Revelation 10
by Philip Layton
‘Prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings’
Click here to read Revelation 10
Discussion Questions
- Does verse 11 help us to know how to interpret Revelation?
- Was it just for early Christians or has it a wider relevance? Is it history or prophecy?
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Going Deeper From 'Words of Life'
This is quite an angel John sees in his vision! The angel is clothed in a cloud, with a rainbow over its head. Its face dazzles like the sun; its feet blaze like hot metal. The angel is sent to give notice, to both Heaven and earth, of the final events to take place. The scroll was the same as, or a duplicate of, the previous scroll – taken by the Lamb from the One on the throne. John was to eat it. His stomach would turn sour; but in his mouth, it would be ‘as sweet as honey’ (v 9).
God’s purposes have been disclosed. The action, the judgement, has finally been completed. This concludes the interlude, leading then into the climax: the end of the Great Tribulation. The angel lifts his hand, as in taking an oath, swearing by Creator God that there’s no further delay in the execution of the divine plan. God’s merciful waiting for men and women to receive salvation now ends:
Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever ... and said, ‘There will be no more delay!’ (vv 5, 6).
Chapter 11 speaks of ‘two witnesses’ (v 3). According to the Law of Moses, two witnesses were necessary to establish any case in court (see Deuteronomy 17:6). And so, both legally and spiritually, they are required for testimony to the end times. Who are they? Perhaps Moses and Elijah – since they were removed from the world in unusual ways. They’re protected to complete their witness, before the ‘beast’ from the Abyss kills them (v 7).
Then, after this horrific act, they are raised to Heaven. It’s then that the seventh trumpet sounds. The time has come!
Let’s join with the heavenly host and say aloud:
‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever’ (v 15).
Beverly Ivany