Rev 10:1-4
The Last Warning
Chapter 9 recorded the sixth trumpet sounding. The judgment began
with four angels being loosed out of the Euphrates River. Apparently
these demons brought with them an army of 200 million soldiers, and
together, they slay 1/3 of the world’s population through what
appears to be a very tortuous death.
Chapter 10 turns our attention away from earth to heaven, much like
\\#Rev 8:1-6\\ did.
1. Our attention will remain in the heavens throughout the
remainder of this trumpet.
2. I mentioned last week that the duration of the Sixth Trumpet
judgment starts at \\#Rev 9:13\\ and goes through
\\#Rev 11:14\\. The sixth trumpet is also the Second Woe
(first mentioned in \\#Rev 8:13\\).
3. While our attention is in the heavens, things continue on
earth. Most likely, the 200 million horsemen released at the
sounding of the sixth trumpet continue their course, but at
least for those of us reading the account, our mind is
allowed a brief reprieve to rest from the destruction on the
earth.
4. It is my belief that the events of the sixth trumpet take us
into the last half of the tribulation.
We will divide the chapter into four thoughts:
I. \\#Rev 10:1-2\\ Presence
A. The chapter introduces us to another mighty angel.
1. Notice the angel is LARGE and LOUD.
a. \\#2\\ One foot is planted in the sea, the other on
land.
b. \\#3\\ His voice sounds like the roaring of a lion.
2. The image is that this angel is powerful and larger than
life.
3. God is making an announcement through this angel that all
the world needs to hear.
B. The angel is described and at first, one might conclude
that the angel is Christ.
1. \\#2\\ The descriptions and power ascribed to the angel
are surely divine-like in nature.
2. Clothed with a cloud. The clouds speak of power, majesty,
and Jesus’ coming.
Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of
the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all
the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall
see the Son of man coming in the clouds of
heaven with power and great glory.
3. He had a rainbow about his head. The rainbow is a symbol
of God’s mercy and faithfulness.
Genesis 9:16 And the bow shall be in the cloud;
and I will look upon it, that I may remember
the everlasting covenant between God and every
living creature of all flesh that is upon the
earth.
Rev 4:3 …and there was a rainbow round about
the throne, in sight like an emerald.
4. His face was as bright as the sun, meaning that he was
very glorious.
Matthew 17:2 And was transfigured before them:
and his face did shine as the sun, and his
raiment was white as the light.
5. His feet were like pillars of fire. This is a picture
of judgment and reminds of Christ’s description.
Rev 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as
if they burned in a furnace….
C. Despite the similarities, I do not think this is Christ
for several reasons.
1. \\#Rev 10:6\\ The vow that the angel makes.
a. The angel swares by the eternal God, the Creator.
b. If this is the Lord, He would not need to invoke the
name of God for He is God.
2. \\#Rev 10:1\\ The fact that the angel is one of others.
a. The text said "another" mighty angel, meaning another
of the same kind.
b. Jesus can not be described as one of many.
c. Christ is God and there are no others.
3. \\#Rev 10:2\\ The angel puts his foot on the earth. It is
my belief that Jesus, after receiving His bride, will not
return to the earth until He comes WITH His bride.
D. I think that this is one of God’s powerful angels.
1. Satan is bringing out his powerful army, God brings out
His.
2. One thing is for certain, the angel represents God and He
has a work to do and a message to deliver.
E. As with the angel that announced the three woes in the midst
of heaven \\#Rev 8:13\\, we do not know if this angel will be
visible or not.
1. I have no problem with him being visible, but even so, that
does not mean that the world would see him. Perhaps only
those in heaven will.
2. If the world does NOT see him, the saved can still know
what is going on. Christians are often given information
so that we can see the cause/effect relationship.
II. \\#Rev 10:3-4\\ Power
A. There is power in this angel’s presence, actions, and promise.
B. When the angel cries, seven thunders sound across the earth.
1. I do not believe that the seven thunders are coincidence or
insignificant. (They are not just background noise!)
2. They are part of God’s plan and work
3. John is about to write what he either heard or saw when
the thunders sounded, but he is told not to.
4. Since John doesn’t tell us what happens, we can’t know.
C. I think the seven thunders are seven more judgments.
1. Seven has been and will be the number of judgments God is
pouring out on the earth in series.
a. Seven seals
b. Seven trumpets
c. Seven bowls
2. There is no reason to think this is different.
D. Not only is there great power in this chapter but there is also
great mystery.
1. Everything in this chapter is connected to the angel and
everything is shrouded in mystery.
a. We do not know what the seven thunders utter.
b. We do not know whether there is an event for each of
the thunders are a single event for all of them.
c. And we do not know where the book comes from.
2. It is interesting and curious that God keeps things so
mysterious. He must want there to be some unexpected
surprises for the earth.
III. \\#Rev 10:5-7\\ Promise
A. \\#6\\ The angel raises his hand and vows by the eternal God
that created all things that two things are about to happen.
1. That time is about to cease.
2. That all the mystery of God will be completed during the
seventh trumpet.
B. The angel says that time is almost over. Why is this angel
speaking about time?
1. As I have said, it is difficult to know how far into
the tribulation we are because the book of Revelation
doesn’t give us any time markers.
2. However, I believe the sixth and seventh trumpets,
because they are a series of events which continue to
the end, will start in the first half of the
tribulation and end at the end of the last half.
3. These judgments will literally continue until the end of
time for THESE people. (Millennial is a time event but
these people will not see it.)
4. This promise becomes the LAST warning before the Great
Tribulation begins.
