Revelation (Written)

Thursday, 28 January 2021

The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven Revelation 10:5

John continues the vision of the “mighty angel” who came down from heaven as noted in verse 10:1. Of this Angel (capitalized because it is certainly referring to the Lord Jesus), John says, “The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land.” That was noted in verse 10:2, and it was a note of claiming rule and authority over both the sea and the land and all business conducted in connection with them. It is a note of supreme authority.

While in this stance, John says He “raised up his hand to heaven.” Many manuscripts say, “his right hand,” and this might be the case here. The right hand is the hand that is often used in such instances of vows, blessing, and the like. Raising one’s hand in an oath goes back even to the book of Genesis –

“But Abram said to the king of Sodom, ‘I have raised my hand to the Lord, God Most High, the Possessor of heaven and earth, ²³ that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, “I have made Abram rich”— ²⁴ except only what the young men have eaten, and the portion of the men who went with me: Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre; let them take their portion.’” Genesis 14:22-24

The symbolism is that of calling on heaven to witness the act, and thus it is a solemn affirmation that what is stated will be performed.

This verse, combined with the next one to come, provides a reason why scholars have denied that this Angel is Jesus. In the next verse, the raising of the hand is accompanied by swearing by “Him who lives forever and ever.” If this Angel is swearing by “Him who lives for ever and ever,” the thought is that it cannot be Jesus because Jesus is God and it is He who lives for ever and ever. This logic is incorrect.

Deuteronomy 32:40, Jeremiah 22:5, Daniel 12:7, and elsewhere contain such vows made by the Lord when speaking of Himself. For the Angel to raise His hand to heaven and make such a statement in no way negates His deity.

The only thing that can be inferred from this verse is that an oath is going to be made, and it is being made by One who has authority over the sea and the land. Here is how the Lord presents His vow in Deuteronomy 32 –

“For I raise My hand to heaven,
And say, “As I live forever,
⁴¹ If I whet My glittering sword,
And My hand takes hold on judgment,
I will render vengeance to My enemies,
And repay those who hate Me.” Deuteronomy 32:40, 21

Life application: When God swears by Himself, in either testament, it is making a proclamation that what is said will absolutely and assuredly come to pass. We have every confidence that what God speaks is absolute truth and that the Bible is God’s word.

Whatever God says, as is recorded in His word, is as an oath. This is because God is unchanging in His being. What He speaks forth will come to pass. And any promise He has made shall be fulfilled. God has spoken in His word that those who come to Him by faith in Jesus Christ will be granted eternal life. Be comforted in this thought and be confident in your salvation. God has spoken, and His Son has performed according to that word. We have a sure and eternal hope because of God’s unfailing promise – the giving of JESUS.

We know, O God, that You can do all things and that You have all authority and all power. We also know that Your word is truth and that what You proclaim will surely come to pass. Thank You for having given us such confidence. By resting in Your truth, we can live at peace in this world full of trouble and trial. Amen.

Wednesday, 27 January 2021

Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” Revelation 10:4

In this verse is an enduring enigma that has both tempted and frustrated scholars for millennia. John just wrote in the previous verse that when the conquering Angel cried out, the “seven thunders uttered their voices.” John now continues that thought by saying, “Now when the seven thunders uttered their voices.”

In other words, we are being shown – explicitly – that John wrote Revelation as the events came to his eyes. That corresponds with verse 1:11. There, it said, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches.” John didn’t see the events and then write them down at some later point, but he was writing as he saw the visions. That is confirmed by the words, “I was about to write.”

Like a journalist taking down the events as they occurred, so John was compiling what he saw. This gives us the surety that what he saw was carefully and accurately detailed. With a large number of events, with many details in events, or with time between events, things can get jumbled up in the mind. To ensure that what was seen was recorded without any of these problems, John chronicled the events as they occurred. In the case of the seven thunders, John was just about to write them down. However, he was stopped from doing so. As it says, “but a voice from heaven said to me.”

Like several other times in Revelation, a voice speaks even though the speaker remains unidentified. However, it can be inferred that this is the Lord Jesus. This is because the Lord instructed him to write in the first place. As this is so, it would be the continued voice of the Lord, speaking out instruction concerning His word to the churches (as indicated above).

