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.” Revelation 10:8

In his vision, John is positionally on the earth. This has been the case, and it continues now. Here, we read, “Then the voice which I heard from heaven spoke to me again.” This is the voice referred to in verse 10:4 that directed John to not write what was uttered in the seven thunders.

As this voice is “from heaven,” then John is on the earth. John’s position within the visions of Revelation has migrated back and forth between heaven and earth. At times it requires careful attention to see when the change from place to place occurs.

With this understanding, John continues. The voice he hears says, “Go, take the little book which is open.” Because the voice notes the book is “open,” it is an important detail. If it was closed, it would mean the contents were closed up and not discernible. This is seen, for example, in Daniel 12:9 –

“Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.”

Daniel wanted to know the details of what he had seen and heard, but he was told that the words were “closed up,” meaning not open for viewing, and “sealed,” meaning they were purposefully protected so that they could not even be accessed. The book in the Angel’s hand however is fully open for any to read and discern.

John finishes the verse with the words from heaven stating that the book is “in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the earth.” The Angel is certainly Christ Jesus. The word of the book is brought forth by Him, it is open, and it is in His hand, meaning within His authority. It is an authority that covers all of the earth (represented by His stance on the sea and on the earth).

John is now given the authority to take it from His hand. The symbolism given now comes directly from the book of Ezekiel where this is recorded –

“Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it. ¹⁰ Then He spread it before me; and there was writing on the inside and on the outside, and written on it were lamentations and mourning and woe.” Ezekiel 2:9, 10

The symbolism from Ezekiel will continue in the verses ahead.

Life application: The continued unfolding of the Lord’s great plan of redemption includes the use of His people for specific tasks. Just as He used Ezekiel and John, so He can use you too.

When He stirs up your spirit to act, be ready to do so. He prompts us in various ways so that He may be glorified through our actions. It must be a delight to His heart for Him to see His creatures willfully following His call and directives.

And it is certainly the case that even small things done for the work of the Lord can have great impact. So, don’t look at the big personalities within the church and think, “I wish I could be effective like him.” Someone had to work his camera, or he wouldn’t be in front of it. Someone else probably wrote his sermon. Without his sermon writer, he couldn’t deliver it. And so on.

Every part makes up a whole, and no part is without its usefulness. In the body, there are fingers and hands, feet and toes, eyes and noses, and so on. But every part is a part accepted by JESUS!

Use us according to Your great plan, O Lord. We can know that You will never give us any task that is beyond our abilities because You created us and know our capabilities. Help us to know them as well and to use our time and talents in a manner that will bring You the most glory. You are surely worthy of all that we can do, so use us accordingly, O Lord. Amen.

Saturday, 30 January 2021

but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. Revelation 10:7

The wording of this verse anticipates what is coming in Chapter 11. In verse 11:15, the seventh angel will sound. For now, and in anticipation of that, it says, “but in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel.” The words are based upon what was said in the previous verse. There, it said, “that there should be delay no longer.”

The words here are given to confirm that thought. However, there is not a set moment that he is referring to. Instead, it details events occurring over a period of time. As it says, “in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel.” In other words, one might look at the birth of Christ. That happened at a set moment. However, someone may write about the events that were to occur at that time. In this, he would write, “In the days of the coming of Messiah such and such will be the state of the world.”

The sounding of the trumpet is a set event at a set moment, but the events leading up to it actually precede the event. This is then confirmed by the words, “when he is about to sound.”

The way these words are translated will make all the difference in how the events will be interpreted. Some translations to consider –

when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished – NKJV
When the seventh angel blows his trumpet, God’s mysterious plan will be fulfilled – NLT
but that in the days of the trumpet call to be sounded by the seventh angel, the mystery of God would be fulfilled – ESV
but in the days of the sound of the seventh angel, when he will blow his trumpet, then God’s hidden plan will be completed – HCSB
When the time approaches for the seventh angel to blow his trumpet, God’s secret plan will be fulfilled – ISV
but in the days of the voice of the seventh messenger, when he may be about to sound, and the secret of God may be finished – YLT

These are but a few variations of these difficult words. In them are a variety of ideas about how the events will occur. However, the main two ideas are that either 1) the events will occur upon the sounding of the trumpet, or 2) the events will occur before the sounding. The verb is present subjunctive. The other two uses of the verb in this same form are found in Mark 13:4 and Luke 21:7. But even there, the words are variously translated.

The idea is that things will happen in a period of time surrounding the sounding. Thus, the words “when he is about to sound” give the right sense. The timing of the sounding of the seventh trumpet completes the set of events that occur. It does not initiate them. It is during this period that “the mystery of God would be finished.”

The word used as “mystery” signifies the things known only to God, but which are revealed by the unfolding of His plans. It is something not knowable except as is revealed specifically by Him. Thus, the mystery here is the consummation of the hidden things of God. It is their final unveiling. With that understood, John finishes the verse with “as He declared to His servants the prophets.”

