(Chapter 10)

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun (R1:16), and his legs were like fiery pillars. He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” 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, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.” Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” (Rev 10:1 - 11)

These are some hard verses to totally understand. I have the major gist of it; but on one point - I’m not totally sure where the compass needle rests.

Let us cover a few plot points, which are easily understood.

So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip . . . “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” . . . Then he blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” (Genesis 32:24 - 30 edited)

The mighty angel is Jesus Christ. The lamb of God, King of Kings, Lord of Lords. For those who would state that this is not the Lamb of God - in whose hand was the scroll last seen??

. . .“Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” (R5:5)

. . .“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. (R5:9)

. . .“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!” (R5:12)

I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals. . . . (R6:1)

No one, in Heaven or on the earth; or even under the earth - was worthy to take the scroll.

. . . .“Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. (R5:2-3)

Then, we see the Lamb of God, taking the scroll, and opening it up. He was declared worthy to not only LOOK at the scroll; to not only HOLD the scroll; but to OPEN the scroll!

So, here the scroll is seen again. It is the next time the scroll is seen, after Jesus opened the seals in chapter six. This is such an important document. Only ONE person who has ever existed was found worthy to even LOOK at the scroll. So, now we see the scroll again - it is lying OPEN in the Hand of a “mighty angel.” That ‘angel’ is Christ. Christ is referred to with many, many names and titles. He is the root of David; the Lion of the Tribe of Judah; King of Kings; the Lamb who was Slain; Alpha and Omega; First and the Last; Son of Man; King of the Jews . . . etc.

Here - Jesus is a mighty angel. The surrounding scriptures and verses support this ‘angel’ as being Jesus. So does the flow of this prophecy, and why Jesus is seen again - here in chapter ten.

We’ll get to that in a moment. But first - let us be reminded - that this prophecy which is Revelation - REPEATS itself. It shows us the exact same events - from different perspectives; and with varying amounts of detail.

We watched the Lamb open the six seals. We noticed that the word ‘come’ existed in the first four openings - but not in the last two. The last two openings were prophetic. They stated what was going to happen in the future as a result of what had occurred - from the opening of the previous four seals.

In the third seal - we see death from famine, and scarce food supplies. We also had the notation with the third seal - of the Bride of Christ. With the phrase: “Do not damage the Oil and the Wine!” Which means that God is reiterating again - that He will have a special protection and provision for His Bride.

In the fourth seal - we have massive, massive death - a clear acceleration of the previous three seals. The culmination of them being put together; and happening all at the same exact time . . .

With the fifth seal - we saw those who were not part of the Bride - being martyred for Jesus. A tough choice - take the mark and go to Hell, or be ridiculed by the entire planet, and die for Christ. Extremely difficult situation.

The sixth seal fast forwards us to the point after the seventh trumpet has blown - and the entire Earth is terrified - because Jesus is coming back to rule; and He is about to pour out His wrath . . .

It is extremely difficult to write down the flow of this prophecy - in a commentary - in such a way that you understand why I state what I state. I see the entire prophecy - after reading it each day since 2004; in various stages and repetitions; and increasing detail. All of it - is this extremely wonderful and glorious telling of coming world events . . . but difficult to correctly peel the layers away for your eyes - so that you can see. God wrote this prophecy in a 360° circle vision of events; which He repeats, and increases detail; and changes the perspective and viewpoint of . . .

As I stated earlier - during discussion of chapters eight and nine - the anti-Christ is ruling during those events. We have not seen the details of his coming into power - or what He will force mankind to do - but he IS ruling during chapters eight and nine.

So too - was the Bride of Christ taken out into the Wilderness - flying away on the wings of a great Eagle (God) - with the opening of probably the third, or maybe the fourth seal in Chapter Six! God is discussing spiritual and worldly events, from various perspectives. Just as the Bride is taken out into the Wilderness during events described in chapter six; so too is the Bride taken out into the wilderness at the opening of and the beginning of Chapter Eight. And the bride is shown in more detail - going into the wilderness and escaping from Satan - in chapter twelve. And, as previously discussed - we see God declaring a juxtaposition and differentiation among believers in chapter seven. This is why I state that it is difficult to peel the layers away for you - in such a way that you understand. Revelation REPEATS itself all over the place! From different perspectives and giving varying amounts of detail - depending on what the focus is - for the prophecy; at any given point. A general overview (chapters one & six); or a major description of God’s Wrath when all is finished (chapters fifteen and sixteen.)