With this in mind, the voice then says to John, “Seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered, and do not write them.” The seven thunders are the voice of the Lord speaking out seven truths, commands, prophecies, or etc. The Greek word translated as “thunder” is found only two times outside of Revelation. One is in the naming of John and his brother James “Sons of Thunder” in Mark 3:17. The other time is in John 12 –

“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. ²⁸ Father, glorify Your name.”
Then a voice came from heaven, saying, “I have both glorified it and will glorify it again.”
²⁹ Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered. Others said, “An angel has spoken to Him.”
³⁰ Jesus answered and said, “This voice did not come because of Me, but for your sake.” John 12:27-30

John is specifically told to not write down what these thunders state, clearly indicating that the thunders are conveyed as intelligent words. However, what is uttered is not to be recorded. This is similar to what was conveyed to Daniel –

“But you, Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.” Daniel 12:4

Daniel was given the word, but he did not understand what he was presented. Because of this, he asked about the matter (Daniel 12:8). From there, the answer was –

“Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.” Daniel 12:9

What then is a possibility concerning these seven thunders is that the events that are now being recorded actually occur chronologically in conjunction with what is said in Revelation 8 where the same word translated as “thunder” is used –

“Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and threw it to the earth. And there were noises, thunderings, lightnings, and an earthquake.” Revelation 8:5

In other words, like the opening of the seventh seal (Revelation 8:1) which may actually have preceded the events of Chapter 7, this vision John is now seeing is chronologically occurring before, or in conjunction with, the sounding of the seven trumpets. As confusing as this may seem, it must be remembered that the events from verse 10:1 through 11:14 are being inserted between the sounding of the sixth and seventh trumpet, just as the events of Chapter 7 occurred between the loosing of the sixth and seventh seal.

As noted in the Revelation 8:1 commentary, the same happens numerous times elsewhere in Scripture, such as where the book of Ruth follows the book of Judges, but its events occur during the time of the Judges. Thus, the main events of Judges are laid out, and then the information of Ruth (that occurred during Judges) is filled in afterward.

This seems more certain when considering what it will say in verse 10:7 –

“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.”

The mystery of God is finished at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. When the seventh trumpet is sounded (verse 11:15), it will say, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Therefore, the words of “seven thunders” are unknown, but the function of them is not. They are given to direct the events of the apocalypse through to its completion.

Life application: Because the voice of this verse comes from heaven and directs the Angel, some scholars have decided that the Angel can’t be Jesus. But we have already seen on several occasions that Jesus fulfills sequential roles of the heavenly court – such as in Revelation 4 and 5 where Jesus is sitting on the throne and then hands the scroll to the Lamb who is Jesus. In other words, we are seeing the “unveiling” or “revealing” of Jesus. Just because we see sequential things occur from different places, and which include interaction between individuals who are present, it doesn’t negate that they are all Jesus.

As for the words from Daniel 12 that were cited above, the book of Revelation is the “time of the end.” It is revealing the things Daniel wasn’t understanding. However, even in Revelation, there are things that are sealed. God has chosen to reveal His Son in the way which He has determined, and we are not privy to all of the information concerning the coming time of tribulation. His plan will come to pass as He directs, and in order for that to happen, the seven thunders must remain hidden.

Though what is said isn’t revealed, it is surely a call for judgment. In Job 37, we read this parallel –

“At this also my heart trembles,
And leaps from its place.
² Hear attentively the thunder of His voice,
And the rumbling that comes from His mouth.
³ He sends it forth under the whole heaven,
His lightning to the ends of the earth.
⁴ After it a voice roars;
He thunders with His majestic voice,
And He does not restrain them when His voice is heard.
⁵ God thunders marvelously with His voice;
He does great things which we cannot comprehend.” Job 37:1-5

In the end, we may not have the words of the seven thunders, but we can understand their function. Like the voice that thundered in John 12 (above), the purpose of the voice of the Lord is ultimately to reveal to us JESUS.

Lord God, it sure is exciting to see the events of redemptive history unfolding before our very eyes. And yet, there are things that are hidden from us as well. Because of this, we when we read Your word, we stretch our minds – hoping to see that which is beyond our eyes. How wise You are in how You have presented the future to us. You provide enough so that we can know when You have acted to fulfill prophecy, but You withhold enough so that we must wait for the prophecies to come about. Thank You, O God, for giving us both hope in Your word, and surety in what it proclaims as it comes to pass. Amen.

Tuesday, 26 January 2021

and cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars. When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. Revelation 10:3

The words now refer to the mighty angel of the previous verses. It said he had a little book open in his hand, and he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. With that done, it now says he “cried with a loud voice.” The words are certainly stated to provide emphasis. Having placed His feet on the sea and on the land, He was making an absolute claim over them both. The loud voice crying out accompanies that act in order to proclaim this. John then says, “as when a lion roars.”

The Greek work mukaomai, translated as “roar,” is found only here in the Bible. Vincent’s Word Studies notes, “The verb here is originally applied to the lowing of cattle, expressing the sound, moo-ka-omai. Both Aristophanes and Theocritus use it of the roar of the lion, and the former of thunder.” Bengel then says that it “expresses the voice of an animal under the influence of hunger or anger.”

This note of the roaring continues the emphasis. The lion is the king of his realm and the fiercest animal of his domain. When he roars, it is a sound of terror to those who hear it. The symbolism is one of ferocity and a source of great fear for all who hear it. It is loud and it elicits fear. The connection seems to be that the claim over the land and sea is made, but there are those who are rebellious still. The roaring is intended to let them know that the peaceful Lamb is also the terrifying Lion – the Lion of Judah (verse 5:5). In other words, this is another clue that the angel is, in fact, the Lord Jesus.

With this noted by John, he next says, “When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices.” The Greek bears the definite article which should not be excluded – “the seven thunders.” Much speculation is made concerning what these are. This is especially so because they are not mentioned anywhere else. However, a few points to consider are that the word translated as “thunder” is found seven times outside of Revelation 10 (meaning ten times total). It is always connected with events that occur around the heavenly throne. Also, the first time the thunders are mentioned was in verse 4:5 –

“And from the throne proceeded lightnings, thunderings, and voices. Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.”

It may be that the seven thunders are voices speaking out revelation from these seven Spirits of God. This seems more assured when considering that the voice of the Lord speaks out seven voices in Psalm 29 –

Give unto the Lord, O you mighty ones,
Give unto the Lord glory and strength.
² Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name;
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
³ The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
The God of glory thunders;
The Lord is over many waters.
⁴ The voice of the Lord is powerful;
The voice of the Lord is full of majesty.
⁵ The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars,
Yes, the Lord splinters the cedars of Lebanon.
⁶ He makes them also skip like a calf,
Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.
⁷ The voice of the Lord divides the flames of fire.
⁸ The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
The Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh.
⁹ The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth,
And strips the forests bare;
And in His temple everyone says, “Glory!”
¹⁰ The Lord sat enthroned at the Flood,
And the Lord sits as King forever.
¹¹ The Lord will give strength to His people;
The Lord will bless His people with peace.

Life application: The voice of God is majestic and marvelous, and with His utterances, great things occur. As the voice of God is recorded in the pages of the Bible, we should be looking there for our instruction, insight, wisdom, and counsel. Let us never fail to pay heed to what it says, applying His word to our conduct at all times.

We cannot know God without knowing Jesus, and we cannot know Jesus without knowing the Bible. Do you want to have intimacy with God? Read the Bible and there you will find the highest expression of His love and tender care for you. There you will find JESUS.

Lord, we know that we as humans have two choices: to hear Your tender call as the Shepherd of Your saved sheep, or to hear Your terrifying voice as the great Judge of lost humanity. We thank You for having called us out of darkness into Your light,and we pray for those we love who have not yet responded to this call. May You work upon their hearts and bring them to You. Amen.

Monday, 25 January 2021

He had a little book open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, Revelation 10:2

John continues with the vision from verse 10:1 saying, “He had a little book.” This is referring to the mighty angel coming down from heaven as detailed there. Every indication is that this is another aspect of the Lord Jesus. That will continue now in this verse. The Greek word translated as “book” is biblaridion. This is most likely a type of unsealed scroll, but not the same as the scroll that was mentioned in Chapter 5 where a different word was used.

The fact that it specifically notes it is a little book bears its own significance. Unlike the large scroll noted in Chapter 5, a title deed to the entire world, the contents of this book obviously have a narrower focus and scope to it. Albert Barnes provides his thoughts on this little book –

“A book, as such, thus borne in the hand of an angel coming down to the world, would be an indication that something of importance was to be communicated to people, or that something was to be accomplished by the agency era book. It was not, as in Revelation 6:2, a bow – emblem of conquest; or Revelation 10:4, a sword – emblem of battle; or Revelation 10:5, a pair of scales – emblem of the exactness with which things were to be determined; but it was a book – a speechless, silent thing, yet mighty; not designed to carry desolation through the earth, but to diffuse light and truth. The natural interpretation, then, would be, that something was to be accomplished by the agency of a book, or that a book was to be the prominent characteristic of the times – as the bow, the sword, and the balances had been of the previous periods. As to the size of the book, perhaps all that can be inferred is, that this was to be brought about, not by extended tomes, but by a comparatively small volume – so that it could be taken in the hand; so that it could, without impropriety, be represented as eaten by an individual.”

