Chuck Smith: The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ - Chapter 10

Description
Pastor Chuck Smith teaches on Revelation Chapter 10, focusing on the mighty angel—often identified as Jesus Christ—and the symbolism of the cloud, rainbow, and fiery pillars drawn from earlier biblical descriptions. He explains the meaning of the little book, representing the earth’s redemption through Christ, and the angel’s declaration of Jesus’ imminent claim to His purchased possession. Pastor Chuck also addresses the mystery of the seven thunders and concludes with the assurance of God’s coming kingdom and Christ’s rule over the earth.

The Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ - Chapter 10

Let’s turn tonight to Revelation chapter 10 as we continue our journey through the Bible. We are now in the last book, wrapping it up in Revelation, and we’re just about halfway through.

John said, “I saw another mighty angel.”

We are in the midst of the seven angels who stand in the presence of God, each given trumpets to sound. With each trumpet comes a corresponding judgment upon the earth. But this is a separate angel, called a “mighty angel.”

The word angel is a title of office, not necessarily a description of nature. Jesus is referred to many times in the Old Testament as the Angel of the Lord. The ministers of the seven churches addressed in Revelation are called angels of the churches because the Greek word means messenger. An angel can be a divine messenger, a human messenger, or one of the created heavenly beings.

Based on the description here, I believe this mighty angel is none other than Jesus Christ. Notice: He is coming down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, with a rainbow on His head. Jesus said, “Then shall you see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory” (Mark 13:26). His face is like the sun, His feet like pillars of fire—echoes of the description of Christ in Revelation 1.

Daniel the prophet also saw Him in a vision, describing His face like lightning, His eyes like lamps of fire, His arms and feet like polished brass, and His voice like a multitude. John parallels that description, showing this is Christ in His glorified form.

He holds a little book—an open scroll—and places His right foot on the sea and His left foot on the earth, declaring His authority over both. This connects back to Revelation 5, where the sealed scroll in the Father’s hand represented the title deed to the earth, forfeited by Adam but redeemed through Christ’s blood. Jesus alone was worthy to take the scroll and break its seals.

Now in chapter 10, with the scroll open, He lays claim to His purchased possession. He cries out with a loud voice, like the roar of a lion. Prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Joel, and Amos all foretold of the Lord roaring from Zion in triumph and victory.

When He cried out, seven thunders uttered their voices. John began to write what they said but was commanded to seal it up and not reveal it. Unlike Daniel, who was told to write and then seal his prophecy for the time of the end, John was told not to write it at all. What the seven thunders said remains a mystery.

Then the mighty angel lifted His hand to heaven and swore by Him who lives forever—the Creator of heaven, earth, and sea—that there would be no more delay. This doesn’t mean “time shall be no more” as in the end of clocks or calendars. It means the delay is over. God’s purposes are now moving swiftly toward completion.

At the sounding of the seventh trumpet, the mystery of God will be finished, as declared by the prophets. This mystery includes God’s patience, His allowance of sin and suffering, and the delay in establishing His kingdom. All of this will come to an end when Christ lays claim to what He purchased with His blood.

John is then told to take the little book and eat it. It is sweet in his mouth but bitter in his stomach. This symbolizes the sweetness of God’s promises, the glory of His kingdom, and the hope of His reign—but also the bitterness of judgment and the suffering that precedes it. Ezekiel and Jeremiah experienced similar visions, where God’s Word was sweet but also brought grief as they considered the judgment of sin.

Finally, John is told: “You must prophesy again before many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.” Some suggest this hints at John being one of the two witnesses in Revelation 11. While Elijah is almost universally agreed upon as one of the witnesses, debate remains about the second. Could it be John? Could it be Moses? We’ll explore this more in chapter 11.

For now, we see that the mighty angel—Christ Himself—has declared that there will be no further delay. The kingdoms of this world will soon become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ.