Remembering that Revelation 7 was a parenthetical chapter, we now come to Revelation 10 and find another parenthetical chapter. (Notice, in Revelation 8 the first, second, third, and fourth trumpets. In Revelation 9 the fifth and sixth trumpets, and then there is a break. This is exactly like the seals: in Revelation 6 there were the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth seals, and then a break. The seventh seal was not broken until Revelation 8.) Six trumpets go off in Revelation 8 and 9, and now there is a break in Revelation 10. The seventh trumpet does not go off until Revelation 11:15. Revelation 7 had no seals in it, although it is given at that time, and Revelation 10 has no trumpets in it, although it is given at that time. Therefore, Revelation 10, as Revelation 7, is a parenthesis. It is an additional statement "stuck in" with no time element attached to it.

In the Old Testament the Son of God was called the "angel of the lord" (Exodus 3:2-18), and as we are now in that part of the Book of Revelation that deals mainly with Israel it is nothing less than what we should expect to hear, Christ spoken of as a "mighty angel." Then the description of this "mighty angel seems to point to the same person that John saw standing amid the "lampstands" in Revelation 1:12-16, or Christ himself. The "angel" was clothed in a cloud, there was a rainbow upon his head, his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. (The "cloud" is usually found in connection with Jesus Christ ([Revelation 1:7, Acts 1:9]). No mere angel was ever before or since described in the scriptures as appearing like that.

There is little doubt about this Angel; this is the angel found in Revelation 1:14,15. This is the Angel of the Lord; this is the Lord Jesus Christ.

What was this "little book"? Some claim that it was the "seven sealed book," now open, and therefore the "title deed" to the earth, and that the "mighty angel" held it in his hand, as he stood with one foot on the sea and one foot on the earth, as his authority for claiming possession. But the "angel" does not make that use of it, and if it were his "title deed" to the earth it seems a strange procedure for him to give it to John to eat. Then it is described as a "little book, as if its contents were small. In that respect it stands in stark contrast with the "seven sealed book" whose numerous "seals' and the time taken to break them, imply that it was of considerable size. Then the effect upon John of the eating of the "little book" seems to indicate that it was more than a "title deed." For it contained matter that when John first ate it (glanced over it) was sweet as honey to his mouth, but when he had thoroughly digested its contents was bitter to his belly. In other words the "little book" contained matter connected with John's work as a prophet, for the "angel" immediately said to him--"thou must prophecy again before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings," which we know John did.

This "little book," here open, is probably the "book" that Daniel was told to "seal up." Daniel 12:4, 9. That "book" contained things that were not to be revealed until the "time of the end." Not the "end of time," but the "end" of the "times of the Gentiles," which synchronizes with the last half of Daniel's "seventieth week," and therefore with "the great tribulation period." If this supposition is true, then the "little book" was a foreview of the things that are to befall Daniel's people in the last half of Daniel's "seventieth week." The effect on John of reading the "little book" seems to confirm this view. As he read of the deliverances that were to come to his people, and of the final victory of the lamb, and the setting up of "the kingdom," the "book" was as "sweet as honey" to his taste, but when he meditated upon the awful sufferings that would come upon the world, and upon the Jews, under the reign of the "beast" (Antichrist), and during the pouring out of the "vials," it was bitterness to his soul.

Here the angel is described as crying with a loud voice, as a lion roareth, and Christ is spoken of in this book (Revelation 5:5) as "the lion of the tribe of Judah"; and in the chapter that follows this the same "mighty angel" speaks of the "two witnesses," as "my witnesses," which is further indisputable evidence that this "mighty angel is no other than Christ himself. This interpretation makes clear what follows. For when this "mighty angel" places His right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth, and swears that there shall be "time no longer," or "no longer delay" (margin), it is Christ taking formal possession of the earth and sea, and declaring that there shall be no longer delay in dispossessing the false claimant Satan.