Without stating the purpose of the words, Barnes’ thoughts are correct concerning what they convey. The words are important, they diffuse light and truth, they are short and concise in their volume and stated purpose, and they are intended to be transmitted in order to be understood. But what do the words of this small book proclaim? Without attempting to get too far ahead, the answer is found later in this chapter, but especially in the final verse of it where it says, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”

The importance of those words that is to be focused on now is the word “about.” Some translations say “before” (or something similar), as if John is to preach before many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings. However, the Pulpit Commentary notes –

“…concerning many peoples, etc. (ἐπί, with dative). These are the objects of the prophecy, not the audience. This serves to explain the reference in the preceding sentence. The message is not delivered to, but about peoples, etc.”

If this is so, and if it is a message being conveyed about “many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings,” then who is the audience? The answer must be taken from elsewhere in Scripture. It should be noted that this particular type of scroll is only mentioned in this chapter of Revelation where it will be referred to three times (verses 2, 9, and 10). Of this book, John says it was “open in his hand.”

Before going on, it is a good place to note that the tenth chapter of Revelation corresponds to the tenth letter of the Hebrew aleph-bet. The tenth letter, yod, pictures an arm with a closed hand, and it signifies “hand,” “work,” and “throw,” and “worship.” In this chapter is found the little book in the hand of the angel.

The closed hand is holding the open scroll. This is unlike Chapter 5 where the scroll was epi, or “upon,” the right hand. Here the scroll is en, or in, the hand. Having noted this, the reader is directed back to the book of Ezekiel where the prophet Ezekiel had a similar vision. There, the Lord appeared to him. While giving him instruction concerning his prophetic office, it said in Ezekiel 2 –

“Now when I looked, there was a hand stretched out to me; and behold, a scroll of a book was in it.” Ezekiel 2:9

The viewing of this scroll was preceded by these words –

“Son of man, I am sending you to the children of Israel, to a rebellious nation that has rebelled against Me; they and their fathers have transgressed against Me to this very day. ⁴ For they are impudent and stubborn children. I am sending you to them, and you shall say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God.’ ⁵ As for them, whether they hear or whether they refuse—for they are a rebellious house—yet they will know that a prophet has been among them.
⁶ “And you, son of man, do not be afraid of them nor be afraid of their words, though briers and thorns are with you and you dwell among scorpions; do not be afraid of their words or dismayed by their looks, though they are a rebellious house. ⁷ You shall speak My words to them, whether they hear or whether they refuse, for they are rebellious. ⁸ But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Do not be rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.” Ezekiel 2:3-8

Ezekiel was told to go to the rebellious house of Israel. John is being instructed likewise. The previous trumpet judgment(s) were directed especially to the land of Israel. However, what will be said later about prophesying “about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings” is showing that John’s words are to be conveyed to Israel about what has occurred among the Gentiles. Just as Ezekiel was directed to speak to Israel, so John is now. Remember, it is they who rejected Christ, and who were exiled in disbelief for two thousand years. Now that they are regathered into the land, they need to be reinstructed concerning Him. Thus, the contents of the book–

Are important.
They diffuse light and truth.
They are short and concise in their volume and stated purpose.
They are intended to be transmitted in order to be understood.
They are directed to Israel again.
They contain specifics about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.

What is it that the nations have heard and accepted that meets all of these points? It is the gospel of Jesus Christ. John is being shown that Israel will again be the focus of the conveyance of the gospel during the final seven years of Daniel’s “seventy sevens” found in Daniel 9:24-27.

With that understood, it next says, “And he set his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land.”

This message that has been conveyed to the entire world is in His hand. Further, the Angel is claiming authority over both the sea and the land. In a display of complete control over a vanquished nation, rulers of the past would go to the shore of the land and place their feet in this manner. It was a symbol that they held control over the entire realm. All trade, all industry, all the resources – all of it as acquired from the land or the sea – was under the authority of that ruler.

The Angel is claiming complete authority over the earth because He descended from heaven to earth. The Owner of the title deed to the earth, which was opened in chapter 5, is the One making the claim of total authority over the sea and the land in this verse. And, He has a book with a message to be conveyed with Him.

Life application: The amazing thing about our God is that He is sovereign over the world, and yet He allows us to disobey Him and ignore Him at will. Most sovereign rulers would simply snuff out those who rebel without giving them a chance, but God provides ample opportunity to the people of the world to turn to Him. The gospel continues to be conveyed, even during the times of His judgment upon peoples.

However, this is not to be taken as an excuse for putting off accepting His offer of peace. There is always an anticipated end to such disobedience when the cup of His indignation is full. It is eventually poured out in judgment. We, as His creatures, cannot be disobedient forever.

