1 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:17,040 As I said before, I read the passage for us this evening, we're 2 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:20,520 almost halfway through our study in the Book of Revelation as 3 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:22,000 we come to chapter 10. 4 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,000 And in chapter 10, we have another pause. 5 00:00:27,550 --> 00:00:30,870 And we should now be familiar with these pauses in Revelation, 6 00:00:30,870 --> 00:00:36,190 because they're here, because in the space that's given to us, 7 00:00:36,270 --> 00:00:41,150 God is revealing something to us beyond what has just been explained 8 00:00:42,350 --> 00:00:45,070 so that we can know more about the last days in which we live. 9 00:00:45,790 --> 00:00:48,310 And as we read through Revelation, we will see that there 10 00:00:48,310 --> 00:00:49,950 is a bit of repetition. 11 00:00:50,510 --> 00:00:54,510 And at times we see the same thing being revealed to us only from 12 00:00:54,510 --> 00:00:55,790 another perspective. 13 00:00:56,790 --> 00:00:59,830 And after John's initial visions of heaven, the throne room, 14 00:00:59,830 --> 00:01:03,870 and the Lamb, he then saw the Lamb open the seven seals because 15 00:01:03,870 --> 00:01:05,590 the Lamb was the only one who could. 16 00:01:05,590 --> 00:01:08,390 And the Lamb, of course, is the risen Lord Jesus Christ. 17 00:01:09,270 --> 00:01:13,510 And the opening of these seven seals brought about something that 18 00:01:13,510 --> 00:01:16,950 God was making known about these last days. 19 00:01:16,950 --> 00:01:21,030 And moving on from the seven seals, we then hear the seven trumpets 20 00:01:21,030 --> 00:01:21,830 being blown. 21 00:01:22,620 --> 00:01:25,180 And these trumpets announce judgment. 22 00:01:26,380 --> 00:01:29,340 And then three woes on humanity. 23 00:01:29,740 --> 00:01:32,780 And here's a reminder of what we've been looking at. 24 00:01:33,740 --> 00:01:35,900 There you have the trumpets 1 to 7. 25 00:01:36,300 --> 00:01:40,020 Trumpet 1 looks at the earth with heel, fire and blood on the 26 00:01:40,020 --> 00:01:43,020 land as demonstration of punishment on the land. 27 00:01:43,020 --> 00:01:47,020 Then trumpet two turns to the seas, the burning mountain thrown 28 00:01:47,020 --> 00:01:50,420 into the heart of the sea, something that was reflected in the 29 00:01:50,420 --> 00:01:52,220 Psalms, Psalm 121. 30 00:01:53,030 --> 00:01:55,830 Then we see the rivers and springs, very much what was seen 31 00:01:55,830 --> 00:01:57,990 as the life source for all humanity. 32 00:01:58,230 --> 00:02:02,630 And a burning star falls in rivers and springs, and then the 33 00:02:02,630 --> 00:02:03,110 sky. 34 00:02:03,270 --> 00:02:07,910 So all of the elements being used as examples of punishment. 35 00:02:08,389 --> 00:02:10,790 The sky, sun, moon and stars darkened. 36 00:02:10,790 --> 00:02:15,550 And as we saw this morning, we know that darkness is often a sign 37 00:02:15,550 --> 00:02:18,880 of God's punishment and judgment on humanity. 38 00:02:20,320 --> 00:02:23,960 Then there was a pause as we come to the fifth trumpet and the 39 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:27,280 first woe, where demons from the abyss were unleashed. 40 00:02:27,760 --> 00:02:31,680 And then the second row, second woe, demons from the east, 41 00:02:31,760 --> 00:02:36,600 coming across what was the extent of not only Israel's boundary, 42 00:02:36,600 --> 00:02:40,960 but the boundary of the Roman Empire, the context in which John 43 00:02:41,680 --> 00:02:44,570 is writing and seeing this vision. 44 00:02:45,450 --> 00:02:50,410 So here we have this apocalyptic image, picture given 45 00:02:50,410 --> 00:02:58,850 for us, of what the punishment will be on those who reject the call 46 00:02:58,850 --> 00:03:01,690 to salvation of the risen Lord Jesus. 47 00:03:03,130 --> 00:03:04,250 Now, it's a wee while yet. 48 00:03:04,250 --> 00:03:07,090 It'll be a couple of weeks yet before we get to trumpet seven and 49 00:03:07,090 --> 00:03:09,690 the third woe, which is the kingdom come. 50 00:03:09,690 --> 00:03:12,830 And we actually learn something about it this evening, 51 00:03:13,870 --> 00:03:16,910 because when the seven seals were opened, there were intervals 52 00:03:17,470 --> 00:03:20,910 or breaks in the opening of them to pause, as I've said, so that 53 00:03:21,230 --> 00:03:24,750 more detail could be given about the response of God's people 54 00:03:24,750 --> 00:03:25,950 to what he's telling them. 55 00:03:26,750 --> 00:03:29,710 Well, we now have this longer pause between the sounding of the 56 00:03:29,710 --> 00:03:31,870 sixth trumpet and the seventh trumpet. 57 00:03:32,110 --> 00:03:36,350 And John's attention is drawn to someone new. 58 00:03:37,880 --> 00:03:41,960 He sees a mighty angel coming down from heaven. 59 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,960 And the blowing of the six trumpets have led up to the moment 60 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:48,520 of final judgment. 