. . .“A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not damage the oil and the wine!” (R6:6)

The woman was given the two wings of a great eagle, so that she might fly to the place prepared for her in the desert, where she would be taken care of for a time, times and half a time, out of the serpent’s reach. (R12:14)

The anti-Christ will ‘rule’ for One Thousand, Two Hundred & Sixty days. The Bride of Christ or the Wife of the Lamb - will be in a secure, protected by God location - for 1,260 days. The killing and martyrdom of Christians who refuse to take the mark of the beast; and/or to worship him - will last for 1,260 days. (Actually - 1,256.5 days - but we’ll get to those specifics in chapter eleven . . .) We saw in chapter Eight - these days of tremendous tribulation being shortened (as Jesus foretold) - with God shaking the heavens and creating 16 hour days (R8:12); rather than 24 hour days. This was accomplished solely for the sake of the elect! Since God deeply, deeply loves believers; and those who do not reject the name of his Son, and the Godhead - the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know that with the fifth seal in Chapter six - we have the prophetic description of the martyrdom of Christian believers. We saw in Chapter seven - a juxtaposition of believers. Those who are in the Bride; and the huge, huge, majority of believers - who experience the great tribulation.

Jesus stated that he would protect his Bride - the church of Philadelphia - or the Virgin daughter of Zion - from the hour of trial which was going to come upon the whole earth - to test the inhabitants of the earth! (R3:10) So, His Bride is going to be kept safe . . . What is not totally clear in my mind - is precisely WHEN the great tribulation starts. We know that it IS occurring during ALL of chapters eight and nine. The anti-Christ is ruling during these events. What is not known precisely to me - at this point - is if the Bride is taken out during the opening of the third seal of Chapter six; or the fourth seal. We know that since the fifth seal is martyrdom of the believers during the great tribulation - then the Bride must have been taken out by the fifth seal. It is possible - that the Bride is removed precisely at the beginning of the fifth seal as well . . .

We see that these events accelerate. The fourth seal is a combination of the previous three seals . . . A massive acceleration of events. So to isolate one seal or one event - and state the Bride is removed with the opening of this seal - seems rather unrealistic; and rather pointless as well.

Pinpointing the exact moment or sequence when the Bride is removed by God - is not the point of the prophecy. The point the prophecy is making in regards to the Bride is the following:

Are YOU going to be part of the Bride? It is entirely your choice. How intimate are you with God, and how much genuine LOVE do you have for your fellow believers and for fallen man? Right now, at this point in time - I can unfortunately - guarantee you that I - am not part of the Bride. Have way too many hangups! I hope to change that! I need to repent and change, and to worship and follow Christ much, much more than I am . . .

But that is the reason of the revealing of the Bride in this prophecy . . . To give you more of a chance to become part of the absolutely glorious Bride of Christ, or the Wife of the Lamb!

“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. . . The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut. “Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir!’ they said. ‘Open the door for us!’ “But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’ “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour. (Matthew 25:1 - 13)

“The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. . . ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’. . . “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how did you get in here without wedding clothes?’ The man was speechless. “Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ “For many are invited, but few are chosen.” (Matthew 22:2 - 14 edited)

In the above - notice that all are virgins, and a wedding is being held for the Son. But five virgins have made themselves ready, and five are declared foolish. For they are not ready for the wedding. Also note that we do not know when, or the day or the hour. And many are invited - but few are chosen!

I can guarantee - that if I continue in my lazy ways; when the Bride of Christ is taken out into the wilderness; to be with Jesus & protected by Jesus - and I realize that I am now in a dark, dark Kingdom - whose only goal and sole object is continued depravity; and worship of the anti-Christ; I will wail and weep! Satan’s kingdom is abject darkness! The great deceiver will deceive billions of people; while convincing them he is the glorious light! Many, many Christians believe the ‘rapture’ is going to remove them from any chance of persecution or tribulation! As we saw in chapter seven; few Christians are gong to be spared the tribulation. Only those who qualify to be in the Bride. Those who have made themselves ready. Those who truly LOVE; and sacrifice themselves - to give others strength and faith. If we are not filled with the LOVE of the Holy Spirit; and the LOVE of God; we will not be filled with the OIL of God (Holy Spirit); and we will miss the wedding banquet. Jesus will shut the door; and when we cry out to Him - to OPEN the door for us - so that we don’t have to experience the great tribulation - Jesus will state He never knew us! We WANT to put away our selfish desires; and truly become filled with the knowledge and glory and power and grace, peace and LOVE of our wonderful Lord. Otherwise - we will not be ready when He comes for His Bride; and we will find ourselves in the darkness of the great tribulation! And there, we will weep, and gnash our teeth; surrounded by the darkness of Satan’s Kingdom; and desperately praying to allow us to persevere and to overcome. For if we don’t overcome - we will take the mark of his Kingdom - and forever and ever - be in eternal torment.

