Revelation 10

Revelation 10:1

In contrast to chapter 9, which was dark and dismal, chapter 10 is bright and uplifting as we see what follows the demons’ release from the bottomless pit… After the darkness comes light as an awesome angel, an ambassador from heaven, descends. Many good Bible teachers believe this angel is Jesus Himself because the angel’s description is very similar to the description of Jesus in chapter 1. In addition, “angel,” or aggelos in Greek, means “messenger"a term that could theoretically apply to Jesus. But I have a problem with this view because the appearance of Jesus on the earth at this time would interrupt the flow of the book. I suggest this is an angel of importance who, like Moses in Exodus 34, takes on characteristics of the Lord because he is in the presence of the Lord. This encourages me because the same thing is true for us. If we spend time with the Lord, we begin to sound like Him, look like Him, and act like Him a little more each day.

Revelation 10:4

Seven thunderous voices roar in response to the angel. What did they utter? We don’t know. The Blessing of Not Knowing A Topical Study of Rev_10:4 Although the purpose of Revelation is to reveal, we find a concealing in our text as John is forbidden to record the response of the seven thunderous voices to the roaring of the angel in verse Rev_10:3. Why was John not allowed to record it? After careful study, I have come to the conclusion that I don’t have a clue. Not so Ellen G. White, founder of the Seventh Day Adventist movement. She has much to say about what these voices uttered. So do the Mormons and many other cults who have built entire doctrines upon this mysterious section of Revelation 10. But Scripture makes it clear that the message of the seven thunderous voices was to be hiddenwhich raises a very interesting question: Why is it even mentioned? It’s like someone saying, “I know something, but I’m not going to tell you.” Is the Lord just teasing us here? No. I suggest to you it’s a very simple but significant reminder placed in the middle of the book that there are some things we simply are not going to know. When I was younger, I thought I had to solve every problem, unknot every difficult situation. I was burdened by my need for answers. However, as I get older, I have discovered a real blessing in not knowing. “The secret things belong to Me,” declares the Lord (see Deu_29:29). Why would He want to keep things away from you? Why would He want to keep me in the dark about certain issues? Not Knowing Keeps Us Humble When I think I have all the answers in any area, I become puffed up, self-sufficient. Conversely, not knowing the answers, not having the solutions, produces within me a humility that ultimately makes me very happy because it takes all the pressure off. Even as the psalmist said, “Lord, I do not look into things too great for me, but like a weaned child, I just put my trust in You” (see Psa_131:1, Psa_131:2), I say, “I don’t get this, Lord. So I’ll just trust You.” In the wee hours of the morning, a dozen of us freshman guys at Biola were discussing theology in my dorm room. Dave Hong brought up the question, “Can God make a rock so big He can’t lift it?“which I pondered throughout my classes the next day. It sounds funny, but it really threw me. I thought, Oh no! Maybe God can’t do everything. Maybe He can’t make a rock so big He can’t lift it. What does this do to my theology? When Sunday finally arrived, we piled into my roommate’s Mustang and drove to church in Costa Mesa where, late, we slipped into the back pew. Pastor Chuck was teaching on Deu_29:29. “You know,” he said, “the apostle Paul tells us we are to avoid foolish and ignorant questions like: Can God make a rock so big He can’t lift itbecause such questions are just dumb.” Suddenly I realized I no longer needed an answer. Not Knowing Keeps Us Useful The son of ex-slaves, George Washington Carver had a keen intellect that afforded him a college education. After graduating from Simpson College right before the turn of the century, Carver was invited to remain at his alma mater as a science professor. Perhaps feeling overwhelmed by the prospect of this new responsibility, he prayed, “Lord, show me something of the mysteries of the universe.” But there was no response. “Maybe I’m asking for something a little too big for me,” he thought. “Lord, show me the mysteries of our earth,” he prayed. But again, there was no response. “Lord, show me something about our bodies,” he then prayedto no avail. Finally, he prayed, “Lord, show me something about a peanut.” And he writes that he experienced a strange sense of God’s presence. So George Washington Carver began to study the peanut, which, up to that time was thought to be a fairly useless commodity. In the ensuing years, he discovered three hundred uses for the lowly peanut: soap, shoeshine, ink, and, of course, peanut butter, for which I am very thankfuland thus began diversification of the crippled economy of the South. Sometimes I am asked how I know what I do about the Bible. And the answer is very simple: I don’t know anything else. If you come to my house, you’ll never see me working on my transmission. Is this because I’m so spiritual? No, it’s because I tried it once. I took the engine of my 1960 Ford Falcon apart, put it back together, and it never ran again. “Why don’t I have the skills other guys have?” I used to ask myself. “How cool it would be to be able to build a house or fix a car!” Yet, the Lord has shown me that because I’m to be focused on the one thing He wants me to be about, I won’t be able to do a whole bunch of other stuff. It’s a peanut thing. I know what my calling is, and I can focus on that singularly. So can you. Whatever He’s placed in your hand, whatever He’s called you to dothe gifts, the skills, the interests He’s given youthat’s what you should be about for His glory. Not Knowing Keeps Us Stable Over the years, I have seen in my own life and in the lives of others a vulnerability to instability when life gets difficult, a tendency to ask, “Why, God? How come, Lord? What’s going on here?” Yet, knowing we would invariably argue with Him if He answered our questions, the Lord chooses to give us a peace that passes our understanding (Php_4:7). You won’t find a single verse in Scripture that promises we’ll understand. Therefore, happy is the day when a man says with Paul, “I only know in part” (see 1Co_13:12). The sixteen-year-old daughter of G. Campbell Morgan, one of my heroes of the last generation, lay on her deathbed. As he prayed, the Lord gave him the Scripture about Jairus. “Come quickly,” said Jairus to Jesus, “my daughter is sick even to the point of death.” “I will come,” Jesus said. But on the way, another need arose, and He was delayed in reaching the house of Jairus. When He finally arrived, messengers said, “Don’t bother to come in, Master. She’s dead.” But Jesus took the hand of Jairus’ daughter, said, “Daughter arise,” and she was healed (see Mar_5:41). G. Campbell Morgan embraced the promise and knew his daughter would also be healed. Three days later, she died. “Wait a minute, Lord,” he cried, “You gave me this Scripture: Daughter, arise.” And the Lord gently whispered, “That’s exactly what happened. I took her hand, said, ‘Daughter arise,‘and took her to heaven.” After observing and enduring tragedies and difficulties as we all have, I have concluded this: If you think you have to know why things happen or don’t happen, you’ll go up and down like a roller coaster. “How come she left me?” “Why didn’t the business work out?” “Why didn’t the college accept me?” But when you reach the place of saying, “I don’t know why; I don’t know how; but I know who"your roller coaster ride will even out. “Trust Me,” thunders a voice from Calvary in the midst of the unsettling earthquake and the mysteriously dark sky. “I’m laying down everything for you. I’m dying in place of you. I love you. If I gave everything for you, you can trust Me in the situation you’re going through.” I might not know what or how or whybut I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded He’ll do what’s best for me (2Ti_1:12). “We know all things work together for good,” said Paul (see Rom_8:28). He didn’t say, “We see all things work together for good,” because we might not see that happen this side of eternity. But when we get to heaven, we’ll say, “Thank You, Lord, for Your goodness and grace in allowing that trial. I thought it was a tragedy. But now I see that righteous and true are Your judgments, O Lord.” I stopped asking “Why?” a long time ago. I don’t even think about it. I just know God loves me. And I know He loves you. I like what Jesus told Peter when He washed Peter’s feet: “What I do now you understand not, but you shall hereafter” (see Joh_13:7). In other words, “What I’m doing now, you don’t understand. But you will…down the road.” Such is the Word of the Lord for many of us today.

Revelation 10:5

The Greek word translated “time” is chronos and means either “time” or “delay.” Delay is what is meant here. “Thy kingdom come,” we pray. “But where are You, Lord?” “I’m on the way, but I have chosen to delay,” He says. Why? I believe Peter gives us the reason: The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, but is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2Pe_3:9). Truly, the Lord is longsuffering, waiting for people to receive Him, to hear the Good News, to be part of the kingdom. But there’s coming a time when there will be no more delay.

Revelation 10:7

Because John’s readers were seeing family members killed, friends beat up, terrible things take place, he writes, “There’s coming a time when all of the questions you have and all of the pain you’re experiencing will be alleviated.”

Revelation 10:8

The angel’s command to eat the book may sound odd to us, but it shouldn’t. We often talk about people who “devour” books. The only difference is, John does so literally. Like the book the angel gave John, the Word is sweeter than honey (Psa_19:10; Psa_119:103). But if the sweet Word we take in through devotions or Bible study doesn’t create a sour taste, something’s wrong. You see, the fact that we’re saved is sweet indeedbut the fact that people we love are going to hell is bitter. It was only after Ezekiel ate the book that was sweet to his mouth but bitter to his belly that he was able to share boldly with those of whom he had previously been afraid (Eze_3:3, Eze_3:14). The bitterness in his belly motivated Ezekiel to share truth.

Revelation 10:11

The idea of “must” here is not a command, but a statement of what will inevitably happen when one takes in the Word. How do you know you’ve really heard the Word? When you have compassion for the sinner and conviction of your own sin. “Then why go to Bible study?” you ask. “Who wants a bitter belly? I want sweetness.” And I understand this… I’m watching CNN on TV when a commercial for Compassion International suddenly appears: Sally Struthers showing starving kids in Africa or Southeast Asia. “Oh no,” I say to myself. “I don’t want to deal with this now.” Click. Sally disappears. So do the kids. That’s what people do with church and devotions and witnessing. “I don’t want to go anymore,” they say. “It makes my belly hurt.” Click, Wednesday night Bible study, gone. Click, Thursday morning worship, gone. Click, devotions gone. “I don’t want to deal with this sin, these attitudes, that cynicism. Just give me the sweet stuff.” But you know what happens to those people? Their lives begin to unravel because staying in the Word is the only way to experience prosperity and success (Jos_1:8). Yes, it will trouble you. No doubt it may upset you. But as time goes on, you will begin to see that your life is centered and grounded, fruitful and prosperous because the Word always does its work. My prayer is that we will be those who, like John, devour and digest Scripturethe bitter portions as well as the sweetin order that we, like John, would impact our world for the kingdom.