61 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:52,480 But here in chapter 10, a pause has been put on the drama as 62 00:03:52,480 --> 00:03:56,840 John sees this mighty angel coming towards him. 63 00:03:57,320 --> 00:04:00,200 And the angel is described quite literally in glorious terms. 64 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:05,210 He is wrapped in a cloud, which is often described as God's 65 00:04:05,210 --> 00:04:07,850 presence, such as when he went before the children of Israel in 66 00:04:07,850 --> 00:04:10,890 the wilderness and as demonstrated in his glory coming 67 00:04:10,890 --> 00:04:11,890 into the temple. 68 00:04:12,370 --> 00:04:16,450 And so we understand this angel to be an emissary or an ambassador 69 00:04:16,850 --> 00:04:17,650 of the Lord. 70 00:04:19,250 --> 00:04:22,290 Now, the next thing that describes this mighty angel we've 71 00:04:22,290 --> 00:04:25,970 seen before because there's a rainbow over his head. 72 00:04:26,690 --> 00:04:29,650 We've seen a rainbow over the throne of God. 73 00:04:29,650 --> 00:04:32,630 So this is not a new image to heaven. 74 00:04:32,870 --> 00:04:37,470 And the rainbow over his head now signifies to us God's presence, 75 00:04:37,470 --> 00:04:41,270 but also God's authority and whatever message he will bring. 76 00:04:41,910 --> 00:04:44,630 And again, we've seen this in chapter four, verse three. 77 00:04:44,630 --> 00:04:48,830 But we're also told now that the angel's face shines with the 78 00:04:48,830 --> 00:04:49,190 sun. 79 00:04:50,710 --> 00:04:53,030 Should that remind us of anything that we've already seen 80 00:04:53,030 --> 00:04:53,710 in Scripture? 81 00:04:53,710 --> 00:05:00,280 Well, I hope it would point us to Matthew 17:2 of When Jesus face 82 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,520 shone with the glory of God. 83 00:05:04,280 --> 00:05:08,200 And then the final description is that his feet are pillars of fire. 84 00:05:08,840 --> 00:05:12,720 We've already known of what feet are like, because in Revelation 85 00:05:12,720 --> 00:05:17,160 1, verse 15, the feet of Jesus are described as burnished bronze. 86 00:05:17,960 --> 00:05:20,120 Now, this angel isn't Jesus. 87 00:05:20,840 --> 00:05:22,960 Even though there are similarities to the description. 88 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:25,000 The angel is not the risen Lord Jesus Christ. 89 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,400 The angel, as Scripture says, is an angel. 90 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:31,780 And nowhere else in Scripture is Jesus referred to as an angel. 91 00:05:32,340 --> 00:05:36,580 Remember, angels are lesser beings even than humanity, as Scripture 92 00:05:36,580 --> 00:05:37,220 tells us. 93 00:05:37,860 --> 00:05:42,220 But yet we have images that are given upon this angel that should 94 00:05:42,220 --> 00:05:46,899 remind us of the work and point us to the importance of the 95 00:05:46,899 --> 00:05:48,660 task that he has. 96 00:05:49,540 --> 00:05:52,900 And so, as this angel descends, John notices something 97 00:05:53,060 --> 00:05:55,300 and he describes it for us in verse two. 98 00:05:55,700 --> 00:06:00,960 And he says he had a little scroll open in his hand, and he set 99 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:05,320 his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land. 100 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:11,080 Now, this little scroll isn't sealed, it's open. 101 00:06:11,720 --> 00:06:15,320 Therefore, it can be taken and it can be read. 102 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:20,080 But in his hand is an announcement that when the seventh 103 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:21,280 trumpet is sounded. 104 00:06:21,280 --> 00:06:24,960 Verse seven tells us the mystery of God would be fulfilled, 105 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:27,720 just as he announced to his servants, the prophets. 106 00:06:27,720 --> 00:06:30,560 Now, we'll look at that in more detail whenever we get to verse 107 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:30,760 seven. 108 00:06:30,760 --> 00:06:35,480 But here in verse two, we're told of the standing posture of this 109 00:06:35,480 --> 00:06:36,520 mighty angel. 110 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:41,200 His right foot is on the sea and his left foot is on the land. 111 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:46,280 And so this tells us that, as we've seen in Daniel, this angel 112 00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:47,400 is larger than life. 113 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:51,360 And John perceives the angel's message is for the entire world, 114 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:55,100 those who live on the land and those who sail on the seas, or perhaps, 115 00:06:55,250 --> 00:06:57,330 perhaps live beyond the seas. 116 00:06:57,890 --> 00:07:02,370 And so we here, we have a message that is to encompass everyone 117 00:07:03,090 --> 00:07:03,970 on the earth. 