THE BOOK OF REVELATION Chapter 10 ‘John’s Recommissioning’

Revelation 10: Overview V.1-3a: The descriptions of Christ-like angel V.3b-4: The sealed 7 Thunders V.5-7: The completion of the mystery of God V.8-9: The little book V.10: Recommissioning of John to prophesy again

Christ-like Angel (v.1-3a) I saw still another mighty angel [1] coming down from heaven, [2] clothed with a cloud. & [3] a rainbow was on his head, [4] his face was like the sun, & [5] his feet like pillars of fire. [6] He had a little book open in his hand. & [7] he set his right foot on the sea and left on the land, & [8] cried with a loud voice, as when a lion roars.

Christ-like Angel (v.1-3a) Revelation 5:1-3 1 And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. 2 Then I saw a strong [mighty] angel proclaiming with a loud voice, "Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?" 3 And no one in heaven or on the earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll, or to look at it. Revelation 18: Then a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone and threw it into the sea, saying, "Thus with violence the great city Babylon shall be thrown down, and shall not be found anymore. […] 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets and saints, and of all who were slain on the earth."

Christ-like Angel: Summary “The mighty angels seem to be angels of great importance and power and nearness to God, who bring imperative messages to God’s servants. They are sometimes connected with the archangels like Michael and Gabriel (e.g. Daniel 8:16, 9:21, 10:21).” In Revelation 10, this Christ-like angel is the one recommissioning John to prophesy again, the content of which refers to chapters This is very similar to Christ commissioning John to prophesy in Revelation 1.

The Seven Thunders 3 When he cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. 4 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." Daniel 12:8-9 8 Although I heard, I did not understand. Then I said, "My lord, what shall be the end of these things?" 9 And he said, "Go your way, Daniel, for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.

The Mystery of God 5 The angel whom I saw standing on the sea and on the land raised up his hand to heaven 6 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, 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’.

‘Mystery’ in the NT Matthew 13:11 He answered and said to them, "Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. Mark 4:11 And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables, Luke 8:10 And He said, "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.'

‘Mystery’ in the NT Romans 11:25-26 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; Romans 16:25-26 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith

‘Mystery’ in the NT 1 Corinthians 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the mystery of God. 1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so consider us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 1 Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed -- in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

‘Mystery’ in the NT Ephesians 1: In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth -- in Him.

‘Mystery’ in the NT Ephesians 3:1-7 1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles -- 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

‘Mystery’ in the NT Ephesians 3: To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

‘Mystery’ in the NT Ephesians 6: And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

‘Mystery’ in the NT Colossians 1: I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, 25 of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God, 26 the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

‘Mystery’ in the NT Colossians 2:1-3 1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh, 2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians 4:2-4 2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

‘Mystery’ Summary The mystery is to do with the Kingdom of God. The mystery is to do with the partial blindness of Israel and the Gentiles coming into the Kingdom in fullness. The mystery has been hidden but revealed by the apostles and prophets. The mystery is to do with preaching Christ. The mystery is to with the resurrection of the saints at the last trumpet. Paul was a minister and steward of the mystery of God and of Christ. The mystery is to with brining all things in heaven and earth together in Christ in the fullness of time. The mystery is to do with the Gentiles being fellow partakers of the promise of Christ. The mystery is to do with the church proclaiming manifold wisdom of Christ in the spiritual realms.

The Mystery of God: Summary “The mystery of God is God’s special work in Christ Jesus to bring many Gentiles into glory for His Kingdom. [This is to be proclaimed by the church into spiritual realm in the present age, just as Paul did.] This effort on God’s part concludes or is finished just prior to the sounding of the seventh and the final trumpet and when the fullness of Gentiles comes in.”

The Mystery of God: Timing Just prior to the sounding of the final and seventh trumpet:  The fullness of Gentiles will come in  The grace of the gospel of Christ ends  The salvation of ‘all Israel’ will begin  The activation 144,000?  The Jacob’s trouble?  The 2 witnesses in Jerusalem will die and resurrect  The persecution of the Satan and the beasts will end  The Harlot of Babylon is destroyed  The wrath of God will be poured upon the kingdom of the beast through the bowl judgements

The Little Book 8 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." 9 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."

The Little Book Ezekiel 2:9 - 3:7 9 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. 1 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. […] So I ate, and it was in my mouth like honey in sweetness. 4 Then He said to me: "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with My words to them. 5 For you are not sent to a people of unfamiliar speech and of hard language, but to the house of Israel, […] Surely, had I sent you to them, they would have listened to you. 7 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.

The Little Book: Eating  The message is not a pleasant one.  The message will be preached to people who will not take heed.  The messengers will not be welcomed and will suffer.  The message is to the people who should be familiar with it whether it be Israel (Ezekiel) and/or Gentiles (Revelation).  The message has the authority directly from God.  The message has direct impact on earth and its people.

The Recommissioning 10 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. 11 And he said to me, "You must prophesy again about [against] many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings."

The Recommissioning: Content Revelation 11: The prophesy of the 2 witnesses against the world The persecution of the beast The persecution of the beast against the 2 witnesses Revelation 12: The persecution of Satan The persecution of Satan against the saints Revelation 13: The persecution of the beasts The persecution of the beasts against the saints Revelation 14: God’s final grace God’s final grace to the people on earth

The Recommissioning Revelation 15-16: God’s bowl judgement God’s bowl judgement against the kingdom of the beast Revelation 17-18: God’s judgement God’s judgement on the Harlot of the Babylon Revelation 19-20: Christ’s redemption Christ’s redemption of His bride (God’s saints) God’s destruction God’s destruction of Satan and the beast and its followers.

Take-Away Points from Revelation 10 1.John the Apostle is an example of a forerunner who has the message of the end-times and for the seasons and times. a.Forerunner must eat the Word diligently & digest it fully. b.Forerunner must taste the sweetness of the Word (encountering God), but also experience the labour and pain of the Word as a messenger (encountering people). 2.Included in the message of the end-times is the knowledge and the scheme of the enemy (Satan and the beasts). a.Forerunners must know who God’s enemies are in the end- times and must be able to identify them. b.Forerunners must know the plans and schemes of the enemies because God has shown them to us ahead of time. c.This is part of preparing for the end-times.