We repeat, this is a parenthetical record of an appearance in the Tribulation. This means that sometime before the end of the Tribulation, the Lord Jesus Christ is going to make an appearance. The Bible plainly teaches that sometime during the Tribulation Christ is going to manifest Himself to Israel, and Israel is going to be "born in a day," converted as a man, and then the nation is going to bring forth fruit, as a "woman in travail" brings forth a "man-child." These figures are found in scores and scores of passages in the Old Testament, and this Mid-Tribulation appearance is typified in a number of verses (Isaiah 66:7,8, Micah 5:3).

In Acts 9:6 we have the conversion of Paul. (There can be no doubt about it because Paul says he saw Christ "as of one born out of due time" [1 Corinthians 15:8.]) Paul is a picture of the remnant of Israel that is saved during the Tribulation. Paul is not a type of the church; Paul is a Jew, saved "out of season." Paul is not "one of the twelve" apostles; he is an additional apostle. (He is beyond the twelve.) Paul will not sit on one of twelve thrones judging the 12 tribes, as in Matthew 19:28. Therefore, Paul has a special ministry to Gentiles, as did Jonah; both of their ministries are representatives of the Jewish remnant that will be saved in the Tribulation (144,000), who will be commissioned to preach to Gentiles - not to Jews.

In Genesis, when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers, it was in the second year of a seven-year period. (But of course, some will say that you can't teach doctrine by types?) Joseph is a type of Christ in 152 particulars. Joseph reveals himself to his brethren, as Christ will reveal Himself to His brethren. Joseph is rejected by his brothers the first time, and accepted the second time; Christ was rejected by Israel the first time, and will be accepted the second time. When Joseph's brothers reject him, and then receive him, a seven-year period of Tribulation takes place, in the form of a famine.

We may not teach as infallible truth that Jesus will appear the second year in the Tribulation because of these verses, but the type is very clear.

The Book of Job is another perfect type of the Tribulation. There are 42 months in the Great Tribulation - the last half of the seven years - and incidentally, there are 42 chapters in the Book of Job! The word "Job" means "one persecuted," as Israel will be persecuted in the Tribulation. Job is in the land of Uz, which is south of the Dead Sea in the land of Edom (Genesis 46:13, Lamentations 4:21). This is where Israel will likely be in the Tribulation.

Job 42:10 - "And the Lord turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before."

"Turned the captivity." This expression is never used anywhere in the Bible in reference to the restoration of Israel to the land of Palestine. (Compare Job 42:10 with Deuteronomy 21:17.) Job is persecuted by Satan as Israel will be persecuted by Satan (Revelation 12:1-4).

One thing is certain, the Lord Jesus Christ does make a Tribulation appearance to Israel, and they are converted by seeing Him, exactly as Paul was converted by seeing Him. There is a brilliant light, brighter than the sun (exactly as the transfiguration), when Jesus appears some time in the Tribulation (Ezekiel 43:2, Psalms 50:2). We do not know whether this takes place before the middle of Daniel's Seventieth Week, or in the middle, or at the post-Tribulation Rapture right before the end. The exact date is obscure, because some of these great truths are "sealed" right up until the Tribulation. God will probably not reveal the exact dates unless He reveals them to a man in the Tribulation.

If God ever shows anybody the time element we are discussing, He'll show them through His Word, the Bible! However, let's put a qualification on that statement. Since the Old Testament is written in Hebrew, and since God deals with the Jews, and they have the blessings, and since every writer in the Bible is a Jew, and since Israel is going to be restored in the Tribulation, it is highly possible that when these truths are revealed, they will be revealed through the Hebrew Old Testament text.

If our preacher were the Devil, he would select obscure verses to teach you. If our preacher were the Devil, he would know what Bible to use and how to use it to get us messed up and get us home to hell! If our preacher were the Devil he would preach:

• "sermon on the Mount" [salvation by works],
• "the Golden Rule [salvation by works],
• "1 Corinthians 13" [which applies to no unsaved person on the face of the earth],
• "Acts 2:38" [given to Israel as a nation instead of you as an individual],
• "Matthew 16:16" [given to eleven apostles with signs, wonders, and miracles that you don't have],
• "Matthew 25' [salvation by works],
• "James 2" [justification by works],
• "1 Peter 3:21" [only half the verse so you would think water baptism could get you to heaven],
• "1 Corinthians 15:29" [get somebody to get baptized for you after you blanked out!]