118 00:07:05,250 --> 00:07:08,130 But it's not just about how the angel looks. 119 00:07:08,130 --> 00:07:10,130 It's also about how he sounds. 120 00:07:11,090 --> 00:07:13,730 And the angel roars like a lion. 121 00:07:14,210 --> 00:07:19,170 And again, this is nothing new in Scripture, because when the Lord 122 00:07:19,330 --> 00:07:24,850 roars, He judges those he roars against, as we see in Joel 123 00:07:25,060 --> 00:07:26,490 the chapter 3 and verse 16. 124 00:07:26,570 --> 00:07:29,690 Because here Joel's recording for us the Lord's judgment on the 125 00:07:29,690 --> 00:07:30,250 nations. 126 00:07:30,330 --> 00:07:33,730 And we're told that the Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice 127 00:07:33,730 --> 00:07:34,650 from Jerusalem. 128 00:07:35,850 --> 00:07:40,290 What happens when he roars his voice of judgment with the heavens 129 00:07:40,290 --> 00:07:41,770 and the earth quake? 130 00:07:43,210 --> 00:07:47,330 But the Lord is a refuge to his people, a stronghold to the people 131 00:07:47,330 --> 00:07:47,930 of Israel. 132 00:07:48,170 --> 00:07:52,290 And what we're beginning to see, as Joel helps us here, is the 133 00:07:52,290 --> 00:07:54,330 response that is demanded. 134 00:07:55,210 --> 00:07:58,650 This judgment is led before us of what is to come. 135 00:07:59,530 --> 00:08:02,890 It should be one of fear to those who don't know Christ. 136 00:08:03,610 --> 00:08:09,130 And for those who do, it should be one as known, of refuge 137 00:08:09,690 --> 00:08:12,810 for the constant love and care of the Savior. 138 00:08:14,730 --> 00:08:19,970 So again, in this section of Revelation, we see that the angel 139 00:08:19,970 --> 00:08:22,750 is God's agent, roaring in his behalf. 140 00:08:22,750 --> 00:08:25,230 And so the shouting of the angel resounds. 141 00:08:25,390 --> 00:08:29,670 And from that resonance of what he says, The seven thunders 142 00:08:29,670 --> 00:08:30,670 also peal. 143 00:08:31,070 --> 00:08:35,550 And the seven thunders remind us of Psalm 29, where a thunderous 144 00:08:35,550 --> 00:08:37,150 storm sweeps the land. 145 00:08:37,790 --> 00:08:42,390 When the Lord thunders, He judges those opposed to him, or he 146 00:08:42,390 --> 00:08:44,430 shows his awesome holiness. 147 00:08:44,830 --> 00:08:48,740 And here in Revelation, the final judgment is accompanied by 148 00:08:48,970 --> 00:08:49,810 by thunder. 149 00:08:49,810 --> 00:08:53,090 And we've already seen this in chapter 8 as it was described there. 150 00:08:53,090 --> 00:08:57,690 But we'll see it again as it's repeated in chapter 11 and 16 and 151 00:08:57,690 --> 00:08:58,010 19. 152 00:08:58,970 --> 00:09:03,490 And as the number seven is symbolic, the seven thunders probably 153 00:09:03,490 --> 00:09:08,490 depict a full revelation of God's majesty, but also God's wrath. 154 00:09:09,530 --> 00:09:14,210 He is roaring his judgment, and in his judgment both must be 155 00:09:14,210 --> 00:09:16,900 seen his majesty and his wrath. 156 00:09:16,900 --> 00:09:21,660 So that Indeed, every knee will bow, and every tongue confess 157 00:09:22,380 --> 00:09:24,540 that Jesus is Lord. 158 00:09:25,500 --> 00:09:29,100 But as John goes to write down what he sees, because after all, 159 00:09:29,100 --> 00:09:30,700 that's what he's been commanded to do. 160 00:09:30,860 --> 00:09:32,940 He's told this in verse four. 161 00:09:33,020 --> 00:09:36,380 So we've been told that the seven thunders have sounded. 162 00:09:36,380 --> 00:09:39,420 And as I was about to go and write it down, says John, I heard 163 00:09:39,420 --> 00:09:44,070 a voice from heaven saying, seal up what the seven thunders have 164 00:09:44,070 --> 00:09:47,230 said and do not write it down. 165 00:09:49,230 --> 00:09:53,070 Now, we've seen seals before, and it's in Revelation, but the last 166 00:09:53,070 --> 00:09:55,230 time it was the seals being opened. 167 00:09:56,350 --> 00:09:59,950 The seals opened something that had been closed. 168 00:10:00,670 --> 00:10:04,270 And because it was closed then, it was unknown to humanity. 169 00:10:05,150 --> 00:10:08,310 And so, just as those seven seals were opened and it was revealed 170 00:10:08,310 --> 00:10:13,250 to humanity, now whatever John sees in this moment, he is told to 171 00:10:13,250 --> 00:10:16,570 seal it so that humanity won't know it. 172 00:10:18,090 --> 00:10:20,730 So John is to seal up this message. 173 00:10:22,890 --> 00:10:27,810 The contrast should be seen for us because John is told at the 174 00:10:27,810 --> 00:10:30,930 conclusion of Revelation not to seal up the message, for the end 175 00:10:30,930 --> 00:10:35,210 is imminent, and that's recorded for us in Revelation 22:10. 176 00:10:35,210 --> 00:10:38,370 And in this respect, the sealing of the seven thunders echoes 177 00:10:38,370 --> 00:10:41,850 the command to Daniel to seal up what he had written, since it 178 00:10:41,850 --> 00:10:43,450 related to the end of time. 179 00:10:43,550 --> 00:10:46,980 And But Revelation as a whole must be distinguished from Daniel, 180 00:10:47,220 --> 00:10:50,740 because chapter or since chapter one and verse three tells 181 00:10:50,740 --> 00:10:52,260 us that the time is near. 182 00:10:52,820 --> 00:10:55,700 And so the message is revealed to John's generation. 183 00:10:55,700 --> 00:10:59,740 But the message of the seven thunders is similar to the message 184 00:10:59,740 --> 00:11:04,380 given to Daniel, because the readers, that's us, are left in the 185 00:11:04,380 --> 00:11:06,660 dark as to what its contents are. 186 00:11:07,140 --> 00:11:11,020 In other words, the fullness of what is to come at the end is 187 00:11:11,020 --> 00:11:14,100 still concealed and still hidden from believers. 188 00:11:14,880 --> 00:11:17,520 Not everything is disclosed to us. 189 00:11:18,400 --> 00:11:23,280 Surprises still await as history draws to a close. 190 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:31,120 So with John now having heard and been told to seal it up, we now 191 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:35,040 come into verses 5 and 7 to see the angel raising his right hand. 192 00:11:35,200 --> 00:11:38,320 And of course, this image automatically transports us not just 193 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:41,120 to our day, but to what we know the legal system to be. 194 00:11:41,200 --> 00:11:44,930 You put your right hand up and you swear you in the name of God. 195 00:11:44,930 --> 00:11:46,730 And that's what this angel is doing. 196 00:11:46,810 --> 00:11:50,570 Not because it's following something of our legal process, but 197 00:11:50,570 --> 00:11:53,050 because this is what the angel is commanded to do. 198 00:11:53,210 --> 00:11:56,530 He raises his right hand to heaven, and he swears by the God 199 00:11:56,530 --> 00:11:58,810 who made all things, heaven and earth and sea. 200 00:11:58,890 --> 00:12:02,250 And as the creator of all things, God rules and reigns over 201 00:12:02,250 --> 00:12:02,650 all. 202 00:12:03,450 --> 00:12:08,490 And so the angel declares, standing in truth, that the time 203 00:12:08,490 --> 00:12:15,520 of delay over going back to Daniel the angel in Daniel's day 204 00:12:15,520 --> 00:12:18,800 lifted up his hand to heaven and swore that there was still a 205 00:12:18,800 --> 00:12:21,040 significant delay before the end. 206 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:27,480 But here, now, in Revelation, the angel declares that the end has 207 00:12:27,640 --> 00:12:28,280 arrived. 208 00:12:29,640 --> 00:12:34,160 In verse 7, the angel plainly tells us that the time of the old 209 00:12:34,160 --> 00:12:35,640 creation has ended. 210 00:12:35,640 --> 00:12:39,930 And the new creation, prophesied in Revelation 21:1 through 211 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:43,840 through to Revelation 22:5, is at hand. 212 00:12:44,560 --> 00:12:48,320 The sounding of the seventh trumpet by the seventh angel will 213 00:12:48,320 --> 00:12:53,840 wrap up history as we know it, and God's mystery will be fulfilled. 214 00:12:53,840 --> 00:12:55,600 Look at what we're told in verse seven. 215 00:12:55,920 --> 00:12:59,200 But that in the days of the trumpet called to be sounded by the 216 00:12:59,200 --> 00:13:03,080 seventh angel, the mystery of God will be fulfilled, just as he 217 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,600 announced to his servants, the prophets. 218 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:07,760 So what is this mystery? 219 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:11,920 Well, this is a mystery that is in both the Old and New Testament 220 00:13:11,920 --> 00:13:13,200 prophets that they wrote about. 221 00:13:14,080 --> 00:13:17,800 And it is a mystery of the way in which God's promise to Abraham, 222 00:13:17,800 --> 00:13:22,039 that covenant promise that in him all the nations would be blessed 223 00:13:22,039 --> 00:13:25,600 in Genesis 18:18, would be fulfilled. 224 00:13:26,160 --> 00:13:29,320 It's the mystery that Paul described in Ephesians 1, verses 225 00:13:29,320 --> 00:13:30,000 9 to 10. 226 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,240 God making known to us the mystery of his will according to 227 00:13:33,240 --> 00:13:36,440 his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the 228 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:43,060 fullness of time to unite all things in Christ, things in heaven 229 00:13:43,220 --> 00:13:45,380 and things on earth in him. 230 00:13:46,580 --> 00:13:50,620 See, ultimately, what's going to be revealed is the mystery of 231 00:13:50,620 --> 00:13:51,380 the Gospel. 232 00:13:52,500 --> 00:13:56,140 John underscores that the seventh trumpet is the end of this 233 00:13:56,140 --> 00:13:57,620 present evil age. 234 00:13:57,780 --> 00:14:03,180 And the conclusion, all things sums up divine mysteries and fulfills 235 00:14:03,180 --> 00:14:05,120 all, all of God's prophecies. 236 00:14:05,840 --> 00:14:09,920 The heavenly voice addresses John again in verse 8, instructing 237 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:13,920 him to now take the scroll from the angel standing with one 238 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,400 foot in the sea and one foot on the land. 239 00:14:16,720 --> 00:14:20,840 And when John takes the scroll, he's instructed to do the 240 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:24,800 most silly of things, and that is to eat it. 241 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:32,610 I knew a man who never liked bills, and this was the day before 242 00:14:32,850 --> 00:14:33,810 shredders. 243 00:14:34,290 --> 00:14:37,170 And what he would do is he would simply take the bill, tear 244 00:14:37,170 --> 00:14:39,970 it up and eat it. 245 00:14:43,650 --> 00:14:46,370 Bizarre and no relation. 246 00:14:49,810 --> 00:14:53,970 Why on earth would John eat a screw? 247 00:14:55,650 --> 00:14:58,290 Well, look at what's there in verse nine for us. 248 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,400 So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll. 249 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:04,960 And he said to me, take it. 250 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:06,320 Take and eat. 251 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:12,400 Will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be sweet 252 00:15:12,960 --> 00:15:13,760 as honey. 253 00:15:14,960 --> 00:15:19,280 Now, I imagine we all have our dislikes and likes when it comes 254 00:15:19,280 --> 00:15:19,840 to food. 255 00:15:20,560 --> 00:15:23,440 As a child, I would never eat eggs. 256 00:15:24,410 --> 00:15:27,450 My grandmothers and my mother came up with a trick to try and get 257 00:15:27,450 --> 00:15:28,810 eggs into my diet. 258 00:15:29,370 --> 00:15:32,970 They made something that they called Special Recipe. 259 00:15:33,290 --> 00:15:36,450 And Special recipe was made from creamed potatoes with plenty 260 00:15:36,450 --> 00:15:36,970 of butter. 261 00:15:37,210 --> 00:15:41,130 They would drop in an egg, mix it all up, and then smothered in 262 00:15:41,130 --> 00:15:42,010 tomato ketchup. 263 00:15:42,090 --> 00:15:44,450 And that was how they got an egg into me. 264 00:15:44,450 --> 00:15:50,170 As a child, I loved Special Recipe, and I didn't even know there 265 00:15:50,170 --> 00:15:50,970 was an egg in it. 266 00:15:52,510 --> 00:15:54,670 But to this day, I'm still not a fan of eggs. 267 00:15:55,150 --> 00:15:59,590 I don't like their texture, and there's nothing turns me more 268 00:15:59,590 --> 00:16:02,110 my stomach more than an egg yolk. 269 00:16:02,110 --> 00:16:03,870 Oh, I can't think of anything worse. 270 00:16:04,510 --> 00:16:08,070 Give me a scrambled egg, give me an omelette, but no fried and 271 00:16:08,070 --> 00:16:08,830 no boiled. 272 00:16:10,510 --> 00:16:16,270 But I know that eggs are good for me, and so I do my best to eat 273 00:16:16,270 --> 00:16:16,510 them. 274 00:16:16,690 --> 00:16:20,410 And it was a real problem for me in Malawi because everywhere you 275 00:16:20,410 --> 00:16:21,890 went, they offered you a fried egg. 276 00:16:23,650 --> 00:16:28,170 And so the prayer would be, lord, I'll get it down, you keep 277 00:16:28,170 --> 00:16:28,610 it down. 278 00:16:29,650 --> 00:16:32,450 I just don't like eggs, but I know they're good. 279 00:16:34,770 --> 00:16:36,970 And I think you're probably the same. 280 00:16:36,970 --> 00:16:39,530 Maybe not with eggs, but you know, there are things that you need 281 00:16:39,530 --> 00:16:43,850 to eat or drink that will be good for you, but they don't necessarily 282 00:16:43,850 --> 00:16:46,100 taste the best or you don't like them. 283 00:16:46,740 --> 00:16:51,540 And John is told to eat this scroll because it will be a mixture 284 00:16:51,540 --> 00:16:55,540 of what is good, but also what we don't like. 285 00:16:56,820 --> 00:17:01,300 It will taste like honey in the mouse, but it will be bitter 286 00:17:01,700 --> 00:17:02,820 in his stomach. 287 00:17:04,660 --> 00:17:07,220 And again, this is nothing new. 288 00:17:07,940 --> 00:17:11,580 We have seen this already because John's eating of the scroll 289 00:17:11,580 --> 00:17:15,380 echoes Ezekiel, who God commands to eat the scroll given 290 00:17:15,380 --> 00:17:16,799 to him in Ezekiel too. 291 00:17:16,959 --> 00:17:22,039 And similarly, Jeremiah says in 15:16, your words were found, 292 00:17:22,039 --> 00:17:22,959 and I ate them. 293 00:17:22,959 --> 00:17:26,999 And your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, 294 00:17:26,999 --> 00:17:31,359 for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts. 295 00:17:32,479 --> 00:17:35,439 So this is something God has asked his prophets to do before. 296 00:17:35,439 --> 00:17:38,759 But this time it's different, because John's taking and eating 297 00:17:38,759 --> 00:17:42,399 the scrolls signifies his prophetic ministry. 298 00:17:43,100 --> 00:17:47,260 And as the Church proclaims John's message, it shares in this 299 00:17:47,260 --> 00:17:51,220 prophetic ministry, because eating the scroll will make John's 300 00:17:51,220 --> 00:17:52,620 mouth sweet like honey. 