Here the word signifying the gospel, or good news, is translated as “declared.” God has declared that things will be made right. The world will receive its renewal, and wickedness will be eradicated. In the time when the seventh angel is about to sound, these things will be fully revealed. Matthew Poole seems to be correct when he says of this, “generally, whatsoever God hath revealed concerning the propagation of the gospel, the ruin of antichrist, and the end of the world.”

All of these things will have come to their completion when the seventh trumpet is sounded. John writes about it as if it is already accomplished because God is there at the end, revealing it to him for us to know that He is in control of what is coming.

Life application: A mystery in the New Testament is something that was previously unknown, and which is now revealed. There are several mysteries spoken of by Jesus and the apostles. The Old Testament saints saw, for example, a time when there would be great tribulation on earth and they also saw a time when there would be a reign of righteousness on earth. When these and many other things were declared to them, they wrote them down, but they didn’t understand how these things tied together with the Person and work of Jesus Christ. Peter describes this process in his first epistle –

“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, ¹¹ searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. ¹² To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.” 1 Peter 1:10-12

We now have a fuller description of these things, and many of the things that were hidden are now more fully explained. However, the actual events still need to be unfolded in the stream of time. We are provided with the outline of those events. These are stated as absolute assurances, or as accomplished facts, thus giving us complete confidence that what is prophesied is as good as done. With this thought, we can then be fully assured that we will be tended to as God has promised. As we who have called on Him through Christ are now “in Christ,” our worries should be behind us. He could no more reject or abandon us than He would do so to His own dear Son, JESUS.

O God! How blessed we are to read the words of Scripture and to see that it is all accomplished in Your mind. We are just watching the events that You have told us about unfold before our eyes. May we handle this knowledge with great care, knowing that it has been given for our understanding of what is to come and for our comfort that You have it all under control. Amen.

Friday, 29 January 2021

and swore by Him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and the things that are in it, the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it, that there should be delay no longer, Revelation 10:6

The words continue from the previous verse where the mighty Angel raised His hand to heaven. John now says, “and swore by Him who lives forever and ever.” Rather than “by,” the Greek reads “in.” He “swore in Him who lives forever and ever.”

As noted in the previous verse, this is something the Lord does in the Old Testament. He will swear by Himself in order to stress the importance of a matter –

“‘But if you will not hear these words, I swear by [Hebrew bi: in] Myself,’ says the Lord, ‘that this house shall become a desolation.’” Jeremiah 22:5

Therefore, the words now conveyed by John do not negate the possibility of the Angel being the Lord Jesus, as some commentaries state. The words “forever and ever” are repeated from earlier in Revelation when speaking of Jesus, such as in verse 4:9, 10; 5:13, 14; and 7:12. It is He “who created heaven and the things that are in it.”

This is Jesus, as noted by Paul in Colossians 1:15 –

“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven…”

John continues with, “the earth and the things that are in it, and the sea and the things that are in it.” This is Jesus, as noted by Paul in the continuance of Colossians 1:15 –

“…and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.”

The reason for swearing in this manner is to demonstrate the absolute surety of the statement to come. Just as the Lord has created all things in heaven and in earth by His own power and wisdom, so He is in control over those things. What He will speak is as certain to us as the nature of the very universe He spoke into existence. And even more certain because it is a result of His word. And the oath He makes is “that there should be delay no longer.”

The Greek literally reads, “time no longer shall be.” Various interpretations have arisen as to the meaning of this. One is that time, as it now exists, will end. In other words, the eternal state will commence. Another is that presented by the NKJV, “there should be delay no longer.”

The second is correct. However, even that is then debated. Is it referring to an end to a time of repentance? Is it that when the seventh trumpet is sounded (see next verse) the end of the time set forth will come?

What may be the case is that the angel is responding to the call made back in verse 6:10 –

“And they cried with a loud voice, saying, ‘How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’”

The answer to their question was that “they should rest a little while longer.” The Angel’s oath now may be that the time to avenge their blood has come. It is hard to be dogmatic over the words as they are future to us now. However, because of the fact that the oath is made by the Lord Himself, that which is promised will surely come to pass.

Life application: What is seen here is a binding oath. It is one that reflects the very nature of God, who is everlasting. As the Creator, he existed before the creation and He will endure for all time, throughout eternal ages. The vow is eternal in nature and cannot be changed.

If this vow refers to the opportunity for repentance, it indicates that there is only a short time left to turn to righteousness. When the judgments arrive, it will be too late. With that thought in mind, it should be noted that each human already faces such a deadline. In reality, we don’t know the moment of our death. It could be today in an accident or by the stopping of our heart. We could be killed by an intruder or choke on our dinner. We simply don’t know the time of our end, and therefore we must be ready at every moment for the Lord to come for us. Let us be found ready.

And to be found ready means to be right with God. To be right with God is to have faith in His provision. And that provision is only found in the giving of His Son for our sin. Be right with God today. Call out to Him through JESUS.

Lord God, we have a date to meet You that was set before the creation of the world. And we do not know when that moment will arrive. Each of us is destined to stand before You in judgment. In Your wisdom, You created us and have allowed us to decide which path we will follow. May we make the right decision that is pleasing to You by calling out to Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins now. Help us to be wise in this. Amen.