The Way - Day 220 (Revelation 10)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
Revelation 10:1-11:14
This Scripture passage offers a brief break in God's judgments upon the earth. In Revelation 9, the fifth and sixth trumpet judgments were released and one-third of all mankind was put to death by the works of the four fallen angels (9:13-19). Instead of repenting in response to God's wrath, mankind continued in blatant sin and evidenced their disregard for God's law (9:20-21).

At the beginning of Revelation 10, John writes about an angel who descends from heaven with the scroll (title-deed of the earth). The angel cries with a loud voice and "…seven thunders uttered their voices" (10:3). As John was about to write about the seven thunders, a voice tells him to "…seal up the things which the seven thunders uttered" (10:4). God wanted this event to be concealed until His time.
 
The same angel who brought the scroll from heaven raises his right hand (10:5) and swears by God "…that there should be delay no longer" (10:6). The “delayed” event had long been referred to as the mystery of God spoken of by the prophets (10:7). Many scholars agree that this mystery is the destruction of sinners and the establishment of Jesus' kingdom on earth. The angel was simply announcing that the time was almost here.

The same voice that told John not to write about the seven thunders (10:4) instructs him to take the book (scroll) from the angel and eat it (10:8-9). When John ate it, he wrote that the scroll "…was as sweet as honey.” But after he had eaten it, his stomach became bitter (10:10). This may signify that God's words are sweet, but His judgment upon the rebellious causes a bitter outcome. The voice then commands John to "…prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings" (10:11). The command for John to prophesy again was an instruction to preach these judgments as a warning to all those who would reject Jesus Christ as Savior.
 
John is then given a measuring stick and commanded to measure the "temple of God, the altar, and those who worship there" (11:1). This action may illustrate God's ownership of the temple; however, John is told that his measurements should not include the outside court where the Gentiles would have been permitted to gather. The exclusion of measuring this court probably symbolizes God's judgment upon the unbelieving Gentiles who would persecute God's people for 42 months (three and a half years), which is the last half of the seven-year tribulation period (11:2). This tyranny will come from the evil forces of the Antichrist.

During the final 42 months (three and a half years) of the tribulation period, God will give power to His two witnesses, who will prophesy and preach repentance and salvation to those on earth. They will be given special protection from anyone who would try to harm them (11:5) and power to control nature to bring judgment on mankind (11:6). After their ministry is brought to completion, they will be put to death.

"…the beast [Antichrist] that ascends out of the bottomless pit will make war against them, overcome them, and kill them. And their dead bodies will lie in the street of the great city [Jerusalem]." (Revelation 11:7-8)

When the witnesses are killed, many people will rejoice and leave their bodies in the streets for three and a half days to show their hatred for these two witnesses (11:9-10). After three and a half days, God will miraculously resurrect these two witnesses and great fear will fall on all inhabitants of the earth (11:11). A loud voice from heaven will call these witnesses to ascend into heaven (11:12) and a great earthquake will accompany this event. A tenth of Jerusalem will be destroyed as a result of this earthquake and 7,000 people will die (11:13). In response to this display of power, many people "…gave glory to the God of heaven" (11:13).

Dear God, continue to call people to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. May You spare many of the judgments to come.