301 00:17:52,860 --> 00:17:56,460 In other words, the word of God is good for us, just as honey 302 00:17:56,460 --> 00:17:58,620 is and just as how well it tastes. 303 00:17:59,660 --> 00:18:02,820 It's good for us because it tells us the right and proper way 304 00:18:02,820 --> 00:18:05,020 to know salvation through Jesus Christ. 305 00:18:05,260 --> 00:18:07,180 This is what makes it sweet. 306 00:18:07,420 --> 00:18:08,620 This is good news. 307 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:12,680 And the good news of the gospel should be a sweet taste for 308 00:18:12,680 --> 00:18:13,240 us all. 309 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:17,080 But you see, the sweet taste doesn't last. 310 00:18:17,160 --> 00:18:21,000 Because eating the scroll gives John a stomach ache, because 311 00:18:21,000 --> 00:18:22,920 it is also a word of judgment. 312 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:27,960 We need to be aware that as much as the word of God is good news, 313 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:32,120 it is also a warning of his judgment on those who reject him. 314 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:39,640 And this is the reality of the gospel for those who believe is pure 315 00:18:39,640 --> 00:18:44,480 joy, it is pure honey, it is pure sweetness and pure delight. 316 00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:53,600 But it comes with a contrast, because the gospel is to be received. 317 00:18:53,680 --> 00:18:56,880 And if it's not received, then it's automatically rejected. 318 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:00,910 And in its rejection, it becomes blood. 319 00:19:01,060 --> 00:19:08,460 Better, because it forces us to consider the judgment, you see, 320 00:19:08,460 --> 00:19:11,540 and what John's to do with this is what we're told. 321 00:19:11,540 --> 00:19:17,860 In verse 11, John says, I was told you must again prophesy about 322 00:19:17,860 --> 00:19:21,140 many peoples and nations and languages and kings. 323 00:19:21,940 --> 00:19:24,700 You see, the significance of eating the scroll is now communicated 324 00:19:24,700 --> 00:19:25,300 to John. 325 00:19:25,700 --> 00:19:28,620 Not only is it for him to recall the goodness of the gospel, 326 00:19:28,620 --> 00:19:33,060 but just the the judgment that it brings on people who reject it. 327 00:19:34,260 --> 00:19:37,780 The verb here is actually plural, because they said to me, 328 00:19:37,780 --> 00:19:40,900 perhaps to represent the words of the prophets that John has ingested, 329 00:19:40,980 --> 00:19:45,740 but as the contents of the scroll makes it to John's stomach, 330 00:19:45,740 --> 00:19:49,380 it made it ache, indicating that indeed, judgment is coming. 331 00:19:50,020 --> 00:19:53,020 And in verse 11, the meaning of eating the scroll is explained 332 00:19:53,020 --> 00:19:56,100 further, because just as we've said, Ezekiel eats the scroll before 333 00:19:56,100 --> 00:19:57,550 he prophesies in chapter two. 334 00:19:58,180 --> 00:20:01,780 So here John's eating of the scroll means he must prophesy against 335 00:20:01,860 --> 00:20:04,820 peoples, against nations, against languages, and against many 336 00:20:04,820 --> 00:20:05,220 kings. 337 00:20:05,700 --> 00:20:10,540 The word must indicates that John's prophetic ministry and the 338 00:20:10,540 --> 00:20:13,700 prophetic ministry of the church is a divine necessity. 339 00:20:14,420 --> 00:20:17,980 And we gain further insight into this interlude between the sixth 340 00:20:17,980 --> 00:20:21,540 and seventh trumpets, because the seventh trumpet signals the end 341 00:20:21,540 --> 00:20:23,300 of the old creation, as we've already said. 342 00:20:23,300 --> 00:20:26,670 But there is more to be said in the following chapters about the 343 00:20:26,670 --> 00:20:28,630 course of history before that moment. 344 00:20:30,150 --> 00:20:35,190 So, while there is yet still time, but the day is near, this message 345 00:20:35,190 --> 00:20:39,830 is to be proclaimed, because in particular, as we'll see, John 346 00:20:39,830 --> 00:20:43,910 will pull back the curtain of the activity of Satan and the beast 347 00:20:44,230 --> 00:20:49,270 before the time of the end, and on the rule of Rome, the great 348 00:20:49,510 --> 00:20:50,230 Babylon. 349 00:20:51,280 --> 00:20:55,560 And what John emphasizes here then for us is the judgment is to 350 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:58,560 be imposed on nations, tongues, peoples and kings. 351 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:04,160 So this eating of the scroll isn't just a simple little anecdote. 352 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:08,440 This is deep meaning for John that he now communicates to us of 353 00:21:08,440 --> 00:21:10,240 what the truth of the Gospel is. 354 00:21:10,800 --> 00:21:14,240 And so, as we think in conclusion about what John reveals 355 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:18,560 to us in chapter 10, we might compare John's situation to that 356 00:21:19,920 --> 00:21:21,440 of a cricket supporter. 