5. Let me warn you again. You do not have as much time
as you think either.
a. Whatever decisions you want to make, make.
b. Whatever purposes you have, accomplish them.
C. \\#Rev 10:7\\ The angel is promising the conclusion of all
mysteries during the events of the seventh angel’s
trumpet.
1. \\#Rev 10:7\\ The angel mentions the seventh trumpet.
a. The seventh trumpet has not sounded yet. It will
sound in \\#Rev 11:15\\.
b. We are still in the events of the sixth trumpet.
2. The seventh trumpet, like the sixth, is not a single
judgment.
a. It includes a series of judgments including the
seven bowls that will be poured out upon the earth.
b. It is hard to see exactly when the seventh trumpet
ends.
c. It seems that the seventh trumpet ends at the
battle of Armageddon, leaving the millennial to
transpire, Satan to be released, mankind to be
judged, and eternity to begin.
3. The angel is giving God’s promise that before the judgments
of that trumpet are finished, all of God’s remaining
mysteries will be complete.
a. There are many mysteries in the Bible. (the church,
person of the Messiah (die and rule), salvation,
judgment)
b. While the church understands most of these now, the
Jew and the lost do not.
c. I take it that this is the mystery of God’s
earthy judgment and salvation.
(1) Since before God created man, God has had a
plan for his redemption.
(2) That plan has included great revenues of
mercy, but—as the prophet’s tell us—it also
includes great judgment.
(3) What this angel is saying is that once the
seventh trumpet sounds, all the previous
prophecies of an earthly salvation and an
earthly judgment will be complete.
4. Everything is going to be revealed to the Jew and fulfilled
to the earth during the days of the seventh trumpet.
a. We need to keep in mind that grace and mercy always
have deadlines.
b. The people in Noah’s day had 120 years, but the 120
years eventually ended.
c. The Jews in Jesus’ day had until the crucifixion of
Jesus to make up their mind about Messiah, but when
they crucified Jesus, they set in action some
judgments for Jerusalem and Israel which continue
until this day.
d. You have either until death or the rapture of the
church, but your mercy will end.
e. The earth has enjoyed God’s mercy since Adam and Eve
sinned, but it will end.
IV. \\#Rev 10:8-11\\ Picture
A. John was commanded to take a little book from the mighty angel
and eat it.
1. Most seem to think this book is a scroll that John saw the
Lamb take out of the right hand of the One who sat upon
the throne. \\#Rev 5:1\\
a. Their notion is that once the seventh trumpet sounds
(it hasn’t yet), the scroll will be completed.
b. I do not believe the angel is Christ nor that His
scroll is finished yet.
c. If the book is not that scroll, we have no idea what
it is for no other book has been mentioned in the
Revelation.
2. What is this book then?
a. I believe it is the book that records the judgments of
seven thunders.
b. The Lamb has a book that records the judgments of the
seals, trumpets, and bowls and I think this angel has
a book maybe seven pages in it, and with each turning
of the page, another judgment occurs on the earth.
B. What does it mean that John eats the book and it is first
sweet and then bitter?
1. The book of Daniel and Revelation make me think major
events occur at the middle of the tribulation.
a. The anti-Christ attempts to pass himself off as Christ
somewhere around then. \\#Dan 9:27\\
b. The anti-Christ seems to consolidate his power around
then.
(1) \\#Dan 11:29\\ He attacks (and I suppose defeats)
the king of the south.
(2) \\#Dan 11:44\\ He defeats an army from the north
around then.
(3) Revelation 13 - He establishes his 666 system to
rule the world about then.
c. Perhaps seven major events will take place then which
to the world, at first, may seem sweet.
d. Yet, they will learn in time, that those seven things
were very bitter!
e. Perhaps the seven thunders are seven sweet/bitter
events which are judgments from God.
2. This is a picture of what the judgments of God are like to
the saved.
a. At first, the book tasted sweet as honey.
(1) God’s Word is sweet to His people. It is a
treasure.
(2) All Christians look forward to the coming of
Christ, the removal of sin, seeing our Jesus,
and receiving our rewards!
b. Afterward, it made his stomach sick (bitter).
(1) Yet, after the initial sweetness, the book turned
John’s stomach.
(2) Every believer faces the coming of Jesus with
great joy and great sorrow.
(3) As good as things will be for the saved, that is
how bad it will be for those who are unsaved—
many of whom are our friends and family.
(4) No Bible believer desires the days of judgment to
come!
3. Lost person, you need to understand what we feel for you.
a. Some of your are our mates, our parents, our children,
our friends-we want Jesus to come but we don’t want
to leave you to this awful judgment!
b. If we could, some of us would opt to stay behind with
you.
(1) Our salvation is secured. We would not lose it.
(2) Some would stay to try to help you and encourage
you to be saved even after the tribulation
starts.
(3) But this choice is not ours! The Lord has
decided we will leave.
4. Even worse, no one knows when the tribulation will begin.
a. We will not even get the chance to tell you good-bye.
b. Knowing the events of this book and the suddenness of
Christ’s return, it is as if we need to tell you
good-bye now for Christ’s coming is imminent!
c. Like a bucket with a small hole in the bottom, no one
is sure when Christ’s mercy will run out but this
chapter is a chapter of warning!
d. Time is almost over and the judgments of God will soon
be completed!
e. Do you understand how much we love you and want to see
something much better in your future?!
For the hundredth time, I plead with you, while there is time, while
there is mercy, do not delay in turning to Christ. This book of
warning is written to you! Heed it today.
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