Now, we are actually discussing chapter ten. The reasons I have mentioned chapter six, & the Bride; and reiterated some of what we have covered - is so that you remember where we have been; and get more of a hold of where we are going - in this prophecy which is Revelation. Since God is soon going to start giving us details into how the anti-Christ rules; how the Bride is protected; the significance of the seventh trumpet; and the choices those believers who did not qualify for the Bride - are going to be forced to make. An eternal choice. And so we open up chapter ten - getting ready to review a tremendous amount of what Revelation has already covered - from a couple of different perspectives, and with more detail on several of these events - in chapters ten, eleven, twelve, and thirteen.

Now - what do we have in Chapter ten . . .

We have Jesus appearing, holding the scroll which He opened; described as a mighty angel with a voice of a Lion; Clouds surrounding him and being His robe; God’s covenant or Rainbow encircling His head; and with His face shining like the Sun.

Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. (R10:1)

Jesus is God. He is one of the individual members of God, and of the God Head. Jesus is totally God, and God is triune; with all three individuals being totally ONE in unity. Have we ever seen God physically lead and protect His chosen ones before . . . ?

By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so that they could travel by day or night. Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people. (Exodus 13:21 - 22)

During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. (Exodus 14:24)

“Because of your great compassion you did not abandon them in the desert. By day the pillar of cloud did not cease to guide them on their path, nor the pillar of fire by night to shine on the way they were to take. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them. You did not withhold your manna from their mouths, and you gave them water for their thirst. For forty years you sustained them in the desert, they lacked nothing, their clothes did not wear out nor did their feet become swollen. (Nehemiah 9:19 - 21)

The woman fled into the desert to a place prepared for her by God, where she might be taken care of for 1,260 days. (Rev 12:6)

Notice that God has appeared with His Spirit, and with Clouds and Fire to protect His people. God provided for them in the desert, EVERYTHING that His chosen ones needed! Their feet did not even swell from all of the walking . . . Note that the woman or Bride of chapter twelve - flees to the desert where God will take care of her!

So, if the anti-Christ is going to be ruling and controlling the entire planet - where would Christ’s Bride be able to go - where she would be protected from him, and his dark kingdom of vile evil?

A husband protects his wife . . . So we have a depiction of Jesus taking FULL control of a small section of planet earth - and absolutely protecting His wife and His Bride. His head is in the clouds - taking control of the air and atmosphere; His feet are firmly planted on both the Land and the Sea . . .

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her . . . (Ephesians 5:25)

He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. (R10:2)

Jesus alone is worthy; and Jesus has completed salvation for mankind. He has purchased back redemption by His blood; and made us Kings and Priests unto God. The title deed for all of mankind is in His hands, and here Jesus is seen taking control of the Air, land and sea! Jesus is leading and standing guard (Ex 13:21), and protecting His Bride. The reason Satan cannot touch, hurt, or destroy Christ’s Bride - is because here Jesus is seen taking control of a small section of earth - and totally and completely protecting His wife.

. . . When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, “Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down.” (R10:3 - 4)

In this ENTIRE prophecy - this is the ONLY event which John is asked to ‘seal up.’ He is not asked to seal it up - because God does not want you to know what was stated . . . He is asked to seal it up - because God desires for you to have to delve a little bit into this prophecy - so that you yourself may learn what the seven thunders uttered.

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings. (Proverbs 25:2)

God has revealed to me - the meaning and purpose of statement which the seven thunders uttered. He will do so for you as well, and possibly even more - if you will just give yourself to READING this prophecy every day, and trusting that the Holy Spirit will give you a deposit from which you can eventually draw understanding.

Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. And he swore w[mosen (to declare an oath, swear an oath, promise with an oath) by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, “There will be no more delay! But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.” (R10:5 - 7)

Here, we have Jesus swearing, and declaring an absolute statement. The statement and oath of promise relates to the seventh trumpet - and in these days when the seventh angel is about to sound the seventh trumpet - that all which God has declared will be accomplished.

God declares that He will bring about what He has declared. And that ALL, everything which He has declared - is about to be accomplished! They will be accomplished during the days of the seventh trumpet.

I remind the gentle reader that early in this commentary and disclosure of the prophecy which is Revelation - during discussion of verses (R1:9 - 11); I stated this prophecy was seen in various views and perspectives . . . And was somewhat presented to John as a 360° view of events. I also mentioned fairly extensively - the seventh trumpet; as an example of changes of view. Going from an earthly view - to a spiritual view. And I have - just as Revelation repeats itself in various ways and aspects - continued at various times to repeat myself in this discussion of Revelation.

Here, in chapter ten - we are almost solely in a spiritual view. In chapter eleven - we are about to very vividly look at events from an earthly or worldly view.

But, again - just as I did early in this discussion - with chapter One; I wish to remind the reader that the seventh trumpet is the very LAST time in the ENTIRE Bible; and ALL of scriptures - that ANY word which may be translated in ANY way as trumpet - is used!

I do so because chapter ten - emphasizes the seventh trumpet. In the prophecy which is Revelation - the seventh trumpet is extremely important. So, here - a mighty Angel - Jesus - declares and swears by GOD and the Seven Thunders speak - that when the seventh trumpet is about to sound - that God will be accomplishing EVERYTHING which He has declared that God is going to accomplish!

. . . in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished . . . (R10:7)

The seventh trumpet is the very LAST time any trumpet is ever mentioned in all of scripture. It is also part of a ‘series’ of trumpets which are being sounded. It is the very last trumpet of that series. If you are not familiar with what occurs with the sounding of the last trumpet, or do not remember - I kindly suggest you read 1Corinthians 15:52 & 1Thessalonians 4:16 and the surrounding scriptures . . .

. . .“There will be no more delay! But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets.” Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: “Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land.” So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.” I took the little scroll from the angel’s hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. Then I was told, “You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings.” (R10:6 - 11)

God reminds us (repeats) that the angel is standing on and controlling the sea and the land. He reminds us that this angel is holding the scroll . . . He then tells John to go and take the scroll (Jesus has won the battle; and all is accomplished); and eat it! It will be sweet as honey in his mouth (tastes good); but will be sour in his stomach. In other words - the contents of the scroll will taste good - but cause John to vomit. His stomach will turn sour - he will vomit. The contents and end results - will be extremely distasteful to John - who is a righteous person . . .

At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. (Titus 3:3)

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts . . .  (Ephesians 2:1 - 3) 

By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. (Hebrews 11:24 - 25)

At this point in the prophecy, here in chapter ten; All is basically accomplished and finished. The anti-Christ has ruled, deceived, and has been conquered. The Bride was taken out and protected; and Christians who refused to take the mark of the beast - or to worship him - have died and been martyred . . . Jesus is about to bring terrible, terrible wrath upon those left on the earth - who have totally rejected Him.

. . . and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him. . . . (R1:7)

Since all is accomplished, that is why John is allowed to touch, and eat the scroll. And God desires for John to prophesy again. To repeat a tremendous amount of what has already been stated - but from a slightly different perspective - to enhance our understanding.

We are about to look at some of this stuff from the World’s point of view - and John is absolutely disgusted and made sick - from the tremendous rejection of God, and rejoicing in sin - of the majority of the world’s inhabitants . . . It is very hard for him to ‘stomach’. Sin is pleasure for a season - but the wages of sin - is death! So, the perspective of prophecy which John must now give out - is one coming from indulgence with sin and pleasure - from the world’s point of view. It makes John sick . . .

John is asked to prophesy again - and to repeat what the prophecy of Revelation has already covered - from a different view and perspective. John is obedient - and does so . . .

*Chapter 9*   *Chapter 11*

"Questions??? Give a shout!"

All Greek/Hebrew definitions (unless otherwise noted) are taken from
The NIV Exhaustive Concordance by Edward W. Goodrick & John R. Kohlenberger III © 1990 by The Zondervan Corporation. ISBN 0-310-436970-7

All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, International Version®, NIV84®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™
Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide.

Copyright 2011 - Revelation Disclosed Updated 10/14/11

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