357 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:26,080 I don't know if you're a fan of cricket, but maybe you can imagine 358 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:29,120 yourself watching the final of a Test match at Lord's. 359 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:34,080 Imagine John is absorbed in the drama of the game that's been 360 00:21:34,080 --> 00:21:36,560 played out on the pitch and field in front of him. 361 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,480 He knows that in this Test match, the outcome will decide the 362 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:43,280 series for whoever will win and whoever will lose. 363 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:47,120 Then, at a critical moment when everything is finely balanced, 364 00:21:47,120 --> 00:21:50,630 the captain leaves the field, walks into the pavilion and calls 365 00:21:51,020 --> 00:21:51,820 John by name. 366 00:21:51,900 --> 00:21:56,580 And John is to come out of the stands, put on his pads and bat in 367 00:21:56,580 --> 00:21:58,460 the decisive session. 368 00:21:59,980 --> 00:22:03,020 See, this is the force of the angel's message for the apostle, 369 00:22:03,580 --> 00:22:06,819 but it's also the force of the angel's message, as now communicated 370 00:22:06,819 --> 00:22:09,420 through John to us, Christ's people. 371 00:22:09,900 --> 00:22:15,380 We're not merely spectators in the pavilion, nor are we beneficiaries 372 00:22:15,380 --> 00:22:16,900 of God's saving work. 373 00:22:16,900 --> 00:22:21,760 Just as a cricket fan may enjoy every batting that takes place, 374 00:22:23,040 --> 00:22:27,920 we are to receive the word of salvation that John has received, 375 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:31,720 purchased by the blood of Christ and ordained by the eternal 376 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:32,560 will of the Father. 377 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:36,160 And we are to take our place in proclaiming it to the world. 378 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:40,960 Now, this commission doesn't mean that God has set aside his sovereignty 379 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:44,480 or that Christians have replaced Christ's lordship over all 380 00:22:44,480 --> 00:22:45,040 affairs. 381 00:22:46,010 --> 00:22:49,890 Rather, the point is that God's sovereign plan calls for the 382 00:22:49,890 --> 00:22:54,890 decisive witness of his message to be given by sinners saved 383 00:22:54,890 --> 00:22:59,210 by grace to other sinners needing to be saved by grace. 384 00:22:59,610 --> 00:23:03,570 Even though we may be persecuted by the very people whom 385 00:23:03,570 --> 00:23:09,330 we are seeking to save, our calling is to be witnesses to the 386 00:23:09,330 --> 00:23:12,650 Gospel for the ingathering of all who will believe. 387 00:23:13,730 --> 00:23:18,690 We must therefore first receive the Gospel as the glorified 388 00:23:18,690 --> 00:23:20,050 Christ's own word. 389 00:23:21,490 --> 00:23:24,330 If I were to give you the scroll that John was given and you 390 00:23:24,330 --> 00:23:29,810 were to eat it, would it be the honey sweetness in the mouth 391 00:23:30,530 --> 00:23:33,650 or would it go straight to the stomach with bitterness? 392 00:23:36,130 --> 00:23:37,410 You see, there is a call. 393 00:23:38,130 --> 00:23:43,760 And this call is to receive the Gospel as the glorified Christ's 394 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:47,720 own word, to believe it as true that he is the only way of salvation. 395 00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:49,640 And this is what you must know tonight. 396 00:23:49,640 --> 00:23:53,960 Otherwise your stomach ache will never end and it will be with 397 00:23:53,960 --> 00:23:57,800 you for all eternity in the pains and pangs of eternal death. 398 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:00,360 This is what we're talking about. 399 00:24:00,840 --> 00:24:03,720 It is truly life and death. 400 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:09,200 And so a response to Jesus demands that we must believe that 401 00:24:09,200 --> 00:24:13,240 the Gospel is his very word, that it is true, and you must believe 402 00:24:13,240 --> 00:24:14,240 it for salvation. 403 00:24:14,800 --> 00:24:19,120 Will you receive it and will you know that sweetness of the Gospel 404 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:24,760 as honey in the mouth, as you know and trust in Jesus. 405 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:28,840 Second, we need to be assured of its certain fulfillment because 406 00:24:28,840 --> 00:24:32,000 we must hold fast to God's Word without compromise. 407 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:35,800 The end is near, we're told in Revelation. 408 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:40,080 Therefore we stand firm, as Peter tells us, as the devil prowls 409 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:42,960 around like a roaring lion, waiting on whom he may devour. 