The Devil has more brains than any ten people we have ever met! His greatest instrument with which to destroy our souls is the word of God. He would know just what verses to quote, where to find them, and how to use them. He would always use a verse about which there was a doubt, or a verse that was complex, or a verse that was difficult. He would never come at you with John 3:16; 1:12: 3:36, Romans 10:9,10, Revelation 3:20, or 1 John 5:10-12. He would come at you with Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16, 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 22:7,8, the Sermon on the Mount, 1 Corinthians 13, and all the verses that have no application to you whatsoever. That's his method.

Now we know, so as Bereans we should be consistent about checking whatever we are taught against the Word of God.

Revelation 10:5 and Revelation 11:15 refer to a literal physical visible coming of Christ to take over the literal, physical, visible kingdoms of this world. This thing (absolutely and positively) did not happen at the first coming of Christ. History shows that it didn't happen. There is no time since 4000 BC in which Jesus Christ ever took over "the kingdoms of this world." The kingdoms of this world belong to Satan (Luke 4). They are under Satan's dominion (2 Corinthians 4:4); they always have been and always will be until Revelation 11:15. If Revelation 11:15 is past, the news media of today are out of their minds, because for 2000 years history has been recording wars, rumors of wars, bloodshed, Hitler at the head of the government, Khruschev at the head of the government, Castro at the head of the government, Pope Leo at the head of the government, Charlemagne at the head of the government, Napoleon at the head of the government - but never Jesus Christ at the head of any government!

There isn't any indication anywhere in history at anytime, under any condition, that Jesus Christ ever controlled anything on the face of this earth since the day that He arose from the dead, except a "body" of born-again people (1 Corinthians 12) who believe in Him and in whom He dwells (1 Corinthians 6).

For fifteen centuries the Roman Catholic Church has taken advantage of Bible ignorance and has taught that since Jesus indwells them as a political group, and they represent Him as "princes," that they as "head of the kingdom" are ruling the earth; therefore, the kingdom "has come," or is coming. But anybody who knows the true history of the Roman Catholic Church wouldn't believe that for five minutes. Read "Fox's Book of Martyrs." Read "American Freedom and Catholic Power" by Paul Blanchard. Read "Vatican Imperialism in the 20th Century" by Avro Manhattan. If "finding the truth" will make people unhappy, they need to check their salvation experience out! The truth doesn't make any man unhappy that is right with the Lord (John 8:40-48, 1 Corinthians 13:6).

John 3:19- "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."

John 14:6 - "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

John 16:13 - "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."

The Bible teaches a literal, physical, visible reign of Jesus Christ over the kings of this earth at the Second Advent, clearly taught here in these passages. It is a thing that is going to take place in the future that has never taken place in the past, and to reject this Bible truth is to deliberately live a life of willful sin because we are content to reject the truth.

It doesn't make any difference whether you are "happy" or "contented" with your "religion" or not. No church has ever taken over the "kingdoms of this world" except under Satan, it never will except under Satan, and Jesus Christ has never taken over the "kingdoms of this earth," and never will until He comes again!

When John ate this book it was "sweet as honey" but as soon as he had eaten it, "my belly was bitter." When man tastes that blessed word (It's called "milk" in 1 Corinthians 3, and "strong meat" in Hebrews 5, and "bread" in Luke 4, and "honey" in Psalm 119, and "apples" in Proverbs.), it tastes good. My! My! How we should love to read the word of God! It is a complete dinner! "This Book will keep us from sin, or our sins will keep us from this Book." The longer we leave it lying around, the harder it is to pick up; the more you pick it up, the harder it is to let go of it. That book can ruin us either way. Our sins will catch up with us. Our old nature will take charge of us again. The Devil will get us back in our old life, and get us to doubting our salvation. We'll cease to bear fruit. God won't be able to use us because He only blesses His Word. That saying may be qualified as stating that the Word is the only thing He has promised to bless (Isaiah 55:1-10). All of this happens when any man, or nation, leaves the Word alone.

