Revelation 10

The Witnesses of God

(Revelation 10 Rev 11: 18)

With the tenth chapter we reach a pause in the prophecy of the seven trumpet judgments in order that there may be brought before us the ways of God in maintaining a witness for Christ in connection with the earth during the solemn period of the sixth trumpet, or second woe, judgment. This parenthetical portion closes with the statement in Revelation 11: 14 that "the second woe is past, and behold the third woe comes quickly." This surely indicates that the events described in this portion take place during the second woe, and are immediately followed by the third woe, or seventh trumpet judgment. From the details given in this passage we shall see that the events recorded take place during the period of three and a half years that immediately precede the coming of Christ to claim His earthly kingdom.

(Rev 10:1) The passage opens with a vision of a "mighty angel come down from heaven." From the description that follows we shall surely be right in concluding that in this mighty angel we have a presentation of Christ. He is clothed with a cloud that so often, in Scripture, betokens the Divine Presence. The rainbow that in Revelation 4: 3 was seen round about the throne is now upon the head of this angel, and sets forth that this is the One through whom God's covenant of mercy with the earth will be carried out. His face like the sun reminds us that in this Person all the glory of God will be set forth and supreme authority displayed. His feet as pillars of fire would indicate that He is treading a path of holy judgment against sin.

(Rev 10:2) In His hand He held "a little book open." From the verses that follow we may infer that the open book refers to the prophecies of the Old Testament, which have been plainly revealed, in contrast to the book with the seven seals that foretells things not disclosed in Old Testament days. The angel set His right foot upon the sea, and His left foot on the earth. Symbolically, the sea is often used in Scripture to set forth the mass of nations in an uncivilised state, while the earth speaks of the ordered portion of the world that has had the light of God, whether in Judaism or Christendom, and therefore the portion of the world to which prophecy especially applies. We are thus led on to the time when Christ will publicly assert His rights over the whole world.

(Rev 10:3, 4) The loud voice and the seven thunders tell us that the rights of Christ will be made good through judgments that none can evade, though John is not allowed to disclose the voices of the seven thunders.

(Rev 10:5-7) Christ, represented by the strong angel, who already has asserted His claim to the whole world, now swears by Him that liveth for ever and ever, and who has created all things, that the time is at hand when He will enter upon His earthly inheritance — there will be "no longer delay" (N. Tr.).

The seventh trumpet will introduce the final judgments, end the mystery of God, and bring in the blessings of the kingdom according to the glad tidings delivered to His servants the prophets (N. Tr.). The mystery of God in this passage refers to the fact that for long ages God has not publicly intervened in the affairs of men. The wickedness of men has grown unchecked by any public display on the part of God. Men have been allowed to gratify their lusts, attain their ambitions, to increase in their rebellion against God and persecution of His people. During the ages God's people have been tortured on the rack, banished from their homes, and martyred at the stake, and God, it might seem, has not interfered. All this — which has been called the silence of God — is a great mystery.

It is not, however, inexplicable, for a "mystery" in Scripture is not something which cannot be explained, but something which is only known to the initiated. During the time of the mystery of God, believers have had the open book of prophecy foretelling the time of blessing that will come when God publicly intervenes. Thus the lamp of prophecy has illumined the darkness of the ages and the believer has been initiated into the mind of God. When, however, the Lord Jesus publicly intervenes, taking possession of the kingdoms of this world, the mystery of God will be finished. The judgment of the wicked and the blessings of the kingdom, known to the believer, will be fulfilled and manifest to the world.

The closing incident of Revelation 10 is deeply significant and full of instruction. John is told to take the little open book and "eat it up," and that, so doing, he would find it bitter to his belly, but sweet as honey in his mouth. Does this not set forth the fact that the truth of all that God is to bring in — the unfolding of coming glories — is indeed sweet to our taste, but it involves the setting aside of the flesh, and the utter judgment of all that the flesh lusts after? We have to discover that as believers the flesh is still in us, and hence the truth, however sweet to the taste, involves bitter exercises as it discovers to us the true character of our own hearts. It is necessary not only that we should judge the world around us, but that we also should judge the flesh within us; for if we judge ourselves we shall not be judged.

When we have judged the flesh the Lord can use us as witnesses to others, even as John, having passed through these exercises, is told, "Thou must prophesy again as to peoples, and nations, and tongues, and many kings." Isaiah, in his day, had to learn the bitterness of his own visions. In Revelation 6 he sees a vision of the whole earth filled with the glory of the LORD. Surely a sweet foretaste of blessing and glory to come: but immediately he says, "Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips." This is the bitter exercise that the word produces as it discovers to him the character of his own heart. But when all is owned he at once finds it is met by a coal from off the altar. So when we discover and own what we are, we find that all has been met by the One that died for us. Having been cleansed by sacrifice Isaiah is the very one that the LORD can send with a message to others (Isa. 6: 3-10).

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