410 00:24:45,110 --> 00:24:48,630 But the roar of the lion that's described as the devil is 411 00:24:48,630 --> 00:24:50,470 not the roar that God gives. 412 00:24:51,510 --> 00:24:55,390 His roar is one of enticing, of lulling you, of trying to pull 413 00:24:55,390 --> 00:24:57,030 you away from Christ. 414 00:24:57,990 --> 00:25:02,350 And so we must hold fast to God's Word without compromise, standing 415 00:25:02,350 --> 00:25:05,910 on the truths that we know, that we believe. 416 00:25:06,070 --> 00:25:11,180 Even though society may say we are wrong, we stand firm in Christ 417 00:25:11,180 --> 00:25:14,380 that we will not be taken away by the devil. 418 00:25:14,700 --> 00:25:18,780 Third, we must fulfill the commission to proclaim God's judgment 419 00:25:19,500 --> 00:25:24,100 and salvation to many peoples and nations and languages and Kings, 420 00:25:24,100 --> 00:25:28,940 as verse 11 tells us, knowing that in this way, despite persecution, 421 00:25:29,900 --> 00:25:32,940 we will know the complete glory of Christ. 422 00:25:32,940 --> 00:25:36,220 And that's what Paul tells us in Romans 8:37. 423 00:25:36,940 --> 00:25:41,740 He assures us that in all these things we are more than conquerors 424 00:25:42,060 --> 00:25:44,060 through him who loved us. 425 00:25:45,180 --> 00:25:53,500 You see, our call is to be witnesses to the gospel that witnesses 426 00:25:53,500 --> 00:25:56,380 for the Gospel, so that we will know the ingathering of all 427 00:25:56,380 --> 00:25:57,500 who will believe. 428 00:26:00,060 --> 00:26:05,090 We must first know and receive the Gospel as the glorified Christ's 429 00:26:05,090 --> 00:26:05,690 own words. 430 00:26:06,730 --> 00:26:11,130 Secondly, we must be assured of its certain fulfillment and thereby 431 00:26:11,130 --> 00:26:13,530 hold fast to God's word without compromise. 432 00:26:14,330 --> 00:26:19,010 And third, we must fulfill the commission to proclaim God's judgment 433 00:26:19,010 --> 00:26:23,690 and salvation to the peoples and nations and languages and kings 434 00:26:24,650 --> 00:26:25,610 of this earth. 435 00:26:26,810 --> 00:26:28,170 This is our commission. 436 00:26:29,470 --> 00:26:33,790 This is what we have been called to do, so that as we were 437 00:26:33,790 --> 00:26:39,310 thinking this morning, we will see the hard hearted pharaohs crumble 438 00:26:39,950 --> 00:26:42,910 as they come to living faith in Jesus Christ. 439 00:26:45,630 --> 00:26:50,630 But it's a message that we must know is for each of us so that 440 00:26:50,630 --> 00:26:56,090 we can be sure tonight that we have glorious hope as painted for 441 00:26:56,090 --> 00:27:00,770 us here in these great images of revelation, that there is a day 442 00:27:00,770 --> 00:27:02,410 when Christ is returning. 443 00:27:03,130 --> 00:27:08,250 As the seventh trumpet sounds, the judgment will come and those 444 00:27:08,250 --> 00:27:11,610 who belong to him will pass through the judgment and into eternal 445 00:27:11,610 --> 00:27:11,930 life. 446 00:27:13,610 --> 00:27:17,450 And those who do not receive him, who have not received him, even 447 00:27:17,450 --> 00:27:22,510 though there is opportunity now in this moment, will go through 448 00:27:22,510 --> 00:27:25,270 the judgment and will face the punishment that they deserve for 449 00:27:25,270 --> 00:27:25,910 their sins. 450 00:27:26,870 --> 00:27:29,030 Please don't let that be you. 451 00:27:30,550 --> 00:27:32,230 Come to Jesus. 452 00:27:33,350 --> 00:27:40,550 Trust in him that His Word is true, that his word will be fulfilled 453 00:27:41,350 --> 00:27:45,990 and that indeed there is judgment that it will be brought 454 00:27:45,990 --> 00:27:51,220 upon many peoples and nations and languages and kings but not to 455 00:27:51,220 --> 00:27:55,460 the people of God because in all these things we are more than 456 00:27:55,460 --> 00:27:59,420 conquerors through him who loved us. 457 00:28:00,460 --> 00:28:01,340 Let us pray. 458 00:28:02,540 --> 00:28:04,940 Our Father God, we thank you for your word. 459 00:28:05,340 --> 00:28:06,860 We thank you for its truth. 460 00:28:07,340 --> 00:28:10,300 We thank you that as John receives it we have this image of 461 00:28:10,300 --> 00:28:14,620 it being sweet as honey but yet as bitter in our stomachs because 462 00:28:14,620 --> 00:28:15,500 of its message. 463 00:28:16,090 --> 00:28:20,130 Its message of glorious hope in Christ but also that message of 464 00:28:20,130 --> 00:28:22,010 judgment and wrath for those who reject. 465 00:28:23,130 --> 00:28:26,970 So Father, may we be very aware of who we are before you. 466 00:28:28,170 --> 00:28:32,410 May we be aware of the salvation that is on offer to us 467 00:28:33,130 --> 00:28:38,610 and if we know it may we be assured in it and may we know all 468 00:28:38,610 --> 00:28:40,410 its goodness and its truth for us. 469 00:28:42,660 --> 00:28:47,820 So help us to stand firm in Christ and none other and to stand 470 00:28:47,820 --> 00:28:50,500 firm in his Word and his Word alone. 471 00:28:51,220 --> 00:28:53,060 And we ask these things in Jesus name. 472 00:28:53,780 --> 00:28:54,420 Amen.