Saturday, 5 June 2021
After these things I saw another angel coming down from heaven, having great authority, and the earth was illuminated with his glory. Revelation 18:1
Chapter 17 detailed and explained the vision of the woman sitting on the beast – MYSTERY BABYLON. With the turn of the page, a new vision comes into John’s view, saying, “After these things.”
Each time one vision ends, another immediately comes into focus as the panorama of history quickly unfolds before his eyes. With the change in scene, John says, “I saw another angel coming down from heaven.”
This would be in regard to what was said in Revelation 10:1 –
“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.”
That was clearly a vision of the Lord. The Old Testament symbolism from Ezekiel of the Lord, Yehovah, was being brought forth to reveal the glory of the Lord, Jesus. This vision now will be no different. Of him, John next says, “having great authority.”
This signifies the moral authority to judge Babylon and to call for its destruction. It is the Lord Jesus who has earned the right to judge the great harlot and to bring it to ruin. Of Him, it then says, “and the earth was illuminated with his glory.” This is a reference to the Lord, Yehovah, as was described by the prophet Ezekiel –
“Afterward he brought me to the gate, the gate that faces toward the east. 2 And behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east. His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.” Ezekiel 43:1, 2
So glorious is this presentation of the Lord that the radiance emitting from Him literally causes everything around Him to be illuminated.
Life application: John’s point of reference has changed numerous times during the past 17 chapters of Revelation. He is on earth and then in heaven, then back on earth and then back in heaven. Things pass in front of his eyes and then new things quickly come into view.
In this new vision, it seems his vantage point is from back on earth because he sees this glorious being coming down from heaven. Scholars argue over whether this is actually Jesus or not. Those that argue against it claim that the vision doesn’t match that of other such visions.
That makes no sense. Each vision of Christ is given to reveal another aspect of Him. The vision of the Lamb, by necessity, does not match the vision of the Lion. The thought of Him being the Door will not be the same as when thinking of Him as the Shepherd. We are seeing the glory of God in Christ being revealed according to the aspect of what is being conveyed at any given time. It is no different in this new vision of Chapter 18.
In this presentation of Him, there is a radiance shining forth from His very being. As Daniel says –
“He reveals deep and secret things;
He knows what is in the darkness,
And light dwells with Him.” Daniel 2:22
And again –
“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5
The glory and radiance of God fills the earth when it is revealed. And it is that Light which came and dwelt among the people of the world to bring them from darkness into this marvelous light once again. In their rejection of Him, only judgment and condemnation can result.
Let us look to God by looking unto the One whom He has appointed to reveal Himself to us. Let us look unto JESUS.
O God, how magnificent You are and how awesome and splendid is the unfolding of Your word. To read of the splendor and power displayed in it is glorious. And to think that someday we will be in Your presence – all because of the work of Jesus! Thank You for this wonderful promise and the hope of glory. Hallelujah and Amen!