If you pick up the Word and feast on it, a number of things will happen, also. Once you digest that word it will become "bitter" because you will become an object of persecution. If you study the Word, and stay in it, we will be ostracized by contemporary society, we will be hated by Roman Catholic "priests," we will be hated by Campbellites who teach salvation by works, we will be hated by all who are all out to build one great big integrated church and will set up themselves in charge of it (to get our tax money instead of trying to win souls to Christ! And we might be opposed and persecuted by loved ones and members of your own family. Hence, the word becomes "bitter." That isn't all. It will become bitter because it will make us very peculiar people; it will make us "odd." If a psychiatrist examined us carefully, he would say that we are psychopathic, or neurotic, or megalomaniacs, egomaniacs, paranoids, or schizophrenics.

If we really get into the Bible, we'll be considered "odd-balls," we'll be considered peculiar, "harsh," "unloving," "uncooperative," "separatist," "schismatic," "radical," "right-wing extremists," "rebels," and those who does not go along with the established order. We will be ostracized by "religious" people in the sense that they will look at us as very peculiar and odd types of people. The Bible will make us peculiar and odd because America is no longer a Bible-reading nation. Now, Bible teachers study their lessons for Sunday school; preachers refer to it to get a sermon; but most "Christians" in America do not read the Bible. If we get into the Bible, learn it, stay with it, and propagate it, we will be known as "odd balls" because we would be "one in a million!" The things that the Lord will show us from that book will set us apart as eccentrics because the rest of the people - including most "church workers" - don't read it. If everybody in America read the Bible like they did in 1700 and 1800, we wouldn't be considered so queer and so peculiar; but they do not read it!

The friends we will have will be Bible-reading people and Bible-believing people. The type of friends we have will be the type of Christians found in the early days of Christianity. They will be like those ancient, extremists, those non-conformists who were thrown to lions because they were accused of "not loving humanity." We shouldn't let the Devil ever tell us that those Christians were ever persecuted and burned at the stake just for what they believed! They were looked upon as enemies of the state because they were considered to be unfriendly, or unloving toward the pagan system in which they found themselves. They were considered to be unfriendly: that was the charge. They were asked to go along with the ecumenical pagan rites purely for the purpose of showing that they were friends and lovers of the system in which they were, they refused to go along with it (1 John 2:15-17).

It is a foolproof law that the word will make us peculiar; it'll bring persecution upon us; it will make us "abnormal"; it will separate us; it will make us the kind of a person who will be accused of being an "enemy of mankind," a promoter of "hate-literature," and not having the proper reverence for the "religions of mankind." "Religions" have always been popular - the Bible never! "Religions" have always been tolerated, promoted, and supported by unsaved men - the Bible, never! "Religion" is the greatest, most popular, wonderful thing in the unsaved world today, outside of liquor, money, and sex. The Bible never had this kind of rating among unsaved people, and never will.

If we eat the book as John ate it, it may be sweet to our taste, but it will be bitter when it has been digested.

1. Who was one of your fictional heroes when you were growing up? Buck Rogers? The Lone Ranger? Superman? Why?

 

2. How are Joseph and Job examples of Jesus Christ?

 

3. Describe the angel who announces the coming of the second trumpet. How does this description fit with your traditional view of an angel?

 

4. Why would John be forbidden to record the words of the seven thunders? How does 2 Corinthians 13:3 - 4 compare to this verse?

 

5. What purposes have the disasters of the first six trumpets served? What do you anticipate the seventh trumpet will bring forth?

 

6. What is the "mystery of God"? Is it the same as that found in Romans 11:25 - 36? Romans 16:25 - 27? Ephesians 1:9 -14?

 

7. When has God led you into a project that you would not have chosen for yourself? What happened?

 

8. What experience have you once savored but that later turned sour?

 

9. How has God's Word been both "sweet" and "sour?"

 

10. Does the Devil know the Word of God? Can you prove it? Does he know it better that you?