Lord God, it is so encouraging to know that despite man’s constant rebellion toward you, we also know that You are so very patient with the sons of men. Instead of immediate destruction, we receive mercy and blessing from Your open hand of loving provision. Through Your goodness, You continue to call to us in hopes that we will turn to You and be saved. This, even when we fight against You. Thank You for Your longsuffering and kindness. Amen.

Sunday, 24 January 2021

I saw still another mighty angel coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud. And a rainbow was on his head, his face was like the sun, and his feet like pillars of fire. Revelation 10:1

Chapter 10 begins a new scene, but it is from an earthly perspective. John begins with, “I saw still another mighty angel.” This is certainly another revelation of Jesus Christ, as will be explained as the chapter unfolds. The word translated as “mighty” has been seen in Revelation 5:2. The word is being used to reveal the nature and character of the Lord for this particular unveiling. Everything about the presentation supports the notion of His might. It next says the Angel is “coming down from heaven.”

As he is seeing the Angel coming down from heaven, it signifies John is seeing things from the earth. The statement of John is reminiscent of the statement Jesus made in John 1:51 –

“Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

The previous verses have been centered on battles occurring on earth. Now this Angel is coming to that realm. John then further describes Him as “clothed with a cloud.” It speaks of divine glory surrounding Him. Several times in Revelation, a cloud is mentioned in connection with the Lord (1:7; 10:1; 14:14-16), but more, the Lord is seen to ascend or descend in a cloud numerous times. This is an indication that this Angel is the Lord. And again, John says, “And a rainbow was on his head.”

The symbolism is first seen in Ezekiel 1:28 in relation to the Lord. This ties the Angel now in Revelation directly to the Lord of the Old Testament. The Angel is Jesus –

“Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord.”

The rainbow also corresponds to the rainbow around the throne in Revelation 4:3. The rainbow, then, accompanies the Lord who is on the throne and who is now descending. The Greek word translated as rainbow is iris. It is seen only here and in verse 4:3. The rainbow is a symbol of divine mercy as well as His faithfulness in relation to that mercy. The allusion to the bow in the cloud from Genesis 9 is obvious. The reason for the accompanying rainbow now may be as indicated by Albert Barnes –

“The rainbow is properly an emblem of peace. Here the symbol would mean that the angel came not for wrath, but for purposes of peace; that he looked with a benign aspect upon people, and that the effect of his coming would be like that of sunshine after a storm.”

Whether of mercy or of peace, the rainbow speaks to the deity of the Lord here. Next, John notes that “his face was like the sun.” This takes the reader back to verse 1:16, another indication that this is the Lord. His appearance as the sun indicates that what He shines on is fully illuminated. The radiance of the light of life is in Him and it shines forth from Him. There is nothing that He will not see. All that is dark or hidden will be brought to light. It also probably is conveying the idea of the Lord coming in a benign manner. Were it otherwise, a dark cloud could be anticipated instead of the radiant sun.

And finally, John says, “and his feet like pillars of fire.” This then refers back to verse 1:15. There it spoke of his feet being like fine brass that had been refined in a furnace. Brass speaks of judgment whereas fire speaks of purification as well as judgment. The idea of pillars is that of authority, strength, and stability, even permanence (see Galatians 2:9, 1 Timothy 3:15, and Revelation 3:12).

Everything about this Angel so far (and to come) speaks of the Person of Jesus Christ in His deity.

Life application: The Greek word allos used here, and translated as “another,” can signify “another of the same kind.” In other words, it can be (and most surely is) another description of the Lord – this book is the revealing or unveiling of Jesus and it is He who is being depicted.

This verse begins an interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets, just as there was one between the sixth and seventh seals. This interlude will last for quite a while and the final trumpet isn’t blown until Revelation 11:15. The majestic description of this portion of the heavenly vision is given to prepare us for the verses ahead – all of which are amazing and glorious.

The important point to remember is that God is in control. The future is laid out to show that He is both aware of it and is in control of it. He is revealing Himself to us in these many varied ways to help us have confidence that He is intervening at times in order to bring about the end that He has promised.

And with that thought in mind, we are to remember that He is doing it through His Son. The same One who came to die for us on the cross of Calvary, in order to redeem us, is now attending to the stream of human existence for the sake of those He has redeemed. Let us, therefore, not fret about the world events that would otherwise trouble our hearts. Instead, let us be filled with joy and hope as God continues to bring us back to Himself through our Lord JESUS.

Lord God, how beautiful it is to read the various descriptions given to us in Scripture that show us the glory and beauty of the heavenly realm. Above all, how wonderful is the majesty and splendor of Jesus, our Lord who rules at Your right hand. Thank You, O God, for the wonderful insights into these things. They give us hope in this fallen world as we look to You and your glory with amazement and anticipation of better days ahead! Amen.